Messi doeBiggest issue is his lack of final product at the end of those dribbles. Only 6 players in Europe's top 5 leagues have completed more dribbles, but here are the rest of their stats in comparison:
Neymar - 4.8 (13 goals, 6 assists)
Ben Arfa - 4.6 (5 goals, 2 assists)
Saint-Maximim - 4.3 (6 goals, 2 assists)
Boufal - 4.2 (2 goals, 2 assists)
Januzaj - 4.1 (0 goals, 3 assists)
Messi - 3.8 (25 goals, 11 assists)
EDWARDS - 3.6 (2 goals, 2 assists)
Compared to the top 5 in completed Premier League dribbles:
Hazard - 3.2 (12 goals, 10 assists)
Zaha - 3.2 (7 goals, 2 assists)
Sterling 2.7 (12 goals, 9 assists)
Redmond - 2.3 (3 goals, 2 assists)
Traore - 2.2 (1 goal, 1 assist)
Although it's also worth noting that the defending in the Eredivisie is borderline pathetic. If we DO decide to loan him out though, I think we could do a lot worse than sending him off to Ligue 1 (or preferably the Bundesliga) which are both higher level with better opposition.
-
The Fighting Cock is a forum for fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Here you can discuss Spurs latest matches, our squad, tactics and any transfer news surrounding the club. Registration gives you access to all our forums (including 'Off Topic' discussion) and removes most of the adverts (you can remove them all via an account upgrade). You're here now, you might as well...
Latest Spurs videos from Sky Sports
Messi doe
Didn't work for Oduwa, doubt it'll work for Edwards.
You have to factor in the quality of the players he plays with as well. A lack of good quality movement makes it more difficult to make that final pass, and no-one's giving him easy tap ins.
And there are things that don't show up in stats. I watched him against Utrecht last week and one of their defenders put a reducer on him in the first couple of minutes. When has any opposition player done that to Lamela - the player he would replace - taken him out early in the game to try and put him off his stride? That player had to play the rest of the game on a yellow. And what also doesn't show up on stats is the number of times they double up on him, imagine the space that would provide for the likes of Son and Kane if he were playing for Spurs.
And there are things that don't show up in stats. I watched him against Utrecht last week and one of their defenders put a reducer on him in the first couple of minutes. When has any opposition player done that to Lamela - the player he would replace - taken him out early in the game to try and put him off his stride? That player had to play the rest of the game on a yellow. And what also doesn't show up on stats is the number of times they double up on him, imagine the space that would provide for the likes of Son and Kane if he were playing for Spurs.
Lamela is now being blamed for not having a bad challenge performed on him in the first couple of minutes.
And that just because Dutch sides double up on Marcus Edwards, that means Premiership sides will double up on him. Freeing up Kane and Son.
Because, of course, if choosing between Kane, Son and Edwards, they'd choose to double up on Marcus.
Classic West Ham Cat Nonce.
And that just because Dutch sides double up on Marcus Edwards, that means Premiership sides will double up on him. Freeing up Kane and Son.
Because, of course, if choosing between Kane, Son and Edwards, they'd choose to double up on Marcus.
Classic West Ham Cat Nonce.
No one can tell me there's no place for Edwards when we're reduced to playing Danny Rose as a winger.
Hope he realises hardwork is as important as talent.
Be a shame if he wastes his career away.
It is just so annoying watching footballers fade into obscurity when they looked like they could offer so much.
Be great to see him play in our stadium one day.
You’d hope he will look at Kane and Sterling’s careers for inspiration on what can be achieved.
There’s only one GOAT and Messi needs to accept it isn’t him
GOAT ?
Seen any links to this anywhere?
Cheers fellas. So hope he gets a chance with us. God knows we could do with some craft in this team.
That's the attitude thats needed. Perhaps he's grown up a bit and seen the flash of his career before his eyes. Looks like putting some miles between him and his "mates" has done him some good.
It's funny that Martin Jol in 2005 signed the player who scored that goal (never played an official game for us though)
Will never forget that cracking assist-that-never-was for us in pre-season though.
Well, well, well...
Turns out all that unfounded criticism about attitude, clothing, social media activity dripping racism turns out to be predictably bollocks.
Good on him.
Boot Lamela and N'koudou out of the team. Give Marcus the minutes. Stop with the cheap plan B signings, clogging up the squad and taking valuable minutes away from our academy players