2024/25 Charly Alcaraz

[blulouie]

Moyes on Carlos Alcaraz dropping to the bench "We'll talk about contracts on another day. But I just thought we had an opportunity to change things about and the best people up at the top end were Doucs and Beto. Doucs proved that was the right choice"

Not the right thing to say.

Echoes of Dyche last season talking up "Youngy" when he was stinking the gaff out.

 

[maccavennie]

Moyes on Carlos Alcaraz dropping to the bench "We'll talk about contracts on another day. But I just thought we had an opportunity to change things about and the best people up at the top end were Doucs and Beto. Doucs proved that was the right choice"

It really was an unreal comment. Said it with a straight face when I think every journalist was thinking "your taking the absolute piss with that chat'

 

[southbluey]

He’s the best number 10 we have currently. Who knows about the future but he’s got to play today

 

[Neiler]

He will cost £15 mill and be worth £30 mill in a year or two - be greater minds at the club that will be cognisant of that from an investment point of view.

I just don’t not see him signing.

 

[SJB]

He’s the best number 10 we have currently. Who knows about the future but he’s got to play today

For who? Everton aren't playing today.

 

[9LeagueTitles5FACups]

It's no good putting him out wide when he is much more effective in the number ten role, especially with Beto, who often does well off balls played into his feet, in front of him.

As others have mentioned, I would consider a frontline of Ndiaye -- Alcaraz -- McNeil, with Beto up top.

 

[RomanReigns]

wwbd

what would brighton do?

 

[Bedfordblue]

It's no good putting him out wide when he is much more effective in the number ten role, especially with Beto, who often does well off balls played into his feet, in front of him.

As others have mentioned, I would consider a frontline of Ndiaye -- Alcaraz -- McNeil, with Beto up top.

Earliest we might get that is Ipswich at home next month, even then it’s probably not something Moyes would be able to stomach.

 

[Eggs]

Moyes on Carlos Alcaraz dropping to the bench "We'll talk about contracts on another day. But I just thought we had an opportunity to change things about and the best people up at the top end were Doucs and Beto. Doucs proved that was the right choice"

….i know I’m in a minority of one here but I can honestly see where Moyes is coming from. Doucoure’s inclusion maybe helps Ndiaye get in more threatening advanced positions.

It’s all about what the team does with the ball and without the ball. Essentially, Ndiaye isn’t an orthodox winger, when we have possession he’ll often pop up centrally or be close to Beto but when the opposition has the ball he has to do his bit defending wide areas. What I noticed yesterday was how often Doucoure was in our LB area when we didn’t have possession (not sure I seen him near O’Brien).

Maybe Doucoure covering the left side is exactly what Moyes wanted him to do.

 

[SuperKev91]

….i know I’m in a minority of one here but I can honestly see where Moyes is coming from. Doucoure’s inclusion maybe helps Ndiaye get in more threatening advanced positions.

It’s all about what the team does with the ball and without the ball. Essentially, Ndiaye isn’t an orthodox winger, when we have possession he’ll often pop up centrally or be close to Beto but when the opposition has the ball he has to do his bit defending wide areas. What I noticed yesterday was how often Doucoure was in our LB area when we didn’t have possession (not sure I seen him near O’Brien).

Maybe Doucoure covering the left side is exactly what Moyes wanted him to do.

I think Doucoure lets us cheat in the middle and up top, he’s essentially doing the job of a third cm and a second striker at the same time. It masks a lot of our deficiencies currently - he is really so poor with the actual ball though.

I’m not sold on Alcaraz at all I must be honest. He’s clearly got some quality but I’d be concerned about how effective he is in games and for me there are question marks about his application. When he came in I thought he had that Richy/Cahill type work rate and nuisance value but yesterday he looked disinterested.

 

[Neiler]

….i know I’m in a minority of one here but I can honestly see where Moyes is coming from. Doucoure’s inclusion maybe helps Ndiaye get in more threatening advanced positions.

It’s all about what the team does with the ball and without the ball. Essentially, Ndiaye isn’t an orthodox winger, when we have possession he’ll often pop up centrally or be close to Beto but when the opposition has the ball he has to do his bit defending wide areas. What I noticed yesterday was how often Doucoure was in our LB area when we didn’t have possession (not sure I seen him near O’Brien).

Maybe Doucoure covering the left side is exactly what Moyes wanted him to do.

Nobody appreciates bar a few what Doucoure brings but its effective and evey manager bar Lampard appreciated and his results of excluding him tell its own tale. Im not going to surprised if he stays to be honest, i think it whether he can better wages elsewhere which he might.

Even if he does stay we do need a player like Charly, hes so good on transition and we've really lacked a player with that quality for a long time. For the juice its definitely worth the squeeze.

We need options and different dimensions in the squad.

 

[SuperKev91]

Nobody appreciates bar a few what Doucoure brings but its effective and evey manager bar Lampard appreciated and his results of excluding him tell its own tale. Im not going to surprised if he stays to be honest, i think it whether he can better wages elsewhere which he might.

Even if he does stay we do need a player like Charly, hes so good on transition and we've really lacked a player with that quality for a long time. For the juice its definitely worth the squeeze.

We need options and different dimensions in the squad.

Think he’s partly a victim of how badly balanced we are. If you’ve got Gana/Tim in there as a two you’re basically saying to Tim you have to stay disciplined for when Gana goes ball winning. I don’t think he’s anywhere near ready for that responsibility. Doucoure comes in to become a 3rd midfielder, I don’t think Alcaraz is doing that job (he certainly didn’t want to work off the ball yesterday, maybe just sulking about being out wide/on the bench).

If we had a stronger core you can facilitate someone like Alcaraz (or if he himself were a lot more effective on/off the ball you can cheat a bit). I think in games like yesterday we’re just still better being solid as a unit. Alcaraz should start against anyone outside of the top sides I’d say.

 

[billyblue80]

He is a ten, shoehorning him on the wing won't work. I agree Doucoure covers issues but if we get a stronger/better midfielder this summer there is room for Alcaraz or someone like him if we want to progress the team. Doucs does a job pressing and covering but he simply does not link the play enough, he did pop up with important goals but his effectiveness is waning especially attacking wise and he is not great on the ball and linking the play, if its him and Beto as a two we have two players who struggle in possession in the attacking areas. Be really dissapointed if we don't sign Alcaraz he has attributes we lack on the ball and driving with it, also you are not getting better for 12 million

 

[Neiler]

Think he’s partly a victim of how badly balanced we are. If you’ve got Gana/Tim in there as a two you’re basically saying to Tim you have to stay disciplined for when Gana goes ball winning. I don’t think he’s anywhere near ready for that responsibility. Doucoure comes in to become a 3rd midfielder, I don’t think Alcaraz is doing that job (he certainly didn’t want to work off the ball yesterday, maybe just sulking about being out wide/on the bench).

If we had a stronger core you can facilitate someone like Alcaraz (or if he himself were a lot more effective on/off the ball you can cheat a bit). I think in games like yesterday we’re just still better being solid as a unit. Alcaraz should start against anyone outside of the top sides I’d say.

That's a good post mate, agree with all of it, as you rightly say thats the thing with Doucoure hes such a utility, he can flood every line, he makes up ridiculous kilometers per game, he can lead the press and frankly hes an absolute pain to try and get by the sheer size of him, which blunts an attack by the opposition at pace. It might be a case hes a 7 and most thing where Charly is a 9 at one thing and that transition.

I agree with you i noticed it with Charly before hes not great or that willing off the ball and when he cant get on it he can get lost in games, when he tries to defend he can be indisciplined and rash - they are all developmental needs. Mikel was the same when he was here on loan.

If im being very frank this team isnt good enough yet, not to play without someone like Docuoure for Charly, yesterday proved it, we are still a team who has to absolutely graft to get a point of top quality teams and we're often lucky to get it. Pivoting away from that is the summers job or work - but its a lot of work.

That's my assessment, id defo be bringing Charly in though ive seen enough, he has a rare skill set on the ball - but he also needs work.

Hes a sound investment in my opinion.

 

[SuperKev91]

That's a good post mate, agree with all of it, its the thing with Doucoure hes such a utility, he can flood every line, he makes up ridiculous kilometers per game, he can lead the press and frankly hes an absolute pain to try and get by the sheer size of him, which blunts an attack by the opposition at pace. It might be a case hes a 7 and most thing where Charly is a 9 at one thing and that transition.

I agree with you i noticed it with Charly before hes not great o willing off the ball and when he cant get on it he can get lost in games, when he tries to defend he can be indisciplined and rash - they are all developmental needs. Mikel was the same when he was here on loan.

If im being very frank this team isnt good enough yet, not to play without someone like Docuoure for Charly, yesterday proved it, we are still a team who has to absolutely graft to get a point of top quality teams and were often lucky to get it. Pivoting away from that is the summers job or work - but its a lot of work.

That's my assessment, id defo be bringing Charly in though ive seen enough, he has a rare skill set on the ball - but he also needs work.

Hes a sound investment in my opinion.

I can see the quality he’s got but I’m not convinced we couldn’t do better elsewhere.

I just thought he’d bring more needle than he has, he’s a player I thought would never really let the game just run away from him. He’s had a few now though where he’s just not got into it.

It’s not a crazy price though so I can see the appeal and he’s got obvious ability with the ball.