Youri Tielemans

[Clark W Griswold]

I was surprised we signed him really, he’s not dissimilar to most of our other midfielders so doesn’t really give us anything different, but I suppose considering he’d been very good up until last season and he was free, it made good sense from a business perspective. I was impressed in pre season, but haven’t been since, and I think he’s started moaning far too early about not starting, we’ve hardly got going yet and he surely must have realised he’d be rotated over many matches. You’d have thought he’d have looked a bit more interested when he did get the chance also.

[eamonn]

He's got form for being stroppy but on the other hand, he's been part of the golden Belgian generation (tail-end of it, I guess), will have the confidence to feel he's good enough to start regularly and he's possibly our highest paid player given he came on a free from a PL team and that Coutinho is now gone.

[PaulTheVillan]

Moaning already. Brilliant.

[Duncan Shaw]

I think it's a non-story too, typical gutter press trying to make something out of nothing lost in translation.  Boy we are quick to jump on the backs of our players sometimes!

[Dante Lavelli]

I’m probably leaning towards Tieleman’s side on this, but only just.

We probably should have played him in the tough away games versus Newcastle and Liverpool.  A midfield 3 of Kamara, Doug and Youri would probably given us a more solid base.  Furthermore, if we are to have a bigger squad, “two first teasers for each position etc”, then we need to rotate players and not just wait for injuries.

On the other hand he did not look great versus Hibs (he was good pre-season though) and it is too early in the season to make any absolute rules from the selections to date.

Definitely not the news story being spun in the press though.  What else is he meant to say…

[algy]

I think it's a bit of a non-story. He's said what's blindingly obvious - he hasn't played much (true), he's probably a bit frustrated that he hasn't been playing (fair enough) and that Emery has said he'll play more once the cup & Europa League fixtures get going (which is exactly why you'd imagine we'd brought him in - cos our midfield without him wouldn't cope with the quantity of matches).

[AV82EC]

Yep we’ve 7 games in 23 days from this Saturday, we need this squad depth.

[pablo_picasso]

I don't see what the issue is personally.

I would be more disappointed if he had responded that he was happy at not playing & picking up a free wage...

As we grow, squad management is going to become more important than it has been in the past because the level below the first picks aren't going to be much of a drop off in quality.

Especially compared to what we have been used to in terms of "backup" squad players...

[Smithy]

You want players unhappy at not being in the side.  You don't want them moaning to the press.

These are the sorts of problems you have to expect when you've got a bigger squad, with quality players throughout.  I'm sure he's going to play plenty when we start our European campaign and hopefully continue our cup run(s). If he plays well enough to dislodge someone permanently, then great!

[brontebilly]

I don't see what the issue is personally.

I would be more disappointed if he had responded that he was happy at not playing & picking up a free wage...

As we grow, squad management is going to become more important than it has been in the past because the level below the first picks aren't going to be much of a drop off in quality.

Especially compared to what we have been used to in terms of "backup" squad players...

It's more than a bit early for him to be whinging about lack of minutes on the pitch. But maybe it's just one of the scenarios where northern Europeans can be very honest in terms of how they answer questions and it can be refreshing in lots of ways.

But Tielemans hasnt impressed in the slightest in his cameos thus far and that's where his focus should be. The concerns around his signing to start with are still very much there to be addressed a) the lack of application evident in his last 12-18 months at Leicester and b) effectively he is competing with our best player (Luiz) for game time. Luiz is miles ahead of him at the moment and he isn't really an option for the other midfield spots. Will be good to get the Donk back in the mix for minutes after this break.

[Drummond]

I think of all the positions on the pitch, midfield is the hardest to come on and make a big difference.

[brontebilly]

I think of all the positions on the pitch, midfield is the hardest to come on and make a big difference.

Maybe so but then again Tielemans has performed at a very high level for club and country previously so you expect him to make an impact. 45 mins v Newcastle and 20mins or so v Liverpool so it wasn't just a garbage time run out. I didn't see the Hibs game but reports on here and elsewhere suggested limited impact too. The worrying thing for me is not say misplaced passes or errors but just that the pace of the games so far have been too much for him.

[Steve67]

With no Ramsey and Coutinho now gone, not that he was fit either, we are a bit short and will need Tielemans.  Dendonker isn't up to full fitness yet either.   If he did make these comments, it was stupidly short sighted, not that I think he did by the way.

[N'ZMAV]

good job he didn't go to a better team then, as he'd probably not even make the bench

[Clark W Griswold]

I don't see what the issue is personally.

I would be more disappointed if he had responded that he was happy at not playing & picking up a free wage...

As we grow, squad management is going to become more important than it has been in the past because the level below the first picks aren't going to be much of a drop off in quality.

Especially compared to what we have been used to in terms of "backup" squad players...

It's more than a bit early for him to be whinging about lack of minutes on the pitch. But maybe it's just one of the scenarios where northern Europeans can be very honest in terms of how they answer questions and it can be refreshing in lots of ways.

But Tielemans hasnt impressed in the slightest in his cameos thus far and that's where his focus should be. The concerns around his signing to start with are still very much there to be addressed a) the lack of application evident in his last 12-18 months at Leicester and b) effectively he is competing with our best player (Luiz) for game time. Luiz is miles ahead of him at the moment and he isn't really an option for the other midfield spots. Will be good to get the Donk back in the mix for minutes after this break.

I agree with most of that, but not about him being in direct competion with Luiz. I think Dendonker is deep sitting, Luiz and Kamara deep sitting or central and Tielemans, McGinn and Ramsey central or more advanced. We sometimes play 3, sometimes play 4 and if you consider potential injuries and suspensions as well as game overload there is no reason to think that he won't play plenty. Which he should realise himself before opening his mouth about it really, the only thing that is going to keep him out of the team is if he keeps playing like he did against Hibs. In the friendly against Lazio he and Luiz played most of the match together and looked very effective.