Quote from: sickbeggar on June 17, 2021, 09:09:49 AMA bit of a strange one to me. Don't think its a terrible acquisition, but i'm struggling to see the point really.I see him as an upgrade on Elmo.
A bit of a strange one to me. Don't think its a terrible acquisition, but i'm struggling to see the point really.
The more i think of this move on a free as well i think this is a shrewd but of business.To reject Watford for us as well a club he has a big affirmation with shows he has a soft spot for this club
Quote from: Demitri_C on June 17, 2021, 09:52:15 AMThe more i think of this move on a free as well i think this is a shrewd but of business.To reject Watford for us as well a club he has a big affirmation with shows he has a soft spot for this clubHis spot may have no doubt been softened by us offering him more money than Watford.
I really like Cash but he’s going to always pick up bookings with his very enthusiastic nature, I’m sure Young can do the business back there when called upon.
Allan C and Allan W posting so close together confuses me!
Funnily enough, it does me too!! I sometimes think I’ve posted something that I haven’t
Quote from: LeeB on June 17, 2021, 10:27:19 AMAllan C and Allan W posting so close together confuses me!Funnily enough, it does me too!! I sometimes think I’ve posted something that I haven’t
Quote from: Ian. on June 17, 2021, 09:23:54 AMI really like Cash but he’s going to always pick up bookings with his very enthusiastic nature, I’m sure Young can do the business back there when called upon.That's the element of his arrival, if that's on the cards, that is most important to me; he will occupy one of the 25 PL roster places and needs therefore to justify it. He has a number of decent positives to bring to the table but I'm not as convinced as you are of some of the more key ones.He can undoubtedly cover left and right back positions. Plus. Good flexibility; can't understand why he hasn't made Southgates' squad with his versatility in this regard. Multi-use all-rounders being his particular fetish.He has vast, top-flight experience to bring to the young squad. Plus. Great international and top club experience, solid and calm under pressure, Villa history as well; what's not to like about this aspect?Presumably affordable. Plus. Not a vast length contract, not a vast wage addition, presumably. Makes sense to have a mix of players to add variety and bridge the time until the academy prospects can justify their first team inclusion without the obstruction of a lengthy contract to overcome. All good.BUTHe'll be used as defensive cover and that's where my concern is; he's not as good as you might think. Not my opinion, look at the various statistics and analytical feeds available to all.On 'WhoScored' for example, under 'defensive' they rate his tackling as his weakness. https://www.whoscored.com/Players/8166/Show/Ashley-YoungAt 'One-versus-One' his current defensive capabilities are great going forward but very low on winning headers, getting in blocks and winning tackles. https://one-versus-one.com/en/players/Ashley-YoungThis is the classic picture of a wing-back. Of course the numbers are not the be-all-and-end-all but they do paint a picture. It's a picture of 'nice wing-back going forward'. My point is that for maybe 8 or 10 games next season, when pushing for Europe, we will need a strong-tackling, able to dig in, rough, tough defender. Not pretty but effective, to help us grab a point from a bad position or hold out for a win away from home for the last 20 minutes. And I'm not sure he's that defender.I'm all for the story of his return, I appreciate his many advantages I'm just not convinced that he'll be the best option at the one thing we absolutely NEED him to do; effectively counter the likes of Sterling, Mane, Rashford, Havertz, Richarlison, and all the other PL strikers operating from wide. None of the academy players, who wouldn't occupy a roster position, can provide this defensive bite IMO. So if we need someone, and we do to cover wide on both sides, I'd prefer an out-and-out defensive biter.
Strange. When he was ManU, their main complaint from memory is he created nothing going forward. Although that could have been a Mourinho thing