Zelalem starting for Rangers in the Scottish cup final.
Ricky I read your post a few pages back wondering if I had any thoughts on him, I did mean to reply just never got around to it at the time and kept forgetting. Not got time just now but I'll get round to it.
theo pires has joined the academy.
hopefully he's more pires and less theo.
Still seems too lightweight and needs to take more risk in his game.
Was in Edinburgh this weekend, watched the Scottish Cup final in a pub full of Hibs fans - Rangers were not very good, but Zelalem was decent. Our old youth player Anthony Stokes was good for Hibs!
Anyway, spoke to a Rangers fan at one point over the weekend - the guy knew Rangers like we know Arsenal and he waxed lyrical about the kid. Said he was technically a level above everyone else; his touch and his composure were outstandingly good. He was desperate to get him back next season. I was surprised how positive he was about him given what I had read this season in lots of different places about his time up there.
That surprises me Ricky. I've been in the process of trying to reply to your last post today and got caught up with one thing or another.
I don't think Zelalem stood out much on Saturday, and I think that's been typical from what I've seen of him this season. I'm not an avid Rangers fan and I don't see all the games, but I don't think underwhelming would be an unfair description of his time on loan. What that guy said is true, but it's what we've all known and witnessed from his time with our first and youth teams. He doesn't showcase it often enough for a boy of his talent. He doesn't make the difference and he rarely comes off the park as a standout player. He's not been aggressive enough, neither in the sense of seizing an opportunity and trying to impress nor in getting stuck in to dominate a game and take control, which is really what I expected more of.
I feel unfair in saying it but at times he reminds me of Denilson, moving side to side recycling the ball on without doing much to affect the match. I think there was shades of that on Saturday too. It sort of ties in with what you were saying about him lacking personality. He can see he’s skilled, he’s just not able to get it out for whatever reason.
I feel I’m repeating what you said but you pretty much summed it up. On your previous point about tempering what Rangers fans say, I don’t think that’s really an issue that I’ve noticed. Of those I’ve spoken to I would have to say the vast majority we’re delighted to get him in from us and thought he would be a big plus in the season. Oduwa and Ball were the boys from Spurs. Oduwa would be the one Klaus referred to and he impressed initially but his loan was cut short because Rangers had other signing priorites. Similarly to Zelalem, it was viewed very much as a positive move to have these talented youths coming and contributing. Oduwa was as you said a one note footballer, tricky winger but he won’t amount to much, but at that level his running at and taking on of defenders impacts the game more than Zelelam, but he also benefitted from playing in a position with less competition so it wasn’t an either/or scenario with them.
I don’t think it’ll have been a bad move for Zelalem, but I don’t think foresee him coming back to Glasgow next year. He hasn’t made the impact I thought he would but it’s not something I’d write him off over, players have blossomed at a much later age than he is however my worry is that by this point I would like to have seen more personality and desire to his game. It’s a difficult league to make a move to for him and fair play to him to trying. Warburton will be looking for loan signings again next season but based on his performances I think he’d fall short of what would be expected unless he really improved his ability to control the game.
As an aside Ricky, why were you in Edinburgh? I was through there last weekend for a few nights.
This guy was a bit biased, maybe because it was the morning of the cup final and he was revved up for it, so he was positive on nearly all things Rangers we spoke about.
He knew his football though and really knew his club and he had nothing but good things to say about Gedion, as he called him. Mind you, he was telling me that Waghorn was a really good player and I didn't see much of that in the final (scored a shedload this season though). And Kenny Miller was basically a God to him, but then watching the Scottish coverage of the final, I got the feeling that's how most of the country feel about "Kenny"! 
For what's its worth, I thought Zelalem was exactly what I've come to peg him as in the final; smart, tidy, technically a level above, but no interest whatsoever in actually making himself a hero and winning the cup for Rangers. Denilson comparison, for me, is harsh because he's hundred times smarter in possession and has much better touch, technique and balance, but in his style and personality, it's appears to me to be very apt.
I was up there for a stag weekend. Hadn't been before but it's a beautiful city. Can't wait to take the girlfriend up there and really see it properly at some point.
Another thing the guy said which surprised me was Rangers attendance average in the 4 years they've spent down the Leagues has beaten the average of the total attendance figures for all of SPL clubs combined. That can't be right can it?
Ricky1985 wrote:Mind you, he was telling me that Waghorn was a really good player
That should have been enough for you not to trust him
Thought that match comp looked pretty decent, agree maybe that he's still a bit too lightweight. Would like to see him play with players who are better at short passes and linking up as I wasn't too impressed with some of those Rangers' players takes/turns/traps to be honest
he might be lightweight, but that comp wasn't bad and players like him tend to look better with more talented players who can generally receive a pass. that shit around 0:52 was ridiculous.
Meatwad wrote:theo pires has joined the academy.
hopefully he's more pires and less theo.
He's likely already better than Walnut.
So we are now calling Walcott what Spurs fans have called him for years? Classy.
Yeah, have never liked it when 'fans' abuse current players and call them names simply because they're not performing, whether it's Theo, Flamini, Giroud or Almunia. I remember there was some wanker in this place that used to regularly call Giroud 'eeyore'.
Zelalem won't make it here I don't think, he's not displaying enough talent to suggest that he can muscle his way into a strong group of midfielders. Doesn't look like he's progressed at all in the last couple of seasons.
otfgoon wrote:Yeah, have never liked it when 'fans' abuse current players and call them names simply because they're not performing, whether it's Theo, Flamini, Giroud or Almunia. I remember there was some wanker in this place that used to regularly call Giroud 'eeyore'.
Zelalem won't make it here I don't think, he's not displaying enough talent to suggest that he can muscle his way into a strong group of midfielders. Doesn't look like he's progressed at all in the last couple of seasons.
Zelalem plays his position, well at that. I like him. Don't know how getting stuck in controls a game, or whatever, but he was always available, passed and moved, and but in a few great tackles to boot.
Need more of that kind of discipline from our midfield, though he obviously isn't ready yet.
I've lost patience with him and do not think he will make it here.
Reading that, i'm reminded of Mike Tyson's quote on talent.
"All the skill in the world means nothing without the mindset of a winner."
Tyson's best quote and probably just as applicable here is "everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth"
Disappointing that ManU seems more capable of developing decent youngsters who are capable of providing an end product for a designated role, whereas we seem to be fixated in producing technical playmakers with no end product other than the quality of their passing.
you talkin bout rashford?
He's just the latest of a number of youngsters/developing players who have played this season, however he looks more fit for purpose that our developing forwards like Akpom or Afobe.
Personally wouldnt mind Akpom to get a chance next year btw.
Afobe left us permanently year and a half ago btw.
Akpom has been terribly underwhelming for Hull this season. No thanks
Anzac wrote:Disappointing that ManU seems more capable of developing decent youngsters who are capable of providing an end product for a designated role, whereas we seem to be fixated in producing technical playmakers with no end product other than the quality of their passing.
The only difference between United and us is Van Gaal has given them a chance this season. Wouldn't say one of them looks special enough to play for Man United and be a starter/star.
You don't think Rashford will be a starter/star?
5 goals in 11 league appearances. i'm very interested to watch his development because he looks like a player.
He scores goals but doesn't do anything else on the pitch. Certainly better than jokers like Lingard but not too impressed either
Quincy Abeyie wrote:You don't think Rashford will be a starter/star?
Rashford looks like a decent talent, playing with a lot of confidence but it won't last. Mourinho will see to that.
A starter under Mourinho? No chance, especially if they sign Zlatan as expected. He'll probably be forgotten by November and loaned out in Jan.
Ah, I thought that he meant that none of them had potential to become a starter/star for the club. Obviously he won't be a starter yet.
jones wrote:He scores goals but doesn't do anything else on the pitch. Certainly better than jokers like Lingard but not too impressed either
He's done some very intricate flick ons for assists that teammates didn't finish. Makes me think he could have more to his game than he's shown.
But I know what you mean he got 2 shit goals against use where paulista is in holiday and build a rep on that.
I don't really rate Rashford very highly, no.
Anyway, Toral's had a good season at Birmingham:
Very impressive , but I still can't see him making it here or getting a chance next season.
Dan Crowley will be going out on loan next season. He says Wenger has told him he's not physically ready for the Premier League. I definitely agree he's not ready, but I like that he's not too arrogant to accept the criticism and make the best of it.
“I feel I need to go out on loan to get more experience first,” Crowley told the Coventry Telegraph.
“I have spoken to the boss and he says I’m not physically ready for the Premier League just yet, and that’s fair enough and I completely agree because it’s a tough league on your body and there’s so much running that people don’t realise. So I will work on that and hopefully be ready when my time comes.
“I don’t want to be pushed in and not be ready. When I get my chance I want to make sure I’m ready and take it.”
Asked if he’d be interested in a move to Coventry, his local childhood club, the teenager continued: “It would and I’m open minded to it, if that answers your question.
“If the right club comes along, whether that’s in the Championship, League One or abroad, it just has to be the right team that plays the right football that suits me.
“So if a team in League One that plays the right way to suit me comes along then I’d be open-minded to it.”
He's right about the amount of running required - pretty much cannot carry an ounce of fat these days
Yaya says you are wrong about that. 
He'll probably playing in Turkey or some other shit League next season for that very reason.
He has never been lean though. He has always carried a few too many pounds. Not just him either! Newly crowned PL champion, and captain to boot, Morgan, is also a bit tubby. Same with Troy Deeney, to present an option who plays at the other end of the pitch.
In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that footballers in general aren't all that as far as athletes go. There are other sports IMO where the general standard of fitness is significantly higher.
Ricky1985 wrote:I don't really rate Rashford very highly, no.
Anyway, Toral's had a good season at Birmingham:
Very impressive , but I still can't see him making it here or getting a chance next season.
I reckon he will go further than Crowley and Zelalem in his career for some reason. Imagine if he didnt have so many injuries previously.
Ricky1985 wrote:Dan Crowley will be going out on loan next season. He says Wenger has told him he's not physically ready for the Premier League. I definitely agree he's not ready, but I like that he's not too arrogant to accept the criticism and make the best of it.
“I feel I need to go out on loan to get more experience first,” Crowley told the Coventry Telegraph.
“I have spoken to the boss and he says I’m not physically ready for the Premier League just yet, and that’s fair enough and I completely agree because it’s a tough league on your body and there’s so much running that people don’t realise. So I will work on that and hopefully be ready when my time comes.
“I don’t want to be pushed in and not be ready. When I get my chance I want to make sure I’m ready and take it.”
Asked if he’d be interested in a move to Coventry, his local childhood club, the teenager continued: “It would and I’m open minded to it, if that answers your question.
“If the right club comes along, whether that’s in the Championship, League One or abroad, it just has to be the right team that plays the right football that suits me.
“So if a team in League One that plays the right way to suit me comes along then I’d be open-minded to it.”
That attitude and the way he speaks is very encouraging
Seems like he learned from his mid season criticism (from his manager) well.
Saw this somewhere else. Gives you a good idea of what a tricky dribbler he is if you haven't seen much of him.
Lovely player. Going to be strong physically by the looks too
