⚽ UCLR161L: AEK Larnaca 0-2 West Ham Utd (9/3/23)

[Danny's Dyer Acting]

Paquetá also felt his calf when he went through on goal but hopefully he’ll be OK.”[/i]

My respect for Paq just went up. Who among us can't say they've "felt their calf go" when fluffing a one on one?

[Benaloon]

the more we can get at least 2 of lanzini, fornals and benrahma on the pitch at the same time, the better.

[Mod Life Crisis]

Highlight for me last night was a group of younger Lads singing to a certain player when warming up
“We thought you were dead,
We thought you we’re dead,
Maxwell Cornet,
We thought you we’re dead”.

Much prefer the old-style piss-take over the newer vitriol at all costs (regardless of what is actually happening on the pitch).

[Mod Life Crisis]

Apologies, just seen this posted on the Maxwell Cornet thread.

[irving boleyn]

Couldn't see any of the game.

How was Downes?

Yet to see him make a meaningful forward pass.

[Colours never run]

Couldn't see any of the game.

How was Downes?

Yet to see him make a meaningful forward pass.

Was involved in a decent enough 2-0 away win in Cyprus for his 8th successful European winning performance out of 8. He's not doing too bad for his debut season in Europe.

[Puff Daddy]

Couldn't see any of the game.

How was Downes?

Yet to see him make a meaningful forward pass.

I haven't seen anything of him, really , that suggests he is worthy of the shirt Dont want to be unkind, but he shouldn't be at the club. Alright as a Champiobship player, that's what he was before he joined us, but don' t see any special skils to get one off their I would however, keep him if we go down you need players like him in that other league

[Humbug]

Apparently Flynn has had to have stitches in his ankle after the game.

[hammerman11]

slow passing game and never really played that well despite two good ant goals. lanzini fornals slow passing under no pressure.
however we have a good result so we should be happy. however I would like to see us really control a match and score a couple rather than just muddle through.

beat villa and we will be on the up and can play a few youngsters in this one. maybe give rice the night off

[sutts07]

How was Downes?
Yet to see him make a meaningful forward pass.

Watch the highlights on YouTube.
Forward pass to Lanzini which leads to a Fornals effort on goal.
Forward pass to Rice which leads to a Antonio goal.
Forward pass to Lanzini which leads to a Bowen effort on goal.

In just a single 4min highlight edit you will see 3 examples of him keeping the ball well for us and starting off meaningful attacks.

Noble used to get this criticism all the time too, it did my head in.

He also wasn't shy in giving it back to them when they started to dish out some meaty challenges on Bowen and Benrhama.

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

.................

He [Downes] also wasn't shy in giving it back to them when they started to dish out some meaty challenges on Bowen and Benrhama.

One such tackle got him a yellow which means he's out of the return leg.

['stone hammer]

One such tackle got him a yellow which means he's out of the return leg.

A strange sense of pride that I hadn't felt in a while kicked in upon seeing that tackle.

[Denbighammer]

Thought Downes was excellent again. He seems to be aware if his own strengths and weaknesses and doesn't try to be something he isn't.

Watch his head, he is constantly looking around when he's about to receive the ball. He makes good decisions, he likes a tackle (I thought his tackle for the yellow was quite clever, wipes the slate for the QF) and he has real potential.

[irving boleyn]

Watch the highlights on YouTube.
Forward pass to Lanzini which leads to a Fornals effort on goal.
Forward pass to Rice which leads to a Antonio goal.
Forward pass to Lanzini which leads to a Bowen effort on goal.

In just a single 4min highlight edit you will see 3 examples of him keeping the ball well for us and starting off meaningful attacks.

Noble used to get this criticism all the time too, it did my head in.

He also wasn't shy in giving it back to them when they started to dish out some meaty challenges on Bowen and Benrhama.

Really?

Bread and butter passes...

I like his awareness and application but I'm hoping he's capable of more than that.

[sutts07]

Really?

Bread and butter passes...

I like his awareness and application but I'm hoping he's capable of more than that.

Kante made a decent living out of it.

Disclaimer... I am NOT comparing the two! Purely making a point. There are lots of different roles in a team. Downes looks very much like a 'break things up and give the ball to a better player' type of player. We all need them.

[Bubbles Fortuna]

That's the player Downes is, win the ball back, give it to someone else, retain possession. We need that.

[Aztec Hammer]

I was hoping for a bit more dynamism to be honest. Currently he's just a better Conor Coventry. Certainly absurd should there be any suggestion that he can take Declan's place.

I wouldn't want him starting in the Prem based on what I've seen so far. Nice to have him around though as we need some local boys that understand the club and can play in early Cup games and provide some specific energy and discipline off the bench.

[El brooko79]

I was hoping for a bit more dynamism to be honest. Currently he's just a better Conor Coventry. Certainly absurd should there be any suggestion that he can take Declan's place.

I wouldn't want him starting in the Prem based on what I've seen so far. Nice to have him around though as we need some local boys that understand the club and can play in early Cup games and provide some specific energy and discipline off the bench.

What do you mean by dynamism.
For me he sits deep and keeps things ticking along.
Better passes than Soucek - far better imo.
Exactly what we need imo in certain games to build play.

But he isn't gonna win the headers Soucek wins and looks a nailed on yellow in every game.

I do wonder about the headers though. How many headers come from us hoofing it.
If we played on the deck more, would we need to win as many headers ?

[Aztec Hammer]

What do you mean by dynamism.
For me he sits deep and keeps things ticking along.
Better passes than Soucek - far better imo.
Exactly what we need imo in certain games to build play.

But he isn't gonna win the headers Soucek wins and looks a nailed on yellow in every game.

I do wonder about the headers though. How many headers come from us hoofing it.
If we played on the deck more, would we need to win as many headers ?

Dynamism - the ability to be explosive over 5, 10, 15 yards.

Basically one of the main things that makes Declan such a special player.

Flynn looks technically competent and keeps things simple, which is sound, but a lot of players are like this and without anything else, tend to settle into a Championship career. In the Prem, you tend to need that extra. If it isn't dynamic athletic ability, it needs to be a really refined passing skillset etc.

[El brooko79]

Dynamism - the ability to be explosive over 5, 10, 15 yards.

Basically one of the main things that makes Declan such a special player.

Flynn looks technically competent and keeps things simple, which is sound, but a lot of players are like this and without anything else, tend to settle into a Championship career. In the Prem, you tend to need that extra. If it isn't dynamic athletic ability, it needs to be a really refined passing skillset etc.

For me we are looking for more control of the game and that is what I think he brings.
Don't want him bursting forward but holding his position, able to receive the ball and find someone in space.
Congested midfield, being able to receive the ball from Full backs and move it to the other side or to Bowen/Benrahma quickly and accurately.
Our moves break down because if we do find a player it's taken too long and the space has gone.

Hoping for a more athletic and busier (later years) version of mark noble.

To add Lanzini did it well last season. But the trade off of discipline and physicality was too much of a trade off for him to do it in a midfield 2.