Evann Guessand

[OCD]

He's a step or two ahead of Elliott and Sancho just being picked in the team.

[Chris Smith]

He was decent second half, linked well and worked hard after a very anonymous first half. I like his work rate and he seems to have the right attitude. Cash has improved the last few weeks which tells me that although the right side isn’t very exciting, it’s become far more solid and they are working well as a pair.

Agreed, he seemed to play slightly more narrow in the second half and was able to get a bit more involved and looked better for it. He’s another Unai project that I’m sure will come good.

[eye digress]

I'm with those still waiting to see the elusive "thing" that he has, sadly.

Went to have a look what French tactical types were saying about him last year. They highlight his strength back to goal, close control, ability to drive on to backpedalling defences and passing – a Drogba who can do a passable No. 10, if you will. And that's what last year's Ligue 1 footage seems to show.

From what I have seen of him at Villa so far, he doesn't seem to want to go down the outside of his man when given the chance (not up to speed, not confident in his pace?), but nor does he want to come inside (not confident in his strength?), and he doesn't seem to totally understand our passing patterns yet (lots of quizzical looks between him and teammates, stepping on each other, etc.).
 
All that would be fine if you felt it was just a matter of physical conditioning. But at no point have I been struck by the potential of his pace or strength (Jesus, that lad's quick/strong).

I do hope he gets it together though. Maybe he just needs a goal? Come on Evann, UTV!


 

[eye digress]

Think I’d rather have Philogene back, tbh.

I didn't want to say it in my message above, but I was thinking something similar! He does look like he could go the way of Philogene, that lost look. But there's still time to turn it around.

[Rigadon]

He was decent second half, linked well and worked hard after a very anonymous first half. I like his work rate and he seems to have the right attitude. Cash has improved the last few weeks which tells me that although the right side isn’t very exciting, it’s become far more solid and they are working well as a pair.

Agreed, he seemed to play slightly more narrow in the second half and was able to get a bit more involved and looked better for it. He’s another Unai project that I’m sure will come good.

Agreed.  He's less than dazzling at teh moment, but they wouldn't have dropped so much money on a player who Unai didn't think could be moulded.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

All that would be fine if you felt it was just a matter of physical conditioning. But at no point have I been struck by the potential of his pace or strength (Jesus, that lad's quick/strong).

I do hope he gets it together though. Maybe he just needs a goal? Come on Evann, UTV!

It's a strange one, maybe it's due to the slow build up but one of his main traits is knocking the ball behind the defender into space and racing past him.

[eye digress]

All that would be fine if you felt it was just a matter of physical conditioning. But at no point have I been struck by the potential of his pace or strength (Jesus, that lad's quick/strong).

I do hope he gets it together though. Maybe he just needs a goal? Come on Evann, UTV!

It's a strange one, maybe it's due to the slow build up but one of his main traits is knocking the ball behind the defender into space and racing past him.

Absolutely, and that's all over his highlights reel.

Not sure the problem lies with the slow build up. He just doesn't look like he really believes he is quicker than his opponent.

[Beard82]

His defensive work is very good - there have been glimpses of his ability to find the space in the box - like last night.

I think he just needs one to go in - and maybe when we play against some better teams hell get a little more space.  I think it is a confidence thing mostly and it is a big jump up but Uani is obviously seeing something he likes.

[Brend'Watkins]

I like the fact he sticks at it and doesn’t drop his head. If only that effort had gone in instead of hitting the post, it would have done him the world of good. It’s worrying that his team mates are choosing not to use him when he’s free and in a decent position. I get the feeling that some of them are less than convinced.

[john2710]

Defensively & effort wise, I can't fault him. But going forward he looks a little lost & very apprehensive. I suppose the fact that he's doing the defensive side allows him the time to hopefully develop in the next few months.

It's a big step up from the level he was playing at, if he was the finished article he wouldn't be with us. I'd give him more than a handful of games before writing him off.

[eye digress]

Comes across in interview as a very humble lad, by the way; honest, hard worker, raised in the Marseille 'burbs. That will at least stand him in good stead.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

All that would be fine if you felt it was just a matter of physical conditioning. But at no point have I been struck by the potential of his pace or strength (Jesus, that lad's quick/strong).

I do hope he gets it together though. Maybe he just needs a goal? Come on Evann, UTV!

It's a strange one, maybe it's due to the slow build up but one of his main traits is knocking the ball behind the defender into space and racing past him.

Absolutely, and that's all over his highlights reel.

Not sure the problem lies with the slow build up. He just doesn't look like he really believes he is quicker than his opponent.

Let's see how he improves after he scores on Sunday.

[eye digress]

Let's see how he improves after he scores on Sunday.

Indeed, UTV!

[Smithy]

Defensively & effort wise, I can't fault him. But going forward he looks a little lost & very apprehensive. I suppose the fact that he's doing the defensive side allows him the time to hopefully develop in the next few months.

It's a big step up from the level he was playing at, if he was the finished article he wouldn't be with us. I'd give him more than a handful of games before writing him off.

If you've got a player who needs time to get up to speed with a new league, and is struggling to replicate his form from his previous team, I think the best you can hope for is that they do a job for the team first and foremost.  And I think that's what he's doing so far.  If he was doing okay attacking wise, but regularly leaving Cash exposed, I suspect Sancho/Elliott would be ahead of him in the pecking order.  But he's doing a perfectly okay job in that position.  Not brilliant, but certainly not terrible.

If we were judging players based purely on this season so far, as if they'd arrived this summer, we'd all be insisting Boro pulled our pants down with Morgan Rogers.  However, if the team's form continues to improve over the next dozen or so games, and the results stay mostly positive, and he STILL isn't looking like he's at home in the premier league, then I'll start to worry.  But we do know Unai loves a project, and we've seen more than once how a player can thrive once they've had a few months to get used to his methods.

I'm still very hopeful!

[SamTheMouse]

I reckon at some point he's going to twat one in from 25 yards Drogba-style and it'll be lift-off.