Gerard Deulofeu

royvernon39 · May 4, 2017

The thing that beats me is that it is clear that the team lacks creativity. So what does RK do? Unload Del Boy, inconsistent but hardworking and sometimes brilliant, and buy Lookman. Throw in Bolaisie's injury and it gets even a big headscratcher.

How many times in recent games has the ball been worked out only for it to be passed backwards? The opponents full backs have a day off when they play EFC.

Plus 13 million or so in today's world for a player like Del Boy is a steal. I suppose RK can use the money to buy Sissoko...

Azzurri · May 4, 2017

He's obviously talented. But that's three of four managers who clearly didn't fancy him. I get the feeling there are bigger issues behind the scenes.

orly · May 4, 2017

tommye said:
Get Patsy on ffs

Better than playing absolute Tash

Gwladys St. Glory · May 4, 2017

tommye said:
Get Patsy on ffs

LocalNative · May 5, 2017

royvernon39 said:
The thing that beats me is that it is clear that the team lacks creativity. So what does RK do? Unload Del Boy, inconsistent but hardworking and sometimes brilliant, and buy Lookman. Throw in Bolaisie's injury and it gets even a big headscratcher.

How many times in recent games has the ball been worked out only for it to be passed backwards? The opponents full backs have a day off when they play EFC.

Plus 13 million or so in today's world for a player like Del Boy is a steal. I suppose RK can use the money to buy Sissoko...

Hardworking? Deulofeu and hardworking in the same sentence?

Also, Lookman scored more goals this seasons for us on his debut than Deulofeu did in 13 games. He's just not good enough for this league.

Khalekan · May 5, 2017

LocalNative said:
Hardworking? Deulofeu and hardworking in the same sentence?

Also, Lookman scored more goals this seasons for us on his debut than Deulofeu did in 13 games. He's just not good enough for this league.

What is so special about "this league"?

It is pretty average at the best of times.

And anyone whom had seen Del in full flight, or sending in inch perfect crossed to Rom knows what the boy is capable of in "this league".

Osamabindiesel · May 5, 2017

Khalekan said:
What is so special about "this league"?

It is pretty average at the best of times.

And anyone whom had seen Del in full flight, or sending in inch perfect crossed to Rom knows what the boy is capable of in "this league".

Defensively it is way above average. You can surely make a case that flair players aren't in abundance, but a majority of the teams can compete with you each week. Geri was poo and I was cheering him on like no other. I hope he gets sold abroad for his career's sake because Koeman's system is not for him. He doesn't work nearly hard enough.

CRIMHEAD · May 5, 2017

I think people are taking a much too simplistic view of Geri. He put some lovely balls together and could create some offense for sure. But he played ZERO defense, was clearly lazy, had poor fitness, and struggles to play in any sort of system that doesn't just let him fly down the wing and frankly, be careless with the ball.

I like the guy, think he could do well under Koeman, but getting rid of him isn't some terrible mistake in my opinion. He has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed.

tim cahill · May 5, 2017

I'd much rather see Deulofeu coming off the bench when we need a goal than Kone. Or Calvert Lewin. Or Lookman. Or even Mirallas to be honest.

mrb85 · May 5, 2017

Deulofeu might not be the hardest worker but to say he 'played zero defence' is a bit over the top. Neither is he on his own as worthy of this description. For a manager who espouses the principles of intensity and defending from the front it beggars belief that we still see Lukaku and Mirallas chosen up front. Throw in the non-tackling Barkley into the same line up and its hardly surprising we are one of the least pressing teams in the Division.

Lanolin · May 5, 2017

CRIMHEAD said:
I think people are taking a much too simplistic view of Geri. He put some lovely balls together and could create some offense for sure. But he played ZERO defense, was clearly lazy, had poor fitness, and struggles to play in any sort of system that doesn't just let him fly down the wing and frankly, be careless with the ball.

I like the guy, think he could do well under Koeman, but getting rid of him isn't some terrible mistake in my opinion. He has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed.

Calls others views 'much too simplistic'. Says 'played zero defence'. File under irony.

Eggsyblueskin · May 5, 2017

mrb85 said:
Deulofeu might not be the hardest worker but to say he 'played zero defence' is a bit over the top. Neither is he on his own as worthy of this description. For a manager who espouses the principles of intensity and defending from the front it beggars belief that we still see Lukaku and Mirallas chosen up front. Throw in the non-tackling Barkley into the same line up and its hardly surprising we are one of the least pressing teams in the Division.

Hmmmm. But will any of the players you mention still be here next season ?

leslad · May 5, 2017

He's easy to write off I think, because he's out on loan and, let's face it, he isn't very industrious, and so when he's off his game he offers very little.

But I think about that 13/14 season where we got the record points total. He made a significant contribution that season, there were a fair few games where he single-handedly made the difference for us. Sunderland 1-0 away, stoke at home, arsenal away were just a few, and he only played in about 15 matches. He's done similar on and off since.

Tough decision for Koeman in the summer.

CRIMHEAD · May 5, 2017

Lanolin said:
Calls others views 'much too simplistic'. Says 'played zero defence'. File under irony.

The simplistic view is that he has this singular dimension that is great and nothing else should be considered. That he is this wondeful joy that sprinkles in crosses of perfection all game long and farts goals out of his butt. And that's it. No consideration of work rate or defense or positioning or well, any other thing that helps a club win.

The more realistic view is that players have more responsibilities than just that. Fine, he is a huge liability on the field in defense. And yes, that is part of his responsibilities as a wide player in any system we play that is suiting up Ross and Rom, who he wants pushed up the field creating goals.

Look, is he talented? Yes. Could he improve under Koeman? I would think so. That's an almost universal opinion on here I think. Will he? The coach himself doesn't feel like he is worth the trouble.

LocalNative · May 5, 2017

Khalekan said:
What is so special about "this league"?

It is pretty average at the best of times.

And anyone whom had seen Del in full flight, or sending in inch perfect crossed to Rom knows what the boy is capable of in "this league".

Unai Emery didn't fancy him.
Luis Enrique didn't fancy him.
Roberto Martinez barely played him.
Ronald Koeman didn't fancy him.

At some point you've got to recognise that a player isn't good enough, for one reason or another. Plenty of quality payers (Shevchenko, Di Maria, Falcao to name a few) couldn't hack it in the Premier League due to the pace and physicality. It's no wonder he's playing better in Italy - a much slower league. He was utterly rubbish pre-Christmas.