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2022-23 Performances


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Ekeke

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He had one or two good moments using his pace to get away, but yeah other than that quiet and with competition from Sancho getting on the scoresheet and Antony coming in you would think he will get a lot less chances now.
 

Escobar

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The new Lingard. Come up from the academy. Bang average skill and tries to make it up by running and harrying a lot. Better not make the same mistakes of the past and give him a huge contract so we can't sell him eventually
I thought the same but he wont be a starter for us, so I dont mind him being a squad player
 

RedOrange

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"He's only 20". Sure, so was Lingard once upon a time.

This is how we end up with these mediocre academy players overstaying their welcome. This idea that just because a kid graduated from the academy he'll eventually turn good if given time is what got us stuck with the likes of Lingard before he left, McTomminay, etc..for longer than it should be.

Somehow Elanga like his mediocre predecessors will manage to get himself a bag.
Not really sure why you're having a huge meltdown here. The club just bought Antony to play RW and Elanga will be pushed out of the starting 11. He'll get some game time here and there because it's a long season with a many periods of fixture congestion but if Ten Hag thought Elanga was good enough he wouldn't have spunked €100 million on a new RW.

He'll get some cup matches against weaker teams and come on as a late game sub to keep Sancho and Antony fresh. If everyone is fit he'll be the 2nd man off the bench after Rashford.
 

sglowrider

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"He's only 20". Sure, so was Lingard once upon a time.

This is how we end up with these mediocre academy players overstaying their welcome. This idea that just because a kid graduated from the academy he'll eventually turn good if given time is what got us stuck with the likes of Lingard before he left, McTomminay, etc..for longer than it should be.

Somehow Elanga like his mediocre predecessors will manage to get himself a bag.
Embarrassing.
 

roonster09

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He won't be a starter anyways, it will be Antony. So first choice wingers would be Antony, Sancho, Rashford and even Martial if Ronaldo plays as CF. Elanga will be used from the bench to provide defensive cover.

He is still very young, yeah he doesn't offer much but we don't have any players to play either.
 

BAMSOLA

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Very hard worker and tactically disciplined hence why he's getting the games at his age but seemingly lacks technical finesse which let's him down in games especially with his first touch.

I'm not sure how much of that lack of finesse is down to nervousness energy as he seem to be trying to do everything too quickly in the attacking third and I can't imagine he plays this erratically in training.

Only time will tell how far he can go and there is possibly a good player in there if he can polish up the technical side of his game at the highest level, still also time at 20 years old.
 

ash_86

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Has not impressed me in any of the games. Just a average kick and run merchant. His minutes needs to be spent on Garnacho .
 

Dannn411

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He's in the team probably because he helps Dalot out defensively but he is not Premier League level. Hopefully Antony can also help out defensively while producing much better going forward.
 

Mr.Plow

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Has our academy offered anything in the past 20 years besides lumbering us with average players who get too much game time and end up on ridiculous contracts?
 

SirSean

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Could be interesting trying to get Elanga into a RWB role - he's still quite young, and it worked pretty well with Valencia. His pace will be valuable down that right flank.. Why not.
 

Santoryo

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Has our academy offered anything in the past 20 years besides lumbering us with average players who get too much game time and end up on ridiculous contracts?
Greenwood was our best chance to produce a bonafide world class player from the academy in a very long time but unfortunately off field issues.
 

Trequarista10

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Has our academy offered anything in the past 20 years besides lumbering us with average players who get too much game time and end up on ridiculous contracts?
Yes. Numerous players who have been good enough to be squad players. Not their fault that they were given a too prominent role in the first team due to the failings of the senior players. McTominay and Rashford should have been rotation options, and they would have been fan favourites instead of figures of scorn. Fletcher too was technically within 20 years. If Elanga can get to that level he's a valuable asset. He's not good enough yet but given we're lacking numbers, his pace and defensive work rate is useful at times. Needs to improve to keep getting games with the addition of Antony, Martial and Ronaldo returning to fitness, Garnacho coming through, and loan players like Diallo and Hannibal to come back next season plus likely a new signing or two. He's fine for Europa League, a tactical/rotation option from the bench, and reassess next summer.

Also a few academy graduates who could/should have become prominent first team players but for one reason or another squandered their talent - Pogba, Januzaj, Morrison, Greenwood. And a ton of academy graduates who went on to have solid careers who, if timing was different, could have been good squad players for us.
 

Ole'sgunnarwin

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He's not bad, he works hard, he's quick and he's got a decent touch. He just doesn't scream goals or even assists. Should be a squad player at best.
 

Brophs

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There’s a good player in there with a season or two of proper coaching. Maybe/probably not to the point of being a starter for us but I could definitely see him being a good option for us with his pace and work rate, if that can be allied with better decisions and some more end product.
 

Eurotrash

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I like him, but he is not a top player yet. I feel this is the year that will decide if he will be. Needs to work hard on his flaws.

I suggest putting him through the "no fouls called in training" routine that Ronaldo had to endure in his early days for us. Too many times he loses the ball and cries for a free kick that is rarely given.
 

SambaBoy

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It's funny when you hear the claims of 'Give game time to Garnacho, Elanga is terrible etc'.. A few years back, it was give the minutes to Elanga/Shoretire/Gomes.. they can't do much worse. I'll take ETH judgement over most of our crybaby fans seeing as he's more knowledgeable about football off the bat, but also sees them in training and knows what players fit into what tactical plan.

You just know if Garnacho was given the next 5 games and played the same minutes as Elanga has recently, there would be clamour for him to be dropped and people saying 'it's too early for him' or 'he's not good enough'.
 

Rossa

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According to Robson and Fletcher, Elanga is the quickest player at the club, but is it just me, or is he really poor at using his speed? Sometimes you see him chasing a loose ball and think WTF just happened as he is blistering when he wants to, but it's like he doesn't trust himself enough to just simply kick and run. When you are that fast, it is really effective. Nani completely changed his game when he became more direct and just used his speed to go past players instead of trying tricks and flicks. We all know how Valencia would terrorize any defender (although he also had the insane strength).

He's only 20years old, and his runs on the inside are really good, but he needs to trust himself more going on the outside. I doubt there are many, if any, leftback that can keep up with him in the league when he fancies having a go (Walker plays on the right :D).
 

Carl

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It's funny when you hear the claims of 'Give game time to Garnacho, Elanga is terrible etc'.. A few years back, it was give the minutes to Elanga/Shoretire/Gomes.. they can't do much worse. I'll take ETH judgement over most of our crybaby fans seeing as he's more knowledgeable about football off the bat, but also sees them in training and knows what players fit into what tactical plan.

You just know if Garnacho was given the next 5 games and played the same minutes as Elanga has recently, there would be clamour for him to be dropped and people saying 'it's too early for him' or 'he's not good enough'.
Not sure what points you're making? Elanga has now been given time and has shown to be a pretty limited player. If Gernacho was given time and also shown to be not good enough/not ready then yeh, take him out. That just sounds like good sense to me.
 

11101

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Had no idea he was that rapid but he didn't do much with it yesterday. He's not really getting involved in the games and it's becoming all too obvious next to players like Bruno and Eriksen who are everywhere. He'll be a capable understudy to Antony but I have a feeling he will start to fade away.
 

SambaBoy

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Not sure what points you're making? Elanga has now been given time and has shown to be a pretty limited player. If Gernacho was given time and also shown to be not good enough/not ready then yeh, take him out. That just sounds like good sense to me.
Limited player offensively but there's a reason Rangnick and ETH have turned to him after a poor run of results. He's a good player tactically in terms of a high press and being able to take on instructions.

Garnacho has shown nothing to suggest he can cut it in the Prem at present. Quite a number of our youngsters have shown to themselves to be capable in reserves/under 23's/under 18's/pre-season friendlies with outcry for them to start PL games only for them to go on loan to Championship sides and struggle massively. If Garnacho is good enough I'm sure he'll get his chance - but at this moment in time, he obviously hasn't shown anything to coaching staff to prove he deserves to start over Elanga at present whether that's tactically or sheer ability - who knows.
 

Oldham

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Excellent young player. The criticism he's getting here is ridiculous, specially after a few good performances...
 

Cassidy

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I think hes been better than Rashford if I'm being honest
 

MrEleson

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Think playing against Trent has put him in cuckoo land.
 

MrEleson

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Limited player offensively but there's a reason Rangnick and ETH have turned to him after a poor run of results. He's a good player tactically in terms of a high press and being able to take on instructions.
He was primarily turned to because of a lack of options. We lost Greenwood, Martial & Cavani all in 1 month for various reasons.

Otherwise, it’s highly unlikely we would have seen anywhere near as much of him as we did in the 2nd half of last season.
 

Fabio Rochemback

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I've only ever seen Garnacho play once in the FA Youth Cup, and he was good without being amazing... based on that I'd still easily play him over Elanga. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that there are Championship teams that Elanga wouldn't get in, he shouldn't be anywhere near our bench realistically, let alone the starting XI.

I don't mean to be harsh on the guy, he'll probably have a perfectly respectable career but he's very far out of his depth at the moment. Which actually could be bad for his own development.
 
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jackal&hyde

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Excellent young player. The criticism he's getting here is ridiculous, specially after a few good performances...
Maybe a bit over the top. He is in a position were we can improve a lot though and we have with Antony.

Should be a good back up with the energy and desire that he has. In an ideal World we sign Antony sooner and let Elanga go on a loan as I think he is just not good enough right now but might be with more play time. I like him a lot but, not ready for first 11 yet.
 

TwoSheds

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He's got a great attitude as well as good physicality and some potential. I think he's a very handy player to keep around. The academy has produced too many tossers in recent years so to get some solid grafters like him and McT out of it is a very useful result. Rashford is way more talented but seems to have lost all self belief so I'm quite happy to have some lads with real fight in them around even if they're not the best.

I think Garnacho looks a big talent but if he's not impressing the manager in training or messing around over his contract or something then he can stay away from the first team until he does what the coach wants in my book. Very much looking forward to Antony though who seems both very talented and also a real battler.
 

Idxomer

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Had no idea he was that rapid but he didn't do much with it yesterday. He's not really getting involved in the games and it's becoming all too obvious next to players like Bruno and Eriksen who are everywhere. He'll be a capable understudy to Antony but I have a feeling he will start to fade away.
He is rapid without the ball but once he has it, he isn't that quick.
 

Rossa

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He is rapid without the ball but once he has it, he isn't that quick.
But even without the ball, he is hesitant running onto it - it's as if he doesn't put on the afterburners until it is too late. If he could realize who fast he is, and improve his running technique (saw a coach telling that he has a lot of untapped running potential), then he could be a more nimble and agile Valencia. Maybe he would never be starting material, but he can become an important squad player, but he needs to develop his best attributes.
 

Valencia Shin Crosses

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Beckham was on loan at PNE when he was 20.

I'm not saying Elanga is the answer, but the guy is 20 years old, he's getting games because we're short of players, let's at least give him a chance, heh?
Oh I'm not saying young players can't get better. But Beckham always had top class technique especially in his passing and crossing (and FK's obviously). Greenwood it was evident did as well, even though he was a ghost in most games when he first started getting minutes. Elanga does not. So waiting around for him to suddenly develop this is as he ages is pointless, and thus when I say he's not good enough I mean going forward in the future he's not a player that should be in the upper rotation of our forwards if we ever want to challenge for anything.
 

MrEleson

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Oh I'm not saying young players can't get better. But Beckham always had top class technique especially in his passing and crossing (and FK's obviously). Greenwood it was evident did as well, even though he was a ghost in most games when he first started getting minutes. Elanga does not. So waiting around for him to suddenly develop this is as he ages is pointless, and thus when I say he's not good enough I mean going forward in the future he's not a player that should be in the upper rotation of our forwards if we ever want to challenge for anything.
Exactly. There are tell-tale signs you’ll see in a young player that will give you a good indicator of what kind of level they have the potential to attain. Unfortunately, Elanga doesn’t have anything that indicates this.

Obviously, I’m hoping he has a good career but I can’t just see him as a starter here.
 
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