Emi Buendia

[Olneythelonely]

Didn't he provide the nod down to Watkins for the pass for the 4th goal?

No, that was Rogers.

[Dave]

Didn't he provide the nod down to Watkins for the pass for the 4th goal?

No, that was Rogers.

For a strapping young lad, it's odd how infrequently you see Rogers heading the ball.

[Somniloquism]

But Emi did overhead pass the ball to Bogarde who knocked it onto Rogers (to his feet, not head) who then played in McGinn for the 4th. The third goal was the one with the chest down (not head) to Watkins to pass to McGinn from that stemmed from Torres playing a glorious initial ball.

[Mellin]

Much like Rogers, when not on it they can look quite shit. And that's because they don't stop trying to do what they do so well when they are on it. And when they are on it you get to a major final.

Nicely put.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I've never got the "when he's bad, he's awful" tag, Rogers isn't much use when he gives the ball away 20 times a game and barely tracks back.

I think Emi's size and perceived physical weakness gets people's backs up when he's dispossessed.

He doesn't hog the ball like Morgan as he's not as big or strong but he has the deftest touch in the squad and a clear eye for goal.

He shouldn't be a guaranteed starter but he's shown that he's more than an "off the bench" player too. Plenty of his goals and assists have come in the first half of games this season.

Nailed it.

[Smirker]

50 apps, 10 goals.

Not bad for a written off player surplus to requirements.

We've basically replaced El Ghazi's goals with a much better player.

He'll be in the Argentina squad for the World Cup too.

[Somniloquism]

I know you don't like counting them but for his position they are valid; 8 assists as well. But also valid is it might be 50 appearances but only 2600 mins this season.

For comparison Morgan is  52 games, 12 goals, 10 assists 4300 mins of play.

[paul_e]

I've never got the "when he's bad, he's awful" tag, Rogers isn't much use when he gives the ball away 20 times a game and barely tracks back.

I think Emi's size and perceived physical weakness gets people's backs up when he's dispossessed.

He doesn't hog the ball like Morgan as he's not as big or strong but he has the deftest touch in the squad and a clear eye for goal.

He shouldn't be a guaranteed starter but he's shown that he's more than an "off the bench" player too. Plenty of his goals and assists have come in the first half of games this season.

Nailed it.

Really? You don't see any difference between a player who joined us, hit the ground running and has been consistently one of our best players for 2 years and a guy who is finally having a good season in his 5th year at the club. Buendia has had a much better season than I thought he was capable of, and thank fuck he has because it's been a huge boon for us but this year is the level we had every right to expect all along for a guy who is still the 4th most expensive signing in our history. He was massively unlucky with his injury and maybe without it he'd have been this player 2 years ago but the truth is he, like Ings and Bailey, was generally considered by most people as a poor use of the Grealish money until fairly recently.

The reason I think he'd be better as a bench/backup player for us going forward though is that, whilst he's certainly earned his place as part of the trio behind Watkins, everyone must agree that he's behind Rogers and SJM so if we make a signing there he'd be the one to drop out. Pretty much everyone who has commented on what we need in the summer puts a winger or 2 at the top of their list so obviously that's pushing him down the order. The positive is that I think his game would be well suited to being that 1st alternative and I suspect he'd be fine being asked to take that role.

[Sexual Ealing]

We're dancing on the heads of pins here chaps. Have a doobie and a Hoffmeister shandy and all will be well.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Really. Eamonn's point being whilst he's in no way guaranteed a a regular starter, he's too good to be just a bench warmer. Should we ever discover the Holy Grail of a right winger/right sided 10, Emi can be used in rotation, providing he maintains the form.

You could probably add him to back up Rogers too, assuming 1) Rogers will still be here, 2) he won't again play every minute of every game and 3) we don't have the money to further re-enforce the squad in every position. And all that is assuming we have no injuries in those positions.

Oh and I wouldn't bother too much on 'everyone who has commented on what we need in the summer' after reading the ridiculous comments writing off of Bogarde this week. But as a keen follower of our youth teams, you knew that already. My concern is not who needs replacing but do we have the right people in place to find the replacements. But that's another story.

As with the Watkins situation, we have a whole summer to discuss these issues. Right now I'm still enjoying the best performance of the season and especially from players we thought weren't up to it.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We're dancing on the heads of pins here chaps. Have a doobie and a Hoffmeister shandy and all will be well.

Twat! You could have posted that before I replied to Paul's post.

[Sexual Ealing]

I did!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Smart arse! You know what I mean. Before I started replying..

Am I the only one who's completed knackered today?

[PaulWinch again]

Smart arse! You know what I mean. Before I started replying..

Am I the only one who's completed knackered today?

My heart is welcoming beating at a more standard rate, but pretty tired!

[Sexual Ealing]

I'm still glowing. I occasionally think to look at the election results but then think fuck all that. These Hoffmeister shandies really hit the spot.