I don’t think Alfie loses much in comparison with Skipp. Far better footballer.. Might do himself some good on tour.
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Player Alfie Devine
- Thread starter Tomo
- Start date
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Definitely prefer him in the 8 role more than the 6. I know that the roles aren't as clearly defined as that and even Maddison will drop to collect the ball off the CBs but he's really good at receiving between the lines and breaking lines with passes. He's already a better option than Hojberg was for us last season.
Lovely passing range this kid has got. Always looking to pass forward, some very nice disguised passes between the lines. Also looks very comfortable receiving with his back to goal - he's aware of his surroundings, knows when he can turn in the #6, knows when he has to take a touch and pass.
What I like most is how many of these actions were the "right" ones - he's not trying to be flashy, just make good smart decisions, keep possession, and if there's a forward pass that's on take it.
I also like him in this deeper position, as the quarterback, the deep lying playmaker. Very useful type of player to have especially against low blocks, Hojbjerg was useful in that role on occasion last season (eg Fulham home) but he has clear deficiencies (defending, beating the press, brain farts).
Devine looks like he has arguably a better passing range than PEH and is more comfortable receiving on the turn.
Obviously we need to see this against tougher opposition but I'm really excited by this performance. Best player in that second half today once Kulu went off. He seemed to have a great understanding with Bergvall the other day, reckon he'd also dovetail really well in a double pivot with someone with more defensive nous, like a Sarr or maybe Gray.
i think from what weve seen of him so far hes defo a deeper midfielder. as you say hes always looking to pass forward and has the ability to play them sharp balls forward into the attackers to break the lines. defo looks like hes more beneficial with the play in front of him rather than being in front of the play.
if hes switched on in the defending side of the game and is competent at winning the ball and reading danger then hell make a very solid cdm/deep lying playmaker.
that holding midfielder is the most important position on the pitch imo. the best sides have the real dons there. rodri, modric etc. everything goes through them and it falls apart when replaced with someone who isnt at that level.
Yeh spot on. We saw with England the limitations of playing Rice there, a non ball player. You need a guy who excels in the build up.
That is going to be Archie Gray for us AND England. Probably as soon as the end of this season, if not it will be next season.
Devine is like Bergvall to me in that you are happy for him to come back and help you break a press and get the ball off the CBs but for me you want those line-breaking passes going into the final third and in behind full backs or CBs like the ball for Scarlett vs Hearts.
This is all too worryingly positive!!
Have we finally cracked the code for how to work the Youth system?!
Was weird as it yielded the initial step change from Adebayor, Kaboul etc via Kane, Dele et al
Let’s just get some more footballers into the side who are good on the ball, no need to debate where
Moving out football first touch stranglers like Royal, Davies, Sanchez, PEH, Richy etc can only help this
I actually like Devine more when he's facing the play, operating a bit deeper in that Toni Kroos playmaker role, especially as it's not a role we've been blessed with in recent years (perhaps Gray could be that guy too, remains to be seen).
But equally he does look adept as an #8, so could well see him being useful further up the pitch. Just not too far up; at Plymouth he looked a bit lost in one of the #10s in their 3-4-3.
Either way it definitely looks like he has a future at this level and I really want to keep him this season.
Some nice quick passing, keeping the play moving. Impressed.
This is key. It baffles me why we always seemed to collect those players.
Our XI always felt just 1 or 2 away from being elite because of this.
I think we're building a great technical base now. Defence and midfield in particular is really stacked with ballers.
But we've got Son, Johnson, Werner and Richy up top - all of which are technically hit and miss. That is the missing piece of the puzzle for us.
We won't fix it all in one window but hopefully we take a step forward this summer with an Eze/Gyokeres/Neto type.
Now Hojbjerg has gone, and Lo Celso likely to follow, it leaves Ange with the following midfield players :
Bissouma, Skipp, Gray, Bentancur, Sarr, Maddison and Bervall - so 7 midfield players already including Gray and Bergvall who are relatively inexperienced at this level.
So Ange has to make decisions as to whether he can offer a youngster enough first team minutes to help develop him or whether if there are not enough minutes, a loan is fairer.
IMO Devine is the most versatile of the youngsters who could stay - can play any of 6, 8 or 10 positions dependent upon need, and has played at L1/Championship for a season .
Donley is a better candidate as a Maddison back up and is actually pretty solid defensively (hence him playing LB in preseason and a couple of times in sub appearances in a defensive midfield position), but has minimal experience of playing mens football..
The other youngsters capable of playing midfield are not at first team level as yet imo.
Pre-season is when Ange neds to weigh up who should remain with first team - might even loan Skipp out to keep Devine or Donley to ensure enough minutes are available for the youngster(s)
I'd prefer to see Devine play over Skipp or PEH and tbh maybe Bentancur depending on how often his body will allow him to play at his best.
Either way, unless it's Ipswich I'd prefer Devine stuck around til Christmas than went on loan.
absolute class again. needs to be trusted this year. i dont wanna see skipp getting minutes in midfield over devine! its just not right.
looks a completely different player to the kid who scored against marine. looks more a ball player now, very good passer of the ball. im getting xabi alonso vibes off him the way he looks out there now, great weight on his passes.
if he can become as good defensively as he is on the ball hes going to be a top midfielder!
if he can become as good defensively as he is on the ball hes going to be a top midfielder!
Worth keeping around as he offers something different to our other 8's.
Looks a better passer than the likes of Sarr/Bergvall/Skipp.
Would be useful when we are forcing the issue in games and need someone to bring directness.
Looks a better passer than the likes of Sarr/Bergvall/Skipp.
Would be useful when we are forcing the issue in games and need someone to bring directness.