| Egeli 11:13 - Mar 5 with 3393 views | quad |
Out of all the changes that McKenna made, bringing Egeli into the side seems the strangest, and arguably it wasn't a good call because he wasn't very effective again.
What's the general consensus on him? I don't want to be too critical of him. I made that mistake with criticising Philogene's lack of perceived effort after the home game against Spurs last season, and he has turned out to be somewhat of a revelation this season, so I don't want to go down that same road again.
It has been mentioned before about Egeli always cutting in on his left and not wanting to take players on down the outside, which is too predictable for defenders. He also doesn't seem to me as hungry and willing to get stuck in as some of the others.
Not all his fault. He showed a brilliant piece of skill to control a ball from about 2-3 metres away which was hammered at him, and he somehow managed to control it and stop it going out for a throw. He also showed he can get stuck in when he puts his mind to it when he wiped out one of their players just before half time.
I think it's a confidence thing. I could be imagining things, but other players seem to me to be reluctant at times to give him the ball when he has got into good positions. Far more likely to give it to Clarke or Davis down the left. Maybe they think that those players are more likely to do some damage which would be a bit understandable to be honest.
Example was at home to Swansea when Mehmeti shot from the edge of the area when he could have passed to Egeli who was in a much better position.
Clearly Egeli is a very talented player and will come good. But is it too much of a risk for him to be starting games right now, considering his current lack of impact and the massive importance of getting 3 points as often as we can. Not sure we can afford to carry him as a passenger at this stage of the season.
Thoughts?
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| Egeli on 11:21 - Mar 5 with 2876 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
His lack of pace or explosiveness absolutely terrifies me. Long term he is a central player be that in the 10 or up top I think. I'm just not sure what his thing is, from what I read and saw his shot placement and finishing is his best attribute, he has had some nice finishes this season so that's good but he has also wasted a lot by snatching at them, probably trying too hard.
He does deserve patience though, he needs a good loan next year to play a full season of football, keep developing physically and then we can see where we are at with him. |  |
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| Egeli on 11:31 - Mar 5 with 2789 views | Radlett_blue |
Walle has been pushed into our problem position of right wing, to which he is palpably unsuited, for the reasons you suggest. We had Ogbene (cut short by injury), then tried Walle & bought McAteer, presumably because Walle wasn't up to scratch & now dear old Wes Burns is still our best option. I don't know how McKenna saw Walle fitting into our team - while I think he will make a player, it won't be as a right winger & should a championship club have spent £17m on a store player? We also currently have better options in the no.10 position such as Nunes. |  |
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| Egeli on 11:38 - Mar 5 with 2714 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Egeli on 11:21 - Mar 5 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
His lack of pace or explosiveness absolutely terrifies me. Long term he is a central player be that in the 10 or up top I think. I'm just not sure what his thing is, from what I read and saw his shot placement and finishing is his best attribute, he has had some nice finishes this season so that's good but he has also wasted a lot by snatching at them, probably trying too hard.
He does deserve patience though, he needs a good loan next year to play a full season of football, keep developing physically and then we can see where we are at with him. |
There was a moment in the first half when he had the left back squared up and he was so predictable coming inside and shooting straight into traffic. We commented that it was the kind of position where Omari would have had the left back in knots chopping inside and outside. I know I shouldn't compare but it's hard not to sometimes. Omari always had that explosiveness and could go both ways. QPR away aside I am not sure I remember Egeli going past a player for pace on the outside. | | | |
| Egeli on 11:39 - Mar 5 with 2706 views | franz_tyson |
For me, he should have gone on loan in January. His confidence looks gone. Maybe not down to L1, but back to Scandinavia or another European league. A weaker, but technically good league, like the Eredivisie.
He shouldn't be playing wide right if he can't go outside and get to the touchline.
And he isn't getting in the 10 slot with Mehmeti, Nunez and Akpom around.
Both McAteer and Egeli are struggling a bit, but I'd definitely go with McAteer at the moment. Just because he's more direct like Wes.
If Egeli is a mid to long term project .... is it the right time to play him? He's going backwards, for me. If he is slowly and quietly improving then fine.... but he looks shot of confidence. And a weak link.
It's all right saying be patient, but it's the business end of the season now.
Think he needs to go backwards to go forwards. If we had a kid out of the academy who's struggling like he is.... he'd be sent back to the 21's.
If you take away the 18 million quid wunderkid tag.... is he worth a place in the side? | | | |
| Egeli on 11:49 - Mar 5 with 2574 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Egeli on 11:38 - Mar 5 by tractorboy1978 |
There was a moment in the first half when he had the left back squared up and he was so predictable coming inside and shooting straight into traffic. We commented that it was the kind of position where Omari would have had the left back in knots chopping inside and outside. I know I shouldn't compare but it's hard not to sometimes. Omari always had that explosiveness and could go both ways. QPR away aside I am not sure I remember Egeli going past a player for pace on the outside. |
That QPR game felt like a big moment at the time. I don't want to discredit SWE's performance but since that game I'm not sure the QPR left back has started a game since and has barely featured. I was really hoping that would be a catalyst.
It is a tough one and the fee really doesn't help. If you are the most expensive player in championship history you will be judged against that rightly or wrongly. | |
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| Egeli on 11:51 - Mar 5 with 2563 views | NthQldITFC |
| Egeli on 11:39 - Mar 5 by franz_tyson |
For me, he should have gone on loan in January. His confidence looks gone. Maybe not down to L1, but back to Scandinavia or another European league. A weaker, but technically good league, like the Eredivisie.
He shouldn't be playing wide right if he can't go outside and get to the touchline.
And he isn't getting in the 10 slot with Mehmeti, Nunez and Akpom around.
Both McAteer and Egeli are struggling a bit, but I'd definitely go with McAteer at the moment. Just because he's more direct like Wes.
If Egeli is a mid to long term project .... is it the right time to play him? He's going backwards, for me. If he is slowly and quietly improving then fine.... but he looks shot of confidence. And a weak link.
It's all right saying be patient, but it's the business end of the season now.
Think he needs to go backwards to go forwards. If we had a kid out of the academy who's struggling like he is.... he'd be sent back to the 21's.
If you take away the 18 million quid wunderkid tag.... is he worth a place in the side? |
I think he can go outside and get to the touchline - didn't we see him do that quite a lot in his first handful of games? I think he's felt the pressure and not recovered from the stressful start to the season (fans reactions to the team as a whole, not so much to him) compared to the more mature players or players who have played in England before.
More of a chronic confidence thing, I think, but not in the least surprising. It will come. So long as we're winning and he's getting some minutes and, more importantly, getting the right sort of coaching and psych stuff at Playford Road, it will come. |  |
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| Egeli on 11:54 - Mar 5 with 2495 views | norfsufblue |
I just wish sometimes we'd just try the obvious switch of wings for Egli and Clarke even if just for 10 mins ?... sometimes i think Clarke get a bit worked out with the ball on his right foot trying to run at left sided defenders. Swapping would give both the option on having a go on the outside on their strongest foot. |  | | |
| Egeli on 11:55 - Mar 5 with 2471 views | Churchman |
| Egeli on 11:31 - Mar 5 by Radlett_blue |
Walle has been pushed into our problem position of right wing, to which he is palpably unsuited, for the reasons you suggest. We had Ogbene (cut short by injury), then tried Walle & bought McAteer, presumably because Walle wasn't up to scratch & now dear old Wes Burns is still our best option. I don't know how McKenna saw Walle fitting into our team - while I think he will make a player, it won't be as a right winger & should a championship club have spent £17m on a store player? We also currently have better options in the no.10 position such as Nunes. |
I thought he did ok on Tuesday, from what I could see from the tv screen. He’s a tidy player.
So what do I see that I like about him? Good control, awareness, can pick a pass, knows where the goal is. He’s pretty combative appears to have a good level of fitness and has got involved in the uglier side of the game at times.
What does he lack? Well he hardly has the pace of Leif or Philogene. Aside from that, settling in time and experience. You cannot buy that. I had hoped he’d show more than he has by this stage but people develop at their rate, not on others expectations.
New to a country, new to English football and the brutal ham and egg Championship version at that. Operating in a team that was getting to know each other as part of a squad. Finally, his youth. He looks young and is. He needs time, experience and encouragement.
Unless he becomes target number one for our finest, he will be a good player for us. The transfer fee? That’ll be comfortably recouped. Whether or not we are Championship club is pretty irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. Unless you produce your own players, which we don’t yet, you have to speculate and doing so on players of varying experience, ages (not just ‘ready mades’) seems sensible to me.
In conclusion, Walle’s contribution, fee, potential doesn’t concern me in the least. There are other players who are for me looking like ‘misses’ that do, but that’s the risk of transfer business that every club has. |  | | |
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| Egeli on 11:57 - Mar 5 with 2464 views | HighgateBlue |
| Egeli on 11:49 - Mar 5 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
That QPR game felt like a big moment at the time. I don't want to discredit SWE's performance but since that game I'm not sure the QPR left back has started a game since and has barely featured. I was really hoping that would be a catalyst.
It is a tough one and the fee really doesn't help. If you are the most expensive player in championship history you will be judged against that rightly or wrongly. |
I think it's harsh on the lad (a very young lad) to judge him on what someone paid for him. I also think it's reasonable to the lad to view him as one for the future and allow him time.
I do, however, think it's reasonable for us to judge the Club for having paid so very much money for someone who we are viewing as one for the future, when we're in the Championship and we have spent so very much on other players in that position. |  | | |
| Egeli on 12:08 - Mar 5 with 2392 views | GlasgowBlue |
This would be the same Walle Egeli he brought into the side last week for our midweek game in which he scored?
Burns suffered a serious injury last season. He can't play consecutive games when we are playing Saturday/midweek/saturday. McAteer is seen as a finisher rather than a starter so Sindres inclusion made perfect sense. |  |
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| Egeli on 12:20 - Mar 5 with 2298 views | bsw72 |
Tactically he is being hampered by the fact that the right flank is clearly being asked to stick to the touchline far more than those on the left side, presumably to allow the left sided players the freedom to roam without getting the midfield congested down the centre of the pitch.
Egeli, Burns and to a lesser extent McAteer are adhering to the plan, which I think is hindering the influence all 3 of them can have on a match.
On top of that factor in he is 19, playing in one of the toughest leagues in the world physically and living in a foreign country for the first time - I would imagine that we have yet to see the best of him.
He has shown me enough with his range of passing, and his willingness to run himself into the ground that he certainly has huge potential, but he will need time and support to get the best of him.
Finally, before anyone mentions that we should expect more from someone with that hefty price tag - what the club paid for him was not down to him, and I imagine can weigh heavy on young shoulders, on top of everything else he is learning to cope with. |  | | |
| Egeli on 12:21 - Mar 5 with 2290 views | selondonblue23 |
| Egeli on 12:08 - Mar 5 by GlasgowBlue |
This would be the same Walle Egeli he brought into the side last week for our midweek game in which he scored?
Burns suffered a serious injury last season. He can't play consecutive games when we are playing Saturday/midweek/saturday. McAteer is seen as a finisher rather than a starter so Sindres inclusion made perfect sense. |
I agree that he certainly doesn't look our most threatening player at the minute, but I wonder if there's something deliberate with how we're using him?
I am by no means an expert in tactics etc, but it feels as if the team (certainly at home) is built to cater for the strength of our left side. Egeli comes short, back to goal, keeps the ball, recycles it, is tidy, we condense the pitch and then generally we attempt to shift the ball out to the left for Philogene/Clarke/Davis.
Also worth noting that Furlong, who's doing a very tidy job at RB, is not an over-lapper - which I think contributes to Egeli's lack of threat but also to my general premise that the right of our team keeps things ticking over for the left (generally) to be the threat.
But I do agree he looks short on confidence, and I'd love to see him beat his man on the outside once or twice. I just think there's method to the madness, and I would argue McKenna has shifted his tactics this year to prioritise control - and the way Egeli plays on the right, while not explosive, contributes to that control. [Post edited 5 Mar 12:22]
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| Egeli on 12:28 - Mar 5 with 2234 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Egeli on 11:39 - Mar 5 by franz_tyson |
For me, he should have gone on loan in January. His confidence looks gone. Maybe not down to L1, but back to Scandinavia or another European league. A weaker, but technically good league, like the Eredivisie.
He shouldn't be playing wide right if he can't go outside and get to the touchline.
And he isn't getting in the 10 slot with Mehmeti, Nunez and Akpom around.
Both McAteer and Egeli are struggling a bit, but I'd definitely go with McAteer at the moment. Just because he's more direct like Wes.
If Egeli is a mid to long term project .... is it the right time to play him? He's going backwards, for me. If he is slowly and quietly improving then fine.... but he looks shot of confidence. And a weak link.
It's all right saying be patient, but it's the business end of the season now.
Think he needs to go backwards to go forwards. If we had a kid out of the academy who's struggling like he is.... he'd be sent back to the 21's.
If you take away the 18 million quid wunderkid tag.... is he worth a place in the side? |
I get what you're saying and he hasn't set the world on fire, but I think people are overly judging based on the fee, and the stuff about an academy scholar struggling and being sent back to the under 21s is massively reaching for criticism.
If we had an academy scholar who had held there own in 22 championship games and scored 3 with 1 assist who was in and out of the team with a hugely capable player in his position we'd all be pretty happy and raving about them making a mark and being brought through. Sindre hasn't got that advantage, quite the opposite, he's got people micro examining him, 18 million quid, what's he all about, why's he not doing more etc etc, move him out, change him, he's not good enough. |  | | |
| Egeli on 12:30 - Mar 5 with 2221 views | quad |
| Egeli on 12:08 - Mar 5 by GlasgowBlue |
This would be the same Walle Egeli he brought into the side last week for our midweek game in which he scored?
Burns suffered a serious injury last season. He can't play consecutive games when we are playing Saturday/midweek/saturday. McAteer is seen as a finisher rather than a starter so Sindres inclusion made perfect sense. |
Fair enough.
Do you think the other players give him the ball often enough?
For me, 8 out of 10 times it goes to the left or central, which makes it difficult to impact games if he is getting into good positions but then it's not played to him.
And do other players have doubts about his ability to impact games? Hence Mehmeti choosing to shoot instead of giving it in the Swansea game. | | | |
| Egeli on 12:31 - Mar 5 with 2221 views | EddyJ |
I'm not sure what Egeli is.
He has a good left foot, can cross and shoot. He gets brushed off the ball far too easily. He can't hold it up. He can't take anyone on. He needs to bulk up a lot.
He's not been effective on the right wing. I don't see him being busy and crafty enough to play as a 10. I don't see him being beefy enough to be a 9.
He's not been helped by Furlong's abysmal passing. Yet Burns seems to cope. [Post edited 5 Mar 12:31]
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| Egeli on 12:39 - Mar 5 with 2159 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Egeli on 12:31 - Mar 5 by EddyJ |
I'm not sure what Egeli is.
He has a good left foot, can cross and shoot. He gets brushed off the ball far too easily. He can't hold it up. He can't take anyone on. He needs to bulk up a lot.
He's not been effective on the right wing. I don't see him being busy and crafty enough to play as a 10. I don't see him being beefy enough to be a 9.
He's not been helped by Furlong's abysmal passing. Yet Burns seems to cope. [Post edited 5 Mar 12:31]
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I think thats a fair summary without being particularly critical. He needs sculpting and moulding into something.
Luckily we have one of the best manages in the game for that. | | | |
| Egeli on 13:08 - Mar 5 with 1931 views | franz_tyson |
| Egeli on 12:28 - Mar 5 by Axeldalai_lama |
I get what you're saying and he hasn't set the world on fire, but I think people are overly judging based on the fee, and the stuff about an academy scholar struggling and being sent back to the under 21s is massively reaching for criticism.
If we had an academy scholar who had held there own in 22 championship games and scored 3 with 1 assist who was in and out of the team with a hugely capable player in his position we'd all be pretty happy and raving about them making a mark and being brought through. Sindre hasn't got that advantage, quite the opposite, he's got people micro examining him, 18 million quid, what's he all about, why's he not doing more etc etc, move him out, change him, he's not good enough. |
Its not being overly-critical and whilst it's pointless/nasty to hammer the lad it's also not correct to baby him. This is professional football at a high level.
Being sent back to the 21's isn't a nasty thing .... its an admission that you're not ready yet. And I think Egeli is playing - at the moment - at a too high level. He was better when he arrived and had some bright moments, but I just feel he's finding it more tougher the last 2-3 months. Happy to lower the bar for him so that he can develop and to put in shifts and work hard of the ball.... but he's lost that instinct and seems to be playing within himself and seems weighed down. I'm truly stopped expecting him to do 17 or 18 million quid things .... I just want to see a spark or a bit of x-factor every so often amongst the run of the mill stuff. I genuinely think most are desperate for him to show a bit more. | | | |
| Egeli on 13:11 - Mar 5 with 1921 views | CaptainAhab |
| Egeli on 12:21 - Mar 5 by selondonblue23 |
I agree that he certainly doesn't look our most threatening player at the minute, but I wonder if there's something deliberate with how we're using him?
I am by no means an expert in tactics etc, but it feels as if the team (certainly at home) is built to cater for the strength of our left side. Egeli comes short, back to goal, keeps the ball, recycles it, is tidy, we condense the pitch and then generally we attempt to shift the ball out to the left for Philogene/Clarke/Davis.
Also worth noting that Furlong, who's doing a very tidy job at RB, is not an over-lapper - which I think contributes to Egeli's lack of threat but also to my general premise that the right of our team keeps things ticking over for the left (generally) to be the threat.
But I do agree he looks short on confidence, and I'd love to see him beat his man on the outside once or twice. I just think there's method to the madness, and I would argue McKenna has shifted his tactics this year to prioritise control - and the way Egeli plays on the right, while not explosive, contributes to that control. [Post edited 5 Mar 12:22]
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Yeah, exactly. To me it looks like he's been asked to do a neat and tidy job and is doing it fairly well and popping up with the odd goal now and then too. With added time and confidence I'm sure he'll add a lot more flair to his game.
I know long term he's viewed as a 10 but with his first touch and finishing I wonder if he could be a lethal 9 with a bit of bulking up. | | | |
| Egeli on 13:44 - Mar 5 with 1734 views | N2_Blue |
Definitely a confidence thing for me.
You can see it in his body language when something doesnt come off for him.
He seems a quiet lad, he's young and in a foreign country so not surprising but the smiles that were there earlier in the season have gone and he seems a bit on his own at times in off pitch footage. Clearly a player who needs an arm around him and think he will come good.
I think he had his best understanding and link up with Szmodics when he was here so him moving on probably also hasn't helped.
I hope the fans stick with him. He’s different to other players we have and there is a player in there bursting to come out in my opinions. Im also of the thinking that he would be more effective in the PL by what i see from his style of play. Ive not totally sure why but have seem others say the same.
One to give plenty of time. He has the ability, he is young but groans when he gets something wrong won’t help a player who thrives on confidence. I think generally the fans have actually been quite supportive to him and hope it stays that way. [Post edited 5 Mar 13:46]
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| Egeli on 13:47 - Mar 5 with 1703 views | Illinoisblue |
| Egeli on 12:39 - Mar 5 by Axeldalai_lama |
I think thats a fair summary without being particularly critical. He needs sculpting and moulding into something.
Luckily we have one of the best manages in the game for that. |
Absolutely no doubt KM will get the best of him. And yet still quite astonishing we paid 18miilion for a young player and it’s not in any way obvious what his best/natural position is. |  |
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| Egeli on 13:47 - Mar 5 with 1698 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Egeli on 13:44 - Mar 5 by N2_Blue |
Definitely a confidence thing for me.
You can see it in his body language when something doesnt come off for him.
He seems a quiet lad, he's young and in a foreign country so not surprising but the smiles that were there earlier in the season have gone and he seems a bit on his own at times in off pitch footage. Clearly a player who needs an arm around him and think he will come good.
I think he had his best understanding and link up with Szmodics when he was here so him moving on probably also hasn't helped.
I hope the fans stick with him. He’s different to other players we have and there is a player in there bursting to come out in my opinions. Im also of the thinking that he would be more effective in the PL by what i see from his style of play. Ive not totally sure why but have seem others say the same.
One to give plenty of time. He has the ability, he is young but groans when he gets something wrong won’t help a player who thrives on confidence. I think generally the fans have actually been quite supportive to him and hope it stays that way. [Post edited 5 Mar 13:46]
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I'm not sure that playing against stronger, quicker and better full backs in the prem would benefit him at all. | |
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| Egeli on 13:52 - Mar 5 with 1651 views | Vaughan8 |
He still very young. He's moved to a new country, new team, new league which all can take its toll on someone. There are more hig profile/better players who take time to adapt.
I have to say, i'm surprised at how weak his shots are. He's got plenty of time to improve. However, i'm not sure if going up to the PL will help him do this. I suspect he'll be loaned out somewhere. | | | |
| Egeli on 13:54 - Mar 5 with 1633 views | TractorWood |
| Egeli on 12:31 - Mar 5 by EddyJ |
I'm not sure what Egeli is.
He has a good left foot, can cross and shoot. He gets brushed off the ball far too easily. He can't hold it up. He can't take anyone on. He needs to bulk up a lot.
He's not been effective on the right wing. I don't see him being busy and crafty enough to play as a 10. I don't see him being beefy enough to be a 9.
He's not been helped by Furlong's abysmal passing. Yet Burns seems to cope. [Post edited 5 Mar 12:31]
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Agree. He's clearly talented and has great vision etc.
I just wonder how we managed to justify paying so much money for someone who appears talented but has no real obvious, consistent use for us. |  |
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| Egeli on 14:30 - Mar 5 with 1494 views | RichOBlue |
For me his biggest issue is his lack of intensity, if we could put his and mcateer’s good bits together we could have a £30 million winger!!! |  |
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| Egeli on 14:40 - Mar 5 with 1441 views | naa |
| Egeli on 11:55 - Mar 5 by Churchman |
I thought he did ok on Tuesday, from what I could see from the tv screen. He’s a tidy player.
So what do I see that I like about him? Good control, awareness, can pick a pass, knows where the goal is. He’s pretty combative appears to have a good level of fitness and has got involved in the uglier side of the game at times.
What does he lack? Well he hardly has the pace of Leif or Philogene. Aside from that, settling in time and experience. You cannot buy that. I had hoped he’d show more than he has by this stage but people develop at their rate, not on others expectations.
New to a country, new to English football and the brutal ham and egg Championship version at that. Operating in a team that was getting to know each other as part of a squad. Finally, his youth. He looks young and is. He needs time, experience and encouragement.
Unless he becomes target number one for our finest, he will be a good player for us. The transfer fee? That’ll be comfortably recouped. Whether or not we are Championship club is pretty irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. Unless you produce your own players, which we don’t yet, you have to speculate and doing so on players of varying experience, ages (not just ‘ready mades’) seems sensible to me.
In conclusion, Walle’s contribution, fee, potential doesn’t concern me in the least. There are other players who are for me looking like ‘misses’ that do, but that’s the risk of transfer business that every club has. |
That's a very generous appraisal of Tuesday I'd say.
From my viewpoint, he got the ball, cut inside and laid it back to Furlong or midfield 95% of the time.
Didn't lose the ball much, but also didn't add anything.
Had a couple of moments but he shot into a defender two yards away a couple of times - something that is his forte.
I like the lad and he has shown glimpses of skill to make me think he'll come good - he is very young after all - but he's not adding much for the team at the moment.
Not his fault, but our wings currently have people on their wrong foot who cut inside - Walle Egeli, Philogene and Clarke - which is making us pretty easy to defend against. Clarke was pretty ineffective Tuesday as well. He drives inside much more purposefully than Walle Egeli but there rarely seems to be a plan, he just keeps going until he manages to get a shot away or loses it. | | | |
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