This.Nice player and the kind that if you already have a great nucleus of players, is a good edition to your squad. We haven't.....
He’s very good for our side and it helps that we have a balanced midefield that he can thrive in. Gueye beside him sweeping up everything allows him to dictate from as deep as he would like to as far forward as he’d like. He’s basically got a bit of a free playmaking role in our side because of the players we have and when he’s on form it’s great. The bad thing though which we were lucky with today is that if he plays poorly it can leave us exposed and despite how well he played today he had a dodgy first five minutes. He would do well at someone like Chelsea beside Kante/another team with a strong DM that is giving him a bit of freedom but he’s a very well rounded footballer.Is Everton his level or can he step it up at somewhere like Spurs? I havnt watched him overly much but surely he has to be better than anyone Spurs currently have in midfield?
Digne has been our best player this season. He’s a CL level player and unfortunate that Robertson is playing so well that he won’t get a look in at the PL team of the season.Everton is his level but he could have been a squad option for Barcelona. Same for Digne, Paco Alcacer and Deulofeu despite the incessant abuse and scapegoating they were victims of.
Thing I don't get though with Everton is you've had that midfield axis for pretty much all of the season. Sure Tom Davies and even Schnderlein have had the odd start but generally from September until now it's been Gana-Gomes-Glyfi as the midfield axis.He’s very good for our side and it helps that we have a balanced midefield that he can thrive in. Gueye beside him sweeping up everything allows him to dictate from as deep as he would like to as far forward as he’d like. He’s basically got a bit of a free playmaking role in our side because of the players we have and when he’s on form it’s great. The bad thing though which we were lucky with today is that if he plays poorly it can leave us exposed and despite how well he played today he had a dodgy first five minutes. He would do well at someone like Chelsea beside Kante/another team with a strong DM that is giving him a bit of freedom but he’s a very well rounded footballer.
Sometimes these players aren't happy with being squad options. With Suarez never being rested, Alcacer only found himself playing when Suarez was injured/banned or for a game or in the CDR. Digne is never going to get games ahead of Alba either so you can't blame these players, who are good players, wanting to and get games.Everton is his level but he could have been a squad option for Barcelona. Same for Digne, Paco Alcacer and Deulofeu despite the incessant abuse and scapegoating they were victims of.
I always see people talking so much shit about Digne in the match threads but he's looked great almost every time I've seen him. Glad to know he actually is doing well, I became a fan of his since I saw him for France's youth sides and thought he looked fantastic.Digne has been our best player this season. He’s a CL level player and unfortunate that Robertson is playing so well that he won’t get a look in at the PL team of the season.
They didn't leave because they wanted to be starters at Barcelona, they left because either Barcelona wanted them to go or they weren't playing at all. They weren't thought of as good players looking for game time the way you're describing them now, they were criticized and bashed by everyone who talked about it since at the time Madrid had the likes of Danilo, Kovacic, Lucas Vasquez and Morata on the bench who apparently were the best thing since sliced bread at the time.Sometimes these players aren't happy with being squad options. With Suarez never being rested, Alcacer only found himself playing when Suarez was injured/banned or for a game or in the CDR. Digne is never going to get games ahead of Alba either so you can't blame these players, who are good players, wanting to and get games.
I really can't see the excellence. He's fairly physical and has pretty good technique. But his dribbling, close control, passing, acceleration, shooting etc all strike me as nothing out of the ordinary. I don't see the point of him being signed by a team aspiring to be champions/contenders for a top league.I think he is an excellent player. The problem these days is that football fans are following every step of players so if they fail at some big club people will think they "dont have level".
It was different in the past. I remember when Cafu went to europe, then returned to some small club in Brazil to be signed by Rome in the next season. It was common. If it was today people would say that he failed in europe and would never give him another chance.
Also Real Madrid and Barcelona have this power of destroying the confidence of players when they fail to make a good impression in their first games. Illarramendi looked like would be the one of the best midfielders in the world before moving to Real Madrid. Look at him now.
I really hope you are still saying this after we have played Everton!!!Nowhere near good enough. Everton is his level.
I would hope so too. Anybody is capable of performing well in the odd game against a better side. I recall Fellaini bullying the life out of us.I really hope you are still saying this after we have played Everton!!!
I am not saying we should yearn for him but I do think it condescending to imply that he is good enough for Everton but not for us. I am thinking he could be even better for us and is already better than some we have, very versatile too. Quite ingenious of you to mention "anyone is capable of performing well in the odd game against a better side" but I also find anyone is capable of performing against a weaker side as well. Seen that happen a few times lately.I would hope so too. Anybody is capable of performing well in the odd game against a better side. I recall Fellaini bullying the life out of us.
But from what I've seen, Gomes really doesn't seem to be kind of player we should yearn for. Maybe he'll flourish at Everton and reach new heights but I've not seen such qualities from him.
This bit I agree with. What happened with him at Barca was horrific not something you'd wish on any player. Towards the end of this time there though, after he came about how he was depressed, he'd get an amazing ovation when he'd play at the Nou Camp. It doesn't make up for the abuse he got earlier but it was a nice tough.They didn't leave because they wanted to be starters at Barcelona, they left because either Barcelona wanted them to go or they weren't playing at all. They weren't thought of as good players looking for game time the way you're describing them now, they were criticized and bashed by everyone who talked about it since at the time Madrid had the likes of Danilo, Kovacic, Lucas Vasquez and Morata on the bench who apparently were the best thing since sliced bread at the time.
Now both Alba and Suarez have been overplayed. Digne would have been perfect to rotate with Alba and Paco Alcacer would have been great to rotate with Suarez instead of loaning Kevin Prince Boateng. No need to spend 40 million on Malcom with Deulofeu around either...
The treatment of Andre Gomes at Barcelona was a complete disgrace, the guy geniunely got depressed about it. Came out saying he didn't even enjoy playing football anymore and that it got to a point where he wouldn't even leave the house. It's been great to watch him succeed at Everton, fully deserved.
http://www.sportbible.com/football/...nterview-about-his-current-situation-20180312
Didn't exactly work out at Barca though...Think he is a player who looks better with better players around him. Might be an improvement on Herrera.
Doubt Herrera would have worked out at barca eitherDidn't exactly work out at Barca though...
You just said Gomes would look better with better players around him, not me.Doubt Herrera would have worked out at barca either
We just had an absolutely trash few months where nobody was in form. Pickford was dropping clangers everywhere, Walcott was being played and providing nothing, Calvert-Lewin was just about to get his run of games etc. Didn't help either with Gomes that he was being played every week because we had injuries and Silva didn't trust anyone else so he was bloody nackered. It's just one of those bizarre periods where it looks and feels bad at the time but when rationalised there is a reason behind it all.Thing I don't get though with Everton is you've had that midfield axis for pretty much all of the season. Sure Tom Davies and even Schnderlein have had the odd start but generally from September until now it's been Gana-Gomes-Glyfi as the midfield axis.
Maybe Gana was a little depressed from not getting his PSG move and Glyfi isn't the best technical number 10 but that isn't a bad midfield at all so Everton having a terrible three months in the league really bemuses me considering how well you're now playing again home and away.
He's very good. Don't want to override this thread too much but i'm sure he was either leading or still is leading the chances created stat for defenders (obviously not everything is about stats) but you can tell why when you watch him play and his decision making. He won't just aimlessly keep crossing it but is good at cutting it back or playing inside the opposing box/half.I always see people talking so much shit about Digne in the match threads but he's looked great almost every time I've seen him. Glad to know he actually is doing well, I became a fan of his since I saw him for France's youth sides and thought he looked fantastic.
Nah. If he wasn’t good enough for Barca then he’s not good enough for United. We need to shift away from mediocrity not carry on with it!Was beyond terrible at Barcelona. Watched him all the time as i watch most Barcelona games. Would lose the ball and make bad decisions all the time. I understand why the fans didn't like him. He's looked better at Everton and would make a decent squad player for you guys tbh
