I know we've had loads of speculation about players coming in to strengthen the midfield but does anyone know if Tettey is now back to full fitness as he was a cracking player for us pre-injury last season and getting him back fully fit would almost be like a new signing.
Think this last point an excellent one that should provoke discussion. Would a fully fit, fully in form Tettey be better than some of the other midfielders we are allegedly targeting?
he looked as though he might be getting a bit of form back towards the end of the season but certainly his injury was an issue. not convinced by him myself - i think he's one of the players who could easily be replaced by someone better
Same, but I do believe that, before his injury, he was not only our best midfielder, but best player (IMO comfortably so). He reminded me of Yaya Toure in several respects, and was instrumental in our victories over Arsenal and Manchester United. Definitely worth keeping.
As I keep saying, to progress we need a strong squad, not just a strong first choice eleven. I don't think we've seen the best of Tettey yet, but we've seen enough to say there are others with less claim to be among the 25.
His passing, in particular, had started to become a little sloppy even before his injury and I recall in an interview he did for the Pink Un him stating that he was finding it difficult getting to grips with the intensity of the Premier League. I remember it taking him several weeks when he first joined to get up to the right level of fitness also. Hopefully this time round, with the benefit of a full pre-season with us, he will be much sharper from the off. He certainly looked promising in the first few weeks he was in the side but whether or not he can maintain that consistency for a longer period of time remains to be seen.
I must admit I wasn't impressed about how he took a shot rather then square the ball off to a free and onside Becchio against Manchester City, it was quite idiotic considering there was a lot of money sat on that result.
Talking purely about his best games for us he has been really good, it was an inconsistent season for nearly everyone, howson was shocking in some games but 2 good games and people talk as if we've got a young steven gerrard. I think he's a good player and if he's on form he'll get in the team the energy he brings is a good tool
He has more strength and pace than Howson and does the job of screening the defence as well as Johnson, but his passing was pretty shocking. Having him and Johnson in the midfield was pretty frustrating at times with their wayward passing (Though I think Johnson improved dramatically over the course of the season). Tettey is a good strong midfield enforcer and he's quick. Always a good option to have.
Couldn't agree more. Will be very interesting to see how he performs this year as I think that fully fit and some slight improvement on his original form he could turn into the first name on the teamsheet.
I'd pick him ahead of Johnson because I think he can generate more attacks and has far superior mobility to chase and break. Johnson needs to carry on improving his passing which definitely got better over last season.
This reflects something I don't think is sufficiently appreciated about Chris Hughton's management, namely his focus on improving the weaker aspects of each player's game. My guess is that if you speak to any player in out squad, they will tell you they have learned a huge amount in the last year and feel more comfortable in formerly weak parts of their game. This process of improvement takes time and doesn't happen overnight, especially when the weaknesses that need addressing are not just individual but how all on the field operate as a unit.
i think johnson was our most improved player last year. i liked him in his first year but after he faded second half of the season, had hoped he would be replaced last summer as i felt his job would be viewed as a short-term, one season fix. i take it all back now! he grew and grew as the season went on and built on a good start, and as pointed out his passing improved and his reading of the game also. he still has his weaknesses but hughton seems to have made him more focused on his position and more consistent, and he's become a very important player for the club. not bad for a freebie!
If you could combine all the best attributes of Alex Tettey and David Fox........But sadly, you can't
I agree with the Johnson statements if he can improve his pass completion rate I'll have no problem with him starting as our defensive midfielder. I've been very impressed with his dedication for keeping fit, his had holidays etc but unlike a lot players he always appears to be training in his spare time on twitter, I respect that.
I think we'd all agree about this, but Johnson is just one example of CH's influence. I think Snodgrass is another whose game perceptibly improved as the season progressed.
It certainly would be a guess. Focus on the weaker parts of their game? I'm finding it incredibly difficult to think of another player who improved an aspect of their play on last year. Johnson definitely improved, Hoolahan, Holt, Martin, Ruddy, Bennett, Pilkington, Jackson? I wouldn't say any of them improved on their weaknesses. Some people might say they got better at their defensive duties, I personally believe the main reason we conceded less was purely a numbers game, as it was the same reason we scored less.
