Anthony Elanga

[Heron]

5 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

This is just not true. Gordon was totally mediocre for the first few months. He only had one or two moments, and everyone was on his ass here.  He started playing well the following season.

This is what happened. Cause Ritchie had to put him straight at Brentford iirc and he then learned that he wasn't as shit hot as he thought then after that summer he came back like shit off a stick for a year before getting in his own head.

[Jewel]

14 hours ago, UncleBingo said:

Did you actually say this in the summer, or are you just a hindsight merchant?

 

Fair play of you did.

What are you talking about? Plenty of people on here have been saying for yonks that we needed more skill and technical ability in the squad. This isn't something new.

 

Plenty of people on here at the time expressed their skepticism when linked with Elanga for such a high fee, but were willing to give it a chance in the hopes that Howe could somehow work his magic on him. Unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.

 

I know I've personally bemoaned Howe's preference for physical attributes such as pace, height and endless running.

[jemo96]

Been very disappointing given the chances to show what he can do. Hopefully he will spring to life against one of his old clubs next week. 
He’s in the ‘waste of money’ category for me and can’t see it changing. 

[Danh1]

Seen enough to suggest he’s never going to live up to his price tag here. Our first big miss in the window since the takeover.

 

[UncleBingo]

1 hour ago, Jewel said:

What are you talking about? Plenty of people on here have been saying for yonks that we needed more skill and technical ability in the squad. This isn't something new.

 

Plenty of people on here at the time expressed their skepticism when linked with Elanga for such a high fee, but were willing to give it a chance in the hopes that Howe could somehow work his magic on him. Unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.

 

I know I've personally bemoaned Howe's preference for physical attributes such as pace, height and endless running.

So, did you say this in the Summer when we bought Elanga?

[Jewel]

23 minutes ago, UncleBingo said:

So, did you say this in the Summer when we bought Elanga?

Yes.

[Stifler]

I’m going to have to say it, he offers us nothing that Miggy didn’t.

[SUPERTOON]

Just now, Stifler said:

I’m going to have to say it, he offers us nothing that Miggy didn’t.

He’s offered much less so far 

[madras]

On the times he has threatened its not when pushed wide but when hes found the gap inside, between FB and CH. Hes not a winger in that sense and we arent hitting enough into that gap.

[The Bonk]

7 hours ago, Danh1 said:

Seen enough to suggest he’s never going to live up to his price tag here. Our first big miss in the window since the takeover.

 

What happens if he hits form and has 10 or so goal involvements the remainder of the season? 

[Elliottman]

7 hours ago, Danh1 said:

Seen enough to suggest he’s never going to live up to his price tag here. Our first big miss in the window since the takeover.

 

I think this is fair. Normally you see signs with players even if it takes them a little longer - but I’m really struggling with Elanga. I like to think I’m really patient with new players but I just don’t see what Eddie was thinking with this one. He’s normally so good but I’d be amazed if Elanga turns this around to justify the price tag.

 

Goes without saying I hope I, and many others, are wrong. 

[Danh1]

28 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

What happens if he hits form and has 10 or so goal involvements the remainder of the season? 

Can you see that happening?

 

I would happily be wrong, honestly, but he just looks awful and his confidence will be shot to pieces. 

[Andy]

4 minutes ago, Elliottman said:

I think this is fair. Normally you see signs with players even if it takes them a little longer - but I’m really struggling with Elanga. I like to think I’m really patient with new players but I just don’t see what Eddie was thinking with this one. He’s normally so good but I’d be amazed if Elanga turns this around to justify the price tag.

 

Goes without saying I hope I, and many others, are wrong. 

 

I can see what Eddie was thinking to an extent. The intention this season was clearly to try to bring in a more counter attacking style, and Elanga fits that perfectly in theory. 

 

Unfortunately (a) we're bad as a team at playing out once we're on the back foot, so we're pretty terrible on the counter in general, and (b) there are those intangible forces at work that sometimes just prevent a player adapting to a new club for whatever reason, meaning he looks terrified and is struggling to make the step to a bigger club. 

 

I'm convinced there's another universe where his signing worked out from the get-go, perhaps one where we kept Isak or one where he scored a couple of early goals for us and got off to a flier, but it looks a long way back for him in this one at the moment. 

 

[bobbydazzla]

7 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Can you see that happening?

 

I would happily be wrong, honestly, but he just looks awful and his confidence will be shot to pieces. 

Was he awful at Forest ?

[The Bonk]

12 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Can you see that happening?

 

I would happily be wrong, honestly, but he just looks awful and his confidence will be shot to pieces. 

He did it at his previous club, hope it clicks for him and he’s more productive.

[Elliottman]

13 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

I can see what Eddie was thinking to an extent. The intention this season was clearly to try to bring in a more counter attacking style, and Elanga fits that perfectly in theory. 

 

Unfortunately (a) we're bad as a team at playing out once we're on the back foot, so we're pretty terrible on the counter in general, and (b) there are those intangible forces at work that sometimes just prevent a player adapting to a new club for whatever reason, meaning he looks terrified and is struggling to make the step to a bigger club. 

 

I'm convinced there's another universe where his signing worked out from the get-go, perhaps one where we kept Isak or one where he scored a couple of early goals for us and got off to a flier, but it looks a long way back for him in this one at the moment. 

 

I think point b in particular is probably what’s at work. He looks absolutely shot confidence wise, his decision making tends to be awful. 
 

But that aside - and probably more worrying for me, he just doesn’t look comfortable with the ball. We were all hoping for someone to come in on that right side who could really elevate us, but he more often than not just looks like a poor footballer. For £55 million and Eddie’s eye, I was really hoping for a lot more. 

[robbo_11]

 

Granted these are highlights, but he hasn't looked anything like this for us. Several of his assists were set pieces into the 6 yard box which resulted in a goal - whereas he isn't on them for us and we've not been as clinical until recently. The difference between his run and goal against Man United and the one he gave up on for us against Chelsea is staggering. There doesn't seem to be any conviction between his shooting when he has had a chance for us (Aston Villa A, Chelsea H) compared to his goals against Brentford, Ipswich and Man United last season.

 

 

[The College Dropout]

He’s much worse than I had assumed.  
 

He can be an effective player for us and I can look him in the way I like Murphy or even Gordon (who is much better technically than them both).  
 

He’s just not good enough at football for me to think he’s worth the money we paid at the time. 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by The College Dropout

[Kid Icarus]

1 hour ago, SUPERTOON said:

He’s offered much less so far 

Took Miggy about a year to get a goal or an assist IIRC.

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Took Miggy about a year to get a goal or an assist IIRC.

Miggys pressing, tracking back, stamina and good movement  on the pitch is more than Elanga has offered so far. 

[Ikon]

Miggy was pretty decent in general play as well imo.

[Kid Icarus]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

Miggys pressing, tracking back, stamina and good movement  on the pitch is more than Elanga has offered so far. 

Rose tinted goggles tbh. Pressing? Under Rafa?

 

I remember the same sort of rhetoric around Miggy for a long while.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by Kid Icarus

[The College Dropout]

In time Elanga will be like a super speed Murphy I reckon 

[The College Dropout]

3 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Rose tinted goggles tbh. Pressing? Under Rafa?

 

I remember the same sort of rhetoric around Miggy for a long while.

 

 

 

Just talking general ability and skills.

 

Elanga has pace and shooting and crossing off both feet.   But that’s literally it so far.  And we haven’t seen much of any of if. Work rate, movement, passing, mentality etc. not seen it  

 

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by The College Dropout

[SUPERTOON]

34 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Took Miggy about a year to get a goal or an assist IIRC.

Aye, and hes still offered more than Elanga.