Evann Guessand

[brontebilly]

Seems we bought him on the basis of a breakthrough season. Maybe there wasn't enough of a body of work to realise how good or bad he was.

That's what the raw data suggests anyway. Nice obviously weren't convinced by him for a long time with two season long loans elsewhere. Evidence increasingly suggests we were had. In fairness to the guy you can't fault his application.

[Mellin]

Temu Trezeguet so far.

He's miles off Trez. Left for 4m didn't he? How much was Guessand?

[KevinGage]

He also looks totally uninterested and disconnected. 

I'm not so sure about that, rather he looks like he's playing with a lack of confidence borne of thinking he's out of his depth, and being right.

A bit concerning that he's still looked out of his depth against opponents of the calibre of Go Ahead Eagles and that lot last night. Aside from a plum draw in the FA Cup 3rd round, he won't be facing too many easier sides than that.

Being the best player on the pitch wouldn't have told a whole lot when the opposition are Championship/League One level.

But when he's having 'mares against those sort of sides as well it's not great at all.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

The defensive stuff is great but we could have bought Matt Doherty to perform a similar task and saved ourselves the best part of £30m.

[Mellin]

You saying that led me to thinking about Mings being out there and if he'd have done any worse. I'm genuinely not sure. Mings' defensive work would be better and I'm not sure he's much worse technically.

The fact I spent more than one second considering it is damning as fuck. He needs carting off in January. What are Ipswich up to?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Mings as a marauding right winger, I like it!!

[ASHTONVILLA]

I don't think Guessand is as terrible as many here seem to. He works hard, and he is young enough to improve the parts of his game that need work. Hopefully he will just click at some point.

Having him in the team has improved the form of Cash too.

[Mister E]

It does seem very strange, in a summer when we were counting every penny in and out, that we ended up paying so much for apparently so little. Having quickly offloaded Philogene (in the previous summer), sold Bailey, ignored Barrie and loaned out Redmond and Rowe we bring in this unproven guy for c.£25m. We as might as well have given one of our young guys a run-out for the first half of this season to see how it went.

[ASHTONVILLA]

It does seem very strange, in a summer when we were counting every penny in and out, that we ended up paying so much for apparently so little. Having quickly offloaded Philogene (in the previous summer), sold Bailey, ignored Barrie and loaned out Redmond and Rowe we bring in this unproven guy for c.£25m. We as might as well have given one of our young guys a run-out for the first half of this season to see how it went.

I thought that when we signed Duran too though, and he ended up being a good player (if a tad nutty). Emery obviously sees something in him.

[Pete3206]

Everyone makes mistakes and in this case, Emery has dropped a right clanger.

[Mister E]

It does seem very strange, in a summer when we were counting every penny in and out, that we ended up paying so much for apparently so little. Having quickly offloaded Philogene (in the previous summer), sold Bailey, ignored Barrie and loaned out Redmond and Rowe we bring in this unproven guy for c.£25m. We as might as well have given one of our young guys a run-out for the first half of this season to see how it went.

I thought that when we signed Duran too though, and he ended up being a good player (if a tad nutty). Emery obviously sees something in him.

Big difference here, though, is that Guessand is showing none of the innate attributes that Duran had - the combination of physique, pace and instincts: I can't really see what there is to work with in Guessand's case, unless behind the scenes they are trying to turn him into a target man, utilising his physique, as a long-term replacement for Watkins; but that seems like a big stretch to me (and when Cotcher and Wilson are coming through anyway).
Above people have referred to Bowery, Gestede and Harewood; all journeymen who wouldn't attract the equivalent in price of what we paid for Guessand.

[PeterWithesShin]

Duran showed there was something there pretty early on even if it was raw, plus he was 5 or 6 years younger.