Oussama Assaidi [Sold to Al-Ahli's Barmy Army]

[baitman]

its a big step up from the dutch league to getting out muscled by prem defenders, who are mostly international class. he has looked good, but i also see that he is reluctant to just wastefully cross when there is no one there, he tries to hold on to the ball and maybe doesnt have a passing option.
we have seen downing make passes into an empty goal mouth a few times and its such a disappointing waste that there is no support from other runners from midfield. the same has happened to assaidi, but the lack of support might be the fault of the other players and the tactics.

http://youtu.be/--Pf2wDu7nc

[Cormack74]

Whats the story then? Doesn't even get on the bench.

Am I right in thinking that since Chang-gate Shaggy is on terms with Ian Herbert from the Indie?

May be we need him to ask Herbert to bring it up at the next press conference (together with any other questions we want Rogers to answer ).

[baitman]

the EST rep... like it

[Maxiedge]

I said it at the start of the season that I thought Assaidi could be the difference for us this season in terms of what he was supposed to bring to the side; skill, flair, pace, creativity and good wing play. Obviously, he hasn't been but I'm glad we're bringing in players in Jan who might be able to do what Assaidi was meant to do.

[Ams12]

I said it at the start of the season that I thought Assaidi could be the difference for us this season in terms of what he was supposed to bring to the side; skill, flair, pace, creativity and good wing play. Obviously, he hasn't been but I'm glad we're bringing in players in Jan who might be able to do what Assaidi was meant to do.

A new young player from another league will need a few games to get it together. I see not too much wrong with his contribution in that west brom game. He needs to be given some more game time and we need players in the box & late runs from midfield to get on the end of those crosses. Can take a player on better than downing! I'd have him on the left & stevie on the right with suarez through the center against Fulham.

[Captain Stu]

The guy hasn't been given a chance in the league, his cup performances have more than earned him a couple of league starts ahead of fecking Downing.

[BobTheCharmer]

The guy hasn't been given a chance in the league, his cup performances have more than earned him a couple of league starts ahead of fecking Downing.

sorry but that is bollocks. he's been ****. Downing while not everyones favourite player, has done alright.

[MrMichael]

The guy hasn't been given a chance in the league, his cup performances have more than earned him a couple of league starts ahead of fecking Downing.

sorry but that is bollocks. he's been ****. Downing while not everyones favourite player, has done alright.

And as ever, between 2 differing views, the truth is somewhere in the middle imo. Assaidi looked quite good in a couple of games but in his last couple was utterly anonymous. It would seem logical that with our thin squad he could have gotten another chance or two, but also it would seem logical that with what the coaching staff are seeing every day, if he's not playing there must be a reason.

To an extent I do think though that some people's view of him is based more on his youtube vids from Holland and less on his actual performances & abilities since he signed for us. He's not had much pitch time, but in what he has he looked tricky yet very lightweight and inexperienced.

[Captain Stu]

Downing has done "alright" if he were a blind one-legged ferret with an inner ear problem. He's supposedly a professional footballer and he's ****ing ****.

[dww]

And as ever, between 2 differing views, the truth is somewhere in the middle imo. Assaidi looked quite good in a couple of games but in his last couple was utterly anonymous. It would seem logical that with our thin squad he could have gotten another chance or two, but also it would seem logical that with what the coaching staff are seeing every day, if he's not playing there must be a reason.

To an extent I do think though that some people's view of him is based more on his youtube vids from Holland and less on his actual performances & abilities since he signed for us. He's not had much pitch time, but in what he has he looked tricky yet very lightweight and inexperienced.

Part of the problem with Assaidi is that he doesn't offer much different and only really seems capable of playing one position. Assaidi to me is just a less good Sterling in terms of tactical options. Until we get another goalscorer it is hard to accommodate such a player in the team and possibly even in the match day squad (although I would have more conviction in the latter point if we at least put a forward of some type in the subs list more often).

[Neil Young]

The few times I've seen him he starts well enough, has a go and looks like he has the beating of his man. But nothing much ever seems to come of it (not entirely his fault perhaps, maybe it's to do with too few attackers up with him) and then gradually he completely disappears by half-time.

[Rich]

For £6m we'd have got him for the second half too.

[baitman]

The few times I've seen him he starts well enough, has a go and looks like he has the beating of his man. But nothing much ever seems to come of it (not entirely his fault perhaps, maybe it's to do with too few attackers up with him) and then gradually he completely disappears by half-time.

he cant even beat a woman

[dww]

The few times I've seen him he starts well enough, has a go and looks like he has the beating of his man. But nothing much ever seems to come of it (not entirely his fault perhaps, maybe it's to do with too few attackers up with him) and then gradually he completely disappears by half-time.

Both he and Downing suffer from not having numbers in the box often enough IMO. Difference being that Assaidi beats his man then stops waiting for others, Downing doesn't bother beating his man and crosses to no one. Both tend to end up with the opposition in possession, but the latter strategy occasionally gives the opportunity of an own goal.

Assaidi would look a much better player if we had someone like Borini (or Sturridge ) coming into the box from the other flank IMO.

[Neil Young]

I agree it's about threat, although I think you're being a bit unfair on Downing. When I've seen it, Assaidi puts in decent-looking crosses whereas Downing more often tends to retain possession. I suspect though that I haven't really noticed enough of either to compare the two properly. All the same Downing does look hopeless when he tries to beat his man, Assaidi looks much more dangerous.

But it doesn't explain why he fades so badly. It could be because after a few tries he gets conservative and aims to keep the ball. But I think it's more likely that his full-back works him out in the first fifteen or twenty minutes and soon goes on to neutralise him totally.