Anthony Elanga

[Ikon]

5 minutes ago, ads said:

I find it a bit mad, some of the apathy towards Elanga. 

 

If Kubo or Bakayoko played for Forest and Elanga's highlight reel was with Real Sociedad or PSV, we'd probably want him over the others.

Only by some…. 

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

Wingers give the ball away all the time though. I would imagine that the most creative wingers often give the ball away the most.

Bournemouth pressed Bruno, Schar and Burn and goals came from those presses. Brighton in the fa cup looked to press in wide areas particularly targeting Murphy but nearly always in our defensive third or half. You’ll note against Liverpool in the cup final we looked to clear the ball rather than play out and then win the second ball.
 

The problems we have faced against Everton and West Ham were much more to do with the defenders not being able to match up

with the opposition attackers than anything else.

 

Playing a 4-3-3 will leave us vulnerable to the press but also able bypass it (see league cup

final). It’s a system issue as much as personnel, if we sign better quality of players and increase our depth we will get over the line in the more difficult games without reinventing the wheel. 
 

I simply make the point that Elanga will give teams a different problem to think about than Murphy (whose numbers this season would have him as one of the most creative wingers in the league) and may help us gain greater effect in the way that we play our most effectively. 

 

[jackflap]

27 minutes ago, elbee909 said:

 

 

I'll use Olise as an example, he's the absolute ideal profile of player, they were in for him and missed out to Bayern Munich and if not Munich then he would've went to Chelsea. Left footers are rare so by the time a ready made option is available the market is crowded and unfortunately Newcastle aren't at the stage yet where they can compete with the usual suspects. There's a reason why it's been nearly 4 years since the takeover and they still haven't addressed the position. Think they need to be constantly firing shots at the position and hope one hits.

[TRon]

2 hours ago, andycap said:

You know what I mean mate when we can't break a side down. 

Technical winger would probably be the better option off the right hand side too mix our attacks up. 

 

For that I reckon we need to look outside the English market, or our PL proven strategy. Those players cost a fortune, we'd be better paying big money for top talent on the continent or South America. 

[ExiledGeordie]

I can see him being lethal away from home but don’t see him breaking teams down at home. Still if he’s who Eddie wants (if this is the case) then so be it. I still think it might be a left field signing out of nowhere at LW.

[Collage]

15 hours ago, Erikse said:

Players who failed at Man Utd are not very popular around here. I don't mind this one that much. As allways Howe will train him well.

Love players who fail at Man U me

[bobbydazzla]

Elanga is a winger and this thread is full of whingers 

 

Lovely stuff 

 

 

 

 

 

[ExiledGeordie]

Just now, bobbydazzla said:

Elanga is a winger and this thread is full of whingers 

 

Lovely stuff 

 

 

 

 

 

😂

[TRon]

1 minute ago, bobbydazzla said:

Elanga is a winger and this thread is full of whingers 

 

Lovely stuff 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GEFAFWISP]

More I think about the more I want it. Possession is and always will be for fannies. He perfectly fits the "progress vertically quickly" mantra we have, we don't play for possession's sake, we seek to hurt immediately and his speed will only help that. Tonali and Bruno will be loving his runs...and the kicker, if Eddie wants him, I now want him 

[Ikon]

6 minutes ago, GEFAFWISP said:

More I think about the more I want it. Possession is and always will be for fannies. He perfectly fits the "progress vertically quickly" mantra we have, we don't play for possession's sake, we seek to hurt immediately and his speed will only help that. Tonali and Bruno will be loving his runs...and the kicker, if Eddie wants him, I now want him 

Being good in possession and ball retention and controlling games better doesn’t mean that your team is playing possession just for the sake of it like Man City do. 

[GEFAFWISP]

1 minute ago, Ikon said:

Being good in possession and ball retention and controlling games better doesn’t mean that your team is playing possession just for the sake of it like Man City do. 

I mean yeah but it's for fannies.

[Kilcline]

9 minutes ago, GEFAFWISP said:

More I think about the more I want it. Possession is and always will be for fannies. He perfectly fits the "progress vertically quickly" mantra we have, we don't play for possession's sake, we seek to hurt immediately and his speed will only help that. Tonali and Bruno will be loving his runs...and the kicker, if Eddie wants him, I now want him 

If "Possession is for fannies" isn't a t-shirt it should be 

[Mazzy]

8 minutes ago, GEFAFWISP said:

More I think about the more I want it. Possession is and always will be for fannies. He perfectly fits the "progress vertically quickly" mantra we have, we don't play for possession's sake, we seek to hurt immediately and his speed will only help that. Tonali and Bruno will be loving his runs...and the kicker, if Eddie wants him, I now want him 

 

There's absolutely an argument to be made that Peps way of playing is on the way out. So if Howe is looking to double down on the transitional style of play then obviously Elanga is perfect for that, as is Trafford and Guehi. Doesn't help us with the problem we've had so much this season though, breaking down teams who sit back in a low block. 

[HayDen Traces]

Elanga would be a great signing for us. I hope we get this one done

[The College Dropout]

3 hours ago, sushimonster85 said:

 

Isn't the same true for Mbeumo last season, both for goals and assists? And people in here were clamouring for him before he decided on Man U.

Yes and it’s part of the argument to not sign  him for such figures. He’s also had better underlying numbers in previous seasons. 
 

Also Elanga’s over performance is in assists something he has less control of than Mbeumo’s goals. It speaks to Chris Wood and co more than Elanga. 
 

But yeh fundamentally there’s an argument that he’s also overpriced which is why we aren’t going in for him. 

3 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

Howeh, you just like most of us and probably more than most love a bit of armchair scouting, then as soon as it's "who should we sign then?" this is the response. 

If I give names of foreign based players you’ll say ‘have you seen more than a comp and a few stats?’ Or the odd CL game. It’s a lose lose debate.  
 

Are there better wingers available in world football than Elanga. Of course. You won’t believe me if I say that French lad is one of them.  So what’s the point in the convo?

 

FWIW Elanga fits the Howe test in profile. He fails my test though.  

3 hours ago, Crimson Cardigan said:

We’re not scouts but that doesn’t stop us writing off players in the premier league based on all kinds of personal bias/ignorance. Can’t have it both ways.

We’ve all seen Elanga tbf. The response would be different with Cunha.  

[The College Dropout]

I don’t want to see anyone arguing about keeping possession being woke talk about needing a ball playing GK. 

[Virtua Stiva]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I don’t want to see anyone arguing about keeping possession being woke talk about needing a ball playing GK. 

 

Give owa, you’d argue in an empty room 

[Geordie Ahmed]

Those that want more technical players aren't saying it so we can build a side to just pass the ball about but in different phases of the game being able to hold on the ball is useful, especially under pressure

 

When we are under the cosh (like we were when Chelsea were all over despite having a man less) the ball doesn't stick with our wide players, quickly gets turned over and we are on the back foot

 

Similarly I want a keeper that's comfortable with the ball at his feet, not so he can play daft little passes like Ramsdale at Southampton but to be an option when our CB's have the ball and are being pressed, control the ball and launch it long if needs be instead of Pope slicing it out for a goal kick

[nufc123]

2 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Those that want more technical players aren't saying it so we can build a side to just pass the ball about but in different phases of the game being able to hold on the ball is useful, especially under pressure

 

When we are under the cosh (like we were when Chelsea were all over despite having a man less) the ball doesn't stick with our wide players, quickly gets turned over and we are on the back foot

Well said.

[TRon]

26 minutes ago, Virtua Stiva said:

 

Give owa, you’d argue in an empty room 

 

 

 

[TRon]

6 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Those that want more technical players aren't saying it so we can build a side to just pass the ball about but in different phases of the game being able to hold on the ball is useful, especially under pressure

 

When we are under the cosh (like we were when Chelsea were all over despite having a man less) the ball doesn't stick with our wide players, quickly gets turned over and we are on the back foot

 

Similarly I want a keeper that's comfortable with the ball at his feet, not so he can play daft little passes like Ramsdale at Southampton but to be an option when our CB's have the ball and are being pressed, control the ball and launch it long if needs be instead of Pope slicing it out for a goal kick

 

 

I"m assuming most on here watched the CL final. That was a masterclass in passing football but done to a purpose. PSG were great at retaining the ball at the back and evading the press, then launching devastating counter attacks. They also had players with enough craft and ability to hold the ball when trying to break down a packed defence. That's what we should be aiming for, not tiki taki football for the sake of it. 

[joeyt]

2 hours ago, andycap said:

Considering kvaratskalia went for 60 million euros last summer the prices been quoted for players no way near as good as him shows how dear the English Market is. 

 

Wasn't it 80 million and it was in the winter?

[SUPERTOON]

26 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Those that want more technical players aren't saying it so we can build a side to just pass the ball about but in different phases of the game being able to hold on the ball is useful, especially under pressure

 

When we are under the cosh (like we were when Chelsea were all over despite having a man less) the ball doesn't stick with our wide players, quickly gets turned over and we are on the back foot

 

Similarly I want a keeper that's comfortable with the ball at his feet, not so he can play daft little passes like Ramsdale at Southampton but to be an option when our CB's have the ball and are being pressed, control the ball and launch it long if needs be instead of Pope slicing it out for a goal kick

Exactly this. Chelsea game you mentioned was a perfect example. Plenty more as well, think about some of our poor second half performances. They don’t happen if we are more comfortable in possession imo.

[Kanj]

12 minutes ago, joeyt said:

 

Wasn't it 80 million and it was in the winter?

Kvara was only going to one place so  sometimes the fee doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s probably worth 100m+ tbh but if he’s only going to pick one team….

 

I thought it was that number too and yes winter.