Anthony Elanga

[TheBrownBottle]

2 hours ago, Jagten said:

I am quite concerned about how bad our transfer business has become. 

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

[Newcastle Fan]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

 

It's very similar to what he was doing at Bournemouth, we've spent around 150m on Wissa, Ramsey and Elanga which at the moment is looking life horrific business.

 

However it's also his job to back up his own decisions with results. it's a difficult one when he wants to be in control of everything because end of the day he is the one most accountable for what happens on the pitch.

[Menace]

8 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

 

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure most of his signings at Bournemouth ended up being sold for profit/break even. Ibe being the exception but I don't blame Howe for that - the lad was clearly not mentally well

[Kid Icarus]

31 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

He made signings that were viewed like that at the time that then with hindsight turned out to be great signings. It's no exaggeration to say that Howe's only failed signing at Bournemouth for the money paid was Jordan Ibe and that can probably be attributed to the player's own personal issues.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2025 by Kid Icarus

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

He made signings that were viewed like that that at the time that then with hindsight turned out to be great signings. It's no exaggeration to say that Howe's only failed signing at Bournemouth for the money paid was Jordan Ibe and that can probably be attributed to the player's own personal issues.

 

 

 

Problem is, and this isn't a knock on Eddie he ended up getting relegated. They came good way too late. 

[Kid Icarus]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Problem is, and this isn't a knock on Eddie he ended up getting relegated. They came good way too late. 

Think that's a bit of correlation ≠ causation. They had to cut their cloth accordingly and were punching above their weight until then. It'll never be one single thing that caused relegation, but it's very hard to look past goal line technology failing them as the biggest factor. I don't think that's happened before or since.

[Crimson Cardigan]

12 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

Like Solanke? Yeah, whatever happens to that guy?

 

Ibe is the only one really, it’s a bit of a myth. 

In terms of Elanga, it’s been a terrible start. I won’t write him off, because even though he’s never been a superstar he’s never been this bad either. He probably needs a sustained a run of games, good bad or indifferent, the problem is our form is so all over the place we can’t afford to give it to him. It’s hard to regain form and confidence off of 20 minute cameos.

 

 

[r0cafella]

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

Think that's a bit of correlation ≠ causation. They had to cut their cloth accordingly and were punching above their weight until then. It'll never be one single thing that caused relegation, but it's very hard to look past goal line technology failing them as the biggest factor. I don't think that's happened before or since.

They didn't get the rub of the green with the VAR decision for sure however they spent a fair whack if I'm not mistaken. (Again not of this is a knock on Eddie). Like every manager he's had his ups and downs. 

[Nucasol]

17 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

At the risk of pelters, didn’t latter stage Howe at Bournemouth make similar signings?  Paying megabucks for talents below that value. 

Is Elanga his Jordan Ibe?

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Nucasol said:

Is Elanga his Jordan Ibe?

Far too early to be writing him off, despite the early signs looking concerning. 

[Dr Venkman]

1 minute ago, Nucasol said:

Is Elanga his Jordan Ibe?

Jordan Ibe was his Jordan Ibe?

[RodneyCisse]

Why does he always give it and go but go towards a player without ever having the chance to get it back?

[Andy84]

I really want him to do well, seems a sound lad with a great attitude. He just looks totally bereft of confidence from the player at Forest last season who at times was unplayable.  

[Nucasol]

8 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Far too early to be writing him off, despite the early signs looking concerning. 

Given the Lewis Hall trajectory that’s correct but seems like there could be something bigger going on with the lad. Leaving the Sweden camp for personal reasons is slightly concerning.

[OpenC]

9 minutes ago, Dr Venkman said:

Jordan Ibe was his Jordan Ibe?

 

 

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Nucasol said:

Given the Lewis Hall trajectory that’s correct but seems like there could be something bigger going on with the lad. Leaving the Sweden camp for personal reasons is slightly concerning.

Oh yeah. Something is obviously wrong and given the difference in age profile in not expecting him to become a world beater like Hall. That being said, I do expect more than the Sunday league level he's shown this far. 

[TheBrownBottle]

21 minutes ago, Crimson Cardigan said:

Like Solanke? Yeah, whatever happens to that guy?

 

Ibe is the only one really, it’s a bit of a myth. 

In terms of Elanga, it’s been a terrible start. I won’t write him off, because even though he’s never been a superstar he’s never been this bad either. He probably needs a sustained a run of games, good bad or indifferent, the problem is our form is so all over the place we can’t afford to give it to him. It’s hard to regain form and confidence off of 20 minute cameos.

 

 

Yeah, fair enough.  I didn’t check but could remember a lot of talk like that - it’s been a long day and couldn’t be arsed to check  

[TheBrownBottle]

There’s plenty of time for the lad to come good - we’re only three months into his NUFC career.  But Christ the lad needs a performance desperately.  

[gbandit]

I find it hard to imagine Elanga not ever being a dud. I don’t think it’s going to happen for him this season, I think he will improve dramatically next season as he works extremely hard and he’s got enough physical attributes to be a success while being able to use both feet. However, for £55m we needed a player that would impact things straight away and who would have some versatility to their game, e.g. break down defences, stretch teams, play different positions in the team etc. 

 

As it stands, he can play one role and it’s counter attacking football where he can run into space. That’s not what we needed 

[Andy]

2 hours ago, andycap said:

Thought he was decent tonight mind, still think he should be starting week after week for us. He is our new fancy winger play the lad into form, gordon used to play no matter what he never got benched. 

 

Gordon in his early days was excellent for us though. Elanga is struggling to control a ball and make simple 5 yard passes. 

[Yorkie]

23 minutes ago, gbandit said:

I find it hard to imagine Elanga not ever being a dud. I don’t think it’s going to happen for him this season, I think he will improve dramatically next season as he works extremely hard and he’s got enough physical attributes to be a success while being able to use both feet. However, for £55m we needed a player that would impact things straight away and who would have some versatility to their game, e.g. break down defences, stretch teams, play different positions in the team etc. 

 

As it stands, he can play one role and it’s counter attacking football where he can run into space. That’s not what we needed 

 

Agree with that. He's looking like the first big miss but you never know, he might catch fire. I certainly can't believe he was every this poor for Forest.

 

Throwing Wissa and Ramsey in and having a pop at Howe/anyone for wasting £150m is utterly stupid though. Ramsey looks a good player and in Wissa we were signing a PL goalscorer who'd never so much as stubbed his toe in his life. Absolutely dire misfortune that he's done his knee before he's even played for us.

[Kid Icarus]

6 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

Gordon in his early days was excellent for us though. Elanga is struggling to control a ball and make simple 5 yard passes. 

His form and the criticism of it from January 2022 to the end of that season was nigh on identical to Elanga's. I remember it well because the same excuses I was making for Gordon (he'd have x number of assists if other players had taken their chances) are also the same as the ones I've made for Elanga.

[Likelylad]

8 hours ago, Yorkie said:

 

Well yeah. He got like 30 goals/assists in the last two seasons. 

 

For some reason it hasn't worked out for him here yet.

Because we don’t play like Forest. We actually need him to break down defences and low blocks and that’s clearly not his game. 

[Kid Icarus]

Not sure where this idea we don't play on the counter attack comes from like. It's a huge part of how we've tried to play this season.

[Andy]

6 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

His form and the criticism of it from January 2022 to the end of that season was nigh on identical to Elanga's. I remember it well because the same excuses I was making for Gordon (he'd have x number of assists if other players had taken their chances) are also the same as the ones I've made for Elanga.

 

Maybe I'm remembering but I don't remember him looking anywhere near as uncomfortable on the pitch as Elanga personally.