Moderator: Gnome
As my recent analysis documented, we accumulate more points, score more goals per game, and concede less goals per game when he is left back vs Cresswell
For me a lot of small, gradual improvements would be better than trying to take giant leaps. Especially at this level, making consistent progress is hard.ChazHammer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:47 pm I agree, achieving this mythical "next level" (I cringe every time I hear this expression) is not easy at all and there is no divine right to get there just because a (in my opinion) very misjudged statement was made about it...seems to have people not only chasing rainbows but believing that they've been cheated for not being able to get their hands on this multi-coloured wonderland...
I'm not talking about the stadium move here, simply that, as the previous poster mentions it's NOT easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it. Spending is not a solution in itself either and recently nearly led us to meltdown...
I may regret having a little faith here...but MAYBE Moyes will climb back onto that Everton horse with us and build us up according to his new youthful approach (hopefully with players that will actually being something to the team that is needed, please!)...or maybe my dreams will fade and die...I'm a pretty positive guy though, so I'm all in until it goes tits up again
After 40 years of following though, I genuinely think we have more potential now (I'm terms of player talent) than at any other previous time (well almost, there was that Rio, Lampard, Defoe era but that didn't exactly work out as planned).
I think we're lacking depth for sure though and am not sure whether we should be a bit dreamy and hope this young Portuguese comes in all bells and whistles (frankly seems risky - not that know anything about him, but based upon young kids coming in from very different leagues and having to deal with the physicality of ours...). Maybe the dull Allen would be the sensible way forward...and hence allow us to take a risk on this kind of youngster...
Yeah, no idea, but things will work themselves out!!!
Yeah, but correlation does not necessarily equal causation!Crouchend_Hammer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:08 pm As my recent analysis documented, we accumulate more points, score more goals per game, and concede less goals per game when he is left back vs Cresswell
That is moot now anyway given we are likely to go five at the back
I would much rather have MAsuaku in that wing back role than Cresswell, that is for sure
Agreed with your post on page 117 but this is an even better one. A lot of people are forgetting we're still in the **** down the wrong end of the table, we need a ball winner, which is exactly the type of player Allen is. Our midfield has been too much of a soft touch down the years. You hit the nail on the head regarding Berge and Fernandes, I've certainly never heard of them before. Just because they have a foreign name and some on here have seen their best bits on a YouTube compilation they think they are better suited than a Joe Allen type. Our next level for now is to be in the Premier League next season. YouTube can play tricks with people's minds. Julien Faubert anyone? He was gash for the majority of his time here.Burnley Hammer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:37 am Any worse than basing an opinion on a couple of YouTube clips and looking up some stats on WhoScored?
There's a lot of people wanting Sander Berge or Fernandes. I'm struggling to believe that they've all spent time watching Genk or Benfica matches.
What makes people so sure that a couple of players that have only played in either the portuguese league or belgian league are going to do the job in the Premier League? Is it wise bringing in players that are going to need at least half a season to settle in when you're actually fighting a relegation battle in the here and now?
Fans tend to think they know a lot... but most of the time they're a little over exitable. Football managers aren't.
I remember a few people on here suggesting Moise Kean during the summer... he's not turned out to well has he? And there was huge disappointment when we didn't go for Dendonker... yet in the end, only Wolves really showed interest and the player looked slow and a bit rubbish for most of his first 12 months in England. That's just two quick examples off the top of my head but it tends to always be the same story whenever we're linked to a continental player. And yet when we're linked to an experienced Premier League player, we all collectively sigh and feel underwhelmed. Check out how many underwhelmed posts there were on the first few pages of the Fabianski thread. I remember suggesting Ings on more than one occassion, and being dismissed as he wasn't good enough. I remember a few being happy at the prospect of signing Zaza. Sometimes we're no better at judging players than Sullivan.
How many established Premier League midfield workhorses would have underwhelmed us had we been linked with them? And yet most of these players have at some point over the last 12 months played in a midfield that dominated ours. We all know deep down that we need players like this - but we can't bring ourselves to actually suggest their unfashionable names so we go looking for fancier names on the continent instead to do exactly the same job. Players that have a much reduced chance of settling in and having a big impact.
Nordtveit was quite highly thought of by Borussia Mönchengladbach fans. They were sad to see him leave. Not a single one of us thought he was going to be as bad as he was. At least with a Joe Allen, you know exactly what you're going to get.
No...Depressed Hammer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:26 pm D. Drinkwater on loan to Villa. Surely he would have been worth a punt on loan?
No way we sell Masuaku given our league position , unless we got a decent left back in return.
Didn't Moyes manage him before? And Manquillo.
Surely, this just highlights the problem if we were to get just Allen. Having both Allen and Noble in the midfield two? I mean, no fan would have failed to noticed how easily overrun we've been in the middle of the park. Having Allen as the backup just means we've would concede physicality, height, the contesting of aerial duels and pace. The very things that we want to address, and have been wanting to address for the last 3-4 seasons now.Turns to Stone wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:20 pm
For example. If you're first choice is Noble and Rice, but Rice gets injured, are you going to replace him with Lanzini? Would you be able to play the same way and style of defensive and attacking football that you would by just bringing in Lanzini for Rice.
Are we believing Moyes is in 100% control of ins and outs?Turns to Stone wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:30 pm If Moyes wants to play 3 at the back, selling Masuaku would be an odd decision.
Being linked with a string of free/lo-cost full backs/wing backs who can play both sides - Valencia, Manquillo, Rafael.... all known to the manager.Turns to Stone wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:30 pm If Moyes wants to play 3 at the back, selling Masuaku would be an odd decision.
bubbles1966 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:43 pm Their problem is that the next level is actually only 7th-9th - and they can't even manage that. Their problem since 2016 hasn't been unreasonable fan expectation in relation to Manchester City, but entirely reasonable expectation compared to Leicester, Wolves and Southampton.
The club is under-performing with them in charge.
Honestly think he could become something of a cult hero like Ginge if Allen did sign. Such is his strong work ethic.chigwells finest wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 9:21 pm why not ask the opinion of james Collins, whether he thinks joe allen would be a good buy for west ham ?
