Emi Buendia

[paul_e]

I too thought he wasn't good enough.

Same. I’m warming up the humble pie, but not quite ready to eat it yet as I still think he is a squad player and not in the starting 11 when everyone is available.

Yep, if he'd played like this more often for us I'd be a lot less critical of him, better attitude and composure but without losing his value as a pest and his ability to pull moments of quality from very little. I hope he can keep this going now, he's currently a fantastic option to give us a different dimension in the last 20-30minutes.

[darren woolley]

Great goal by Emi I'm so pleased for him the way he's playing.

[Brend'Watkins]

Really pleased for him. Even in games where he doesn’t quite do it he still gives his all. When he’s on it he’s a great player and a joy to have in the team. I think we’re going to have to brace ourselves for the big money bids coming in from Small Heath in the next window.

[Steve67]

Time for some humble pie. I said at the start of the season I just didn’t think he was good enough and after a couple of less than stellar performances, in fairness along with the rest of them, it looked like my opinion was vindicated. However since then he’s been superb either starting or from the bench. Keep it up Emi I look forward to further goals, assists and terrier like yapping at opposition defences.

Save a slice for me. His first couple of appearances this season he looked keen but not quite up to it but he’s found his feet and now looks an integral part of the squad.

I'd like a bit of custard with mine please.  I am now at the point where I would welcome his name on the team sheet, against any other opposition. 

[astonvilla82]

Have noticed a vast improvement in his play such as not running around like a headless chicken trying to impress us, similar to Mcginn improvement, well done long may it continue as I thought he would be moved on

[DrGonzo]

He's working very hard tracking back.  There was a moment with Spurs on the break in about 90 minutes where he realises he's got the most energy on the pitch, tracked about 60 yards back piling pressure on.  Game Emi B.

[eamonn]

I too thought he wasn't good enough.

Same. I’m warming up the humble pie, but not quite ready to eat it yet as I still think he is a squad player and not in the starting 11 when everyone is available.

It's an interesting position he finds himself in. Potentially "not good enough" to start but good enough to change a game when he does come on.

[aj2k77]

Two goals now that were precise finishes using players to screen the shot. He's done well. Let's hope it continues.

[eamonn]

One left-footed, one off the right. What a baller.

Glad we didnt accept 12m from Leeds in the summer or whatever chicken feed it was. We can sell him for 60m to the Saudis in Jan now.

[Dave]

He has always given plenty of effort but has in the past been guilty of losing the ball too often.

I have a theory, which might be barking up the wrong tree - but here we go:

He's potentially a (properly) brilliant player in a team that plays the game that Buendia wants to play. The quintessential Buendia move that I think is happening in his head, is a pass into his feet, which he knocks first time to someone eight yards away, he spins away expecting that player to pop it straight back to where he's moved to and he's scored, all in about three seconds.

The problem is, he's spent the last few years knocking it to Bailey / Watkins / Ings / Rogers / McGinn, all fine players in their own way, but nobody I'd expect to be the middle person in that three second manoeuvre. And I think a lot of the "he gives the ball away" stuff is because the current way things are played, we're all doing slow build-ups around the opposition box and drawing people towards you to create space - so very few players play first-time passes anymore and therefore aren't expecting a quick give-and-go to be happening. So when Buendia passes straight to Watkins and it bounces off him, Watkins is expecting him to take about six touches because that's what players do now - but "Buendia's lost the ball again".

I reckon that Buendia - Rashford - Asensio would have actually worked really well as they are the sort of players who would have played the game that Buendia wanted.

Obviously that doesn't mean we should be dropping Watkins and Rogers and building the team around him or anything. But there is probably a team out there with a very specific Buendia-sized hole where he could absolutely light up the league. For now though it's fine that he's doing what he's doing for us.

Or the concise version - he's a potentially brilliant one-touch player who has only ever played in a team of hold-the-ball-and-dribble-a-bit players and that will make him look worse than he is.

Edit - I also reckon this theory is given greater weight, by the fact that I think his most productive time for us is when he and Coutinho were bouncing off each other.

[john e]

I don’t think that Guesand is good enough
hope that has the same effect on him now

[Sexual Ealing]

He has always given plenty of effort but has in the past been guilty of losing the ball too often.

I have a theory, which might be barking up the wrong tree - but here we go:

He's potentially a (properly) brilliant player in a team that plays the game that Buendia wants to play. The quintessential Buendia move that I think is happening in his head, is a pass into his feet, which he knocks first time to someone eight yards away, he spins away expecting that player to pop it straight back to where he's moved to and he's scored, all in about three seconds.

The problem is, he's spent the last few years knocking it to Bailey / Watkins / Ings / Rogers / McGinn, all fine players in their own way, but nobody I'd expect to be the middle person in that three second manoeuvre. And I think a lot of the "he gives the ball away" stuff is because the current way things are played, we're all doing slow build-ups around the opposition box and drawing people towards you to create space - so very few players play first-time passes anymore and therefore aren't expecting a quick give-and-go to be happening. So when Buendia passes straight to Watkins and it bounces off him, Watkins is expecting him to take about six touches because that's what players do now - but "Buendia's lost the ball again".

I reckon that Buendia - Rashford - Asensio would have actually worked really well as they are the sort of players who would have played the game that Buendia wanted.

Obviously that doesn't mean we should be dropping Watkins and Rogers and building the team around him or anything. But there is probably a team out there with a very specific Buendia-sized hole where he could absolutely light up the league. For now though it's fine that he's doing what he's doing for us.

Or the concise version - he's a potentially brilliant one-touch player who has only ever played in a team of hold-the-ball-and-dribble-a-bit players and that will make him look worse than he is.

Edit - I also reckon this theory is given greater weight, by the fact that I think his most productive time for us is when he and Coutinho were bouncing off each other.

As I said, one open return to Dundee, please.

[paul_e]

^^ won't quote it but I'll say maybe. I think there's definitely an element of that but also a lack of focus at times and a (seemingly fixed right now) need to prove himself every game, which often translates to him trying to do too much.

In the last few games he's calmed down a little and keep things simpler and his level has gone up because of it, just this season, compare his Sunderland performance to today and it's light years apart, his touch was more secure, he wasn't trying to take people on in the wrong areas and his passing was crisp and accurate. For me this is the player he should always have been trying to be, because it's much more suited to his strengths.