Brett Holman

[OCD]

Holman has the vision to play the sort of through ball he did for Weimann where he hit the post against Everton. Apparently he made a goal for Australia in the international yesterday too. He might struggle for a place because of his technique after a few transfer windows but for the time being he and Ireland are obvious picks when the alternative is N'Zogbia.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't think he'll feature much when Lambert's signings are up to speed.  The quality of his final ball has mostly been horrendous.

He could also improve as a player under Lambert. He also may just need to bring his game up to PL level and adjust to the demands of a higher standard. It is way too early to make that kind of assessment in my opinion.

[Monty]

I don't think he'll feature much when Lambert's signings are up to speed.  The quality of his final ball has mostly been horrendous.

He could also improve as a player under Lambert. He also may just need to bring his game up to PL level and adjust to the demands of a higher standard. It is way too early to make that kind of assessment in my opinion.

I agree. It seems strange to think he'll miss out when the new signings are up to speed, considering he's a new signing not yet up to speed.

[Dante Lavelli]

From what I have seen and read, I can see him becoming a bit of a Dirk Kyut type player.  He’ll be hated by some but his energy and team ethic will be missed when he’s not playing.

[Toronto Villa]

From what I have seen and read, I can see him becoming a bit of a Dirk Kyut type player.  He’ll be hated by some but his energy and team ethic will be missed when he’s not playing.

I seem to recall an interview with KEA where he was asked about Holman. He said that Holman was everywhere, very high energy. Always going, which as a quality will be really valuable for us. Kuyt might not be a bad comparison. A player that does a lot of dirty work.

[tomd2103]

Early impressions are that he is a very industrious player, but is prone to giving the ball away.  To be honest after watching a number of players go through the motions over the past couple of seasons, I'm all for giving time to a player who is willing to work hard.   

[Risso]

I don't think he'll feature much when Lambert's signings are up to speed.  The quality of his final ball has mostly been horrendous.

He could also improve as a player under Lambert. He also may just need to bring his game up to PL level and adjust to the demands of a higher standard. It is way too early to make that kind of assessment in my opinion.

I agree. It seems strange to think he'll miss out when the new signings are up to speed, considering he's a new signing not yet up to speed.

Not at all strange when you consider that he wasn't signed by Lambert.

[Monty]

True, but he's playing him, which suggests that at the very least he's in long-term contention.

[Risso]

True, but he's playing him, which suggests that at the very least he's in long-term contention.

I don't think it suggests anything other than he's one of the two fit wide players we have, and he's been marginally less bad than the appalling N'Zogbia.  I think in a month or two Lambert will dispense with wide players altogether and play a permutation of Ireland, Bannan, KEA, Westwood, Herd and Delph.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't think Holman is just a wide player. He can play up front and inside. I don't disagree with you though about his general philosophy on wingers per se. N'Zogbia and Albrighton need to find another string to their bows.

[Monty]

I don't see the logic in that. If he were going to play with no wide players and play combinations of those players ahead of Holman, wouldn't he have done so already? Of that group only Westwood is new. Besides which, I don't think Holman has been played wide. He drifts wide, sure, but is very much an inside-midfield player for us so far.

[Chris Smith]

I'm a bit confused. While I accept that the traditional, touchline hugging wide player is not something we're likely to see we are still going to have to line up with players covering the left and right of midfied. So the idea that no wide men rules out alayer who has impressed with his attitude and work rate so far is one I can't see. He might not be a starter every week but I have a feeling the new manager will be a horses for courses type so he won't be unique in that.

[OCD]

It will be interesting to see whether Carruthers can add himself to that list of players this season too. Although he has played wide, he can also play central and in his brief appearances last season was one of few positives. His Arsenal background could be useful too.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd say give the guy a chance before writing him off after three games. The workrate and application is there and that's critical, the final ball has been off but that could easily come once he's used to our game.

[brian green]

Holman appears to spend the whole of his time on the pitch moaning.   I like players who moan a lot.   Peter Withe was one such.