Carlos Alcaraz

[superpull]

Pisses me off no end.

Better footballer than we have in the middle currently, but if the goal is even in his peripheral vision he seems to ignore every other alternative (and it always seems there's at least one) and blammos it at the very closest defenders legs instead

[kramer]

That’s why he’s available to us, though.

The raw ability is apparent. If Moyes and the coaching staff can work on his awareness and decision making, he’ll be incredible value.

[brap2]

Definitely changed the feeling of the game when he came on. He's active and positive.

I do like him, hes got a little bit yet to convince me 100% but he's done well.

[Jamokachi]

Pisses me off no end.

Better footballer than we have in the middle currently, but if the goal is even in his peripheral vision he seems to ignore every other alternative (and it always seems there's at least one) and blammos it at the very closest defenders legs instead

Are you talking about Alcaraz? Odd take.

[StirlingBlue]

Are you talking about Alcaraz? Odd take.

I think he’s replying to the comment about Doucouré

[brap2]

I'd say Alcaraz definitely takes on pot shots

[superpull]

No, definitely talking about Alcaraz and his abominably shite decision making when he gets near the opposition area.

But will give him 100% credit for being one of the few players capable and willing to get near the opposition area.
As Kramer said though, if he was able to make that final decision we wouldn't have had a hope of bringing him in.

So it's a gamble for me - can we teach him to lay off a pass when around the box. As it stands he's so desperate to win that it clouds everything he does when it matters most.

[TheRam]

Feel like I see a completely different player to some on here.

Wins the ball in his own half, goes past a man, plays beto in for a good chance. Done this a good few times now hasn’t he?

Nobody else in the team has I know that for sure.

[Risky]

I have spotted the pot shot thing from him, he's tried it a few times. But it's certainly not the defining part of his game that I've picked up on so far - I've been far more impressed by the ball carrying and intent from him. It's not like he never passes it in attacking areas either, there's plenty of evidence of him playing in good balls to Beto in particular.

He's far from perfect but I've liked what I've seen so far, and he's young enough to improve in the areas he's not so good at now.

[AjaxAndy]

Feel like I see a completely different player to some on here.

Wins the ball in his own half, goes past a man, plays beto in for a good chance. Done this a good few times now hasn’t he?

Nobody else in the team has I know that for sure.

In agreement 100%. Didn't see the match but the highlights showed the way he broke and slipped in Beto with a perfectly weighted pass, which he's now done at least 3 times.

He can run with it, he can play a perfectly weighted through ball and his work rate is top notch. Just needs some good coaching and a place to settle for the rest to come together. Think we'd be crazy not to sign him.

[Goaljira]

No, definitely talking about Alcaraz and his abominably shite decision making when he gets near the opposition area.

But will give him 100% credit for being one of the few players capable and willing to get near the opposition area.
As Kramer said though, if he was able to make that final decision we wouldn't have had a hope of bringing him in.

So it's a gamble for me - can we teach him to lay off a pass when around the box. As it stands he's so desperate to win that it clouds everything he does when it matters most.

He did this the other week, but I thought it was noticable on Saturday that when he ran with the ball and Beto pulled wide instead of shooting himself when he was in a valid place to try from he did try to play Beto in instead.

[superpull]

He did this the other week, but I thought it was noticable on Saturday that when he ran with the ball and Beto pulled wide instead of shooting himself when he was in a valid place to try from he did try to play Beto in instead.

Happy to put it down to perception bias.

But every game he has played it's felt like - in the last 10 minutes of a game - we've had 2 chances that have fallen to him (or, he has created in all fairness) and there has been someone in acres of space. Often in the box. Always in a position to turn a draw into a win.

He has twatted it at a defender each game. Every game.

It's all that stands out to me about him now because of it.

[AllyBlue14]

Contextually, though, he's a young lad playing for his future, isn't he? He's got 4 months to impress and usually comes on with 10-15 minutes left in the game (and we need him to make something happen). He's also joined a new team halfway through the season that is trying to move away from anti-football.

He's obviously not the finished article and if he were, it's very unlikely he'd be with us at this stage of our respective developments. But he seems to be a classic Moyes acquisition with a high ceiling for potential. In some ways, he reminds me a bit of Arteta - I remember being impressed with him in that initial loan spell but not massively bowled over. I think it was from the start of the next season where he really started to shine.

For me, he's shown more than enough to justify keeping him and with a full pre-season under his belt, I think he'd do really well. But, even if it didn't work out brilliantly, he'd be a great option to use in rotation as we look to build some sort of a squad.

[brap2]

Some really good bits, the way he powered through the middle and skinned their defender was very good and we've seen those driving runs a few times now so can probably say this is a Charly thing - he wants to get on the ball and push which is a great attribute.

His touch and dig I'll allow that, and the shot that hit the keepers drink bottle last week also ok, one or two wild pot shots I think because he's playing out of his skin trying to make an impression.

He's creating from open play which is a very new thing for us, in fact more so than anyone on the team per 90 which is great.

Yeah, fair play to him let's see what he's got. That was his best showing for me at the weekend.

[Risky]

You put him and Ndiaye in the team together and then you've suddenly got 2 players who want to drive forward with the ball at their feet. Could be fun.