triggs Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 He bottled it way too early, it was clear our midfield option were s****. Nah. He got a move to a better team Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Downie says this deal could still happen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Downie says this deal could still happen Eh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Oh dear I mean that other foreign lad from the US of A of America Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Oh dear I mean that other foreign lad from the US of A of America Dan Marino? Still would be an improvement for us tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paully Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/18/real-sociedad-mikel-merino-premier-league-newcastle-manchester-united-europa-league Mikel Merino was going into battle but at least he had a song to sing. There’s a pause, a smile and he begins, memories of St James’ Park. “He comes from Spain and he’s effing class. In fact, he’s better than Fàbregas: it’s Merino, la, la, la, Merino.” The lyrics haven’t left him, then. None of it has, he says laughing. “What I most take with me, the thing I’ll remember when the years pass, is the fans; the way they lived football.” He recalls Benítez’s “very, very methodical” management. “It’s a pity there was that [difficult] relationship with the owner, that the supporters were unhappy. You could feel it: the players knew. But the fans were spectacular. There’d be the chance to break and they’d go mad. It could be 70 metres from goal and …” Merino’s eyes open wide. “… And they thought we might score. What hurt most about leaving was the fans. I was happy but never quite felt 100% in football terms. And the chance came to go home.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderson Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Absolute Journeyman. I don't know why he wanted to leave after only one season, he really looked like he can turn into a great midfielder. He couldn't dislodge Diame or Shelvey from the side and Rafa never saw him as a 10, which some have noted is the position he plays in for the Spain U21's. So he had a drama queen moment as he was out of the team, off he went when just a bit of patience at 21 would have seen him play a fuck load for us this season, meh. There is a lot of revisionism about this useless slow shit heap of a player, much rather have Longstaff playing, at least he wants to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Such a good player - real shame he left. Our midfield looked immeasurably better with him in it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Well it looked significantly better when Megadiame and Shelvey were pulling the strings, but the potential was obviously there with Merino. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Jinx Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 He started well but got injured and wasn’t quite the same for us after for whatever reason. Rafa didn’t seem that keen on giving him game time, yes he had a release clause but he could have said no, which he might have if his situation had of been different here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Good player. We always seemed to play better the minute he came on. I don't know why Rafa didn't rate him. Maybe a workrate / defending issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Diame becoming an absolute beast the second half of that season kind of ruined his chances Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paully Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Good player. We always seemed to play better the minute he came on. I don't know why Rafa didn't rate him. Maybe a workrate / defending issue. He got an injury and Diame and Shelvey turned undroppable! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 He also got homesick as well which is understandable. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Midfield three of Hamann, Cabaye and Merino would be droolworthy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Midfield three of Hamann, Cabaye and Merino would be droolworthy. Tbf most established PL teams grabbing players from their whole PL history could make an amazing first XI. Personally I'd have Lee or Batty in for Cabaye, though. Always liked Merino, don't think he did enough for long enough to be one of our best 3 though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think Batty & Lee are ahead of all three but that three would be easy on the eye. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjohnson Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think Batty & Lee are ahead of all three but that three would be easy on the eye. I wanna play a game. Batty vs Tiote...who wins? You decide, make your choice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinitely Content Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 He also got homesick as well which is understandable. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Yeah, genuinely seemed like the primary reason he left so early. Iirc he came alone as a 20/21 year old on loan for 6 months before we signed him. Not always easy to settle/transition seamlessly I imagine, couple that with a pretty bad injury and it's no surprise he was longing for Spain/home comforts, particularly being from Pamplona with an opportunity to play for Sociedad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxst Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think Batty & Lee are ahead of all three but that three would be easy on the eye. I wanna play a game. Batty vs Tiote...who wins? You decide, make your choice Tiote in the one in 20 games when he had a stormer. Batty in the other 19 to do the consistent stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinitely Content Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think Batty & Lee are ahead of all three but that three would be easy on the eye. I wanna play a game. Batty vs Tiote...who wins? You decide, make your choice On their day, the pairing of Cabaye and Tiote could be competitive with just about anyone. They were excellent together. Used to start games expecting to win the midfield battle (unless Yaya Toure was involved). Imagine that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinitely Content Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Rooney was having an incredible season and Tiote bullied him out of the game to the point where Fergie just took him off. Was fucking scenes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinitely Content Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Same, I used to show it and wax lyrical about how supreme this performance was to people who had literally 0 interest... and I wonder why I don't have a big friendship circle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 I'd opt for Batty, but with some reluctance. I don't think he made best use of his all-round talent. I actually saw him play for Leeds when he was about 20, and he displayed a lot of skill and creativity on the ball. At some stage of his career, he seemed to opt for a more conservative, defensive role, and to take on the persona of a hard man. He was a better player than he looked, if you get what I mean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Batty and it’s not even close. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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