Soler

[Massive Attack]

Now he's had time to get a feel of the Premier League, I now want to see Soler step up and deliver on his promise and be a leader having Captained Valencia before.

This is the same Midfielder who has scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid that included the likes of Modric, Ramos, Varane, Vinicius, Courtois.

Or when he played in a Cup Final for Valencia to beat Barelona in the Copa del Rey including Messi, Pique and Busquets. 

He ain't a mug player but he just isn't showing any of it yet. 

 

[Sir Alf]

Best of our central 3 yesterday and the quickest ( just ) but still couldnt get near Arsenal.

Fix central midfield and we have a team that can compete with the top sides ( a striker completes the missing parts ).  Will take a lot of money so wont happen. Sullivan will think he just needs to pick his 54th striker to solve all the issues ( he's just been unlucky with the previous 53 attempts ).  Mind of Sullivan... "we need more goals to our score the opposition, I'll give Salty a bell and see who he has on his books. Hopefully he's played at one of the big boys, age dont matter, its past reputation thats key"

[Mex Martillo]

Agreed our midfield surrendered the midfield to Arsenal, didn't fight for some control and poorly supported the defense. It was what lost us the game so convincingly.

[goose]

Great assist, but our midfield got nowhere near them yesterday. Definitely not a performance to be celebrated.

[Mex Martillo]

Definitely happy to give him more time. That assist for Bassaka was excellent. Paqueta let us down yesterday.

[Texas Iron]

Silver… Stealing a living here…as is Guido…

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Manuel 

you’re a miserable git. 

Manuel is a pussycat...when it starts playing up boot it out for the night..
The break of dawn reveals a different cat

[Massive Attack]

Mustard tonight. I did say, once he got settled...

You're always right mate.

Nah, I hold my hands up and admit I really didn't expect this level of quality from Wan-Bissaka.

Am surprisingly impressed with just how good he's been since his arrival, bar a couple of iffy moments positionally at times and lacking some effort in the Everton game. 

I didn't mind signing him but was so looking forward to getting the other full back Masouri full .. however you spell his name .. that went to Man Utd in his place. 

Keep it up, son...  

[Massive Attack]

Comes across as level headed and eager to start games now which is good. Looks like hes enjoying himself and settling in nicely. 

[easthammer]

I can only agree with what others are saying about Soler. I watched the match on Sky with my grandson. At the start, my Grandson asked what I thought of Soler. I indicated not much. At the end of the match, my Grandson pointed out that I seemed to have changed my opinion of Soler. I had to admit that I was on the way to doing so.

[Keep dreaming]

Soler had a great game yesterday, for just the type of added pressure and intensity we lacked in midfield.
This is the level he will need to perform at. Fingers crossed!

[gpike]

I thought up until last night he looked a massive dud but he was great yesterday specially second half. 
Seems like fitness and his around display so improved. 
 

[Far Cough UKunt]

Is that to accomodate his ripping Charles Atlas physique?

[wils]

There were some agricultural fouls on display last night. Did anyone see Antonio's shirt being ripped off by a Toon player, Lino just ignored it.

To be fair, he cuts the front of his shirts this season doesn't he? Probably doesn't take too much of a tug to make that rip further down the shirt.

[Far Cough UKunt]

There were some agricultural fouls on display last night. Did anyone see Antonio's shirt being ripped off by a Toon player, Lino just ignored it.

[Massive Attack]

I was impressed with him last night. It was by far his strongest showing for us. You can tell he has played at a high level, he looks far more comfortable taking it in tight areas than Soucek, Rodriguez and the mexican yellow card.  He also seems to have better passing ability than the ones mentioned, there was one period of play we were knocking it about in the middle and he just wrapped it through the press into Antonio. Sounds simple but I dont think this season we have broken the lines like that and beat a press. 

His technical ability aswell as his more flair and attacking prowess going forward looks promising for us. It was also Paquetas best game in a long time last night, I think Soler had a big part to do with that. They were on the same page when it came to ball retention and progressing up the pitch. 

He should start saturday for me, in front of our own fans keep installing confidence and we might have a player on our hands. 

It was shades of Berkovic at times the way he was sending through balls between the lines, popping it about 1 touch or gliding himself with the ball effortlessly. Sometimes the wavelength with his Team mates wasn't quite there but understandable as everyone's still getting familiar with 1 another.

Remember 1 time that happened with Summerville early on but for the most part, he was knitting the play smartly and efficiently rarely wasting possession and always with a real purpose. 

More of the same last night Soler then he'll be making a lot more people sit up and take notice of performances like that. Bowen just edged him out of MotM for me, it was that good. 

[Manuel]

Manuel 

you’re a miserable git. 

You've got no chance then, lol.

[Rossal]

I was impressed with him last night. It was by far his strongest showing for us. You can tell he has played at a high level, he looks far more comfortable taking it in tight areas than Soucek, Rodriguez and the mexican yellow card.  He also seems to have better passing ability than the ones mentioned, there was one period of play we were knocking it about in the middle and he just wrapped it through the press into Antonio. Sounds simple but I dont think this season we have broken the lines like that and beat a press. 

His technical ability aswell as his more flair and attacking prowess going forward looks promising for us. It was also Paquetas best game in a long time last night, I think Soler had a big part to do with that. They were on the same page when it came to ball retention and progressing up the pitch. 

He should start saturday for me, in front of our own fans keep installing confidence and we might have a player on our hands. 

[Sir Alf]

He's put down a marker which he now has to maintain.  Paqueta playing deeper seems to be the key to getting a midfield that works better.  Soucek who I have lambasted for 2 years was effective too and proved that he can adapt. Longer term he will be more of an impact sub but deserves his starting spot right now.   The rotation of the 3 was good to see and Soler was excellent at keeping the ball and recycling it and providing another passing option in central midfield because the previous tactic of trying to play everything thru Paqueta in that higher position just didnt work.

But as fickle a fan as I am, still need to see us put a run of games together where we can continue to keep the ball and press like we did last night, before we talk about the proverbial "corner being turned".  But hopefully Loppy and team are onto something at last.  As mentioned, first time I have seen us press well in midfield and as a team. This was evidenced by our running stats which went up to the highest we have recorded in a game I think and Soler definitely helped with pressing in central areas?  We are still too slow in that central mid area IMO and that needs to be addressed in summer or asap but if the team puts in the effort like they did last night we at least have a chance in games.

A very tough test against Arsenal next.  We might be talking about "one step forward, 2 back" on Sat or hopefully get confirmation that we now have a team that can compete in the top rather than the bottom half of the division. We shall see.

[Fortunes Hiding]

Manuel 

you’re a miserable git. 

[Manuel]

Jury still out for me. He was very good like the whole team yesterday and that ofcourse helped but he needs to be performing like that on a regular basis. There's a player there but I still think he lacks the athleticism and pace the premier league demands these days. Same goes to most our CM.

 

 

Agree. Has to play at a high level all the time to justify a start. I suppose it comes down to where we want to be, if it's mid table like Fulham, Palace, Brentford etc then he might be OK, but we are aiming higher. Bob average don't cut it, we've already got Soucek who we have to put up with, bless him. 

[El Scorchio]

They seem to have found a combo that works (better) in midfield. Quite dynamic with the three of them shuffling places from time to time. No real CDM though so I'd worry about that but it felt like we went for attack being the best form of defence once we'd found our feet.

Soler, Paqueta and Soucek all put a good shift in. Very pleasing.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Is Soler moonlighting from being one of the Three Musketeers?

[dealcanvey]

Jury still out for me. He was very good like the whole team yesterday and that ofcourse helped but he needs to be performing like that on a regular basis. There's a player there but I still think he lacks the athleticism and pace the premier league demands these days. Same goes to most our CM.

[Mad Ferret]

Mustard tonight. I did say, once he got settled...

You're always right mate.

[wanstead_hammer]

Yeh, Soler starting to look the part.

(and Todibo will come good as well. Hope his injury ain’t too bad).