Ayew has also played LW this season with Zaha moving to RW at times. But LW is Zaha best position. So strange see him RW at times.

Indeed, but both Rak-Sakyi and the rest of the youngsters were found wanting against Sutton Utd in the PJ Pizza trophy and earlier against Bromley in a friendly.

Several players may look very good in U23 games but that's a far cry from proper men's football - ask those who have been out on loan at League 2 and National League teams.

Whilst Rak-Sakyi is the youngster nearest to being ready for first team football and will probably get chances as the season progresses, it will do him no ham to continue to train with the first team squad, continue to learn from those sessions but continue to apply his skills in the U23s,

In any event with Olise probably back for Spurs or Liverpool, Rak-Sakyi will almost certainly find himself a step down the pecking order for that RW place.

Edited by doombear (04 Sep 2021 2.57pm)

Edited by doombear (04 Sep 2021 2.57pm)

Without Doubt, if you are good enough you are old enough, Should start getting 10/15 mins and starting after about 10/12 games, Rooney, Owen, Bellingham, Saka and many more, he needs first team time to build his confidence to go with his undoubted talent

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Ayew is a good, hard working and team-focused centre forward with a respectable goal record, but a crap winger. He puts in a great shift out wide but his skill set is such that he just doesn't contribute to our attacking play from wide positions at all.

This creates a semi vacancy on the right, especially since Townsend left.

The general presumption is that Olise is the (young) man for the job, and perhaps he is. My doubts are twofold. Firstly, he's so young and unproven and we should not forget that. Secondly, from the clips I've seen of him playing for Reading, he seems like an all round player with a notable range and weight of pass to go with his touch and acceleration, so much so that I'm not sure he is a winger at all, even accounting for Vieiras apparent preference for wingers who cut inside.

I reckon Olise is an attacking midfielder or no10 who might have to get shunted out wide, rather than a wide player. Perhaps he's similar to Eze in that respect.

All of which maintains the semi vacancy for a wide player on the right.

From the very little I've seen of Rak-Sahki, he seems a genuine wide player in the modern mould, which is to say, an outside to inside dribbler. Whatever his ability level, the one thing he has in his favour (and the single greatest thing one can have) is that there appears to remain a vacancy in the team that he is suited to.

Yeah I think your right. That'll do for me if true. One of the signs of a healthy club is a hierarchy based on respect for achievement, and for his faults Ayew has worked like a b****** for the team, and it is to the betterment of the club that both Olise and Rak-Sahki should have to earn his place.

bigtoepunt…

i read you post but cant agree…in short, ayew is s***…i know he had a purple patch a few years ago, but it was about as rare as james scowcroft scoring a worldie away at wolves all them years ago.

he is not, and will never be good enough for the PL.

i would much rather play a kid like JRS who has nothing to lose & everything to prove anyday.

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway