2025/26 Idrissa Gana Gueye

[Rita_Poon]

They were. I thought Idrissa was noticeably poor though based on his usual high standards.

There was zero understanding between him and KDH of where they were supposed to be and kept treading on each other's toes.

I picked D-Hall out previous for trying to do to much, today first half especially reminded me of the leeds game, we were out hustled and out muscled and just seemed to stand off the ball and off the tempo of the game. It's strange we can be such a Jekyll and Hyde side.
I thought their targeted physicality first half seemed to sap the legs out of Ndiaye and Grealish, the ref might as well have been throwing two footers in himself.

 

[TheBigIguana]

He really couldn’t, he’s awful in possession and can’t hold his position out of it. No idea what you see in him.

This is my do you know ball test: if you don’t understand that Gana is quite good in possession you do not know what you’re talking about. Very simple at this point. I genuinely can’t believe we’re still doing this AFTER he went to a PSG side and played in some of the highest level games.

 

[Saint Domingo]

This is my do you know ball test: if you don’t understand that Gana is quite good in possession you do not know what you’re talking about. Very simple at this point. I genuinely can’t believe we’re still doing this AFTER he went to a PSG side and played in some of the highest level games.

We’ll have to agree to disagree, giving the ball away in dangerous areas and halting attacks but getting a load of simple back passes right does not equal being good in possession. At the start of the second half Grealish fed him three times in a row on the edge of their area and each one ended up with them launching a counter.

 

[TheBigIguana]

We’ll have to agree to disagree, giving the ball away in dangerous areas and halting attacks but getting a load of simple back passes right does not equal being good in possession. At the start of the second half Grealish fed him three times in a row on the edge of their area and each one ended up with them launching a counter.

I don’t remember all of them but the one I do Grealish missed him by like 6 feet so…

 

[Rita_Poon]

second oldest scorer in a Merseyside derby (after the big nosed Scot that played a lot for coventry).

 

[Joey66]

TBH - even though he scored a great goal & missed one an easier chance - he was overrun in our midfield as it was so poor in the first half hour like the rest Hoof Ball does not suit him - Dm has to be blamed for those tactics he stopped after replacing Dyche .... Pickford sees the ball far too muck to punt it like a rugby union kick & Beto & Barry are not that good in the air - we need to start playing a false no 9 that can link the midfield up Nydye needs to be closer to Grealish -
just play the ball on the deck .....

 

[EGWToffee]

Completely overran in the first half. At fault for Gravenbergs goal. Didn’t track him

 

[Rita_Poon]

TBH - even though he scored a great goal & missed one an easier chance - he was overrun in our midfield as it was so poor in the first half hour like the rest Hoof Ball does not suit him - Dm has to be blamed for those tactics he stopped after replacing Dyche .... Pickford sees the ball far too muck to punt it like a rugby union kick & Beto & Barry are not that good in the air - we need to start playing a false no 9 that can link the midfield up Nydye needs to be closer to Grealish -
just play the ball on the deck .....

The upgrades in the side have left him exposed, I think it's partly team orders, D-Hall is the all action star, Gana seems reined in. Posted elsewhere just, we've an attack, we've a defence, but we've not a lot to connect the two. We keep stumbling over this hurdle and it's hurting us. We need a solution. I can see the issue, I can't see the fix. Not at the minute.

 

[breadbanana]

I think that it is more on Moyes tactical flaws in the first half than individual players fault that the midfielders were acting like headless chicken. 2nd half much better - with Barry Link up play help as well.

Credit to Gueye he kept his head up and started&scored that goal.

 

[HTCHERO]

Anyone that rips this lad really needs to question their purpose in life as they have are wasting Oxygen.

 

[GoldenToffee]

He was as bad as I've ever seen in that first half. Completely dominated and bypassed in midfield, embarrassing when attacking. Did brilliant to score the goal but it was too little too late, sadly.

 

[dannyboy]

This is my do you know ball test: if you don’t understand that Gana is quite good in possession you do not know what you’re talking about. Very simple at this point. I genuinely can’t believe we’re still doing this AFTER he went to a PSG side and played in some of the highest level games.

I would never describe Gueye as good in possession. Obvious his best work comes when we haven't got the ball.

He's okay at making simple passes under little pressure but he really struggles to be cute enough when pressed. When that happens, we lose control of the game. He's not capable of calming things down and picking the right option.

 

[Bluebonic]

I love Gana, but whether he’s carrying an injury or his age is starting to catch up, he doesn't seem to have the same energy levels this season? I hope its the former, as he’s the only viable defensive midfielder we have.

 

[No Alla Violenza]

A question for everyone having a go at him, especially in that first half - were you happy with Garner’s performance? KDH’s??

 

[dannyboy]

A question for everyone having a go at him, especially in that first half - were you happy with Garner’s performance? KDH’s??

No. They were both terrible too.