I like him... didn't do too bad today either - fluffed his chance but wonderful skill to get in position.

Dunno what we've bought Neto for Mudryk looks far more dangerous than him.

11 minutes ago, Bebe1980 said:

I like him... didn't do too bad today either - fluffed his chance but wonderful skill to get in position.

Dunno what we've bought Neto for Mudryk looks far more dangerous than him.

Neto's performance against Wolves was better than 99.9% of Mudryk's performances.

47 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Neto's performance against Wolves was better than 99.9% of Mudryk's performances.

I didn't think Mudryk was too bad at all today, he seemed a threat! No clangers that I can think of!

Mudryk did ok today. I do think the way forward is to bring him on against tired legs, when there is space in behind. 

1 minute ago, Mod said:

I didn't think Mudryk was too bad at all today, he seemed a threat! No clangers that I can think of!

I saw him run once at the fall back and play one decent cross. By Mudryk's standards, it's an improvement I guess.

compare contrast Sancho and Felix yesterday after coming on. Massive difference in appetite. 

Felix looked disinterested, was barged off the ball easily. If he can adapt to the physicality of the league, find a yard of space to operate in, he'll be a good signing. But yesterday's cameo didnt fill me with confidence. 

Plenty more games to come to find his form. fingers crossed for the guy. 

 

I'm probably looking at Felix through some very blue tinted glasses, but I always think something will happen when he plays.  His speed of thought and ability to turn is beyond others in our team.  Hope he gets more minutes.

20 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

I'm probably looking at Felix through some very blue tinted glasses, but I always think something will happen when he plays.  His speed of thought and ability to turn is beyond others in our team.  Hope he gets more minutes.

The thing I like with Felix is that he is a natural on the ball. He has touch, control, and can pick a pass.  It looks slick, and the ball feels like an extension of his body. 

Compare this to someone like Mudyrk or Jackson - who have very little natural abilty, and for who it always looks mechanical.

25 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

The thing I like with Felix is that he is a natural on the ball. He has touch, control, and can pick a pass.  It looks slick, and the ball feels like an extension of his body. 

Compare this to someone like Mudyrk or Jackson - who have very little natural abilty, and for who it always looks mechanical.

48 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

The thing I like with Felix is that he is a natural on the ball. He has touch, control, and can pick a pass.  It looks slick, and the ball feels like an extension of his body. 

Compare this to someone like Mudyrk or Jackson - who have very little natural abilty, and for who it always looks mechanical.

The problem is he rarely chooses to do the right thing, stupid unnecessary flicks or back heels are his thing. Yesterday was a perfect example, took a great long ball down wide in the area, had an ideal lay off back to then move into space but instead tried a stupid backheel that went straight to there player and they then countered. Absolutely no need for it.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

The problem is he rarely chooses to do the right thing, stupid unnecessary flicks or back heels are his thing. Yesterday was a perfect example, took a great long ball down wide in the area, had an ideal lay off back to then move into space but instead tried a stupid backheel that went straight to there player and they then countered. Absolutely no need for it.

That sums Felix up. As I've said time and again, Felix is the definition of a luxury player. Great to bring on when you're 5-1 up v Wolves and he will look great and score a goal. But when the going get's tough, you don't want his little flicks and back heels that will lose you possession and keep the pressure on the defence. 

He can be a useful squad player but don't see him getting risked in too many games where things are tight as okay, he might be able to produce a bit of skill to unlock the opposition but he's more likely to lose the ball cheaply and end up costing us a goal. Which is no doubt why Simeone was so keen to offload him.

8 hours ago, dkw said:

The problem is he rarely chooses to do the right thing, stupid unnecessary flicks or back heels are his thing. Yesterday was a perfect example, took a great long ball down wide in the area, had an ideal lay off back to then move into space but instead tried a stupid backheel that went straight to there player and they then countered. Absolutely no need for it.

Lol I actually thought about you watching this exact play. He is the anti-Palmer; almost always chooses to do the wrong thing in any given situation, especially when the pressure is on.

Some other examples:

71' - Cutback across the box, no pressure around him, doesn't anticipate and fumbles what should have been a routine touch for him

73' -  Given the ball in a bit of space by Caicedo in a perfect position to switch the play to Cucurella/Sancho, but instead backheels the ball to no one and the attack breaks down

84' - Neat interplay with Palmer + Nkunku, Nkunku peels outwide, Felix makes a great third-man run into the centre gap but inexplicably gets himself off side. Palmer aborts the play at the last second.

If Felix would think of himself as more of a facilitator for others I think he would be a much more valuable player. He needs to realise that doesn't mean he still can't make big plays, but it makes it harder for defenders to mark him.

I don’t understand the move here from Felix’s perspective. As things stand he is effectively 3rd choice at LW, as a 10, and I don’t think Maresca is crazy enough to play him as a 10. You would think after the last few seasons he would have gone to a team where he is the creative hub, and playing regular football. Villa were in for him and have a creative hole with Diaby and Douglas Luiz leaving, he would have been a key player and playing CL football. Won’t be surprised if the club sells him in the summer to the Saudis to make space for Paez & Estevao.

11 hours ago, Nibs said:

That sums Felix up. As I've said time and again, Felix is the definition of a luxury player. Great to bring on when you're 5-1 up v Wolves and he will look great and score a goal. But when the going get's tough, you don't want his little flicks and back heels that will lose you possession and keep the pressure on the defence. 

He can be a useful squad player but don't see him getting risked in too many games where things are tight as okay, he might be able to produce a bit of skill to unlock the opposition but he's more likely to lose the ball cheaply and end up costing us a goal. Which is no doubt why Simeone was so keen to offload him.

Absolutely is a luxury player, theres a huge amount of the social media loons that love him for all his useless flicks and sh*t, the FIFA fans etc, calling for him to start every game. 

6 minutes ago, dkw said:

Absolutely is a luxury player, theres a huge amount of the social media loons that love him for all his useless flicks and sh*t, the FIFA fans etc, calling for him to start every game. 

Coincidentally these are the same fans that want every English Cobham graduate sold off too. 

54 minutes ago, dkw said:

Absolutely is a luxury player, theres a huge amount of the social media loons that love him for all his useless flicks and sh*t, the FIFA fans etc, calling for him to start every game. 

I love this story on how Brian Clough dealt with David Currie flicks

 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Absolutely is a luxury player, theres a huge amount of the social media loons that love him for all his useless flicks and sh*t, the FIFA fans etc, calling for him to start every game. 

I think that he can have a key role for us - I take on board the point about flicks and sh*t - which at times can appear to be for the sake of it -  but that is for the manager to knuckle down on and stop. Felix should be told to stop the unnecessary fluff - and concentrate on playing penetrating passes. 

Despite his flaws, the fact remains that he is one of the few in our squad who is a natural with the ball, and who feels genuinely creative in possession - as opposed to most of our players who just want to pass it backwards every time they get possession. 

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

I think that he can have a key role for us - I take on board the point about flicks and sh*t - which at times can appear to be for the sake of it -  but that is for the manager to knuckle down on and stop. Felix should be told to stop the unnecessary fluff - and concentrate on playing penetrating passes. 

Despite his flaws, the fact remains that he is one of the few in our squad who is a natural with the ball, and who feels genuinely creative in possession - as opposed to most of our players who just want to pass it backwards every time they get possession. 

If Simeone didn't manage to do it in all those years i feel like at this point its on Felix and not the manager.

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

If Simeone didn't manage to do it in all those years i feel like at this point it’s on Felix and not the manager.

I think that there is a difference in getting a player to cut out the flicks, and getting a player to do the dirty work and track back.

Simone demands pressing and tracking - something that isn’t Felix game - it wasn’t hazards either - but he did alright here….

Just now, nonotnowjim said:

I think that there is a difference in getting a player to cut out the flicks, and getting a player to do the dirty work and track back.

Simone demands pressing and tracking - something that isn’t Felix game - it wasn’t hazards either - but he did alright here….

Hazard got away with being 'lazy' because he was a genuine top 5 player in the world and could single handedly win any game by himself. 

Felix struggles to even get in the starting 11 of most teams he's at, he has no excuse to be lazy. 

40 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Felix struggles to even get in the starting 11 of most teams he's at, he has no excuse to be lazy. 

I'm not sure about laziness, but in his recent few appearances, he seems to try too hard, which goes against him!

If anything, he looks like he needs to slow down a bit and judge the play a bit more first! He seems like a recent Mudryk trying to up his game and do everything faster than he can handle!

40 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Hazard got away with being 'lazy' because he was a genuine top 5 player in the world and could single handedly win any game by himself. 

Felix struggles to even get in the starting 11 of most teams he's at, he has no excuse to be lazy. 

I don’t doubt that - but let’s not conflate the issues.

The conversation was about the flicks and fancy sh*t that Felix tries - and getting him to cut that out - balancing that particular issue against the benefit of having him in the team - with his genuine comfort and ease on the ball being something that none of our other players (bar palmer and Sancho) seem to have. 
 

Get him to cut out the flicks - give him a run of games, and we have a potential game changer/winner. Then the case for his perceived laziness changes.

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

but that is for the manager to knuckle down on and stop. Felix should be told to stop the unnecessary fluff - and concentrate on playing penetrating passes. 

 

Ive a feeling this is how his entire career will be remembered, manager after manager thinking they are the one that can sort him out. 

The only use for him right now is his ability to control the ball in those tight areas. Nkunku, Sancho and Felix are really good in that department and was a reason we scored yesterday. 

I'm just glad we have other alternatives now to Jackson. Just get those players to combine together in the attacking third. 

56 minutes ago, dkw said:

Ive a feeling this is how his entire career will be remembered, manager after manager thinking they are the one that can sort him out. 

yep - it is a risk. He does feel in last chance saloon - Atheltico, us, Barca, us again.... hard to see another "big" side giving him a chance if he doesn't step up this time.  Same can also be said for Sancho to an extent...