2018/19 Lucas Digne

[GwladysPhil]

I’m not saying he’s a legend but he clearly wasn’t alone in his thinking at the time.

Also there’s something to be said for speaking your mind when you feel strongly about something rather than the old RS trick of brainwashing everyone. Remember when Emile Heskey was previewing a Spurs v Leicester game and was asked who will win? His reply? Liverpool.

I’m assuming Kevin Ratcliffe, who is undoubtedly a bona fide EFC legend, is equally as unpopular with you due to him also not giving us constant glowing reviews on screen?

Heskey was asked about who would win between Spurs and Leicester, and he said Liverpool?

 

[Connor]

Game of opinions I guess, but to go from dreadful to how his performing now shows some progression.

He's always been a decent defender but even that has gone up a level since joining.

I feel bad for wanting Tierney over him intially.

 

[davek]

The majority of times crossing the ball is not about picking out players, the game happens so fast and the crosser has enough to worry about that they have to trust their teammates to be in the right place.

All a crosser needs to do, as I said, on the majority of occasions, is get it in the right areas. If you do that then you are a good crosser of the ball and that is exactly what Baines gave us, quality balls in the right area.

At this time I do not see any difference in what Digne is doing, getting the ball in the right areas, a few occasions he has swung it around the edge of the 6 yard box trusting the attacking players to be attacking the right area.

I disagree.

It cant be all about delivering to where you think your team mate will be. We have that in passing right now all over the pitch and its a mess. It's not just about hit and hope. The best wingers/wing backs get their head up and make sure they deliver to the spot - and with the right height and speed - where their team mate attacking the ball WILL be when he arrives for the ball. They're not just aimoing for space, they make an assessment of trajectory and distance of whatver gap an attacker has to make up when the ball is delievered.

Of course, that ^^^ overcomplicates what is an instinctive and largely unthinking bit of team play. Nevertheless, the best will always have speed, distance, angle etc all computed but do it instinctively. Digne fits that bill for me: his delivery is smooth and instinctive. There's nothing forced about it. It is a sight to behold, and it doesn't compare to the laboured delivery of others...including Baines.

 

[wandyr79]

I disagree.

It cant be all about delivering to where you think your team mate will be. We have that in passing right now all over the pitch and its a mess. It's not just about hit and hope. The best wingers/wing backs get their head up and make sure they deliver to the spot - and with the right height and speed - where their team mate attacking the ball WILL be when he arrives for the ball. They're not just aimoing for space, they make an assessment of trajectory and distance of whatver gap an attacker has to make up when the ball is delievered.

Of course, that ^^^ overcomplicates what is an instinctive and largely unthinking bit of team play. Nevertheless, the best will always have speed, distance, angle etc all computed but do it instinctively. Digne fits that bill for me: his delivery is smooth and instinctive. There's nothing forced about it. It is a sight to behold, and it doesn't compare to the laboured delivery of others...including Baines.

I never said 'hit and hope', those are words you are using.

What I said is exactly what you said but in a different way. The best are looking for a 'spot' or an 'area'. You are right about height and speed as well.

I would also add that the players and coaches talk about this and have defined plans, i.e. There will be times where Digne or A.N. Other will have a bit of time and will see Walcott drifting to the far post so that we will be where they will pin point a deep cross or if they don't have time and they are at the by-line then try to hit the penalty spot where the pre-planned run is being made by the centre forward.

What I was getting at (mainly with the term 'majority') is that the players are looking for the right ball without necessarily looking to pin point a player, as you seemed to intimate in your original post.

There is a lot of similarities between Digne & Baines in all round play. What Baines was good at was getting a bit of whip on the ball (hence why his direct free kicks were so good) from the by-line. At his height it was when the likes of Cahill & Fellaini would be attacking the ball from deep.

 

[riddick]

Who knew a player that has been at PSG, Roma and Barcelona would be good?

 

[Steve0]

Heskey was asked about who would win between Spurs and Leicester, and he said Liverpool?

The point being he was so inculcated by the cult that he’d thought they’d win even when they weren’t playing.

 

[Groucho]

Heskey was asked about who would win between Spurs and Leicester, and he said Liverpool?

Yes on live telly

 

[davek]

I never said 'hit and hope', those are words you are using.

What I said is exactly what you said but in a different way. The best are looking for a 'spot' or an 'area'. You are right about height and speed as well.

I would also add that the players and coaches talk about this and have defined plans, i.e. There will be times where Digne or A.N. Other will have a bit of time and will see Walcott drifting to the far post so that we will be where they will pin point a deep cross or if they don't have time and they are at the by-line then try to hit the penalty spot where the pre-planned run is being made by the centre forward.

What I was getting at (mainly with the term 'majority') is that the players are looking for the right ball without necessarily looking to pin point a player, as you seemed to intimate in your original post.

There is a lot of similarities between Digne & Baines in all round play. What Baines was good at was getting a bit of whip on the ball (hence why his direct free kicks were so good) from the by-line. At his height it was when the likes of Cahill & Fellaini would be attacking the ball from deep.

When Baines was in his "pomp" we had a lot of attackers, or attacking midfielders, who could profit from a lofted or driven cross into a space between the six yard box and penalty area. Digne isn't able to rely on that. We have from open play no real aerial threat and it relies on us having a player out side who can be a lot more efficient in crossing the ball.

 

[Zezti]

Blown away by his attacking game P.

He was dreadful at Barca and Roma going forward but it was clear to see he was solid at the back.

Now, he looks quality going forward.

Wonder why that is?
Has he just randomly, suddenly improved or is it down to tactics and the players around him?

Trying to think, his best games for us has been when he's had Richarlison or Bernard ahead of him and Gueye returned to his natural spot. I don't think he's had much joy when its been Morgs and DCL around him. Faith in his teammates to get back and cover, perhaps?

 

[Azzurri]

Hahahaha Dave, come on now.

Fair enough your backstabbing rat Baines angle is quite amusing at times, but to say he couldn’t cross a ball and just lumped it in is poor bait.

 

[meagher94]

I was gutted we never got Tierney, thought Digne would be quite average.

Made up to say I was wrong, this lad is the business.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

When Baines was in his "pomp" we had a lot of attackers, or attacking midfielders, who could profit from a lofted or driven cross into a space between the six yard box and penalty area. Digne isn't able to rely on that. We have from open play no real aerial threat and it relies on us having a player out side who can be a lot more efficient in crossing the ball.

I think that depends on the tactic. I'm sure Silva has explained to his club where they want the ball to be and where they want his attackers to be. That's not usually something that is just done on the fly.

 

[Connor]

Wonder why that is?
Has he just randomly, suddenly improved or is it down to tactics and the players around him?

Trying to think, his best games for us has been when he's had Richarlison or Bernard ahead of him and Gueye returned to his natural spot. I don't think he's had much joy when its been Morgs and DCL around him. Faith in his teammates to get back and cover, perhaps?

Little bit of everything I reckon.

Helps that he's getting a consistent run of games, as a key player, at a place he knows he has a future at too, I'd say and all.

 

[Nymzee]

Little bit of everything I reckon.

Helps that he's getting a consistent run of games, as a key player, at a place he knows he has a future at too, I'd say and all.

Or it's because the gap between us and Barcelona/PSG/Roma is that big that he can look average attacking there but brilliant attacking here.

 

[Connor]

Or it's because the gap between us and Barcelona/PSG/Roma is that big that he can look average attacking there but brilliant attacking here.

Dunno what you're on about Nymz, we are better than all three of those sides