After the Spurs game i was thinking about how poor his ball retention is, but unless it was confirmation bias, it all seems to go west for him when he tires. Maybe if we can hook him after 60 65 mins then we would review his performances a lot better.
He was very very good first half vs Spurs afterall.
Just don't know what type of player you buy to replace him.
He's still playing as an attacking midfielder for us, and moves break down constantly due to his decisions or technique, but he is all over the pitch bullying people constantly.
You need height, you need to win duals, you need to be strong, you need to cover ground, you need to compete. I don't like it either but we compete much better when he's on the pitch and Moyes sees that a mile off.
brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:52 am
Just don't know what type of player you buy to replace him.
He's still playing as an attacking midfielder for us, and moves break down constantly due to his decisions or technique, but he is all over the pitch bullying people constantly.
You need height, you need to win duals, you need to be strong, you need to cover ground, you need to compete. I don't like it either but we compete much better when he's on the pitch and Moyes sees that a mile off.
Sounds a lot like we need the equivalent of a curly haired fella that Moyes took with him to United.
Goaljira wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:09 am
Sounds a lot like we need the equivalent of a curly haired fella that Moyes took with him to United.
Felli had a better touch that Duke and was much better at bringing players into the game. Great header of the ball.
Duke is an athlete, much more mobile.
A blend of the two would be ideal but I'm sure that player is probably around 80 million on the market.
Doucoure is the plaster over our inability to retain possession. We need to move away from requiring someone to paper over the cracks by being a mad pressing machine to try win it back high up the pitch, especially as he can't do that as well now.
It worked under Dyche last season because his mad engine meant we could force turnovers in the oppositions half, but he's a shadow of that this year. We definitely shouldn't be looking for a replacement who's similar, I'd much rather us have 3 technical players behind the striker who can press rather than someone with no technical ability and crazy energy.
I think in Ndaiye and Lindstrom we have that, just need one more in there who is pacy as well as having some technical ability and we'd be so much better for it.
Duke's been a good servant but this was a season too far for him unfortunately and we shouldn't be looking for a similar player to replace him.
Big Nevs Vaz wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:27 pm
Felli had a better touch that Duke and was much better at bringing players into the game. Great header of the ball.
Duke is an athlete, much more mobile.
A blend of the two would be ideal but I'm sure that player is probably around 80 million on the market.
Sadly he's called Scott McTominay as much as I don't like him
brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:52 pm
Sadly he's called Scott McTominay as much as I don't like him
40/45 mill gets you a Scott McTominay. Late runs into the box, plenty of goals. Still doesnt cover the ground Doucoure does though.
Where's the next Bruno Guimaraes?
He is limited in his footballing ability but he is a machine. He must be so annoying to play against. Constantly in the faces of the opposition, awkward, tall, strong. And when he does have a good game on the ball, my God does he warrant his place in the side.
With his game as it is, I don’t see why you wouldn’t offer him another year at a reasonable wage. His stamina will be the same next year - just look at Gana. He looks after himself and will allow us to get a bit of depth on the bench.