TrixyStevens
Player Valuation: £35m
The kid can play.
PNECraig
Player Valuation: Free Transfer
Hiya folks, PNE fan here in peace.
First of all, what can I say about Harrison Armstrong? What a talent in the making. If anyone gets the chance, check out the full match replay or highlights from our game against Sheffield United.
On paper that's a difficult game for a young lad. We go 2-0 down against the run of play and as our box to box player suddenly we sink or swim based on our ability to snap out of it and get box to box.
All of our players stepped up when it would have been easy to go missing, and no more than Harrison Armstrong whose composure didn't dip for even a second. If anything he was even more fired up... at 18.
The main highlights for me have been
1. His touch is immense. His ability to control the ball in tight spaces, take balls from any angle (pardon!) and find the space around him is a level above and in a physical, congested Championship he still manages to find or make the space, pick passes quickly and move the ball between the lines.
2. He's got an insane engine. He pops up absolutely everywhere, back to front. He's already a quality athlete at just 18. I don't want to make too many comparisons, but he has that Bellingham feel about his physicality.
3. He's just as good at tackling as he is with the ball. We recently suffered an injury to our main "interceptor" defensive midfielder. No problem for Harrison, he just finds thee energy to get there and either make a standing tackle or a perfect slide.
4. Mentally he's so balanced and unfazed. Conducts himself really well in interviews and has a fantastic team and individual mentality.
HOWEVER
I do think he'll gain more for his overall development by doing a full season at this level where he can exceed expectations than be thrust into the Prem spotlight with big expectations on his shoulders to make good on the form he's shown on loan.
I have absolutely no doubt he could step up now, but my belief (and I'm not just saying this because I want to keep him for the full season, although I do!) is that he should have a "great loan" and then come back to a full preseason for you to make good on it.
He's got years and years ahead of him and you've got a top quality player on your hands. We've had some great Prem loans over the years (most recently the likes of Alvaro Carreras who is now excelling at Real Madrid), but Armstrong has a really special "X factor" quality about him.
First of all, what can I say about Harrison Armstrong? What a talent in the making. If anyone gets the chance, check out the full match replay or highlights from our game against Sheffield United.
On paper that's a difficult game for a young lad. We go 2-0 down against the run of play and as our box to box player suddenly we sink or swim based on our ability to snap out of it and get box to box.
All of our players stepped up when it would have been easy to go missing, and no more than Harrison Armstrong whose composure didn't dip for even a second. If anything he was even more fired up... at 18.
The main highlights for me have been
1. His touch is immense. His ability to control the ball in tight spaces, take balls from any angle (pardon!) and find the space around him is a level above and in a physical, congested Championship he still manages to find or make the space, pick passes quickly and move the ball between the lines.
2. He's got an insane engine. He pops up absolutely everywhere, back to front. He's already a quality athlete at just 18. I don't want to make too many comparisons, but he has that Bellingham feel about his physicality.
3. He's just as good at tackling as he is with the ball. We recently suffered an injury to our main "interceptor" defensive midfielder. No problem for Harrison, he just finds thee energy to get there and either make a standing tackle or a perfect slide.
4. Mentally he's so balanced and unfazed. Conducts himself really well in interviews and has a fantastic team and individual mentality.
HOWEVER
I do think he'll gain more for his overall development by doing a full season at this level where he can exceed expectations than be thrust into the Prem spotlight with big expectations on his shoulders to make good on the form he's shown on loan.
I have absolutely no doubt he could step up now, but my belief (and I'm not just saying this because I want to keep him for the full season, although I do!) is that he should have a "great loan" and then come back to a full preseason for you to make good on it.
He's got years and years ahead of him and you've got a top quality player on your hands. We've had some great Prem loans over the years (most recently the likes of Alvaro Carreras who is now excelling at Real Madrid), but Armstrong has a really special "X factor" quality about him.
Thanks for the heads up fella. I work with a Preston season ticket holder and I told him a few weeks ago that you were getting a cracker.
I was speaking to him in work last Monday and he was absolutely raving about him.
Sounds good to me - thanks for the update
…..interesting he says says the manager tells him to play wherever the state of game dictates. Chasing the game he played further up the pitch but when they were ahead it was backs to the wall. I think it naturally happens that way but he clearly thinks about the game and takes instructions, not surprising he captains his country.
He also mentions ‘end of season’ suggesting no plans for a January return.
Looks like he’s filling into his frame as well, bulked up from last season.
He also mentions ‘end of season’ suggesting no plans for a January return.
Looks like he’s filling into his frame as well, bulked up from last season.
The old adage about building a team from a strong spine is still true today.
Kevsleftpeg
Player Valuation: £25m
I just watched the second half of the PNE v SU game (it's free on the PNE website if you register). Being honest, I was slightly underwhelmed compared to the reports. HA looked good, got around the pitch well, passed the ball crisply and quickly when he got it (also gave it away badly a few times) but I didn't think it was as exceptional as the reports made out.
He’s hung his hat on Villa Tim and I don’t think he will change his opinions yet. He will have to eventuallyOf course you were
To be fair I think this speaks a bit to some people's unrealistic (current) expectations.
If an 18 year old is regularly playing centre mid at a decent senior men's level and not looking actively crap, that's reason enough to be excited about them as a prospect.
If they're looking *good*, then that's insanely exciting.
For what it's worth I've bought all in on the Armstrong hype train, but for me that means understanding he's still miles off Prem starter quality. Where he is for his age though is incredible. Only the true freaks play like actual superstars in their teens - Rooneys, Bellinghams etc. The vast majority of even world class players don't.
Kevsleftpeg
Player Valuation: £25m
I think that’s a fair comment. But every single description of his game should be couched in terms of “for his age” because some people read the unfiltered reviews and think he is already better than Garner, Gana, Tim, Merlin and he clearly isn’t. He’s just performing above expectations for his age which is great and encouraging. But people described his performance like it was exceptional regardless of age and it really wasn’t.
Kevsleftpeg
Player Valuation: £25m
I was expecting a performance at least as good as Tim v Bournemouth last year or Brighton this year and I just didn’t see it. I have been misled way way to many times in the past by other evertonians over hyping our younger player so I now prefer to watch and form my own conclusions based purely on the evidence.
Zatara
Player Valuation: £100m
He's on the right trajectory.
Impressive stats them, 12 successful passes and a magnificent 55% pass Accuracy. And not a chance created
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