My "problem" with Ely (I'm not sure if problem is the right word though, because it sounds too negative) is that he has seemingly been signed at the wrong time for us.
After a year or two, he might turn out to be a real gem. The next cab off the rank to sold on for £30+. Absolutely no way I am writing him off after just three months. It's far too early for that, and he has shown the odd piece of quality. But we're not a side who is safely tucked away in mid-table (or better) and can afford to give such time to a player who in theory we're looking it as being one of our primary creative threats. We've had two years of attacking failure, the second of which should have cost us our place in the PL, and we've duly followed that up by selling Tadic - the player who arguably we our most indebted to for keeping us up in the those final two months.
We don't need someone who might (or might not) come good in a year or two. We need someone to hit the ground running from the word go. And ideally with a bit of pace. Even if it's just a six or eight game purple patch like Gabbi had, that could be enough to raise the confidence and belief in the players (and fans) which can then be carried on for longer.
Look at Redmond. After PEH, I would suggest he's been our best player this season (even though he doesn't have the goals and assists to show for it). He's a different player this year. But it's taken two years. And they've been a pretty awful two years, in part because we haven't had the quality elsewhere in the squad to cover for Redmond not contributing. I'm not sure we have another two years in us, to wait for Ely. We'll probably be in the Championship by then.
Basically, Ely might be the right player - but at the wrong time.
then I shall get it up this evening .
..
