Emi Buendia

[OCD]

What better clubs?

We're not exactly at the top of the food chain. Ok, better clubs..agreed, bad use of words by me as there are no better clubs than us, but there are more successful ones right now.

Know what you mean but couldn't resist. I'm often editing myself for the same thing.

[Neil Hawkes]

What better clubs?

We're not exactly at the top of the food chain. Ok, better clubs..agreed, bad use of words by me as there are no better clubs than us, but there are more successful ones right now.

Only one team more successful - according to the above :-)

[OCD]

It would be interesting to see the league table before Emery's first game to see where Spurs were. They started the season well (we obviously didn't) and now with 5 games left, we've got identical win/draw/loss records.

[Risso]

It would be interesting to see the league table before Emery's first game to see where Spurs were. They started the season well (we obviously didn't) and now with 5 games left, we've got identical win/draw/loss records.

This was the table the day before Emery's first game:






This is the table now:

[Smithy]

It would be interesting to see the league table before Emery's first game to see where Spurs were. They started the season well (we obviously didn't) and now with 5 games left, we've got identical win/draw/loss records.

This was the table the day before Emery's first game:






This is the table now:

We've made up 14 points on a team that until two weeks ago spent the entire season fighting for a champions league place.  Pretty incredible really.

[OCD]

Interesting, thanks. Quite a swing in goal difference too.

[tomd2103]

Yeh he’s way more than £30m now. There are numerous players that don’t even come close to what Buendia provides and has provided this season. Some critical goals and would have more assists if they’d been converted as many should have been. He’s frustrating but if was consistently playing at his best level he’d probably be at a better club. But he’s important to us, still a relatively young player at 26. I don’t think he’ll be a starter next season but he will be impactful when he does play.

If we are looking to really progress to be in the higher reaches of the league on a consistent basis, then I think an upgrade on Buendia is necessary.  I really like him and think he would be a good bench option in those circumstances, but I think that 'number 10' position is where there are a lot of top players around (as opposed to centre forwards) and we could get a real quality player in to play in that position.

[Smithy]

Yeh he’s way more than £30m now. There are numerous players that don’t even come close to what Buendia provides and has provided this season. Some critical goals and would have more assists if they’d been converted as many should have been. He’s frustrating but if was consistently playing at his best level he’d probably be at a better club. But he’s important to us, still a relatively young player at 26. I don’t think he’ll be a starter next season but he will be impactful when he does play.

If we are looking to really progress to be in the higher reaches of the league on a consistent basis, then I think an upgrade on Buendia is necessary.  I really like him and think he would be a good bench option in those circumstances, but I think that 'number 10' position is where there are a lot of top players around (as opposed to centre forwards) and we could get a real quality player in to play in that position.

There are a few options that are better than Emi, but like you said, Emi is a great squad option to have, and someone who coming on from the bench you KNOW won't hide and will desperately want to get involved and create something. 

Personally, I'd love to see Maddison come in and play that role, but I suspect he will be Newcastle bound.  Smith-Rowe isn't much of any upgrade right now, but might have a higher ceiling (Emery would know best on that).  Either way, I suspect there will be competition for his position coming in this summer, especially if Coutinho can't get back fit and playing before the season ends.

[dave shelley]

It would be interesting to see the league table before Emery's first game to see where Spurs were. They started the season well (we obviously didn't) and now with 5 games left, we've got identical win/draw/loss records.

This was the table the day before Emery's first game:






This is the table now:

Interesting to see that Everton were only two points ahead of us on the day Emery took over and how the two clubs have gone in different directions.

[Percy McCarthy]

It would be interesting to see the league table before Emery's first game to see where Spurs were. They started the season well (we obviously didn't) and now with 5 games left, we've got identical win/draw/loss records.

This was the table the day before Emery's first game:






This is the table now:

We've made up 14 points on a team that until two weeks ago spent the entire season fighting for a champions league place.  Pretty incredible really.

15.

[usav]

Anonymous today.

[curiousorange]

I don't want to complain about his performance too much, but it feels to me like you don't notice Buendia when he's good, but you certainly notice when he's bad.

[Rigadon]

I don't want to complain about his performance too much, but it feels to me like you don't notice Buendia when he's good, but you certainly notice when he's bad.

That's an interesting point actually.  I know what you mean.

[tomd2103]

Anonymous today.

It is the same most times we play the top teams.  He is just that bit too weak, bit too slow and gives the ball away too often against the elite players.

[Risso]

Anonymous today.

It is the same most times we play the top teams.  He is just that bit too weak, bit too slow and gives the ball away too often against the elite players.

That's it in a nutshell. He's not strong or quick enough. He's great when the opposition gives us lots of time and space on the ball, but in a war of attrition like today he's a waste of space. I still couldn't tell you where his best position is. He'll be a useful squad player next season perhaps, but if he's still starting games then it will mean we haven't strengthened enough.