I'm starting to wonder if Soldado will pick up his form this season. I've got a feeling we'll have to wait 'til next season to (hopefully) see the man we shelled a shed load of money on. Sometimes I just think players are unable to get out of a sticky spell and the only way they can push on is in a new season having had time to rest, heal and get their head back in the right frame of mind - a clean slate. Similar to Walker last season, he was head and shoulders our worst player and was very lucky to keep his place, yet this season, you'd have to say he's been one of our best.
I don't really understand the thinking about Kaboul. Yes, he's shown signs of being a top player, but he's had terrible injury problems and whenever he's come back he's been well off the pace. When's the last time he actually had a good game? I fear we're never really going to see him at his best again
The only reason i'm defending Soldado is because I've been impressed by the fact he still works hard for the team and there have been numerous times when he has been unlucky not to score, plus there is ability there and I just hope he finds some form. But the worry is he could be like Shevchenko, who was a fantastic striker, moved here and is a flop, he never settled. Definitely agree re Walker, he has stepped up this season, in the past he was as much a liability as any of our defenders, yet hes improving. Still not all there as he has had some shocking games, especially for England but there is improvement and if players are improving then they should be praised.
I don't think it's just signs we've seen, Kaboul is a top player in my opinion. In fairness to Younes, his first league start this season (I think) came against City at Etihad which probably isn't the best of games to bring an injured defender back in too. Since he re-joined the club he's looked really impressive and the 11/12 season was where he really excelled and in my opinion established himself as one of the league's best CB's. A fit Kaboul is better than any CB we have and so on that basis, the moment the club and he feels he's ready to come back, I'd like to see him in the starting XI. No doubt Bobby is immensely talented, at the start of the season it looked as though we bagged a 20-25 goal a season striker. His movement was (and at times still is) first class and overall just looked as though he'd be a great signing. But as weeks and months have gone by, I think he's looked considerably worse which is a concern for me. No doubt his confidence is shot to **** which really isn't helping and if anything, having Ade back on form has made him to look "worse" than what he's actually been. Ade's come back from obscurity to become our most key player alongside Eriksen and so the team are looking to play to Ade's strengths, which includes Soldado and therefore I think he's getting into less and less goal scoring positions due to the fact he's trying to do his best for Ade. WHEN he's been in a goal scoring position, more often than not he's not even tested the keeper as he keeps dragging shots wide.
I fear Kaboul will never be fully fit again,if it is the same injury as Ledley's,which they say it is
I think they said it is the same but they discovered it early, so presumably meaning that once he's actually fit, they can deal with him better than what they could with Ledley.
I read once that Lennon also had the same thing. If i remember correctly its non uncommon amongst black sports people. If caught early it can be dealt with. I have no source for this info, just something i recall reading so could be bs.
Didn't know that about Lennon, though it would make sense, he's had his fair share of injuries, usually related to knee problems if I remember rightly.
Soldado has been a classic "do everything but score" in recent games. He just needs one of those off your backside flukes to get his confidence back.
He looked to get his confidence back in the Anzhi game, both in terms of banging a few goals in as well as the interplay with Townsend - and then it went again very quickly. We probably should've brought him on in the COC game instead of Holtby (and several players seemed to agree) to keep his confidence up, but we didn't.
A lot will depend on who we've got available for this one imo. We're without a recognised striker at present, with both Lukaku & Traore out injured. I'm hoping that Coleman & Deulofeu will be back in the squad, as both are potential match winners. Barkley should be OK & I'm looking forward to seeing how McGeady will do against quality opposition.
That's debatable at times when considering Spurs Didn't know Traore was injured, was that from training or did you guys know he was injured pre-signing him? Coleman I'd be worried about, I've seen flashes from Deulofeu but the form Coleman has been in this season, it'd be a blessing for us if he's still ruled out. Coleman running from fullback down the wing at Rose will scare the **** out of me.
He was signed with a hamstring strain mate, not sure quite when he's due to be fit, but doubt he'll be ready for this weekend. Coleman has been great this season, he's really come on under Martinez & has added goals to his repertoire. He's been outshining Baines, who imo is the best left back in the country, so that says it all really. Deulofeu is a real talent, raw, greedy & a already has a massive ego, but will develop into a very special player, as he has that something special. If you're worried about Rose facing Coleman, you might want to change your kecks if you see young Gerard warming up mate
Oh right. He's a good player Traore, will be a handful if he gets accustomed to the Prem quickly. He's like Crouch, except he's actually good at football. Coleman's probably been the best performing RB in the League this year, I'm a big fan of Zabaleta but I think Coleman's excelled beyond anyone's expectations. Baines is without a doubt the best LB in the Prem. Yeah I've seen a few clips of Deulofeu, looks like he has skill in abundance. Have you guys got a clause inserted where you can buy him if he impresses or is he definitely returning to Barca at the end of the season? Mate, to be honest, when anyone runs at Rose I get the ****s lol.
No mate, not a chance. Barca put a buyout clause of circa £30m in his new contract & have no intention of letting him leave. As an 18 year old last season he scored 18 goals from the wing for Barca B. They're talking about him being a future first team star for them, albeit there is a chance that he might spend a 2nd season with us, but that won't be decided until the summer.
Problem for any attack minded youngster at Barca though is where do they fit in? Pedro, Messi, Neymar and Sanchez all have plenty of years left in them and then there's Tello who's next in line. Even as talented as someone like Deulofeu is, you'd have to look at those names and realistically say is he getting any consistent first team football any time soon? I'd doubt it to be honest unless Martino decides to give youth a chance over experience. If a 2nd loan option arises for him he should definitely take it. It's worth noting too that Barca have been known for doing buy-back deals in the past so depending on how optimistic Deulofeu feels about his chances of getting into the first team at Barca are, that could be an idea for Everton to put forward.
That's what we're hoping the Barca management think & therefore let him stay with us for a 2nd season. His career would be better served playing first team football for us next season rather than getting an occasional place on Barca's bench. I can't see them doing a buyback on this lad, as they highly covet him. So much so, that they insisted he went back to Barca for them to oversee his treatment when he did his hamstring.
Yeah no doubt, I can't see why they wouldn't sanction a second loan to you guys unless they feel he needs first team football in La Liga and therefore send him somewhere there. Otherwise keeping him on the bench is no good to anyone. In fairness to the treatment part, a lot of parent clubs like nurturing their loanee players back to full fitness. We do it all the time with our lads (albeit they don't have an international flight to make!).
Townsend and Dembele are available for this one, according to Sherwood. I'm hoping that at least one of them starts, perhaps even both. Capoue needs to start and Bentaleb needs to make way, in my opinion.
