Zab has made most league appearances of anyone in the squad at aged 33, he wont get Hammer of the year but for me has put in a Collins like performance this year. I also think of late Ogbonna has been brilliant in taking Reids role and keeping everything organised, at corners he is always marshalling and has really stepped up when needed this year. WE could have missed Reid in the way our attack misses Arnie but Ogbonna had prevented this being the case in my view of late.
Fair play to Ogbonna. I never overly rated him but he has been fantastic as the central defender since Moyes has come in. I would say he is even our No.1 CB when normally that would be Reid. I hope Reid regains his form because he has been very average this season which is unlike him.
For me Collins is still our top centre back (just edging it over Ogbonna). But then once every 6 or 7 games Collins will have a howler. You can usually see it coming though (I.e when he's playing against a quick or nimble striker that can get behind him). When the opposition plays to his strengths though (in the air) i nearly always favour him. For example against Deeney, he won everything bar one header. Ogbonna wins on consistency but overall Collins is the better centre back this season (just).
Re Byram - I think he's never going to be amazing but again if we can play to his strengths (rather than focusing on what he can't do) then he'll be effective. He can make up for his lack of natural ability on the ball with a willingness to make himself available, make forward and promising runs, pressurising defenders (e.g. Sprinting/pressing at pace if it's a 50-50 or if they're slow to control the ball). With the right attitude he could do a job for us without setting the world on fire. I'd much rather him over someone like Edmilson Fernandes. I realise they play in completely different positions but for me they're both of a similar ability. Fernandes is superior on the ball but Byram has a better mentality, passion & willingness which is far more important imo.
Think he is a sell-able asset, and while I do think he could have a future he just isn't the right level compared to what we currently have and we should be looking at upgrading if anything
I think he needs to have first team football, and I think he needs to be a big fish in a little pond, and honestly I don't think he starts for us especially if we persist with a back 5
Good utility/squad player albeit if we prioritise other positions in the summer
I'd sell too. I think he could do a good job at certain clubs that suit him and we probably are not it. Even under a new manager. We also seem to excel going forward with pacy players - look at Masuaku & Antonio. I'd rather get a player who is a real threat dribbling at pace, or can press the opposition to defence at full speed. That's not Snodgrass - he's more of a hard worker with a good cross & set piece on him. I guess he's a worse version of when we had Stewart Downing and sold him back to Middlesbrough.
From our point of view I would be happy to have him on our bench as he is a capable player at times and many in the premiership would have a lot worse on their bench. However if I were him I think he is at the stage of his career when I would recognise I haven't got too many years left in me and I wouldn't want to spend time on anyone's bench. If we got 8m for him which I think would be fair we could likely get another squad player a little younger who may develop still into better.
We've been linked with Hibs' John McGinn recently.
Tell you what, it wouldn't be a bad signing at all. Watching him in the Edinburgh derby and he's bossing the midfield. Keeps possession well, can pick a pass and is very tenacious.
I wonder if the daves are tempted to try and sign Zlatan for the final few games of the season to try and help us stay up. I wouldn’t put it past them...
Comments
Marco spent ages leaving the pitch as there was much hugging and kissing to be done.
Zab made sure the refs back was turned ;lol
Re Byram - I think he's never going to be amazing but again if we can play to his strengths (rather than focusing on what he can't do) then he'll be effective. He can make up for his lack of natural ability on the ball with a willingness to make himself available, make forward and promising runs, pressurising defenders (e.g. Sprinting/pressing at pace if it's a 50-50 or if they're slow to control the ball). With the right attitude he could do a job for us without setting the world on fire. I'd much rather him over someone like Edmilson Fernandes. I realise they play in completely different positions but for me they're both of a similar ability. Fernandes is superior on the ball but Byram has a better mentality, passion & willingness which is far more important imo.
He impressed me last year, has youth on his side and is out because of injury nit that he isnt fancied
He's only 21 so still has a chance to fill out
I liked his ability on the ball..and if he can beef up he can be a real asset
Shame that.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/robert-snodgrass-ready-to-give-his-all-should-west-ham-come-calling-once-more-a3767816.html
I think he needs to have first team football, and I think he needs to be a big fish in a little pond, and honestly I don't think he starts for us especially if we persist with a back 5
Good utility/squad player albeit if we prioritise other positions in the summer
Having said that, he struggled before because we weren’t playing him on the right, and we still don’t play with wingers.
Although currently he's excellent playing on the right of a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 maybe Moyes's 3-4-3 isn't going to suit him
31 in the summer, big wages, can command a modest fee (not just for Villa but any team being promoted) and probably won't be a starting XI player
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43189672
Tell you what, it wouldn't be a bad signing at all. Watching him in the Edinburgh derby and he's bossing the midfield. Keeps possession well, can pick a pass and is very tenacious.