Memo to Eddie

Would point out that imho last night Ibe was the only one who showed real skill and inventiveness as an attacker. Admittedly, it was in isolated patches and, clearly, he isn’t in the first choice xi but credit to the guy. One great move down the wing was met by a dreadful volley by Lewis cook that went straight out for a thrown in near from where the cross came from.

Plus when we thought the game was abandoned he was only one to come over to applaud the fans (I think that is true but as it was dark I may have missed others).

His performance was pretty near to his mean or expected level. Others seriously under performed!
 
AFCBade said:
Would point out that imho last night Ibe was the only one who showed real skill and inventiveness as an attacker. Admittedly, it was in isolated patches and, clearly, he isn’t in the first choice xi but credit to the guy. One great move down the wing was met by a dreadful volley by Lewis cook that went straight out for a thrown in near from where the cross came from.

Plus when we thought the game was abandoned he was only one to come over to applaud the fans (I think that is true but as it was dark I may have missed others).

His performance was pretty near to his mean or expected level. Others seriously under performed!
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...yeah that shot by Lewis Cook summed up his awful performance on the night...and Ibe was trying to attack at least, although still running into defenders and losing the ball often!
 
Garbo said:
...yeah that shot by Lewis Cook summed up his awful performance on the night...and Ibe was trying to attack at least, although still running into defenders and losing the ball often!
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Yes, really strange by Lewis. As I said, Ibe consistent with mean/expected level of performance! To be fair little movement off the ball to him to release the ball quicker.
 
AFCBade said:
Yes, really strange by Lewis. As I said, Ibe consistent with mean/expected level of performance! To be fair little movement off the ball to him to release the ball quicker.
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Agreed, I gave him a 5 because of his desire to get forward, which was not shared by most of the rest of the team
 
How about converting Solanke to a 4th choice CH, and then flog him off to some mug Midlands club for a tidy profit.

Only kidding of course, hopefully he'll get a goal or 2 and gain confidence. He does seem to be better playing a deeper role
 
Don't know why as may be just blind faith but think Solanke will come good. Too many attributes such as quick feet, aerial ability, pace and awareness. Most of his goals for England U21 from what I saw were from quick through balls from Lewis Cook (another reason why think he will come good once LC back up and fully running). Problem is that he is more like callum ie a no 9 and would probably therefore partner better with Josh who is slightly different in terms of attributes.
Ibe, would love him to come good as do think he cares and wants it. Def needs to be a no10 with no defensive responsibility where he can go both right and left but think competition for places and team structure under EH mean unlikey ever to happen....also do worry he lacks a football brain despite def ability hence not seeinh a pass or always trying to beat people twice
 
Red_Dez said:
Completely agree with this, as a number 10 I think he could do a great job but the problem is I would rather see an attacking line up of Wilson, King, Brooks, Fraser so it’s the bench and cup games only for him unless there are injuries.....even then, the games where we switch to those Variations of 5-4-1/3-5-2 I’d prefer 3 out of the 4 listed above as my attacking players.
Hopefully Eddie has him watching videos of Yann Kermorgant after training, although for that to work we would also need a few more crosses chucked in.....
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Except when we played the 3 available against Sheff Utd everyone bemoaned there was no link and they were isolated.

Last two games Solanke has played well and contributed to two wins, so maybe that is the way forward?
 
Garbo said:
...it is puzzling how a team of talented players, and we have to concede that most of them would be easily able to hold down first team places in a Championship side at the very least...put in individual and team performances like that against, whatever is said about fighting spirit etc, a team like Burton who, credit to them, thoroughly turned us over!
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I think we often underestimate the degree to which football is a team sport.
The "team" part of it means that a real team is far more than the sum of its 11 parts. In fact, that "teamness" is probably the equivalent of having 1 or 2 extra men on the pitch.
 
Ibe’s had over three years here, surely only the most deluded Rantie-worshippers still think he has anything positive to offer us.:grinning:

Solanke is an interesting enigma. Is he better than Mousset who we’ve let go?

I could see him scoring a hatful in the Championship feeding off quick through balls or doing a job as a hold-up man using his strength to shield and then lay off to others.

But that’s not the way we (or most others) play in the PL.

I think he has a good touch and decent awareness but it’s difficult to see a role up front for him at the moment especially alongside Wilson.

The PL isn’t the place to experiment but part of me wonders whether he’d be good in a more defensive role.
 
Solanke looks like the closest thing we've had to a PL Kermorgant since we went up. That's how we've been using him recently and I think he's done the role pretty well. Unfortunately I don't think he'll ever be a top goalscorer but that doesn't mean he won't "come good".
 
Grumpy G said:
Ibe’s had over three years here, surely only the most deluded Rantie-worshippers still think he has anything positive to offer us.:grinning:

Solanke is an interesting enigma. Is he better than Mousset who we’ve let go?

I could see him scoring a hatful in the Championship feeding off quick through balls or doing a job as a hold-up man using his strength to shield and then lay off to others.

But that’s not the way we (or most others) play in the PL.

I think he has a good touch and decent awareness but it’s difficult to see a role up front for him at the moment especially alongside Wilson.

The PL isn’t the place to experiment but part of me wonders whether he’d be good in a more defensive role.
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Re Mousett being let go, I read that we wanted him to sign a new contract but he wouldn’t sign as wanted more first team football. Thus,best to maximise transfer fee now rather than free agent in a year’s time.

Worth adding that moussett was hugely disappointing last season in contrast to real promise in 17/18. Thus paying £5-9m net extra (if his £19m cost included big Clyne loan fee) to upgrade to Solanke is a good deal imho. Solanke had a very good game vs Everton and is maybe finding 2 to 3 games a week in a demanding role a challenge after long injury issues.
 
As Solanke is perceived as a striker, when he plays the no. 10 role and doesn’t score he will get stick. There are lots of no. 10’s with very average goal scoring records who, because they are perceived as a midfielder, get nowhere near the same level of stick.

With Solanke, part of it is people having a better understanding of the role he plays. I can’t help thinking though, if we are going to play someone in that role, and if scoring goals isn’t a vital part of that role, why not play a specialist no. 10 rather a striker out of position?
 
Tinpot Club said:
As Solanke is perceived as a striker, when he plays the no. 10 role and doesn’t score he will get stick. There are lots of no. 10’s with very average goal scoring records who, because they are perceived as a midfielder, get nowhere near the same level of stick.

With Solanke, part of it is people having a better understanding of the role he plays. I can’t help thinking though, if we are going to play someone in that role, and if scoring goals isn’t a vital part of that role, why not play a specialist no. 10 rather a striker out of position?
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I think David brooks would do that role very well rather than playing wide.
 
canadiancherry said:
I think we often underestimate the degree to which football is a team sport.
The "team" part of it means that a real team is far more than the sum of its 11 parts. In fact, that "teamness" is probably the equivalent of having 1 or 2 extra men on the pitch.
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...but they train together and are professional footballers, if they were called upon to play in the PL games they would have to perform much better than they have shown in the cup matches...I think that the excuses being made for our cup defeats don't help either. Dyche got stuck into them when he openly criticised his back up players when they lost in the cup...maybe we are just too easy with them sometimes? Eddie when he states that he has to rest players, then he should expect more support from those who he brings in to play in these cup matches...let's not forget that we are not exactly pitching them against the top teams!
 
Garbo said:
Dyche got stuck into them when he openly criticised his back up players when they lost in the cup...maybe we are just too easy with them sometimes?
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There’s a difference between what managers say publicly and what they say privately. Obviously different managers have different styles but I can’t help thinking calling out players in public is more about appeasing fans (and these days the media) than actually having any net benefit on the players.
 
Neil Dawson said:
I totally agree.

Solanke is not the closest thing to Kermorgant unless I need to go to spec savers. He is the closest thing to Mousset without the odd goal.
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The “odd” goal is a fair description.

3 goals in 1,201 Premier League minutes.

I’d be very surprised if Solanke had those stats in 2 years time.
 
Tinpot Club said:
There’s a difference between what managers say publicly and what they say privately. Obviously different managers have different styles but I can’t help thinking calling out players in public is more about appeasing fans (and these days the media) than actually having any net benefit on the players.
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I wouldn't want us to be under the Dyche methods, I was just using it to show the other end of the spectrum and speculate that our players are lucky but are they too lucky for their own good sometimes?
 
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