Anthony Elanga

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

Putting aside his awful attempts at crosses because he hasn't got a usual through the middle striker to hit (that doesn't seem to be affecting Murphy mind) his inability to control a football is a bigger factor to me.

Symptomatic of a wider trend unfortunately. Clubs will gamble on players who have high athletic traits and bet that they can teach them technique and decision making, awareness. I don’t think they can personally. He’s an elite tier athlete but lacks a lot of fundamentals you’d expect at professional level. 

[The College Dropout]

7 minutes ago, madras said:

His lack of touch (which Im not sure of as so much has so far come behind him) might be mitigated by him getting the ball into his path

Yeh maybe.  For a club with top 6 ambitions and for £55m I expected better 

[Toon1984]

Elanga needs to come on off the bench for now.

[madras]

1 minute ago, Toon1984 said:

Elanga needs to come on off the bench for now.

Thought he started today so Murphy starts on Tuesday. Same with Joelinton/Ramsey.

[Wallsendmag]

6 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Yep. I was hoping it was just nerves when he ran the ball out of play the last time he started a Premier game, but today when he's through on goal and his first touch goes sideways...

 

That opportunity he had in the first half was telling. When he picked the ball up in a great position near enough on halfway with loads of room in front of him and options available, getting him the ball in areas like that was why we bought him, and he was like a rabbit in the headlights. Didn't have a clue what to do and the attack fizzled out.

 

I'll use confidence as part of the excuse but dear me it was pitiful.

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, Sempiternal said:

Symptomatic of a wider trend unfortunately. Clubs will gamble on players who have high athletic traits and bet that they can teach them technique and decision making, awareness. I don’t think they can personally. He’s an elite tier athlete but lacks a lot of fundamentals you’d expect at professional level. 

I don’t believe this is true at all tbh - the technique part.   
 

Wenger said a long time ago players technique is set pretty early in development. It’s the wider learning of the game, consistency, awareness, decision making, confidence and physicality that can be developed a lot with coaching and experience. 
 

Elanga’s touch should improve with confidence mind. 

[Guest]

The thing that baffles me the most is that if you’re not particularly technically gifted but you’re in the top 1%  speed wise. Why would you not just simplify your game, knock the ball past the defender and run. 

[toon25]

Will get there eventually 

[Smal]

9 minutes ago, Sempiternal said:

Symptomatic of a wider trend unfortunately. Clubs will gamble on players who have high athletic traits and bet that they can teach them technique and decision making, awareness. I don’t think they can personally. He’s an elite tier athlete but lacks a lot of fundamentals you’d expect at professional level. 

 

was reading about a SkillCorner metric call PSV-99 the other day which is 

 

"Peak sprint velocity 99th percentile - This metric reflects the peak speed of a player and its ability to reach it multiple times or sustain it long enough."

 

I'd be willing to be this is what we use to scout wingers. Feels like it's the main thing we look for with Gordon, Elanga and probably the Minteh signing too. Like you say the hope is to coach stuff into them but I can't see it with Elanga. 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2025 by Smal

[Guest]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

I don’t believe this is true at all tbh - the technique part.   
 

Wenger said a long time ago players technique is set pretty early in development. It’s the wider learning of the game, consistency, awareness, decision making, confidence and physicality that can be developed a lot with coaching and experience. 
 

Elanga’s touch should improve with confidence mind. 

 Fair enough, I disagree tbf. From my perspective the way a player addresses the ball, receiving it and first touch will tell you most of what you need to know. You can look at say Adama Traore. He got the best football education you can ask for, but he still can not make the right decisions, his technique is sloppy. What else can you do for him at this point? He hits every possible athletic metric you’d want but the rest is not there 

[Guest]

Just now, Smal said:

 

was reading about a SkillCorner metric call PSV-99 the other day which is 

 

"Peak sprint velocity 99th percentile - This metric reflects the peak speed of a player and its ability to reach it multiple times or sustain it long enough."

 

I'd be willing to be this is what we use to scout wingers. Feels like it's the main thing we look for with Gordon, Elanga and probably the Minteh signing too.  

Yeah, I’m not against stats I think in context they can be useful. But there is a trend in football where they will look past players with technical ability for players that score high in athletic metrics. Having insane acceleration is great, but you can’t just ignore the rest. IMO at least 

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, Sempiternal said:

 Fair enough, I disagree tbf. From my perspective the way a player addresses the ball, receiving it and first touch will tell you most of what you need to know. You can look at say Adama Traore. He got the best football education you can ask for, but he still can not make the right decisions, his technique is sloppy. What else can you do for him at this point? He hits every possible athletic metric you’d want but the rest is not there 

That proves the point though.  Traore was at La Maia at 8. I don’t think Eddie believes he’s going to improve Elanga’s technical ability several levels at 23. 

[The College Dropout]

7 minutes ago, Smal said:

 

was reading about a SkillCorner metric call PSV-99 the other day which is 

 

"Peak sprint velocity 99th percentile - This metric reflects the peak speed of a player and its ability to reach it multiple times or sustain it long enough."

 

I'd be willing to be this is what we use to scout wingers. Feels like it's the main thing we look for with Gordon, Elanga and probably the Minteh signing too. Like you say the hope is to coach stuff into them but I can't see it with Elanga. 

 

 

 

Minteh can actually dribble mind. He’s a top 10 dribbler in European football so far this season.  As well as good underlying numbers relating to creativity and finishing. 

[WinstonFC]

He's been shockin so far and has to be behind Murphy in the pecking order now.

[Smal]

4 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Minteh can actually dribble mind. He’s a top 10 dribbler in European football so far this season.  As well as good underlying numbers relating to creativity and finishing. 

 

yes, I knew Minteh was going to be great when I watched his clips for PSV. He had that thing that Saka and other top dribblers have where their first touch sets the ball and their body shape to be able to go either way of the defender. Fantastic player with enormous potential. Hard worker and great presser too. 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2025 by Smal

[TRon]

One thing I will say in his favour mind, he's showed flashes of nice incisive one touch passing moves with team mates, so he's got some good attacking instincts. Maybe a goal or a couple of assists will boost his confidence and we'll see him kick on from there. 

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

That proves the point though.  Traore was at La Maia at 8. I don’t think Eddie believes he’s going to improve Elanga’s technical ability several levels at 23. 

Yeah but what I’m saying is there is baseline level of technical ability that you need to progress. I’m not sure Elanga will improve, I hope he does but they way he receives and carries a ball worries me a lot 

[RodneyCisse]

Maybe he needs some proper boots and not some sketchers?

[huss9]

think he took the sweden snub really hard.

[Conjo]

1 hour ago, Weezertron said:

Buying premier league experience is working out well. 

 

 

It's a shame because he's clearly been brought in to make an immediate impact. Had he played at...fiorentina or something he'd come at half the cost and would probably have been eased in and had lower expectations from fans and club.

[The College Dropout]

21 minutes ago, Sempiternal said:

Yeah but what I’m saying is there is baseline level of technical ability that you need to progress. I’m not sure Elanga will improve, I hope he does but they way he receives and carries a ball worries me a lot 

I think we agree. 

[Gottlob]

I thought that Andy Cole improved his technique as well as his all-round game at Manchester United and that Michael Owen was very tidy after joining us from Real Madrid. In both cases that came to the fore after they'd lost a yard of pace, so short of an egregious tackle maybe we could have Elanga training with a backpack or weighted vest?

[Jagten]

2 hours ago, huss9 said:

fuck PSR.

cost us Minty and Ando

Yes but it was us who spent 100mm on Barnes (who I think is fine) and Elanga (less fine). Those are looking like unforced errors

[huss9]

53 minutes ago, Jagten said:

Yes but it was us who spent 100mm on Barnes (who I think is fine) and Elanga (less fine). Those are looking like unforced errors

yeah but we wouldnt have needed to spend £55m on Elanga

[Wallsendmag]

2 hours ago, Smal said:

 

yes, I knew Minteh was going to be great when I watched his clips for PSV. He had that thing that Saka and other top dribblers have where their first touch sets the ball and their body shape to be able to go either way of the defender. Fantastic player with enormous potential. Hard worker and great presser too. 

 

 

 

 

Feyenoord