Delph

[eamonn]

How old does Delph sound in that article?

I dunno..how old?

[nigel]

Injury free, run of games, we're beginning to see why O'Neil bought him

[ozzjim]

I thought he was incredible today. He was excellent at Norwich too, plucking the ball down for Westwood to play Gabby in, but he is a brilliant athlete, and ran Ramires ragged until he got sent, which is some feat. Fair play, he and Westwood are well cemented in the side now.

[Lastfootstamper]

Just needs to spend the summer in his back garden practicing his shooting.

[OCD]

The front 3 has been settled since about February and the middle 3 has settled in recent weeks. They have a really good balance and the first choice 11 are a very decent side. Delph has become the player we hoped he would be when we signed him.

[ozzjim]

The front 3 has been settled since about February and the middle 3 has settled in recent weeks. They have a really good balance and the first choice 11 are a very decent side. Delph has become the player we hoped he would be when we signed him.

I find his energy levels astounding. It would be nice to have someone to give him a break or help half way through the second half, but the transformation from groaning oh god anyone but Delph, to about 3rd name on the team sheet has been mightily impressive.

[OzVilla]

Agreed, Delph, Sylla and Westwood have the makings of a really well balanced Midfield.  All young with good engines, all look like they are comfortable on the ball and all can see a pass and make it.  They all look like they believe that they belong at this level, which for a while they didn't.

I'm also sure that goals will come from that Midfield at some stage too.

What they lack is that bit of guile that comes with experience and that's partly what cost us against Chelsea.

 

[peter w]

To carry on the ozzjim love-in...I agree

Delph has been very impressive during our recent run. I just think its a confidence thing with his shooting rather than lack of ability. His right foot needs attention but I won't start with my bugbear about professionals who cannot use both feet. Delph was out for a long time and was poor to average when he came in. There has always been huge expectation around him and when he was not playing well he would never shoot. Something which was an important facet to his game when bought from Leeds. Now, he's in the team on merit and just needs to build up that confidence when in a position to shoot again. He needs to feel that he won't be criticized for failing.

Over the past few games he has tried to shoot more. I thought today, again, he was excellent. When we were chasing the game we didn't just hoof it, but with Delph orchestrating it we were still spreading the ball and looking for openings. He even had a brilliant moment in injury time when he outskilled someone, ghosted past them and set up another attack. As much as the much vaunted front 3, if we stay up Delph just behind them will be the fulcrum of a very potent attacking unit.

[OCD]

I'm also sure that goals will come from that Midfield at some stage too.

I was just about to say I think that's the next step. Our front 3 will threaten anyone with their movement but we need the rest of the team to contribute goals too. Delph's been going close for a few weeks and today Sylla looked capable. Westwood even went close and he doesn't usually get into positions to score from.

Really like the first XI but look forward to it becoming a strong 18 with Lambert being able to pick and choose from a selection depending on which tactics he wants to deploy given who the opponent is. Obviously it would help to cope better when there's fixture congestion - which played a big part in what happened over Christmas.

[Tuscans]

You look back to when he was at Leeds and some of his goal are worldies. Dribbling past players and finishing from 25 yrds with apparent ease. Its in his locker still, maybe he's just a little rusty after all the injuries, but finishing aside I really like the little scamp, always have done.

[OCD]

I think he's adapting to the Premier League and getting the confidence of knowing this. He's not only had injuries (some serious) but several managers to contend with - including the anti-football McLeish. He's still only young too. I think he was 19 when we signed him and given the fact that he was going up 2 leagues, his injuries and the managers, he was always going to struggle.

[N'Zimidy]

Seeing him dance through one of the best midfields in Europe over and over again was a joy to behold. I feel that Delph was forced to play extremely deep over the past two years and told to never get forward. This is detrimental to his strengths which is gliding past players and sliding in passes or going for goal. Fortunately Lambert is playing him in his much more natural position and over the past 3 months Delph has just been getting better and better game on game. It's going to take time for him to get back on the scoresheet regularly but there were signs today with his excellent effort that hit the netting.

The most improved player this year for sure. Keep playing him in this position and he'll be a revelation next year. 

[claretandbeer]

Seeing him dance through one of the best midfields in Europe over and over again was a joy to behold. I feel that Delph was forced to play extremely deep over the past two years and told to never get forward. This is detrimental to his strengths which is gliding past players and sliding in passes or going for goal. Fortunately Lambert is playing him in his much more natural position and over the past 3 months Delph has just been getting better and better game on game. It's going to take time for him to get back on the scoresheet regularly but there were signs today with his excellent effort that hit the netting.

The most improved player this year for sure. Keep playing him in this position and he'll be a revelation next year. 

This

[ozzjim]

I think it is sometimes forgotten he is still only 23, and not 24 till November.

[PeterWithesShin]

Was my MOTM today, thought he was excellent, especially taking into account the players he was up against, not bad for the worst player ever to play for the club. When I used to defend him I always said he never struck me as the defensive type player we seemed to be trying to turn him into. Now he's fit, getting a run of games and seems to be allowed to go forward more at times he looks a monster, a real athlete as well if that makes sense.