Anthony Elanga

[Weezertron]

Buying premier league experience is working out well. 

 

[Jagten]

16 minutes ago, Pearljam10 said:

Because he cant control the ball

Yeah that might turn out to be an intractable problem 

[The College Dropout]

34 minutes ago, Nucasol said:

The biggest worry is his first touch. He makes Amdy Faye, who couldn’t trap a bag of cement, look like Messi.

Yep. 
 

That was my biggest issue with Almiron. He very obviously struggled with the basics of football, trapping a ball, moving into a dribble etc. not only did he make it look like a struggle he wasn’t good at it. 
 

From what I’ve seen so far from Elanga, he’s worse.  (Elanga can clearly strike a ball mind).  
 

Wlanga’s struggle with the basics is why he can’t get his game off.  His baseline footballing ability is low.  I thought he would be Gordon-like in terms of touch - he’s much worse. 

[sparkzter]

Trying to be patient and hoping Elanga comes good but it’s not looking good. He’s been pretty much terrible. He’s had plenty of games now and been around the squad for a while so should be at least improving. Drastically needs to get better or we’ve wasted a load of money. 

[Fak]

Just now, sparkzter said:

Trying to be patient and hoping Elanga comes good but it’s not looking good. He’s been pretty much terrible. He’s had plenty of games now and been around the squad for a while so should be at least improving. Drastically needs to get better or we’ve wasted a load of money. 

 4 starts in the league. 

[sparkzter]

Game time then. He’s had a fair bit. 

[The Prophet]

He's been hugely erratic so far with a couple of poor performances on the spin.

 

Still think he's tailor made for Eddie Howe, but as we've seen before, sometimes it just takes a while to click.

[madras]

11 minutes ago, sparkzter said:

Trying to be patient and hoping Elanga comes good but it’s not looking good. He’s been pretty much terrible. He’s had plenty of games now and been around the squad for a while so should be at least improving. Drastically needs to get better or we’ve wasted a load of money. 

Look at where he was good. It was with a target man, Gordon is suffering for this as well. 

 

We are disjointed up front at the minute, Woltemade isn't your usual through the middle striker. Its gonna take time and the sooner Wissa comes in the better.

 

 

Edited October 18, 2025 by madras

[The College Dropout]

I have no doubt he will improve. But his lack of basic ability gives him a lower ceiling. He’s a way to go to get to Murphy. 

[sparkzter]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

I have no doubt he will improve. But his lack of basic ability gives him a lower ceiling. He’s a way to go to get to Murphy. 

A long way I’d think. I’d really hoped we’d improve on that position this season, so far it looks like we haven’t. Albeit Murphy is playing well. 
as others have mentioned hopefully an out and out striker will help. 

[Fak]

2 minutes ago, sparkzter said:

A long way I’d think. I’d really hoped we’d improve on that position this season, so far it looks like we haven’t. Albeit Murphy is playing well. 
as others have mentioned hopefully an out and out striker will help. 

 

If you want to go toe-to-toe with TCD then you have to go through me first. 

[madras]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I have no doubt he will improve. But his lack of basic ability gives him a lower ceiling. He’s a way to go to get to Murphy. 

You mean Murphy after a few years of Eddie ?

 

Remember we couldn't get rid of Murphy a while back and I'd say Elanga has a higher starting point.

[Ikon]

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

You and shearergol already told us so the other week. Still early days and it still couldn't be clearer that you're both more concerned with being right than Newcastle doing well.

Wow! Most definitely not! Newcastle means everything to me so quit your bullshit, dude! 

[huss9]

fuck PSR.

cost us Minty and Ando

[nemtizz]

Couldn't lace Miggy's left boot this lad

[Elliottman]

Murphy coming on and just doing the basics showed that it’s going to take time for Elanga to understand the system. It took Murphy a while too … 

 

Eddie said afterwards (talking about Elanga) that it takes some players longer than others. He’ll be fine, might not see the best of him this year though. 

[KaKa]

With Tino out, and no real overlap down that side from Trippier he should be instructed to keep things a lot simpler and straightforward for now.

 

Stay high and wide and attack the full backs on the outside and put balls into the box. He did this most often against Barca so far.

 

Seems to be over thinking and over complicating things. Need to get him back to doing the basic job of a more traditional winger first and foremost.

 

Should only be looking to cut inside if the defender starts leaving that inside lane wide open because he's being killed on the outside.

 

Just a matter of time.

 

 

Edited October 18, 2025 by KaKa

[Guest]

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Edited October 19, 2025 by Sempiternal

[kenlau88210]

I am confident he will get a lot better when he builds more chemistry with Nick, Bruno, Tonali, Tripps and work more on his ball control/first touch. And he probably only starting now because Murphy’s achilles issue requires game time management 

[Elliottman]

5 minutes ago, Sempiternal said:

First touch of Ian Watkins sadly. 

Bantz… 

[The College Dropout]

28 minutes ago, madras said:

You mean Murphy after a few years of Eddie ?

 

Remember we couldn't get rid of Murphy a while back and I'd say Elanga has a higher starting point.

Murphy’s at his ceiling and he’s still not at the overall level we want. 
 

Even when he’s been Howe’d - Elanga’s lack of touch and ability will mean his ceiling is closer to Murphy than Isak or even a Gordon. 

[Wallsendmag]

38 minutes ago, madras said:

Look at where he was good. It was with a target man, Gordon is suffering for this as well. 

 

We are disjointed up front at the minute, Woltemade isn't your usual through the middle striker. Its gonna take time and the sooner Wissa comes in the better.

 

 

 

 

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.

[madras]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

Murphy’s at his ceiling and he’s still not at the overall level we want. 
 

Even when he’s been Howe’d - Elanga’s lack of touch and ability will mean his ceiling is closer to Murphy than Isak or even a Gordon. 

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

[madras]

Just now, 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.

No doubt hes forcing it. Last season his free kicks and corners were great. You dont lose it, you're not utilised right.

[TRon]

2 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.

 

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...