720 replies to this topic

[dkw]

SydneyChelsea, on 05 February 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

You overrate Gylfi Sigurdsson then.

Only slightly though........

[Spiller86]

Remodez, on 05 February 2012 - 10:18 AM, said:

I agree with everything you said apart from that. The only thing Ramires has over Sigurdsson is pace, that's it. Lampard comes close and on the top of his game probably would be better, but that hasn't happened in a long time and even then it wouldn't be by far.

If one were comparing Steven Gerrard with Frank you might say Frank was better but it 'wouldn't be by far' If one were comparing Ballack with Frank you might say Frank was better but it 'wouldn't be by far.'

If one were comparing Sigurdsson to Frank, you might say Sigurdsson isn't fit to lick Frank's scrotum.

Edited by Spiller86, 05 February 2012 - 12:47 PM.

[chelseablueboy]

Alan

[alan'82]

Josh may (or may not) be as good as we all hope he is & only time and games will tell.

But if he over the short term he can't be as/more effective then Meireles,then I'm a dutchman.

If any player proved the definition of what a 'squad' player is,then Raul is that type of player.

In the meantime,we pass the responsobilty of devoloping a player we could use,while flogging to death on the pitch a player who is as good today as he will ever be.

[ant-sw6]

Some views from Swansea fans about his first league start today, looks mixed atm.

From Match of the Day he did play in a brilliant ball through from nothing though.

http://forum.planets...hp?f=6&t=117139

[Bluehatter]

ant-sw6, on 11 February 2012 - 11:43 PM, said:

Some views from Swansea fans about his first league start today, looks mixed atm.

From Match of the Day he did play in a brilliant ball through from nothing though.

http://forum.planets...hp?f=6&t=117139

Mixed? From what I'm looking that they are saying he was poor.Most of them saying he shouldn't be anywhere near there first team. The kid has alot to learn and needs to man up physically because he still looks like a little kid on the pitch!

[ant-sw6]

Bluehatter, on 11 February 2012 - 11:50 PM, said:

Mixed? From what I'm looking that they are saying he was poor.Most of them saying he shouldn't be anywhere near there first team. The kid has alot to learn and needs to man up physically because he still looks like a little kid on the pitch!

Well they seem to be in agreement that he's got great technical ability, just his work of the ball and general physique is not up to scratch.

I guess he's still growing so perhaps that side of his game may come in time. I can't see him getting a huge amount of more playing time at Swansea though.

[Bluehatter]

ant-sw6, on 11 February 2012 - 11:56 PM, said:

Well they seem to be in agreement that he's got great technical ability, just his work of the ball and general physique is not up to scratch.

I guess he's still growing so perhaps that side of his game may come in time. I can't see him getting a huge amount of more playing time at Swansea though.

I'd rather hm sat on our bench than theirs! He should of been sent somewhere where he is guaranteed a start which at the moment is likey to come in the championship. No doubt he will become a great player and hopefully it's sooner rather than later!

[SydneyChelsea]

McEachran doesn't look fit enough to be a Premier League player. He needs to hit the gym hard in the off-season, because if he's struggling with Swansea's tempo (much like AVB predicted) he's going to get a real shock playing for a CL team.

[Zeta Orionis]

He was always like that in the rare appearances he got for us I thought. Great technical ability, but when he's not on the ball he doesn't do much. Doesn't really tackle, doesn't get involved much. All he needs is to hit the gym, build up some upper body strength, get more games under his belt and buil;d up his confidence as well. Then I'm sure he'll be a quality player.

[Spiller86]

SydneyChelsea, on 12 February 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

McEachran doesn't look fit enough to be a Premier League player. He needs to hit the gym hard in the off-season, because if he's struggling with Swansea's tempo (much like AVB predicted) he's going to get a real shock playing for a CL team.

We might not be a CL team next season, so that will be fine.

I think he is still building up match fitness I'd expect him to do better later in the season.

[SydneyChelsea]

It's not just his strength. It's his overall athleticism. He's like an obviously talented kid who hasn't hit puberty yet; he doesn't have the strength necessary for speed and momentum and his fitness limits his intensity.

In modern football, you need to be athletic. Commentators w**k on about Barcelona and the German clubs and have created this false dichotomy where you're either small and skilful or an athletic brute. They complete ignore the advanced mental and physical conditioning programs that clubs in Italy, Spain and Germany put their youth through in order to have athletically and technically gifted players.

[SydneyChelsea]

Spiller86, on 12 February 2012 - 11:04 AM, said:

We might not be a CL team next season, so that will be fine.

I think he is still building up match fitness I'd expect him to do better later in the season.

I'm not really that concerned. Physical fitness is much easier to instil in a player than technical ability, the latter of which McEachran has in spades. He's 18, he hasn't even finished growing yet. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great role model, the athletic training he did post 2006-WC turned him from a promising star into one of the greatest of his generation.

[wxwax]

Someone assembled a video of McEachran's touches last weekend. Because it shows touches, what it doesn't illustrate is the biggest complaint about his performance, that he was a poor defender.

[Castiel]

What do Swansea expect if they're playing him defensively? He's an attacking midfielder. They should use him to rest/cover for Gylfi not to protect their back 4. Josh really needs to put some weight on though. Mata is more physically imposing than he is.

[Spiller86]

I think we can now see exactly why he wasn't playing here. He is just a bit small and a bit clueless when it comes to the defensive part of the game. He may well be an attacking midfielder Castiel but you can't not defend.

This is where the six months away helps him a lot, he can grow that part of his game, and hopefully return a much better player either next season or the season after if he goes out again next season. He is of course still 18, there is no hurry, I'd prefer he be allowed to develop into the player he can be rather than not get there because he was rushed in too fast.

[rahul]

He is by no means a finished product but if you keep him wrapped in cotton wool he's not going to get there is he? From that clip I saw some good touches, good composure and an excellent through ball. Exactly what we've been missing in a few games ourselves. Half an appearance here and there while he was here wouldnt have gone amiss.

[wxwax]

Castiel, on 14 February 2012 - 01:51 AM, said:

What do Swansea expect if they're playing him defensively?

Also usually how Carlo used him, when he put him out there.

[Castiel]

Spiller86, on 14 February 2012 - 03:09 AM, said:

I think we can now see exactly why he wasn't playing here. He is just a bit small and a bit clueless when it comes to the defensive part of the game. He may well be an attacking midfielder Castiel but you can't not defend.

Of course he needs to work on his defensive game. But I don't see how playing somebody in a position which exploits none of his strengths (except passing accuracy) is going to help him. Not a slight on Swansea because we played him too deep as well, as mentioned. He should be playing his killer passes and learning to press high up the pitch, not make hard tackles on players twice his size to shield the centre backs.

Still at least he's actually playing. That can only be a good thing.

[Nibs]

rahul, on 14 February 2012 - 04:35 AM, said:

He is by no means a finished product but if you keep him wrapped in cotton wool he's not going to get there is he? From that clip I saw some good touches, good composure and an excellent through ball. Exactly what we've been missing in a few games ourselves. Half an appearance here and there while he was here wouldnt have gone amiss.

This.

We have too many midfielders who are not over creative and are there first and foremost to put a foot in / close down etc. In McEachran we actually have a player who can put the ball through the eye of a needle (or better still, into the path of Torres) but we are concerned about his defensive capabilities!

There is no doubt, he has to add on some pounds and he will need to improve his all-round game, which I'm sure he will now he is actually getting to play some football. But as much as folk don't like the expression "play the youngsters - they couldn't do any worse", it is actually the case. Put Josh in our side in place of Miereles or Malouda or some weeks even Lamps and he would improve the midfield. I know he came off in the Norwich match as he is clearly still not up to 90 minutes (hardly surprising), but in that 60 minutes or so he still created more than our midfield. Then again, that could also be down to having a coach with a bit of belief.