by lassassinblanc » Mon May 28, 2018 2:18 pm
Player Review
Goalkeepers
Rob Elliot: Starting the season as our number one but injury and loss of form seen him drop out of the side. Still think he has something to offer and is decent backup but needs to improve his distribution should he want to challenge for the number 1 jersey shall see what the summer holds for him.
Kark Darlow: When Elliot lost form and suffered an injury in came Darlow again like Elliot he has his moments good reflex saves at times but can’t catch a ball for his life seriously at corners the lad flaps more than his hair. It will be an interesting summer for him too, still young for a keeper so may improve but I think himself and Elliot may be offered out and whoever garners the bigger fee will go.
Martin Dubravka: Came in on winter deadline day from Sparta Prague his first game was the visit of Manchester United and past it with flying colours, he didn’t look like a keeper making his Premier League debut more like an experienced veteran. Rafa has been after a keeper who is decent with his feet since he took over and has found an absolute bargain in Dubravka with his initial loan close to being made permanent for €4m.
Defenders
Jamaal Lascelles: Captain fantastic is how I’ll best describe him, when he wasn’t playing we missed him, not without his mistakes though but at 24 he still young, very unlucky to not be going to the World Cup with England also how he hasn’t been capped yet is very strange as I’d rate him some of the options who Southgate has called up in the last few games. Has been linked with a few moves away but I hopefully he’ll stay and build on next season.
Florian Lejuene: A player Rafa earmarked quite early and I think he was one the only one of his top transfer targets we managed to get in. Looked solid on his debut until a horrific challenge from Harry Kane put him out for a while. When he eventually came back in he formed a great partnership with Lascelles. Comfortable on the ball and no nonsense. Exciting to see how he gets on next year.
Ciaran Clark: The unlucky man in defence with the Lascelles-Lejuene partnership. Had formed a good partnership himself with Jamaal last year and is decent cover.
Chancel Mbemba: if Clark was unlucky then I don’t know how to describe Mbemba the forgotten man of the team, talk of him leaving the club which is unfortunate as he is still young and could grow if he was to leave I’d prefer it be on loan so he can show what he can do.
Paul Dummett: The player Pardew said would never make it as a premier league footballer well he can stick a nice two fingers up at his former manager now as he has made the left back position his own this season and when he was out with injury we looked a much weaker team.
Javi Manquillo- One of our bargain basement summer signings has had his critics but has done OK at moments and provides cover for both left and right back. If we bring in someone to provide cover for both fullbacks then he will most likely be sold.
DeAndre Yedlin- I think I can just copy and paste from my last season review- decent attacking threat but a reliability at the back needs to improve his concentration and the defensive side of his game, talk that Rafa wants to improve his fullback options so his starting position may be in danger.
Others: Jesus Gamez and Massaido Haidara barely played 5 appearances between them all season only 1 of them being a league start both out of contract come June and I’d highly doubt they’ll be offered new ones.
[b][u]Player Review[/u][/b]
[u]Goalkeepers[/u]
Rob Elliot: Starting the season as our number one but injury and loss of form seen him drop out of the side. Still think he has something to offer and is decent backup but needs to improve his distribution should he want to challenge for the number 1 jersey shall see what the summer holds for him.
Kark Darlow: When Elliot lost form and suffered an injury in came Darlow again like Elliot he has his moments good reflex saves at times but can’t catch a ball for his life seriously at corners the lad flaps more than his hair. It will be an interesting summer for him too, still young for a keeper so may improve but I think himself and Elliot may be offered out and whoever garners the bigger fee will go.
Martin Dubravka: Came in on winter deadline day from Sparta Prague his first game was the visit of Manchester United and past it with flying colours, he didn’t look like a keeper making his Premier League debut more like an experienced veteran. Rafa has been after a keeper who is decent with his feet since he took over and has found an absolute bargain in Dubravka with his initial loan close to being made permanent for €4m.
[u]Defenders[/u]
Jamaal Lascelles: Captain fantastic is how I’ll best describe him, when he wasn’t playing we missed him, not without his mistakes though but at 24 he still young, very unlucky to not be going to the World Cup with England also how he hasn’t been capped yet is very strange as I’d rate him some of the options who Southgate has called up in the last few games. Has been linked with a few moves away but I hopefully he’ll stay and build on next season.
Florian Lejuene: A player Rafa earmarked quite early and I think he was one the only one of his top transfer targets we managed to get in. Looked solid on his debut until a horrific challenge from Harry Kane put him out for a while. When he eventually came back in he formed a great partnership with Lascelles. Comfortable on the ball and no nonsense. Exciting to see how he gets on next year.
Ciaran Clark: The unlucky man in defence with the Lascelles-Lejuene partnership. Had formed a good partnership himself with Jamaal last year and is decent cover.
Chancel Mbemba: if Clark was unlucky then I don’t know how to describe Mbemba the forgotten man of the team, talk of him leaving the club which is unfortunate as he is still young and could grow if he was to leave I’d prefer it be on loan so he can show what he can do.
Paul Dummett: The player Pardew said would never make it as a premier league footballer well he can stick a nice two fingers up at his former manager now as he has made the left back position his own this season and when he was out with injury we looked a much weaker team.
Javi Manquillo- One of our bargain basement summer signings has had his critics but has done OK at moments and provides cover for both left and right back. If we bring in someone to provide cover for both fullbacks then he will most likely be sold.
DeAndre Yedlin- I think I can just copy and paste from my last season review- decent attacking threat but a reliability at the back needs to improve his concentration and the defensive side of his game, talk that Rafa wants to improve his fullback options so his starting position may be in danger.
Others: Jesus Gamez and Massaido Haidara barely played 5 appearances between them all season only 1 of them being a league start both out of contract come June and I’d highly doubt they’ll be offered new ones.