Transfer Rumour Axel Witsel

[Rook]

I don't want to be a party pooper but signings from Russia haven't really lit up Goodison .

Counterpoint:

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Counterpoint:

billy and mcgeady spring to mind also!

 

[Eggs]

Don't see the fuss but he has very dreamy eyes but thankfully we got barry's dreamy chin anyway

.....looks a player very much in the Gareth Barry mould to me but with more mobility. Nice and tidy in the tightest of positions, keeps possession in that role that can go unnoticed.

 

[Tel001]

i'd like to think a player valued at around £30 million would shine out, just a tad against the likes of wales.

we should be judging these players more by watching them in internationals. you can see what they are like up against someone else who is an international themselves.

he hasnt shown us anything in these euro's.

Lukaku and de bryune didn't shine and they are awesome premiere league players... Also alderweild and Felliani...

 

[kithnou]

Lukaku and de bryune didn't shine and they are awesome premiere league players... Also alderweild and Felliani...

Belgium just don't gel as a team do they? Despite all the individual quality of their players.

 

[KevMirallas]

He's boss, miles better than McCarthy and with plenty more in the legs than Barry.

Would be delighted with this.

 

[Tel001]

Belgium just don't gel as a team do they? Despite all the individual quality of their players.

That's my point ... He was saying he would expect a 30m player to stand out... I nearly pointed out the de bryune and lukaku are rates at over 100m for the pair and they didn't stand out either. Meaning just because of last nights game ... Don't assume he's not quality... I would love him as a signing... Even if he doesn't live up to standards required , at least is shows our ambition and the intent to do something

 

[chrismpw]

billy and mcgeady spring to mind also!

You forgot Niasse?

 

[Bluebonic]

i'd like to think a player valued at around £30 million would shine out, just a tad against the likes of wales.

we should be judging these players more by watching them in internationals. you can see what they are like up against someone else who is an international themselves.

he hasnt shown us anything in these euro's.

To be fair Wizard, based ourely on the Euro's, I would be gutted to hear we are spending £30M on Harrry Kanes?

 

[brieverton]

Witsel seems to me a player who keeps things 'ticking over' in midfield and has the potential to link well with Barkley in a way that nobody we have currently could do as well.

But in a broader sense I don't particularly see him as an impact player for the money we would supposedly pay. McCarthy is another player like that, you watch him for 90 minutes and say he was tidy in possession but what else? 15 goals in 106 games for Zenit doesn't suggest he would rip up the Premiership.

It's a big chunk of our budget but perhaps less so if JS is leaving.
My concern is that we need a goal-scoring midfielder as well in addition to Witsel, and a keeper, and a 2nd striker, and......

I hope Koeman can pull a Payet type signing out of the bag - apart from Barkley we don't have a talisman who can win a game with a moment of quality often enough.

 

[f.t.r.s]

if it makes people feel better about us supposedly spending £30 mill on him, Watford rejected £37.5 for ighalo and Liverpool value benteke at £30 mill too, so it's not a bad fee by today's standards

 

[toffeejack]

Belgium just don't gel as a team do they? Despite all the individual quality of their players.

Wilmots will be gone now, he's had the job longer than he should have tbh. It's going to be a hard job to get those individuals to gel but if anyone can they could dominate world football. Most of their best players are in the same age group.

 

[bluestevon]

Loads of people slating him for last night in the Belgium loss

Thought he was overall on of the better performers for a badly misfiring Belgium team, given his job seemed to be to try to shadow Bale for periods and bale had a quiet game

Some stats from the game for Witsel though, - won 80% (4 out of 5) of his 'aerial duels' won his only tackle, 92% passing - majority of it forward - getting it to Hazard abnd De Bruyne and made twice as many interceptions as any other Belgium player with 4, also had 2 out of 5 of the teams blocks.


As i said previously, a lot of what he does gets ignored cos it's not flashy etc, but in his role in the Belgium set up and what he's supposed to do (with a coach that seems to be as limited as Martinez was), he did his job yesterday, a lot of the other Belgiums didn't though.

 

[Moomin]

Stoke.

 

[My Friend George]

Does this mean we can get the Fellaini wigs down from the loft?