Yannick Bolasie

[Zatara]

And yet the major reason for Bolasie failing was a freak event that no one could have been expecting when the deal was made. I'm sorry but anyone who is saying he was playing poorly pre-injury in 2016 is guilty of revisionist history. He isn't everyone's type of player, he isn't my type of player for what it's worth, but at that point he was doing what we brought him in to do.

I remember him being the best creative player in the team for a solid two-three months before he got hurt. He wasn't a perfect player by any means but had he not been hurt he'd probably have spent 3 to 4 years as at least a reasonable option like so many of our players have been lately. At the end of the day they also weren't good enough for where we want to be, but people don't seem to want to dump on them like they do Yannick.

For me there were two major flaws in his game. One was that he didn't really link up with players well and the other was he didn't score goals. But what he did do well was create good chances with regularity. It's a useful skill that didn't go away for any reason other than him getting hurt. And again I think denying that is very simply living in a place that isn't reality because from the start people didn't agree with the transfer fee.

Chances are chances. As I said it is certainly not the type of player I would sign, and I'm not sure Koeman had any clue what he was getting himself in to, but at the end of the day Bolasie created chances and goals at a more than acceptable rate. He got hurt. That's why it stopped.

I'm all for beautiful football, but the end result matters too. For example I was going through some of the games just now and the game where we drew Swansea 1-1 at home on the late Coleman header includes a Lukaku miss from about 4 yards out from a Bolasie cross. It came from him almost falling over, doing three unnecessary moves and fizzing it at knee height, but still it's a shot from 4 yards that he set up. That was kind of his game, really ugly at times but ultimately capable of doing his job. This was two games before he got hurt too.

So to me, acting like he was "doomed from the start" or "never useful for anything" or whatever else goes around whenever he comes up is just too much in my opinion.

I honestly believe that you have never seen him play 90mins.

If you have, then im bewildered.

 

[TheBigIguana]

3.9 per 90

He's only had 4 chances created in one game this season, so I'm not quite sure how this could be true.

Regardless this isn't even the point. Bolasie is in the same category as Bernard, Walcott, Iwobi, Lennon and plenty of others at other positions and yet he seems to be the one that we treat like some kind of blight on the club. It's absurd to me.

And for the record @windymiller this is how it goes now. I talk about anything and someone brings up Bernard. I don't start it.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I honestly believe that you have never seen him play 90mins.

If you have, then im bewildered.

I just believe you can be an effective player in more ways than one.

It's why I think Haaland is at least as good a teenager as Mbappe was despite being challenged on that one too.

 

[nsno-chris]

I just believe you can be an effective player in more ways than one.

It's why I think Haaland is at least as good a teenager as Mbappe was despite being challenged on that one too.

it’s very effective to fall over your own feet, really bemuses the opponent

 

[TheBigIguana]

it’s very effective to fall over your own feet, really bemuses the opponent

Ultimately wasting possession is wasting possession. Tripping over the ball is the same as doing 17 stepovers and overhitting a well seen reverse pass.

I'm just talking from a getting the job done standpoint really. Bolasie or someone like him wouldn't be my favorite player to watch either. But saying he couldn't do anything is untrue. That's all I'm trying to say.

 

[cronullasharks]

Ultimately wasting possession is wasting possession. Tripping over the ball is the same as doing 17 stepovers and overhitting a well seen reverse pass.

I'm just talking from a getting the job done standpoint really. Bolasie or someone like him wouldn't be my favorite player to watch either. But saying he couldn't do anything is untrue. That's all I'm trying to say.

Deulofeu would merge the 17 stepovers and tripping over the ball in the 1 play.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Deulofeu would merge the 17 stepovers and tripping over the ball in the 1 play.

He's another one who is still discussed with reverence despite being, if I may steal a term from another poster, a bottom half of the PL player. I know he's better than Yannick but all I'm looking for is a bit of consistency. The negative talk around this guy is just such an exaggeration to me.

 

[gonetomorrow]

Time is running out on the dream of a devastating Cuco/Bolasie combo on the right flank - or the left flank.

 

[MikeH72]

He's only had 4 chances created in one game this season, so I'm not quite sure how this could be true.

Regardless this isn't even the point. Bolasie is in the same category as Bernard, Walcott, Iwobi, Lennon and plenty of others at other positions and yet he seems to be the one that we treat like some kind of blight on the club. It's absurd to me.

And for the record @windymiller this is how it goes now. I talk about anything and someone brings up Bernard. I don't start it.

Wait a minute. Bernard was a free transfer and Bolasie cost £30m, yet you’re defending the signing of Bolasie because he “created chances” and slate Bernard at absolutely every opportunity despite the fact @sageyefc just proved he creates as many chances as Bolasie ever did?? And yet you’ve just said they’re in the same bracket! Why does the free transfer get hammered and the £30m signing defended?

 

[TheBigIguana]

Wait a minute. Bernard was a free transfer and Bolasie cost £30m, yet you’re defending the signing of Bolasie because he “created chances” and slate Bernard at absolutely every opportunity despite the fact @sageyefc just proved he creates as many chances as Bolasie ever did?? And yet you’ve just said they’re in the same bracket! Why does the free transfer get hammered and the £30m signing defended?

I evaluate players without their transfer fees attached. Money doesn't play the game. I think they're similar level players. But when I read this forum I see Bolasie slated constantly and Bernard put on a pedestal. I don't get that. And that's why the posting is different. Because I feel people are too positive about Bernard, so I challenge that by trying to point out he might not be so good, and are too negative about Bolasie, so I challenge that by trying to say that he might be a bit better than they say. Ultimately I would put every winger we've had since Mirallas had that amazing 13/14 campaign in the same bucket of below average (unless you're calling Richarlison a winger).

I think it's wrong for our fans to constantly crap on a player whose career was ruined by injury. To say things like "he was doomed from the start" fall into that category of being wrong.

But I also don't think that it was a smart signing. It's just that I find the way Bolasie is talked about to be a bit overly mean spirited for someone who was more than anything just unlucky.

 

[cronullasharks]

He's another one who is still discussed with reverence despite being, if I may steal a term from another poster, a bottom half of the PL player. I know he's better than Yannick but all I'm looking for is a bit of consistency. The negative talk around this guy is just such an exaggeration to me.

I don't share your views on Bernard but deulofeu really got on my tits

 

[Westend Blue]

I just believe you can be an effective player in more ways than one.

It's why I think Haaland is at least as good a teenager as Mbappe was despite being challenged on that one too.

Statistically but what Mbappe has done as a teenager has being matched by very few young players ever 26 goals in 44 games Title with Monaco over PSG and UCL semi finals on his first dig. Add a key role in the world cup with France its a resume very few players possess

 

[Black Belt Jones]

I evaluate players without their transfer fees attached. Money doesn't play the game. I think they're similar level players. But when I read this forum I see Bolasie slated constantly and Bernard put on a pedestal. I don't get that. And that's why the posting is different. Because I feel people are too positive about Bernard, so I challenge that by trying to point out he might not be so good, and are too negative about Bolasie, so I challenge that by trying to say that he might be a bit better than they say. Ultimately I would put every winger we've had since Mirallas had that amazing 13/14 campaign in the same bucket of below average (unless you're calling Richarlison a winger).

People do get hung up on transfer fees a bit - (like haven't we got out own mortgages to worry about?) But it's still a legit consideration. Colossal blunders like the Bolasie signing produce bad football first and foremost, are a huge missed opportunity to strengthen the team, and stress the fanbase with the realisation that the club management is very weak.

Bolasie is far from the worst player we've seen in the Royal Blue Jersey but he is one of the worst signings. Like genuinely one of the most fatuous buys anyone here can remember going back decades. We paid a flabbergasting fee (and presumably hefty wages) for a 100% known quantity - a bang average lower half prem player. No upside whatsoever.

Players like Klassen, for example, were objectively worse, but nowhere near as bad signings as there were at least potentially good - Klassen had captained Ajax in the Europa league final and had looked good doing so, we had Ajax fans on here saying they'd seen the guy play 200 times and you can bet your house on him being a success, minimum 7/10 every game and usually more. Turned out to be total fantasy but you can roll the dice on a signing like that.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

What's Bolassie's FIFA rating and what's Bernard's? The ONLY way to settle this debate

 

[Zatara]

I just believe you can be an effective player in more ways than one.

It's why I think Haaland is at least as good a teenager as Mbappe was despite being challenged on that one too.

it’s very effective to fall over your own feet, really bemuses the opponent

Ultimately wasting possession is wasting possession. Tripping over the ball is the same as doing 17 stepovers and overhitting a well seen reverse pass.

I'm just talking from a getting the job done standpoint really. Bolasie or someone like him wouldn't be my favorite player to watch either. But saying he couldn't do anything is untrue. That's all I'm trying to say.

I evaluate players without their transfer fees attached. Money doesn't play the game. I think they're similar level players. But when I read this forum I see Bolasie slated constantly and Bernard put on a pedestal. I don't get that. And that's why the posting is different. Because I feel people are too positive about Bernard, so I challenge that by trying to point out he might not be so good, and are too negative about Bolasie, so I challenge that by trying to say that he might be a bit better than they say. Ultimately I would put every winger we've had since Mirallas had that amazing 13/14 campaign in the same bucket of below average (unless you're calling Richarlison a winger).

I think it's wrong for our fans to constantly crap on a player whose career was ruined by injury. To say things like "he was doomed from the start" fall into that category of being wrong.

But I also don't think that it was a smart signing. It's just that I find the way Bolasie is talked about to be a bit overly mean spirited for someone who was more than anything just unlucky.

Koemans 'strategy' was to lump the ball to bolasie who did a few 'tricks' and then on the occasions that he

A: Didnt lose the ball
B: Give away the ball
C: Run out of play


He would punt the ball aimlessly, head down in pure hope that someone would reach it rather than (usually) going to the opposition defenders or a teammate on the opposite flank.

Lukaku took the ball off him several times and for that he gets an assist on paper but the reality is somewhat different.

Anyone who saw him at Palace could see he was someone not worth of being a squad member let alone such a daft fee.

He was signed as he was Lukakus mate it seems...