Condimentalist

I didn't think he was that bad...

He wasn't great. Feel like he's not consistent enough to be a regular starter.

Howler at the end too. 

Shame, he's a good squad option but we have to upgrade - such a vital position and we need reliable quality.

I have a good feeling about this one (if it happens) 

40 minutes ago, Mazrim said:

Digne is leagues above Targett. Without Grealish, Targett was useless.

Correct. Easy to play LB when the attacks are focused on your side and your partner is a mercurial player who is brilliant at holding the ball up so you can join in. Digne would have been brilliant with Grealish.

I'm not saying it's impossible to upgrade Digne - he's not the most dynamic - but it's hardly a priority either, especially for this window. 

Bailey does vary a lot between looking like our best and worst player.

Hopefully he can find some consistency. He has talent, but looks like he needs good coaching to get the best out of it. 

I am sure Ings would have suitors. He's still a very decent player and a regular goalscorer. 

If he does go though we definitely need at least one more up front. 

2 hours ago, GlobalVillan said:

Yes it is and no I haven't.

What has Emery said about being unhappy with him / his professionalism?

1 hour ago, messi11 said:

Mikel Merino being linked again. Midfield controller. https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/emery-insiste-fichaje-mikel-merino-20230102.html

 

 

Quality player but not where we need reinforcements. 

5 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said:

I've never really understood some of the abuse that's come his way. Every manager we have had since his arrival has played him. I've never heard a fellow professional criticize his game. I think that speaks for itself. 

Not sure it's been abuse. He has been poor for a long time. Was brilliant in the Championship but hasn't been consistently good in the Premier League since he got injured in our first season back. Gerrard making him captain seemed to aggrevate it.

Nice to see Emery using him in a role that suits him better. I don't think he's good enough in tight situations to play in the middle of the park for a progressive team but he is well capable in the final third. 

5 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

I think he needs to be much better tbh mate. Right now, if Ramsey was fit, he’d come in for Buendia and I’d keep McGinn in the side. 

I hope it clicks for him but I think he lacks some very vital attributes at this level to be a top 10 player - pace, strength, shooting, heading. 

Fair. I agree he needs to improve. I still hold out hope we'll see a better version of Buendia here. He was one of our better players last season (albeit often from the bench) so it's not beyond him.

He needs better figures though and certainly more goals. 

9 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

Really? I’ve seen this line pedalled out a lot, along with people claiming he needs to play on the right of a front 3.

Ultimately, he isn’t going to get a run of games unless he’s performing. At this level, you can’t afford to have players that ‘need a run of games’ to get up to their ‘level’, unless they’re young. Buendia is our record buy and was a hugely expensive purchase for the club. He needs to come in and perform in the position he’s asked to play - no excuses. People say he was poor against Liverpool - granted - but I’ve seen that performance plenty of times over the last 18 months. He needs to be better or leave. If you lot want top 8, we’ll need better than Buendia. 

Yes, it wasn't his first poor performance, but he has given some very good ones too. 

He needs more of the good ones more often to keep his place long term though, no doubt.

Looked like a world beater at times in the Prem but consistency was always his issue.

Haven't followed his career in Italy but looks like he may have found some of this.

He's an exciting player and if Unai wants him I'd be delighted to see him here.

Buendia was really poor against Liverpool but no way am I giving up on him.

He needs a run of games with a consistent way of playing around him.

Bags of talent. 

Was a poor move for him to go to Norwich a week after being sacked here. Felt like an emotional rather than a rational decision.

It's like getting dumped by the love of your life and instead of processing it,  getting a random bird pregnant on the rebound and trying to style it out even though she's obviously a poor comparison. 

He clearly wasn't as good for Norwich as he was for us and I hope he takes some time now to reflect on the past few years, do some other things, spend time with his family, and come back when he's ready. 

I truly believe he's a top bloke and a top manager but he needs to look after himself and recharge. 

5 hours ago, WHY said:

Doesn’t look very happy to be back. 

This a joke?

What a goal. Why Digne doesn't put it out for a throw in the first place is a different question.

It's true that he has underperformed vs expectations.

It's also true that his influence has been hampered by lack of game time and a dreadful tactical set-up under the old manager.

He's both a wonderful and frustrating player to watch, but I am looking forward to seeing how he delivers for a top class manager in a better system.

Hopefully he rises to it. 

6 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Thuram looked good yesterday. Would definitely like him here if emery can get him in

Yes he looked useful - but Kolo Muani was the one who really stood out.

Frankfurt are in the CL but even still, would like to think he's at an attainable level for an ambitious club like us. 

Wow - Emi 

Huge

We'll see but I think he is likely to be a highly paid substitute for the most part.

But with five subs a game if he can give maximum energy for 20 minutes it could make a the difference in key games, it's not an insignificant role.

He has quality and and I trust Unai to get the best out of it. 

1 hour ago, villaglint said:

He's got 6 goals in 10 starts this season and 5 in 8 starts in league. 

Not sure why everyone is in a rush to sell him. 

Totally.

With a manager that uses his properly he's a massive asset. 

Don't think he had any chance with the first.

Second is the type he'd have pulled a worldie on a couple of seasons ago when he was one of the best in the world. 

I don't think he's operating at that level at the moment but hopefully he can get back there. 

He's a massive asset to us on and off the pitch. 

Pleased for him. 

I obviously don't hold quite the same affection for him anymore, but he gave us a lot of brilliant memories and earned us a huge wedge.