Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: N'ZMAV on August 17, 2014, 08:15:19 AM
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homesick (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/5832921/Karim-El-Ahmadi-ready-to-quit-Aston-Villa.html)
Wants to go back to Holland. He's apparently homesick in England.
Will he be much of a loss?
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Is he Dutch?
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He played well last season, but he's hardly irreplaceable.
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No real loss. Came to the club as a much vaunted Guvnor type player. He's been anything but. Just hasn't worked out.
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
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Bang goes my prediction.
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It's probably because he realises he wont get much game time this season.
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
Stunning women, on the whole
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
Windmills, prostitutes, competent national football team.
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Comfortable cycling?
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Give Gary Gardner a run. I'd rather he played than KEA. Not good timing from him...why didn't he come out with this in May or June?
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
Windmills, prostitutes, competent national football team.
but apart from all that......
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Give Gary Gardner a run. I'd rather he played than KEA. Not good timing from him...why didn't he come out with this in May or June?
Probably because we hadn't signed a top draw Columbian midfielder that was going to play in front of him every week
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If I could marry again it would be a Dutch woman.
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Not sure what he actually does. He doesn't really score or create anything, and he doesn't break up play, tackle or keep the ball ticking over.
Not a loss by any means if he goes.
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The Carrier Bag. Just floats around the pitch aimlessly.
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Taxi for El-Ahmadi!
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Think he's well down the pecking order now. Sanchez will fulfil the defensive MF role, and Delph and Grealish will provide more attacking MF roles, and we've still got Westwood, Richardson and Bacuna ahead of him, as well as Cole (more time injured) and Gardner (still to prove himself). Odd flashes of a decent player but hasn't really shown anything we'll miss.
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Nice bloke and he was slowly winning me over,last season we looked better with him than without him,and the odd goals he scored probably kept us up but its all too much for him.Swap him for the guy from Groningen who scored in the friendly?
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The Carrier Bag. Just floats around the pitch aimlessly.
Accurate description. Never understood how he got so many starts. Can't agree with those saying he did ok last season. A liability. Hope he gets his move.
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I think he's okay... though he's always seemed better suited to a DM role than anyone else in our midfield, rather than a box to box role. A few players in front of him now... but to say he's homesick after two years in England seems a bit odd.
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Has he actually come out and said anything himself or is this just another story the Sun have made up?
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Cheers for the goal against the Albion
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Has he actually come out and said anything himself or is this just another story the Sun have made up?
Well yes, that's what I'm wondering. No detail in that link. He might have worked out now he's a squad player this season but homesickness is a strange one, after two years here.
The Sun has been particularly wide of the mark on the Villa front recently.
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I am sure we can find a good player for 4millions plus El-Ahmadl to improve our team. But which player we need is the question.
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Homesick? Yeah right. Probably realises he is down the pecking order and wants away.
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Has he actually come out and said anything himself or is this just another story the Sun have made up?
Well yes, that's what I'm wondering. No detail in that link. He might have worked out now he's a squad player this season but homesickness is a strange one, after two years here.
The Sun has been particularly wide of the mark on the Villa front recently.
Well yes, they said the other day that we'd pulled out the Sanchez deal when we hadn't. I like him and i'd have probably brought him on instead of Bacuna yesterday.
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Far too lightweight for a Premiership midfielder, thanks for the effort but please go and free up the wage bill...
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
Legal drugs and hardcore dog porn.
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He's the 11th most frequently picked Midfielder in the league on Fantasy Premier League, ahead of David Silva, Gerrard, Oscar, Nasri, Wilshere and others. It's because he's so cheap and will literally only be on people's benches but if you've got a better way of judging player quality I'd like to hear it.
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He's the 11th most frequently picked Midfielder in the league on Fantasy Premier League, ahead of David Silva, Gerrard, Oscar, Nasri, Wilshere and others. It's because he's so cheap and will literally only be on people's benches but if you've got a better way of judging player quality I'd like to hear it.
Sanchez is more physical.
Delph is a better tackler and attacking option.
Richardson is more used to the Premier League.
Westwood is a better passer.
Grealish is younger, cheaper and more exciting.
Will that do? KEA typifies the kind of neither destroyer or creative midfielder that we've specialised in during the mediocre years.
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Crap El Crappadi, if we can get some £ for him then do the deal.
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Then there's a regular place on the bench, maybe coming on for 20 minutes for Gary Gardener.
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Been said by many but this is because he has realised he has slipped down the pecking order. If he has said this then he's a pussy claaaat. Boo hoo. I don't see what other people have seen, i think he's genuinely crap.
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KEA has had plenty of chances and has not set the world on fire. If he wants to go I'd let him. We have better options in midfield now.
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He gets in players faces and closes down well i would keep him.
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I've always kinda liked him for some reason despite the fact that he doesn't really seem to do much aside from pressing very well. Also scored a couple of good goals that ended up being pretty important.
I think his contract is up at the end of the season? If so I'd certainly keep him around the squad for this season and hopefully we caan upgrade in the summer.
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One bit of dodgy hearsay in some useless tabloid and the bloke is written off?
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I think he did pretty well last year. I think we won one game without him. Especially away from home he won the ball high up the pitch which was crucial to our counter attacking play
Having said that, if we're going to play more of a 4231 this season I wouldn't be upset to see him go. But if we're gonna play 433 a fair bit there's a stronger case for keeping him. A massive factor must be the confidence we have in Gardner, or not
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I would prefer to keep him, we need a squad not just a first 11, so that we can make changes in games to rest or replace players and to cover injuries, suspensions, loss of form etc.
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Apart from clogs, tulips and coffee shops what has Holland got that we haven't ?
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/1934717_128821165319_7391447_n.jpg)
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imho ahmadi in a better team would be seen as an attribute as he is when on his game a good link up player, the oil in the gear box. a previous poster has stated Delph's game is his tackling, Delph is my favourite villa player and we need to sort that contract out qwik, but his game imho is his vision his work rate and his wanting to win all the time, tackling has improved but.....
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If he is homesick, then sitting on the bench won't improve matters. Sanchez is here now, but, considering his on-field reputation, will he be available all season? We need to be able to replace him if and when he's not. Early days, I know, but with our steelier-looking defence, KEA is arguably our best back-up option. I'd say keep, but only if he wants to stay. If he truly wants away, and the funds and window-time allow us to get in some kind of replacement, then let him go.
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Funny how he's only homesick now he isn't first choice. An okay player but not exactly the hardest to replace i'd imagine.
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Dreadful player won't be missed.
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I like KEA, don't realise why he got so much stick. Should be kept as a squad player at the very least.
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I would keep him until Jan at the earliest and scout a replacement.
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I like KEA, don't realise why he got so much stick. Should be kept as a squad player at the very least.
Each to his opinion and it is to your credit that you support him but I would have to say I put him in my Top 5 of woeful players I have seen at Villa Park in the 45 years of going.
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I like KEA, don't realise why he got so much stick. Should be kept as a squad player at the very least.
Each to his opinion and it is to your credit that you support him but I would have to say I put him in my Top 5 of woeful players I have seen at Villa Park in the 45 years of going.
He was worse than all but four of our third division players?
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Seems as though its because we've signed Sanchez
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I like KEA, don't realise why he got so much stick. Should be kept as a squad player at the very least.
Each to his opinion and it is to your credit that you support him but I would have to say I put him in my Top 5 of woeful players I have seen at Villa Park in the 45 years of going.
You have been a supporter for about the same length of time as me and probably of a similar age but you certainly have a shorter memory.
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He strikes me as all fart and no shit. Swaggers around looking every inch the mercurial midfielder without ever delivering with any consistency.
He might look the part every now and then but with nothing like enough consistency.
Worst player in 45 years? That strikes me as way over the top.
Good enough for this league? I don't think so.
Surely the Dutch league is the one which has provided more players unable to make the step up than any other?
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Surely the Dutch league is the one which has provided more players unable to make the step up than any other?
It has also produced some great players, both Dutch and foreign. The style of play is great for developing players but is also an easy ride for average players who look better than they are.
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Is the AFNC this season? We'll lose him for that part of the season anyway if it is.
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Is the AFNC this season? We'll lose him for that part of the season anyway if it is.
Yeps. I think Morocco are hosting it as well.
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Is he Dutch?
Born in The Netherlands to Moroccan parents, hence why he's qualified to play for Morocco if I remember rightly from when he signed. At the very least moved there at an early age.
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No great loss, has been anonymous in the majority of games he has played.
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From the story I read I thought he was talking about going back to Holland in a years time when his contract was up. I wouldnt slag him off as much as some on here, but whenever he does go I dont think I will be crying myself to sleep much.
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If I could marry again it would be a Dutch woman.
That's the most optimistic post I've seen from you!
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If I could marry again it would be a Dutch woman.
That's the most optimistic post I've seen from you!
& what a lucky lady she'd be. ;)
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Surely the Dutch league is the one which has provided more players unable to make the step up than any other?
It has also produced some great players, both Dutch and foreign. The style of play is great for developing players but is also an easy ride for average players who look better than they are.
The speed of the game is the problem, the dutch league is just so slow.
The players who go on to be genuinely world class usually get out of there by about 22-23.
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I don't mind him but he's not a player we'd miss if he left. He's kind of just there when he plays.
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I don't mind him but he's not a player we'd miss if he left. He's kind of just there when he plays.
I agree too much of the game passes him by, he runs around a lot but has very little impact in most games.
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I think Sanchez is essentially our upgrade on him.
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No great loss if he were to leave in my opinion .
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I don't mind him but he's not a player we'd miss if he left. He's kind of just there when he plays.
Same here. All our other midfielders are better at a certain aspect of the game than him, eg Westwood passing, Delph getting forward etc.
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None of them press as effectively as KEA
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He's a decent squad player at best. I think the fact that most of his appearances have been in the same midfield as Westwood hasn't helped as they are a bit too similar.
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He's too much of a "Jack of all trades"-kind of midfielder who does many things very averagely but doesn't excell in anything really. What we'd need more in our situation are specialized midfielders IMO.
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None of them press as effectively as KEA
That's totally irrelevant though, pressing only works if the whole team are doing it as a unit. with KEA it often means he's out of position andleaving gaps in much more dangerous positions. This is part of the reason the game passes him by so often.
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I think KEA does a brilliant impression of pressing without actually ever getting that close to the opposing player.
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He's too much of a "Jack of all trades"-kind of midfielder who does many things very averagely but doesn't excell in anything really. What we'd need more in our situation are specialized midfielders IMO.
I think that sums it up well really. Now we have Sanchez, what we really need is a similar player to Delph to play the other side who can chip in with a few goals.
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I think KEA does a brilliant impression of pressing without actually ever getting that close to the opposing player.
This for me, along with the 'all fart no shit'. He flatters to deceive.
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If he's holding up Gardner getting a game then get rid. Nice guys finish last.
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He's got ability. He's tidy with the ball. He often looks a lot better in pre-season because the pace is slow and he has time on the ball. Give him time on the ball and he looks like he could make a half decent playmaker. The trouble is, at this level he's not got enough zip about him. He dwells too much, and doesn't think quickly enough.
He's better than Sylla, but ultimately, probably will rank as one of the most forgettable players we've ever had. Not very good, and at the same time not so bad that you'd look back with a grimace and a shake of the head.
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On a slight tangent, I have to say I thought Westwood played very well on Saturday. He was doubling-up brilliantly whenever Hutton or Cissokho were one-on-one with either of Stoke's wide players and seemed to be looking to move the ball at a quicker tempo than last season when in possession.
Whether this is as a result of Sanchez's arrival, or maybe Keane's, I don't know, but I really do think that Lambert will be looking to play him alongside Sanchez in a lot of games, especially away from home.
I really do think that this'll leave KEA surplus to requirements, and with his comments this week about leaving at the end of his contract I expect that we'll be looking to cash-in on him before the window closes.
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He's got ability. He's tidy with the ball. He often looks a lot better in pre-season because the pace is slow and he has time on the ball. Give him time on the ball and he looks like he could make a half decent playmaker. The trouble is, at this level he's not got enough zip about him. He dwells too much, and doesn't think quickly enough.
He's better than Sylla, but ultimately, probably will rank as one of the most forgettable players we've ever had. Not very good, and at the same time not so bad that you'd look back with a grimace and a shake of the head.
I agree with this 100%, the pace of the game is too much for him and he's had enough games to adapt now so it's probably not going to happen.
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Homesick? He earns what, £20+ grand a week, works 2 hours a day Monday - Friday and 90 minutes on a Saturday, Amsterdam is a 45 minute flight away and he's homesick? Do me a favour.
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Homesick? He earns what, £20+ grand a week, works 2 hours a day Monday - Friday and 90 minutes on a Saturday, Amsterdam is a 45 minute flight away and he's homesick? Do me a favour.
To be fair, I don't think he's actually claiming to be homesick, just that he'd like to return to Holland when his contract expires.
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It’s good to see every possible cliché about life here being peddled. To be fair to him, I believe that his quote has been very much taken out of context and he merely expressed a desire to return back to Feyenoord at some point in the future; especially given the high esteem by which he is held. As regards the league here, sure its slower than the Premier League, but as a season ticket holder at a Dutch 2nd division team, I can assure you that the level of technical skills on display during a regular game are light years away from your average Saturday afternoon League 2 lumpfest. Anyway, I’d best get back to my dinner of roasted tulip bulbs, washed down by a tiny beer that consists mostly of head and then later jump on my bike whilst smoking a Camberwell sausage, to ogle the massed blonde Amazonian Dutch woman amassed along the cafes of Amsterdam.
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The frustrating thing about him and all of Lambert's signings is that he's shown signs that there's a good player in there. Maybe, like Vlaar, he needs better around him. I'd certainly keep him for this season.
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The frustrating thing about him and all of Lambert's signings is that he's shown signs that there's a good player in there. Maybe, like Vlaar, he needs better around him. I'd certainly keep him for this season.
I don't disagree entirely, but you have to wonder where he slips to in the pecking order with, as it stands, Sanchez, Delph, Westwood and Richardson all ahead of him? I don't think he'll want to warm the bench at his age. And if Lambert gets the two players in he's been hinting at then one, even two might be midfielders. Throw in Gary Gardner and Joe Cole into the mix and it's getting pretty congested in there. He might think he's better off going now and us getting a fee for him.
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Homesick? He earns what, £20+ grand a week, works 2 hours a day Monday - Friday and 90 minutes on a Saturday, Amsterdam is a 45 minute flight away and he's homesick? Do me a favour.
To be fair, I don't think he's actually claiming to be homesick, just that he'd like to return to Holland when his contract expires.
Fair enough, he's certainly been nudged down the pecking order in recent weeks and if he just wants to play then fair do's, I'd rather have a KEA in the side than a Stephen Ireland.
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The frustrating thing about him and all of Lambert's signings is that he's shown signs that there's a good player in there. Maybe, like Vlaar, he needs better around him. I'd certainly keep him for this season.
If they all need better around them they can't all play.
On the scale of great (Benteke) to good (Vlaar) to bog-standard (Luna, Bertrand...all the left backs he's signed til this summer really), he's very much in the 'meh' camp.
At least an argument can be made for others with still plenty to prove such as Westwood or even those farmed out for the year like Tonev and Sylla, that they are much less experienced, being five or more years younger than KEA.
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Homesick
Probably move to palace now
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It’s good to see every possible cliché about life here being peddled. To be fair to him, I believe that his quote has been very much taken out of context and he merely expressed a desire to return back to Feyenoord at some point in the future; especially given the high esteem by which he is held. As regards the league here, sure its slower than the Premier League, but as a season ticket holder at a Dutch 2nd division team, I can assure you that the level of technical skills on display during a regular game are light years away from your average Saturday afternoon League 2 lumpfest. Anyway, I’d best get back to my dinner of roasted tulip bulbs, washed down by a tiny beer that consists mostly of head and then later jump on my bike whilst smoking a Camberwell sausage, to ogle the massed blonde Amazonian Dutch woman amassed along the cafes of Amsterdam.
Ha ha, nice one!
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It’s good to see every possible cliché about life here being peddled. To be fair to him, I believe that his quote has been very much taken out of context and he merely expressed a desire to return back to Feyenoord at some point in the future; especially given the high esteem by which he is held. As regards the league here, sure its slower than the Premier League, but as a season ticket holder at a Dutch 2nd division team, I can assure you that the level of technical skills on display during a regular game are light years away from your average Saturday afternoon League 2 lumpfest. Anyway, I’d best get back to my dinner of roasted tulip bulbs, washed down by a tiny beer that consists mostly of head and then later jump on my bike whilst smoking a Camberwell sausage, to ogle the massed blonde Amazonian Dutch woman amassed along the cafes of Amsterdam.
Can you ride a bike whilst stoned with clogs on ?
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If the plan is to play Sanchez and Westwood as the two in a 4-2-3-1 then I would like to see him given a few games as the right sided player in the three. I feel this position would suit more than the role he has been asked to normally play.
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The frustrating thing about him and all of Lambert's signings is that he's shown signs that there's a good player in there. Maybe, like Vlaar, he needs better around him. I'd certainly keep him for this season.
To be honest Dave, I don't think he's a bad squad option for a team in our position, in that I think he could come in and do well in the odd game here and there. I just don't think he's of the required standard to be playing every week .
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It’s good to see every possible cliché about life here being peddled. To be fair to him, I believe that his quote has been very much taken out of context and he merely expressed a desire to return back to Feyenoord at some point in the future; especially given the high esteem by which he is held. As regards the league here, sure its slower than the Premier League, but as a season ticket holder at a Dutch 2nd division team, I can assure you that the level of technical skills on display during a regular game are light years away from your average Saturday afternoon League 2 lumpfest. Anyway, I’d best get back to my dinner of roasted tulip bulbs, washed down by a tiny beer that consists mostly of head and then later jump on my bike whilst smoking a Camberwell sausage, to ogle the massed blonde Amazonian Dutch woman amassed along the cafes of Amsterdam.
You do get a lot of head in Amsterdam.