http://www.bryanruizcr.com/es/notic...-gustan-los-retos-y-nunca-me-echo-para-atras/ http://translate.googleusercontent....atras/&usg=ALkJrhiEjMx-zySsLNdggQfQ5l57mVOFRA I can't read Spanish, but the general gist seems to be that he wanted to go but Fulham couldn't agree a deal so now he'll play in the Championship. Magath has talked positively about him in press conferences so I hope we see him in a Fulham shirt again. We all know his failings and the frustration he causes. However, with the amount of possession we've had in games this season hopefully he can unlock defences more than we've been seeing so far. I guess playing Ruiz reduces the amount of game time for one or two younger players: David. & Eisfeld the obvious ones - and they're more important to Fulham in the long term than he is. Interesting to see what Magath does. The fact that he's been training with the first team suggests that the door is open.
Its a good headache to have I think. Youve got to play him and yes, Chris David will probably make way. He is a quality player that we should be able to play in a position that gets the best out of him. Its no coincidence that he did well on loan earlier this year and had a great world cup too. I even saw him track back on occasion!
Although not a new signing, keeping hold of a player like Ruiz is good for Fulham, no? Or Why didn't other clubs form an orderly queue for his signature? Either way I hope we see him flourish in our team.
I suppose it's a win win situation for both sides if Ruiz has the right attitude like he says he has. I suspect that if he performs well, someone will take a chance on him in January Transfer window.
On one hand it's good to have a quality player in the squad, but I don't think his style and ability are well suited for the game in England or the Championship in particular. I've always thought Ruiz is/was too slow on the ball. He seems to get it, look around for the perfect pass and then (slowly) pass or do a little dribbling. I don't think he'll have time for that in the helter-skelter Championship where you've got about 2 second to get, turn and pass the ball before some 18-year-old takes out your legs. I hope I'm wrong, but I think keeping him is a mixed blessing. He's got some quality, but I don't know if he's suited to life in this league.
I don't even know where I stand on this situation. As you said fulhamish, playing David and Eisfeld is better for Fulham in the long term, but playing Ruiz could help us gain promotion, which unquestionably is better for Fulham in the long term. On the other hand if Chris David plays like he did in the first half against Cardiff all season, will Ruiz actually be that much better? The Championship is the opposite of the type of league Ruiz needs, he'll get so little time on the ball but he will undoubtedly be the most talented player in the league. How can you not play the most talented player in the league, especially when you're struggling? McCormack's runs in behind the defence could see Ruiz flourish, but then again Chris David has been doing well in these situations. It's certainly a conundrum, and a very good one to have. I'd stick with David for now, bringing Ruiz on if we're struggling to unlock defences. If David's form drops then we bring in Ruiz. Magath will probably just go for whichever one's name comes out of the bingo drum first.
Well, we've gone from saying that it's either David or Roberts, to saying it's either David or Ruiz. I don't think Roberts is out of the frame, so maybe it's one of the three at any given time. Like FulhamIreland says, I don't know where I stand on this. As one of the Ruiz apologists from last season, I'd love to see him flourish, but... I'm just not sure. With Hoogland, Parker and Hyndman behind him and McCormack plus a target man in front, he could well flourish. I'd still like to see more of Pat Roberts though.
In line with some of the comments already made here, I'm just no sure. Bryan found the Prem a real challenge, not helped by losing fan support. He could find the Championship more physical and have problems when we are not in possession. But I would love him to score a few goals and lay-on passes that his talent could generate in this league, so let's give him the chance. Less worried about David or Roberts - they'll still get games. COYW
Bryan didn't sound like a Happy Bunny about staying. As DR and FI say he won't get much time on the ball in this League and I doubt if he'll relish that. The main debate here though, is the one we've constantly had about Ruiz - where do you play him? Or if you like, what is his best position? I suppose a positive view this time round is the added dimension - ah, but is he better than x, y or whomever. I'd argue that Ruiz should play in the old "inside left" position but Felix has got McCormack playing there and by bringing in Smith suggests that he going to stick to that. And as others suggest David is currently doing very well in the deeper attacking midfield role. It's been apparent though that David struggles to last 90 minutes (not that he's unfit per se but he seems to use up an awful lot of energy in the first half and run out of stamina). That might be where Bryan has to fit in. As cover.
I have been very critical of Ruiz but acknowledge he was class in the World Cup and played like I had hardly ever seen him do at the Cottage. If he can bring some of that class to the Championship he would be a stand out player and would certainly win the fans back. The article is quite clear in that he really doesn't want to be here, but he seems accepting that it is fate to be so and perhaps this will spur him on to knuckle down and start producing. For his sake i hope so or he will find it hard to attract a big (ish) club after his contract with us runs out. Of course this may have had something to do with a lack of takers. Give it 12 months and they can pick him up for nothing. Why pay us £4 million or so for the privilege of getting him 12 months early?
We have an option of a 12 month extension so they may have to wait 24 months to get him for free. It is possible that the club don't take up the option if we don't get promoted as the extension would see him receiving wages which don't reflect his contribution to the team.
Interesting comments. I agree that the physical nature of the Championship won't suit Bryan. My hope is that by having 50-60% possession most weeks there will be more chance of seeing what he's capable of. If his head is in the right place by 13 September he should at least be on the bench, and hopefully ready to start. I think we know that if he's not up to the physical challenge of the Championship he'll soon get the Holtby treatment from Magath. We have McCormack, Ruiz, Rodallega, Smith, Woodrow, Roberts and Dembele to choose from in attack. This team should now start scoring goals.
Ruiz had an average world cup and people are rating higher due to his goals (one of the them a fluke)... Actually nobody rates him that high as there are no offers... In any case may be if he shifts a gear there might be a use for him. Otherwise let him rot in the reserves and play the youngsters!
What Felix had to say about Pat Roberts earlier today: "This is the right way to develop but I have never said Patrick Roberts will play 46 games this season," Magath said. "I know that he is not ready for the whole season. But he can help us in some cases and he has done very well. "He has been doing well in the second half but if he starts from the beginning he is not always able to show us what he can do." That’s all well and good but what Felix fails to acknowledge is his abysmal team selection v Wolves (the one game that Pat started), especially the midfield and how starved of the ball Roberts was.
Another Bryan article which cobbles together the recent stories and adds a bit about his commitment to us in the Championship - “Now it’s my turn to help the team as much as I can. They have had a tough start after five matches they haven’t been able to win. Well, it’s a hard tournament, I’ll try to provide experience and enthusiasm. Playing in the Championship is not easy. Even though it is the British second division, it can be compared to the first division of countries with top- level soccer. In fact, there have been FA Cup matches where second and third division teams have eliminated Premier League teams.” Full story: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ruiz-vows-honour-fulham-deal-7734135 I’d take this at face value because he seems a decent enough chap. However, whatever his commitment I can’t see him being other than a luxury player. In the Cardiff game McCormack did a lot of covering and defensive work and did it well. But what we need is him in the box - working close to (presumably) Smith. Arguably Bryan could then fill the midfield gap and, in the right circumstances, be effective offensively. Defensively though? We know that just isn’t his game. Back in the day Dembele fulfilled both roles and indeed in my opinion never got full credit for the harrying/chasing/ defensive work he did; work which freed up space for others and/or allowed them time to get back into position. Bryan won’t come anywhere near and, with such an inexperienced team all over the field, the question is whether we can accommodate him? A really difficult one for Felix - a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”
That's a good point, Cottager. The question is - and this is a genuine question, I haven't seen enough of the other players concerned to know the answer - are the other options for playing at the point of the diamond (Roberts, David, Eisfeld I guess) the type to put in the kind of hard-working, harrying defensive performance we can't imagine coming from Bryan? If not, then that makes the case to play Bryan a more persuasive one. I suspect that at least one of that lot will be a better option defensively. I think Felix sees Roberts as an impact sub for now (and I agree, on balance), so Bryan will have to fight for a place with David and Eisfeld. It might be a simple matter of which one clicks first. I'm glad it's not my job to choose between them.
I don't see Ruiz fitting into Felix's system. I just don't. Felix is building a football machine based on fitness, fury and team work. Ruiz has none of those qualities. I suspect Ruiz will be coming off the bench in lost-cause games to try to rescue points for us. But I can't see him starting. And his performance for Costa Rica was merely adequate.
I can see it working if he's behind the striker(s) but it puts pressure on the remaining midfielders to cover. I thought he played well at the world cup.
Actual it is Jol speaking on TalkSport and assuming he's correct, his assertion is that Bryan cost £10m spread over 4 years; £2.5m pa (plus wages) therefore. Not surprising then that we weren't prepared to offload him in the summer for £4m.
For somebody who can sign a pre contract this January to leave us for free we should have been accepting £4 million pounds
