23 Jan 2017 22:38:09
Bit of a weird thing but watching highlights of kieta balde and he has one thing I love seeing in a player, seering pace.

So curious, what are things you like seeing in a player? Personally enjoy natural pace (even when fit never had it lol), a great first touch (lallana or firmino) and finally well weighted passing (think alonso. Hated when playing footie and a pass was misplaced or miss-timed as it just kills any attack) .


1.) 23 Jan 2017
23 Jan 2017 23:03:23
Intelligent reading of the game. You don't need physical pace or even strength if you're two steps ahead of everyone.
It's getting more and more rare with clubs preferring big lumps of lads than the intellegent player.


2.) 23 Jan 2017
23 Jan 2017 23:12:39
I've always been a sucker for a player with great movement. Not as in pace or runs etc. A player like Silva, Iniesta, Modric etc. The guys who just seem to have loads of time because their movement, touch and awareness are just so good.

Coutinho and Firmino are both pretty good in that way to be fair, but I wouldn't say we've had anyone truly of this ilk since we sold Yossi Benayoun. He made everything look easy, whilst also working very hard off the ball, and being vastly under rated. Signed him too late and sold him too soon!


3.) 23 Jan 2017
23 Jan 2017 23:27:29
Depends on the player.
I do love a dribbler though, Beardo, Digger, McManaman. Players who could just change the game in an instant by beating 3-4 players.
Then again I love a player who is a great passer. Players who just have loads of time on the ball when there is no space e. g. Molby, Alonso.


4.) 23 Jan 2017
23 Jan 2017 23:35:04
Defence splitting passes - I love a good solid assist even more than the goal itself at times. I love when that pass splits the defenders and rolls right into the path of a forward on the run. Beautiful.

I also like a good feint or dummy to beat the keeper 1v1.


5.) 23 Jan 2017
23 Jan 2017 23:54:47
Im surprised Suarez hasn't been mentioned, love him or hate him he was nothing short of fantastic.


6.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 00:16:00
Love the players who seem to be playing in almost slow motion, everybody rushing about then the ball comes to slow mo player and he has so much time, Zinidan, Iniesta and Xabi off the top of my head, oh and Klavan😅

{Ed007's Note - Charlie Adam...


7.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 00:32:50
John Barnes. All day long!


8.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 03:20:51
Vision - seeing players using their brain and getting their head up to play quality passes looks simple but changes games. Coutinho is especially good at this, his intricate, clever passes are great to watch.


9.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 08:24:11
Steve Staunton with his afterburners


10.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 09:41:35
Yeah Bobby John Barnes, effortless on the ball made me rush outside to pass the ball into the side wall for hours.


11.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 10:51:44
I do prefer a player who can control a ball, pick a pass and have the positional sense to move again to receive a pass again, but we currently have many of these sorts of players I. e hendo, wij, Couts, Bobby, lallana, Studge the most obvious. What we lack currently is pace and directness without Mane so I want to see us bring in more seering pace as you said!


12.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 11:01:14
Keita-Balde is some player, tho.


13.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 11:29:47
I don't think there is a player blessed with everything. Xabi never had any real pace but then he never needed it while Barnes had everything except killer passing. I think
John Barnes was the most unique player the club had in their history.


14.) 24 Jan 2017
24 Jan 2017 14:19:24
My favorite is players who receive and pass the ball without needing to look up because they already know where it's going. Coutinho and Firmino are currently best at this, they don't just make the runs, they know exactly what they're going to do when they get it too. makes the game so quick and almost impossible to defend against. Hendo is also pretty good.

Dilly dallying on the ball once we've turned it over in particular drives me mad. Wastes the best moment to transition into attack and shows they weren't thinking about what comes next.


15.) 25 Jan 2017
25 Jan 2017 14:06:21
Jan Molby's goal against united.