I think he's a neat and tidy player with a good bit of aggression, but he lacks the speed and attacking impetus of Gallagher and the height and physicality of Kouyate. I don't remember him letting us down in any of the games he's played?

I don't (can't) go to Selhurst any more, but when I've seen him on TV I thought he played well.

When he first came to us I couldn't get out of my head the stigma that he came from Watford! He certainly doesn't have the fire of Gallagher although he seems willing to chase and press the opposition. He's put through some reasonable passes as I recall and my own opinion is that he's turned out better than expected and contributes well to the team.

I agree it took a long time for him to get in the team and I think that was just PV preparing him fitness wise.

BTW ex, there was a previous thread started by Bingee in January - Hughes????

Edited by Palace Old Geezer (08 Apr 2022 2.50pm)

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Good technical footballer, good footballing brain, severely lacks athleticism.

These days you need both the physical attributes alongside the technical ones at top levels. We see far too many a player, too often, who may be able to run the 100m in good time, bench Xkg and jump 12ft in the air however looks as though they've been drafted from the rugby team to join in a kick about but also vice versa, good little footballers who cannot compete physically, leaving you vulnerable.

I am more inclined to 'footballers' than athletes' however that's probably because of the bill I fit.. or once did.

Depends on the game/opponent really on which you need most if a choice between the two.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Watford away was probably his best game for us. He's a dependable player to have coming off the bench or filling in for injuries. Great to have in the squad.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.

This is new territory for us. Historically, any player who has come in and looked comfortable in the PL has become a fixture in the side. Now we have several options in the front 7 who can hold down a place in the side.

The fact that he is on the bench simply means PV thinks he has better combinations right now not that he isn't good enough. I could ditto this comment for Edouard who has also looked good when he's had a run in the side. Mateta may not be the better player, he may simply work better in combination with the other attackers.

I also wouldn't pay too much attention to bench appearances. Players who come off the bench in the last 20 or so face a different challenge as often as not to those who start the game. Very often it's the case that PV is trying to switch things up according to the state of the game. An attacker in the last 20 may for instance get more space than one in the first 70 as the game opens up. A CDM may face greater pressure as we sit back etc.