Joe Allen [Sold]

[little dave hedgehog]

Enrique is pure cack ?

Ok would you like to take a bet say 50 quid that Enrique will not be considered pure cack by anyone by the end of this season ?

do it, tee.

[davegrady1]

First full game watching him play yesterday and he was excellent, only recall him losing the ball 2 or 3 times and one was from a dribble. For a small guy he holds the ball so well and though he is different he did remind at times of Xabi. Him along with Sterling and Shelvey when he came on where the only ones who looked like making anything happen. Just a pity about Lucas being out as I think he would have done a little better at breaking up some of the counter attacks than Allen but can't really fault him for that. Here's hoping he keeps these performances up and looking forward to seeing more of him.

[McDermotX]

Enrique is pure cack ?

Ok would you like to take a bet say 50 quid that Enrique will not be considered pure cack by anyone by the end of this season ?

do it, tee.

But all Tee has to say is that Enrique is pure cack regardless of how he performs and it's an easy 50.......The bet just asks for anyone doesn't it?

(although Enrique probably will be cack)

[Nicey]

But all Tee has to say is that Enrique is pure cack regardless of how he performs and it's an easy 50.......The bet just asks for anyone doesn't it?

(although Enrique probably will be cack)

Hes bloody good defender ... we ran him into the ground in his first season .. he was phenomenal early on .. its no accident he tapered off towards the end ... we had 1 ****ing Lb at the club

to say he is kack ... is like saying Joe Allen is a **** signing ...plainly ridiculous

[McDermotX]

Personally, I like Enrique's 'hustle' and athleticism, but his use of the ball is middling to average both in technique and decision-making terms.
He's far from rubbish, just an average to good FB who has ironed out the outright mistakes of his early Newcastle career, but struggles probably more than he should in contributing anything extra to the attack of the left flank.

He's not cack, but that shouldn't stop Tee taking that bet to make an easy 50 at end of season.

[Nicey]

Personally, I like Enrique's 'hustle' and athleticism, but his use of the ball is middling to average both in technique and decision-making terms.
He's far from rubbish, just an average to good FB who has ironed out the outright mistakes of his early Newcastle career, but struggles probably more than he should in contributing anything extra to the attack of the left flank.

He's not cack, but that shouldn't stop Tee taking that bet to make an easy 50 at end of season.

He obviously does not have the minerals

[Lecter]

He couldn't have been any more impressive. He's brilliant, every bit as good as I thought he was and then some.

I think hes a good player but he lacks pace to get back and cover and as such I think we should restrict his movement on the pitch, particularly whilst Lucas is absent and Sahin is alongside him

Other than that I've been impressed by him which is more than I can say for Borini so far

[davegrady1]

I think hes a good player but he lacks pace to get back and cover and as such I think we should restrict his movement on the pitch, particularly whilst Lucas is absent and Sahin is alongside him

Other than that I've been impressed by him which is more than I can say for Borini so far

Agreed mate, all 3 mids seemed to get too far advanced at times and left no cover at all and none of them could get back when Arsenal broke.

[Shaggy]

Well the problem there is Allen is obviously not a DM. We were caught out yesterday, absolutely wide open without Lucas's tactical and positional nous. This isn't Allen's fault IMO - he wasn't bought to be a holding midfielder. I think him & Lucas will complement each other beautifully, but until Lucas is back we're gonna have problems.

[Reece]

Agree with that. Allen actually looked our best midfielder in an attacking sense yesterday too - he made a couple of good forays forward. One where he did a neat bit of skill, but none of the other players really seemed on his wavelength.

So it's a shame to have to shackle that by forcing him to play the DM role, but needs must I guess

[Alex]

Do we have a DM as cover for Lucas at all? I know Allen is playing there, but it does seem a little silly to not have direct cover.

[Reece]

We have Jay Sp... ah.

Play Carragher there

[davegrady1]

Well the problem there is Allen is obviously not a DM. We were caught out yesterday, absolutely wide open without Lucas's tactical and positional nous. This isn't Allen's fault IMO - he wasn't bought to be a holding midfielder. I think him & Lucas will complement each other beautifully, but until Lucas is back we're gonna have problems.

Totally agree Shaggy, I don't think he was to blame at all or anything but I think as Lec said while he is covering for Lucas in that position he may need to be restricted somewhat or more mindful about the space being left behind them. He did most of the things Lucas does really well, came back and got the ball, broke up a lot of play etc. He was immense though and as you said him and Lucas will compliment each other really well and look forward to seeing more of that when Lucas gets back.

[JohnDoe]

I quite like Allen in that deep role, he collects the ball from the defensive line and distributes it very well. I don't think playing him there is a problem defensively either. We got caught out a few times because we lost the ball in poor positions and got hit on the counter. Don't think Lucas coming in will make us better. It will probably make us worse offensively.

[Shaggy]

Haven't we got a bit of a DM beast in the Academy? Black lad? Forgotten his name...if indeed I'm barking up the right tree.