Evann Guessand (on loan at Crystal Palace)

[ChicagoLion]

One for the historians: have we ever had a striker that looks absolutely shit suddenly come good?

Actually, just thought of a few, so maybe we should do a top 5.

I do not think I have seen many look so completely out of his depth, Balaban Tonev?

[ChicagoLion]

In our defence it was £23.5M with add ons to £28M so not quite the £30M everyone seems to brandish about. In spite of this, it is about £22.5M too much clearly, as he is bloody awful. His speed of though, speed of foot and general lethargic nature don’t help him at all, and there is no way at all he is a winger. I would play him down the middle on Thursday night just to see what happens, rest Watkins as he has yet again ensured he is our only centre forward, and see if Guessand is any use there.

I was going to make the same point, except for (as per BBC) £26m plus add-ons to about £30m, which is where I think everyone gets that figure from. I think it is worth stating that only the guaranteed fee goes towards working out PSR/SCR etc. And it looks unlikely that he will hit many of his personal performance triggers.

Was the initial 25m in EUR and not GBP ?

£26m plus £4.3m in add-ons according to BBC. That’s GBP, as confirmed by the £ signs.

Wow just Wow.

[Dave]

In our defence it was £23.5M with add ons to £28M so not quite the £30M everyone seems to brandish about. In spite of this, it is about £22.5M too much clearly, as he is bloody awful. His speed of though, speed of foot and general lethargic nature don’t help him at all, and there is no way at all he is a winger. I would play him down the middle on Thursday night just to see what happens, rest Watkins as he has yet again ensured he is our only centre forward, and see if Guessand is any use there.

I was going to make the same point, except for (as per BBC) £26m plus add-ons to about £30m, which is where I think everyone gets that figure from. I think it is worth stating that only the guaranteed fee goes towards working out PSR/SCR etc. And it looks unlikely that he will hit many of his personal performance triggers.

Was the initial 25m in EUR and not GBP ?

£26m plus £4.3m in add-ons according to BBC. That’s GBP, as confirmed by the £ signs.

Different places say different things though.

Sky say:

Aston Villa have signed Nice striker Evann Guessand.

The transfer will cost an initial £23.5m, potentially rising to almost £28m if bonuses are met.

Not that it matters that much, but unless it's announced by one of the clubs or you can see it in the accounts, it's all a certain amount of guess(and?) work.

[Ozzjim]

Tielemans was just as bad for the first 3 months, then he sorted himself out.

[PaulWinch again]

We knew Tielemans was a good player.

[ChicagoLion]

Tielemans was just as bad for the first 3 months, then he sorted himself out.

The difference is that Tielemens had a proven track record and you could see ability but a lack of effectiveness early on, but I don’t remember thinking that Tielemens is a bit shit.

[eye digress]

Tielemans was good in the preseason and was stodgy (but not shit) in those opening few months, when the team was also purring.

Distinctly remember wondering if Angel was playing the same sport however, it was like he was running in treacle.

And Ormondroyd, of course.

Can't remember how bad Balaban was.

Did Savo look shit right up to the LC final worldie?

[Flamingo Lane]

The thing that marks out Guessand is the complete lack of belief that he seems to have in every single aspect of his own game, and which is far more than just a temporary shortage of confidence on his part.

[rougegorge]

Tielemans was good in the preseason and was stodgy (but not shit) in those opening few months, when the team was also purring.

Distinctly remember wondering if Angel was playing the same sport however, it was like he was running in treacle.

And Ormondroyd, of course.

Can't remember how bad Balaban was.

Did Savo look shit right up to the LC final worldie?

I don't think many would really have been able to assess Balaban - just eight sub appearances in the league. So it may not be fair to say he was terrible, although it obviously ended up as terrible business. I guess he must never have impressed in training, but he scored a hatful of goals after he left to play at Club Brugge.

[London Villan]

Savo scored at least 10 goals in his first season - would snap your hand off if Evan had given us that.

[PeterWithesShin]

Withe scored in 1 of his first 9 league games, which tends to be forgotten as things ended up going ok that season.

[Walmley_Villa]

I commented yesterday that he appears to have a single speed gear - runs at exactly the same pace regardless of the situation

[brontebilly]

Tielemans was just as bad for the first 3 months, then he sorted himself out.

The difference is that Tielemens had a proven track record and you could see ability but a lack of effectiveness early on, but I don’t remember thinking that Tielemens is a bit shit.

He was terrible when played in a 2 early on. But his technical ability was never in question. More his application and stamina. Sancho might be a better comparison though I don't recall YT actively avoiding physical contact.

Scott Hogan looked absolutely shite early on and never improved. Just never looked like it was going to work. Guessand is like him.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

He just doesn't do footballer type stuff....almost all players touch the ball and move to create space....he almost always moves into positions/areas where he makes it more difficult for himself to do anything...and loses the ball almost every time!
When he joined us he was asked what he would bring to the team....he said "I am strong and fast".
Who The F**k told him that?

[aj2k77]

I can't believe anyone who ever saw them would say Savo or Angel started off looking like Guessand. Just on touch alone they were leagues above him and that was before they hit any kind of form. There was something to develop in them as there knowledge of the English game grew. Guessand is just fucking crap. Prank level crap.