To be fair to Esse, Palace have a pretty good track record with getting players from the Champ and playing them immediately. Eze, Oliseh and Wharton all did and they made good money from Eze and Oliseh (with Wharton probably next).Two good punts so far. We have been crying out for cover on the wings.
Esse: Millwall say he moved too soon and needed another season in the Championship. Welcome to the modern world of PL clubs loaded with money. Crystal Palace did not want to miss out. How many of our Academy players have been lured away only to completely disappear among massive squads, never to be seen again?
Esse may be one we buy, if we get promoted, assuming we can get his career back on track.
Apparently, he tracks back well to add additional cover.
Yang: Thought of very highly at Spurs. Still young but was a star in Korea.
Be interesting to see how well they both will do in a more attacking side, rather than sides where defending is more emphasised.
And there you go, look at only the stats and ignore the other stuff. He has been an integral part of a team that sits 6pts clear in the league. The only stat I need, that and seeing him terrifying fullbacks
That's something we'll have to disagree on then.
They're not co-dependent, no. And of course if you get a better player, and they fit the system, then you improve the team.
They're a great partnership, but that doesn't mean you can't improve on it. And Sakamoto's not a weak link, but that's not the same as saying he (or anyone else) can't be improved on.
He only really has one peer; EMC. You can only compare fairly with players who play in the same position.By definition, if his output is below his peers, he’s a ‘weak link’.
Well, if your RB, LB and AM are all dribbling past more players than a winger, it’s not a good sign. Less touches in the box and less crosses attempted. Similarly, our two CBs have more shots than said winger (Thomas even outscored Sakamoto last season).He only really has one peer; EMC. You can only compare fairly with players who play in the same position.
And that's been the issue, hasn't it. Not enough options out wide.
Got your snout back in the kitmans crotch or hunted down someone new?
Somewhere in his source chain is Overson. Overson is friends with Hamer. Saddle says it’s a perm CM incoming.
Welcome home Gus.
Gyokeres was the highest value since we sold him for more than Palace bought Esse for of which whose value would not have changed too muchGoing by Esse's fee moving from Millwall to Palace, he must be one of the most valuable players we've had on our books (based on value at the point they were with us, so not counting C Wilson or Maddison, for example)?
Gus, Vik & Robbie Keane jump out as the only others that are comparable, plus whatever values you might put on the current squad- Rushworth must be well north of 10 mill now.
He ended the game centrally.Seems like a lot of people are expecting him to play centrally- possibly even ahead of Rudoni? Not sure I see it myself. I’m sure the fact he can was considered when signing but expect him to play largely out wide.
Notable was his cross for Haji when his header hit the postHe ended the game centrally.
Its clearly in Lampards thoughts.
Would be a big call to start him ahead of RudoniHe ended the game centrally.
Its clearly in Lampards thoughts.
Would it in Rudoni's current form?Would be a big call to start him ahead of Rudoni
I think Rudoni’s improving. Just needs a goal or something and he might spring into life again.Would it in Rudoni's current form?
I think you are on the wind up
He's an option there. We could switch to a 5-4-1 Box system, with Rudoni and Esse ahead of Grimes / Torp.Rudi has been pretty crap this season not sure why he’s undroppable. Millwall and Palace both saw Esse as an AM over a RW
He's an option there. We could switch to a 5-4-1 Box system, with Rudoni and Esse ahead of Grimes / Torp.
Simms upfront and use MVE and JDS as our wide options
Yes... He's getting there. you can see the confidence starting to return. Think he'll play a big part on SaturdayI think Rudoni’s improving. Just needs a goal or something and he might spring into life again.
Agreed, he’s been better the past couple of games.I think Rudoni’s improving. Just needs a goal or something and he might spring into life again.
Esse also looked like he was trying too hard
He played the vast majority of his games for Millwall as a RW. Palace don't play with wingers hence trying to use him as a 10.Rudi has been pretty crap this season not sure why he’s undroppable. Millwall and Palace both saw Esse as an AM over a RW
Yet should and could have had 2 assists by putting it on a plate for wright. One through ball and one great cross.Id just drop Rudi and play the system we’ve played since Lampard arrived. But Esse also looked like he was trying too hard and overplaying it so![]()
Yet should and could have had 2 assists by putting it on a plate for wright. One through ball and one great cross.
He will more than likely play on the right though.
He played the vast majority of his games for Millwall as a RW. Palace don't play with wingers hence trying to use him as a 10.
Well the good thing now is we don't have to have defined starters.
Up until now EMC/Rudi/Saka have all been guaranteed starters, by default.
We can now rest and rotate and I can see Esse and Yang both getting time on the wings and at 10.
What a difference it will make.