Plessis

[anfieldanfield]

He's better than Lucas.

[lfc1394]

He has set the bar pretty high to be fair

You're saying he's ****ed it up for everyone else

[Kenneth]

He's better than Lucas.

I've seen nothing to suggest that this is true. Lucas ain't great, but Plessis has done nothing yet.

[scouse lad]

Keep hearing Rafa going on about these fantastic yougsters no but have any impressed you, Gonzales, Paletta, Insua, Anderson, Hobbs, Lucas, Plessis. I dont think i trust rafa in the transfer market.

[el matador]

People shouldn't expect a young player to come in as a ready made all round player, no. Seeing signs of something, glimpses of talents that suggest a player may be special and not just another nearly man. That's what people look for in young players. I don't see anything like this in Plessis. I may be wrong, and he may develop into a great player, but there's no reason to expect it based on his performances to date imo.

i totally agree with this.

plessis doesnt have any major attributes that make him outstanding in any one area. His passing is poor and his comfort zone for passing is within 10 yards of his starting position. Other than that he is no mascherano, not even close. He's not even a momo.

There is a problem with his mobility as well and he doesnt seem all that keen to run, and he doesnt have a turn of pace.

I dont think Lyon were disappointed to lose him so that must say something.

Exactly the same for Lucas - yes he played for brasil but so did gilberto the spurs left back and ive seen jack **** of him since he came to the premiership.

This is probably the worst brasilian team for a long time so getting a game for them isnt worth bragging about.

Again, Lucas flatters to deceive on every occasion, his passing is also poor, his decision making isnt great, he doesnt have any pace and for a central midfield player he cant tackle (neither can paul scholes but if lucas had everything scholes had minus the tackling we wouldnt be on about him now).

A poor purchase and a complete waste of £6m. He wont make it and any fans who think otherwise are just deluding themselves.

[calvoboy]

Give the lad a chance eh? He's made 6 first team appearances. Just 6. You'd have written off some real legends in the past if you'd judged them after their first half a dozen games

In any case, looking at those 6 games, he started with his outstanding debut at Arsenal last year, followed by two more decent/solid games at the end of the season.

Alright, this season he's had two and a half dodgy ones (he went off injured at half time at Sunderland), but then most of the team have had a couple of dodgy games this season haven't they?

[el matador]

Give the lad a chance eh? He's made 6 first team appearances. Just 6. You'd have written off some real legends in the past if you'd judged them after their first half a dozen games

In any case, looking at those 6 games, he started with his outstanding debut at Arsenal last year, followed by two more decent/solid games at the end of the season.

Alright, this season he's had two and a half dodgy ones (he went off injured at half time at Sunderland), but then most of the team have had a couple of dodgy games this season haven't they?

I agree that all good young players that have something about them show their talent in bursts. In the modern game even defensive midfield players at the highest leven need to have more to their game than just 10 yard passes and height. Im not sure plessis has anything else to offer and there is something not right about his movement. when he runs he looks awkward and unbalanced.

Maybe i was too harsh on him but i stand by what i said about lucas. he is absolutely pants and its taken me about a year of watching him to get to that conclusion (i realised he wasnt great much sooner but like most other people on here I thought he would come good with time but its hasnt happened and it wont).

I can give plessis at least another 10 months or so before completely writing him off aswell.

[calvoboy]

I agree that all good young players that have something about them show their talent in bursts. In the modern game even defensive midfield players at the highest leven need to have more to their game than just 10 yard passes and height. Im not sure plessis has anything else to offer and there is something not right about his movement. when he runs he looks awkward and unbalanced.

Maybe i was too harsh on him but i stand by what i said about lucas. he is absolutely pants and its taken me about a year of watching him to get to that conclusion (i realised he wasnt great much sooner but like most other people on here I thought he would come good with time but its hasnt happened and it wont).

I can give plessis at least another 10 months or so before completely writing him off aswell.

Now Lucas is a different case entirely - he came here for big money, with a big reputation, and has had 35 first team appearances now. He really has got to improve very very quickly if he's going to be worth keeping, because at the moment he looks average at best and a liability at worst.

[el matador]

Now Lucas is a different case entirely - he came here for big money, with a big reputation, and has had 35 first team appearances now. He really has got to improve very very quickly if he's going to be worth keeping, because at the moment he looks average at best and a liability at worst.

[Slinky Skills]

That's an understatement. A DM who can't pass more than 5 yards, can't pass forwards, can't boss people physically, and as you said, doesn't take up great positions doesn't have the obvious makings of a top player imo. I have seen him in some reserve games and he looked better than he does in the first team, but that's because he's playing a lower level of opponent. I think the Diao comparrison is pretty fair at the moment. That's not intended to be insulting, Salif is a decent Championship level player, and I suspect that's what Plessis may end up as.

I've seen a bit of this guy for the reserves and he is a class above everyone else in that team. His debut against Arsenal was excellent but since then when he's been given a chance he hasn't been great that I admit.

However there is great potential in this lad, the things he has going for him are composure on the ball. For the reserves he very rarely wasted a ball last year, his passing is excellent as is his tackling but most of all he appears to have a fantastic attitude too.

I do believe that over time he will develop into an outstanding player, it's only a matter of time before he does. You can tell by watching someone that they will turn out to be excellent. Not just him but I believe Lucas will turn out to be good too as will a number of the other youngsters. Not all of them mind but a good few of them, namely Stephen Darby, Daniel Pacheo and Krisitan Nemeth.

He may or may not make it but the lack of patience shown to a youngster by some is just shocking.

I totally agree, it is shocking and is a disgrace. Fair enough slating someone who's been playing for the first team week in week out but a young guy who's barely had a chance to shine, slating him is bang out of order.

I think if Rafa had played all the youngsters like Wenger did the other night they'd have hammered Crewe. As a unit they are a fantastic team and work for each brilliantly. I strongly advise some of you (and there are a lot of you) to start watching some reserve games this year and see for yourself just how good they are. The reason we didn't play well against Crewe is down to the attitude of some of the senior players.

]I actually really like the way he keeps possession and unlike others I thought when he was progressive in his first team appearances his balls were always well judged and accurate[/B]. I think we have seen early in this season other more experienced players like Mascher, Alonso and Gerrard all suffer from the lack of movement around them.

His ball retention is excellent and it will only gett better of time.

For me the big issue with Plessis is that he seems a little cowed/over awed by the players around him. I think if he gains confidence then he will blossom. I'm not sure how likely he is to do that with us though.

i totally agree with this.

plessis doesnt have any major attributes that make him outstanding in any one area. His passing is poor and his comfort zone for passing is within 10 yards of his starting position. Other than that he is no mascherano, not even close. He's not even a momo.

There is a problem with his mobility as well and he doesnt seem all that keen to run, and he doesnt have a turn of pace.

I dont think Lyon were disappointed to lose him so that must say something.

Exactly the same for Lucas - yes he played for brasil but so did gilberto the spurs left back and ive seen jack **** of him since he came to the premiership.

This is probably the worst brasilian team for a long time so getting a game for them isnt worth bragging about.

Again, Lucas flatters to deceive on every occasion, his passing is also poor, his decision making isnt great, he doesnt have any pace and for a central midfield player he cant tackle (neither can paul scholes but if lucas had everything scholes had minus the tackling we wouldnt be on about him now).

A poor purchase and a complete waste of £6m. He wont make it and any fans who think otherwise are just deluding themselves.

His passing isn't poor though, just give him some time and you'll see him develop. This boy will be a class act in a few years. Sorry DWW that bit's not meant for you.

[-V-]

Reserves won the league last year ahead of 'Arsenal's amazing kids'. Plessis was brilliant for them and showed he can be a class act on his debut at the Emirates. Give the lad a chance for ****s sake. Fans are fickle

Lucas btw scored the winner on tuesday incase you lot didnt notice. Young players adapting to the english game and the new surroundings.

[Johnny]

Reserves won the league last year ahead of 'Arsenal's amazing kids'. Plessis was brilliant for them and showed he can be a class act on his debut at the Emirates. Give the lad a chance for ****s sake. Fans are fickle

Lucas btw scored the winner on tuesday incase you lot didnt notice. Young players adapting to the english game and the new surroundings.

Good post.

[dww]

Reserves won the league last year ahead of 'Arsenal's amazing kids'. Plessis was brilliant for them and showed he can be a class act on his debut at the Emirates. Give the lad a chance for ****s sake. Fans are fickle

Lucas btw scored the winner on tuesday incase you lot didnt notice. Young players adapting to the english game and the new surroundings.

I think there is a danger that people think that winning games in the reserves is a sign that players are progressing to the first team. Have Arsenal won much with their reserves or youth? I don't think they have with the former certainly yet they have a very high record of bringing through players from that level (if not yet from the youth ranks, but it appears to be coming now - note for those slagging Rafa's academy policy: see how long it took for Wengers to bear fruit).

I think you are right that these players deserve a chance to prove themselves but they have to stand or fall on what they do in the first team which is a very different environment to the ressies.

[Big Dave]

Keep hearing Rafa going on about these fantastic yougsters no but have any impressed you, Gonzales, Paletta, Insua, Anderson, Hobbs, Lucas, Plessis. I dont think i trust rafa in the transfer market.

Torres, Mascherano, Babel, Agger, Reina, Skertl

FFS

[Kenneth]

Reserves won the league last year ahead of 'Arsenal's amazing kids'. Plessis was brilliant for them and showed he can be a class act on his debut at the Emirates. Give the lad a chance for ****s sake. Fans are fickle

Lucas btw scored the winner on tuesday incase you lot didnt notice. Young players adapting to the english game and the new surroundings.

I thought Nunez was a really good performer for the reserves but it only proves a player can hold his own at a reasonable level, not the PL/CL level.

I don't agree with your view of Plessis' performance at the Emirates either.