Ex-Ghana skipper dismayed by Atsu's lack of action

, 21 April, 65comments  |  Jump to most recent

(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Ex-Ghana and Hearts player Joe Addo has spoken out about Christian Atsu's "regrettable" decision to join Everton on loan this season.

The former Black Stars captain is dismayed that Atsu didn't heed his advice when he took the decision to sign for the Blues for the season and is urging the winger to sit down with his advisers this summer to ensure his next move ensures he will get regular playing time.

Atsu was named Player of the Tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in January as Ghana made it to the final but he has been unable to get much action since returning to Goodison Park.

"I said it before he joined Everton, that he needs to find another Club which will assure him of playing time, but all that fell on deaf ears”, Addo is quoted as saying.

“Just last week, I read somewhere that the supporters of the club have asked the coach not to renew his loan deal when it expires at the end of the season, and that for me is the highest level of a team that has nothing good to offer you.

“I mean how can a player who won the best player in a bid tournament like the African Cup of Nations not be able to break into Everton squad?

“I think he will be regretting [his decision] by now, and I suggest that he sits down with both his coach and his manager to take a second look at his career because he needs to start playing again, for the sake of our national team.”

 

Reader Comments (65)

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Chris Cook
1 Posted 22/04/2015 at 01:17:49
"I mean, how can a player who won the best player in a big tournament like the African Cup of Nations not be able to break into Everton squad?"

Probably the same reason a player like Barry can walk into the squad.

Mark Andersson
2 Posted 22/04/2015 at 01:33:46
Has he showed enough in a blue shirt to be picked on a regular basis.

Who knows what the deal was between the two clubs. Martinez seems to pick more duds than diamonds. Maybe the lad is just not cut out for the Premier League.

Gavin Johnson
3 Posted 22/04/2015 at 01:46:15
Martinez seemed to be reluctant to try him out on the left even when Mirralas was injured, and he has bob hope of getting minutes over Lennon, who offers the physicality and bustle despite his size that Atsu never looked capable of doing.
Jason Heng
4 Posted 22/04/2015 at 01:48:28
Truly bizarre, given the form of McGeady and MirallasÂ’s injuries. Turning out to be a waste of money just like the Traore deal last season.
Derek Thomas
5 Posted 22/04/2015 at 03:21:54
On the one hand, fair comment by Addo and then Chris @1Â’s observation.

Atsu played plenty of games in the African Nations Cup, had some decent form, was named Player of the Tournament. I though hereÂ’s someone who can come in and hit the ground running.

I know sometimes Players just donÂ’t gel in the Premier League.

Or will this be just another of this season's mysteries until the post-Martinez revelations surface... whenever that may be?

Ian Jones
6 Posted 22/04/2015 at 06:19:55
Last season we used the loan system to our advantage and seem to recall we were one of the teams criticised for doing so eg by Wenger.

Lukaku and Barry played regularly and well enough to keep their place. Deulofeu was good when on a run of games.

You could argue that this season has seen a poor use of the system although Wenger has kept quiet.

Atsu certainly hasnÂ’t had the opportunities to play. I still maintain that we might have seen the best of him if he had been played on the left which I thought was his preferred position instead of the right but he had a good African comp on the right....

If you take players on loan, ideally you want them to be ready to play regularly like Lennon is. He is not to everyoneÂ’s liking but doing ok.

Brian Porter
7 Posted 22/04/2015 at 06:18:52
I donÂ’t know why Martinez signed him if he wasnÂ’t going to use him. He obviously has great ability but again, maybe heÂ’s just too Â’forwardÂ’ thinking for our great manager, and therefore doesnÂ’t fit with his sideways and backwards passing philosophy. Seems to me that truly skillful players just donÂ’t get much backing from Roberto.

The lad certainly hasnÂ’t had a fair crack of the whip with us, and would probably have got a shed load of game time with any other Premier League side, but we at Everton live in Roberto-Land, where logic is suspended, anyone who fancies it can take a penalty, and where in-form players are dropped in favour of returning crocks (Robles - Howard).

Poor Atsu never stood a chance though he must have thought heÂ’d get at least 10 or 15 starts through the season. IÂ’m sure he wouldnÂ’t have signed if heÂ’d known how little Martinez would use him.

Wherever he goes in the summer I wish him well, and hope one day his skill and goal scoring ability come back to bite Martinez on the bum (hopefully not a winner against us, though). RM really does need to sort out just what he wants from his signings. If he ainÂ’t gonna use them, donÂ’t waste the clubÂ’s money signing them in the first place.

Harold Matthews
8 Posted 22/04/2015 at 06:44:43
Strange one. He was a terrific creative playmaker for Ghana but we never gave him that role. He came as as winger and thatÂ’s how we used him..... or occasionally used him.
Sam Hoare
9 Posted 22/04/2015 at 07:37:55
I wonder how much we paid Chelsea in loan fees and wages?

Bizarrely underused given how much we have been crying out for creativity. If Martinez really didnÂ’t fancy him, then he should have sent him back.

Jim Bennings
10 Posted 22/04/2015 at 08:31:22
Maybe because the African Nations Cup, everything I witness of it anyway, is totally played on a much slower pace (due to heat of course) and frankly the quality of African football has never taken off like everybody was expecting, possibly after CameroonÂ’s performance in 1990.

I think the African lads tend to play the game very casually which sometimes, unless they are sublimely talented, doesnÂ’t always suit the hurly burly pace of the English Premier League. A prime example is the clearly uniquely talented Yaya Toure at Man City, a great player but hard work and rolling sleeves up on cold wet days isnÂ’t always his thing. That for me has been why Manchester City have lost the league title: a lack of characters; quality is there but are they all individuals?

From our own experiences with the African lads, Yak was a great goalscorer but, letÂ’s be honest, he was well known at all the clubs he was at to "quickly lose interest". Nyarko and Bakayoko... well, the less said the better. Amokachi was a slight success, mainly down to just two goals in the semi mind you, didnÂ’t do much else.

Yobo was arguably the most stable and consistent guy over the years.

Atsu to be fair might be a decent player in a league that better suits his slow pace, he clearly has pace but in his mind he canÂ’t reach the tempo needed in the Premier League. HeÂ’s a relatively small guy like Aaron Lennon but the notable difference is Lennon knows whatÂ’s required in this league, you have to run and work hard to drag yourself into the matches, even when you are not playing well.

Atsu just thinks the game is going to come to him, he needs to go to the game and get himself in it, but he just doesnÂ’t do it. He will be playing in France or Holland next season is my bet.

John Gee
11 Posted 22/04/2015 at 09:19:34
Is this African fella a fucking idiot? Atsu had been given a chance in an Everton shirt and heÂ’s been shite in every game. HeÂ’s contributed nothing on the pitch and heÂ’s lucky we canÂ’t get rid of him.

If his captain thinks he should have regular football, maybe he could suggest the fucking Ghanaian second division to him. ThatÂ’s his level, based on performances.

Charlie Burnett
12 Posted 22/04/2015 at 09:56:42
Are we seriously comparing the African Cup of Nations to the standard of the Premier League?

he had his chances and wasnÂ’t good enough, I actually remember Les Ferdinand slaughtering him at half-time in a Europa League game... Another one of BobbyÂ’s gambles whoÂ’s sat on the bench.

Dave Abrahams
13 Posted 22/04/2015 at 09:58:02
John (11), harsh there John, most of AtsuÂ’s appearances have been short cameos, I donÂ’t think any of us could give a fair assessment of the lad, given such brief spells in the team.

I wonder how much Martinez had seen of the player before signed him? DoesnÂ’t seem to have been a lot of thought has gone into this signing.

Sam Hoare
14 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:06:37
Pretty harsh John. The ladÂ’s not played in England before and has not even had 2 games to start in a row!! How you expect anyone to perform in that situation I donÂ’t know.

We have no idea what he might be capable of as they guy has mainly had 10 minute cameos here and there and I canÂ’t see what the point of loaning someone to that end is...

Jim Bennings
15 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:09:27
Sam,

I think we DO actually have a fair idea of what heÂ’s capable of, we have seen the guy play a few tines and from what we have seen, heÂ’s looked lightweight without the workrate. Yes, he has pace but in the games heÂ’s played has he once looked like going past a fullback?

He would maybe do a good job in a slower league, he does have some assets but just not suited for the Premier League. Let's face it, if he had any attributes then Chelsea would be keeping him in their squad and not loaning him out year-in & year-out; he hasnÂ’t even kicked a ball for Chelsea.

Sam Hoare
16 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:19:46
No, Jim. IÂ’m sorry but thereÂ’s no way every young player is going to be showing what he is capable of without at least a run of 3 or 4 starts. Or more. Some might be able to hit the ground running but most will need some proper game time (which is admittedly a luxury) before they are approaching anything near their true standards.

Think of Coleman when he first played. Or BarkleyÂ’s ill-fated loan at Sheff Wed. Sturridge struggling at Chelsea due to a lack of faith in him.

Maybe Atsu is not a PL player. Maybe heÂ’s not a decent player at all but thereÂ’s no way you can make that judgement on the pitiful opportunities heÂ’s been given this season, in my eyes.

Trevor Lynes
17 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:21:26
This lad picked the pass of the game last time he played for us and he has lots of ability. I think he is not a pushy sort of person and has probably felt left out in our squad. I reckon we will regret not using him as he was without doubt the best player at the African tournament which included YaYa Toure and Ayew amongst others.

He should have been used when we had no winger fit and then I am sure we would have seen his true worth. No fan on here knows how good he is as he has never had the chance to play.

Jim Bennings
18 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:33:54
The thing is Sam, I donÂ’t think we at Everton are in a position where we can give player time to develop over the course of a whole season.

Lukaku was on loan here last year but he showed enough in that time to leave us convinced, likewise Lennon now.

Atsu is 23, not really that young, not old but not young either.

LetÂ’s be honest, we could have all sat here and kept harping on about Vellios, Magaye Gueye etc, about buying young and not seeing them in enough games... but the reality is they just were not good enough for this standard.

Martinez and his staff must see Atsu regularly in training to get a judgment of him, we know if he had anything at all that we were missing then heÂ’d surely be given chances that Mirallas and others are getting.

I hope Atsu finds a club or league that benefits him, I really do, because he seems a cheerful lad. But really we are wasting our time on this thread over a player who probably wonÂ’t kick a ball again for Everton.

Sam Hoare
19 Posted 22/04/2015 at 10:44:30
I agree that we may not have that luxury, Jim, but thatÂ’s not what we are debating. Lukaku and Lennon have been given considerably more opportunity to play and had played in England before. Vellios and Gueye etc were not loaned in for one season.

Perhaps Martinez has been put off by his training, IÂ’m far from convinced that I trust his opinion. But the point remains that we, as fans, have not seen enough to make any lasting judgement on this player as far as iÂ’m concerned.

Personally I think (from watching him elsewhere) heÂ’s a clever little player who offers a creativity that we have sorely lacked.

I also agree that we wonÂ’t see him in an Everton shirt beyond this season. But who knows?!

John Daley
20 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:15:28
He was given a few chances to make an impression early on in the season and, for the most part, looked like a little boy lost. The game against Krasnodor (I think it was?), where he was brought off at half-time, was one of the worst performances I can remember this season... and given some of the shite thatÂ’s been served up, thatÂ’s a pretty damning statement.

He constantly miscontrolled the ball, misplaced passes, turned into trouble, or was bundled over so often that I felt for him. He was so bad that the manager bringing him off was a merciful act of kindness akin to BrundleflyÂ’s bird blowing her boyfriendÂ’s buggy brain out, at his behest, because he had ended up with big metal teleport pod plums where his ball sack should be.

Michael Penley
21 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:24:23
Surely we should support the lad? HeÂ’s an Everton player ffs.
Phill Thompson
22 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:22:02
Maybe Bobby really likes him but has a Masterplan, not to play him and pick him up cheaply in the summer. Perhaps heÂ’s learned from his last Chelski experience of regularly playing a loanee then paying over the odds for him in the transfer fee.
Andrew Ellams
23 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:26:54
HeÂ’s not good enough if we are serious about taking the club forwards. But heÂ’s not the only one in the current squad.
Jim Bennings
24 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:42:35
Does make you wonder what on earth prompted Martinez to come out with the "catching fire in the second half of the season" comments.

Why Martinez feels the need to spout bulldust so often is beyond me because it,

1) Sets himself up for obvious flack; and

2) The fans then get on the player's back that Martinez has "hyped up to the hilt" because heÂ’s turned out to be a nothing player: Atsu, McGeady, Lacina Traore etc etc.

John Daley
25 Posted 22/04/2015 at 11:57:44
"Surely we should support the lad? He's an Everton player ffs."

Despite the use of 'ffs' to signify mock outrage that should be mutually shared amongst the masses, I fail to see how pointing out heÂ’s put in mainly piss-poor performances to date amounts to a lack of Â’supportÂ’, or how, by mere virtue of being an Everton player, heÂ’s immediately hoisted above any criticism.

Especially when people are responding to a piece claiming that he deserved more game time and should be able to walk into the Everton team simply because he turned it on in a some tin pot tournament.

James Stewart
26 Posted 22/04/2015 at 12:22:15
HeÂ’s had a few chances in the first team and looked terrible every time.

Maybe heÂ’s a decent player and should have been given more of a chance. Personally IÂ’d pick Lennon every time over what IÂ’ve seen from Atsu.

Tony J Williams
27 Posted 22/04/2015 at 12:27:11
HeÂ’s fucking shite!!!

Just because he is playing for us doesnÂ’t mean we should just blindly "support him"!

He has been gash every single time he has turned out for us, with no exception.

It goes to show how shite the ACoN must be if this useless twat was the Player of the Tournament.

That twatty clearance against Kiev, what was that about?

Then again, why the fuck Martinez put him straight in and then kept out Stones because of "experience".....to coin a phrase... FFS!

Brian Harrison
28 Posted 22/04/2015 at 13:21:47
I would like someone to ask the charlatan why he said after the ACON that we would see the best of Atsu, then signed Lennon on loan for the same position.

I don't know if the lad is any good as he has hardly played a full game for us. But this idiot of a manager signed him on loan plus his wages and decides not to play him. Now, for all those saying Atsu is rubbish, then ask why the charlatan signed him.

James Flynn
29 Posted 22/04/2015 at 12:43:06
Maybe Atsu is just not a Premier League player. Osman and Pienaar are tiny fuckers who've been kicked down and run over their entire careers in the EPL. But they keep getting up and getting back into the game. ThatÂ’s an individual quality canÂ’t be coached or managed into someone. You got it or you donÂ’t.

IÂ’d say even the brilliant Wayne RooneyÂ’s success is in part due to his being a nasty, rough customer opponents learned not to fuck with. He didnÂ’t get that from Moyes or Fergy. ItÂ’s innate.

The seasonÂ’s almost over and the kid then gets sent back to Chelsea. RobertoÂ’s done pretty well with loans. This one didnÂ’t work out. The kidÂ’s departure is hardly up the list of player movement worries this next window. "Good riddance", if you like. The important thing is to open up that roster spot and try someone else.

No doubt, heÂ’ll make himself a nice little career somewhere. IÂ’d wager heÂ’d do well over here in MLS. But the combination of athleticism and physicality required to play and stay in EnglandÂ’s top league? Nope. He moves on and so do we.

John Daley
30 Posted 22/04/2015 at 13:42:56
Brian @28,

I donÂ’t think it was idiotic to take him on loan at all. He was a young player with a reputation as a rising star a few years ago. HeÂ’d done well enough during his previous loan and in international games to suggest he could possibly step into the pacy winger shoes recently vacated by Deulofeu.

It was a gamble that hasnÂ’t worked out for either party, but theyÂ’re the sort of moves the loan market is utilised for. ThereÂ’s no real risk involved because if the player flops heÂ’ll be flinging his suitcase back in his boot at the end of the season and the club can count their blessings they never blew a transfer fee on them.

As for why he suggested Atsu might set the league alight after the Afcon? We all know thatÂ’s just what heÂ’s like. The man will always look up and claim thereÂ’s a positive on the horizon, whilst ignoring all the gaping crevices in the ground. Seriously, if you showed Martinez pictures of Jeremy BeadleÂ’s big hand and little hand, heÂ’d say it was of great benefit being born like that because heÂ’d be able to pull off some phenomenal shadow puppets.

Andy Meighan
31 Posted 22/04/2015 at 14:04:17
I’m with John (#11) — the reason he hasn’t been given game time is because he just doesn’t look good enough. Now compare him with Lennon: another loanee, similiar build, similiar stature, didn’t walk right into the side... but has made himself up to now one of the hardest members of the squad to drop – and that’s mainly because of his appetite and incredible workrate.

IÂ’d fancy myself to have a good tournament in the Afcon after seeing some of those defences and keepers, so this fella obviously needs to keep his thoughts to himself. No loss whatsover when Atsu goes wherever at the end of the season.

Paul Thompson
32 Posted 22/04/2015 at 14:09:33
Agree with those who say we never saw enough of him to know whether he was worth a gamble or not. ItÂ’s very hard to get into a game for a few minutes at a time and he deserved a more consistent run out, or why get him on loan? Another Martinez conundrum.
Steavey Buckley
33 Posted 22/04/2015 at 15:01:46
I do believe Atsu (who set up a sublime chance for Lukaku to score) was named MotM against Leicester, when Everton drew 2-2. I thought his recent disappearance was down to being injured again, but I was shocked to find out, he had not even made the subs bench for recent matches
James Marshall
34 Posted 22/04/2015 at 15:09:07
The reason we got him on loan was to bump up the numbers – Chelsea almost recalled him didnÂ’t they? Worried he wouldnÂ’t play enough, and so itÂ’s proven, purely because we havenÂ’t (in the manager’s eyes) needed him.

We have Mirallas & Lennon, then McGeady in the pecking order followed by Atsu. With Mirallas and/or Lennon fit, the others rarely get a game – end of story. These players are brought in as cover, nothing more.

If this guy is complaining about Atsu not playing, he should be talking to Jose Mourinho, not whinging at Everton.

Tony Hill
35 Posted 22/04/2015 at 15:19:36
I think heÂ’ll turn out to be a serious asset to someone, but not us. A waste.
Tony J Williams
36 Posted 22/04/2015 at 15:40:01
I doubt he will Tony.

Steavey, he was an early second-half sub against Leicester and if he was named Man of the Match, it goes to show how bad the rest of them were.

Denis Richardson
37 Posted 22/04/2015 at 15:42:35
IÂ’m still waiting for him to Â’explodeÂ’ in the second half of the season.

Cannot figure out what the point of signing the guy was if we were not prepared to play him regularly. If all were fit heÂ’d be on the bench but even when we had midfileders injured, he still wasnÂ’t played. It will likely make a few players think twice about coming on loan to us in the future.

Steven Telford
38 Posted 22/04/2015 at 17:01:31
I wonder if he has considered that, if the player of the tournament cant break into the Everton squad, maybe that says more about the tournament than it does about the Everton squad.

He heard somewhere what the supporters asked for...
Yeah, do you think he has a ToffeeWeb account?

Trevor Lynes
39 Posted 22/04/2015 at 17:36:15
The pass for LukakuÂ’s goal was sublime and he made many more in the African cup. He was made Player of the Tournament despite not playing for the winners.

I believe that Atsu is a decent player and will blossom somewhere else in the Premier League. He should have played when we were short of Mirallas and Pienaar. Perhaps this lad could play the Pienaar role if he was given a chance. He can certainly pick a pass which is the sort of player we need. Why are we loaning in Atsu if we are never going to play him?

Paul Dark
40 Posted 22/04/2015 at 18:16:36
Atsu is another embarrassment to come out of the risible Martinez circus. He is clearly a very skillful player with vision who can turn games. He has been given no chance whatsoever by the sweet-talking but dour Martinez. That any manager in the world might pick the ineffably appalling McGeady before this player is shocking, simply shocking.

I do envy those on here who support Martinez still. If he pleases, then it is unlikely that any manager in the coming years will ever ruin your support of our great club. Martinez has taken favouritism, incoherence, manifestly poor management and the piss to an extreme.

Martinez Out!

Colin Glassar
41 Posted 22/04/2015 at 18:28:16
Something about these African loanees we get. Lacina Traore played once and then disappeared, never to be heard of again, now this fella whoÂ’s become the invisible man. ThereÂ’s something rotten in Denmark, methinks.
Mike Allison
42 Posted 22/04/2015 at 18:31:45
HeÂ’s a good player, who needed game time and didnÂ’t get any. How any Everton fan can feel theyÂ’ve seen enough of him to write him off is beyond me. I also donÂ’t agree that heÂ’s looked bad when he has played. HeÂ’s struggled to be influential, but thatÂ’s understandable coming into the side for 20 mins or a half here and there.

This was a very bizarre loan move almost from the start. To loan a player who we knew was going to miss 6-8 weeks of the season, then not pick him at the start knowing he wasnÂ’t going to be available later on was daft. He seemed like heÂ’d provide depth and the ability to rotate the squad, which was just what we needed with Europa and League cup games to fit in, instead Martinez decides he doesnÂ’t really want to rotate, and runs the same players into the ground playing three times a week. He then does start Atsu twice in three days, then heÂ’s back out of the side.

ItÂ’s looked clueless from start to finish. One of MartinezÂ’s many problems as a manager is that he tries to be too clever. No doubt he has some deep theory about why he did all this, but basically he should have given the lad game time off the bench early on, then started him gradually more and more, especially in the period when we were playing two games every week.

Paul Tran
43 Posted 22/04/2015 at 19:16:33
File under worth a punt; tried him, not good enough. If weÂ’re going to bring in someone on loan, they have to make a sudden impact like Lennon, otherwise itÂ’s a waste of the wages.

ItÂ’s clear that Martinez isnÂ’t the kind of person that will say heÂ’s not playing him cosÂ’ heÂ’s not cutting it, so why expect it? The fact that he got Lennon and put him straight in the team tells me everything.

Harold Matthews
44 Posted 22/04/2015 at 20:00:14
Paul T. Lennon has had years of Premier League experience.
Jim Hardin
45 Posted 22/04/2015 at 20:18:51
I remember him finally starting earlier in the season and ending up leaving the game with a hamstring injury minutes into the game on essentially his first run with speed. HasnÂ’t been seen since and even in the few cameos he has made he has been anonymous. Besides donÂ’t we already have enough forwards and strikers with hamstring and other leg issues?

The young man may have talent, and be a good teammate but this does not seem to be working out for him here so good luck to him and I hope he turns out to be as good of a player as he is tipped to be.

James Flynn
46 Posted 22/04/2015 at 20:07:57
Paul (40) - "Atsu is another embarrassment to come out of the risible Martinez circus. He is clearly a very skilful player with vision who can turn games."

Where? In some hallucinatory dream of yours?

HeÂ’s not a Prem player. Nothing more or less. They come and they go and AtsuÂ’s just another. Let Chelsea worry what to do with him.

Jim Bennings
47 Posted 22/04/2015 at 20:54:28
Unless we get Wilfried Bony, which is highly unlikely now, IÂ’d just steer well clear off African players, too many slideshows with them and frankly they struggle to be consistent team players due to poor coaching.

Andy Crooks
48 Posted 22/04/2015 at 21:15:03
John, that Bead analogy is brilliant.
Gavin Johnson
49 Posted 22/04/2015 at 23:08:39
If we’d been in the same kind of position as last season – flirting with the Champions League instead of relegation – it wouldn’t have been such a risk to give him a run in the side. As it is, we have struggled, I don’t think it's a surprise he’s had so little game time. The lad just looks too lightweight.

Atsu is of similar build and stature to Pienaar and Lennon, but unlike them, he never tracks back. He does look like he has some ability to go forward, but heÂ’s a luxury player who would have been more suited at a team that was doing well, who could have brought him on for half-an-hour when theyÂ’re 2-0 up, unfortunately those games have been few and far between for us this season.

John Daley, Yes, the Beadle analogy was brilliant. I donÂ’t know how your mind comes up with half of it but you should defo consider making another career as a scriptwriter in left-field comedy.

Andrew Lawrenson
50 Posted 23/04/2015 at 04:55:02
"If you showed Martinez pictures of Jeremy Beadle's big hand and little hand, he'd say it was of great benefit being born like that because he'd be able to pull off some phenomenal shadow puppets."

Probably the funniest thing I have ever read.

John Pickles
51 Posted 23/04/2015 at 09:10:58
If Atsu was Player Of The Tournament at the AFCON then Deulofeu would have been worshipped as a God had he appeared.
Denis Richardson
52 Posted 23/04/2015 at 10:51:41
Â’Unless we get Wilfried Bony, which is highly unlikely now, I'd just steer well clear off African players, too many slideshows with them and frankly they struggle to be consistent team players due to poor coaching.Â’

ThatÂ’s a pretty sweeping generalisation there Jim with not too distant racial undertones!

IÂ’ll remind you that we have a certina Mr Pienaar in our squad who hasnÂ’t been too shabby a player for us and the league is dotted with African players of exceptional talent. It would be great if you didnÂ’t describe someone as Â’lazyÂ’ just because they come from Africa!

Eugene Ruane
53 Posted 23/04/2015 at 11:05:21
Jim Bennings (47) – "Unless we get Wilfried Bony, which is highly unlikely now, I'd just steer well clear off African players, too many slideshows with them and frankly they struggle to be consistent team players due to poor coaching"

Do they call you Â’bigÂ’ Jim by any chance?

By the way you failed to mention that "TheyÂ’re alright from August to October like, but when the cold weather comes and the pitches start to cut up and the tackles start to fly in, they..." (Well, IÂ’m sure you know the rest.)

Trevor Lynes
54 Posted 23/04/2015 at 12:29:33
Strangely enough I can remember when people said that Africans lack stamina and cannot run long distances. Then along came the Olympics and we have forgotten how to win distance events ever since.

These ridiculous comments are an embarrassment. Players like Bony, Benteke, Toure etc etc etc would be welcome in any Everton team (if we could afford them).

David Graves
55 Posted 23/04/2015 at 12:44:11
Jim Bennings – I refer you to the writings of the late Ron Noades.
Tony J Williams
56 Posted 23/04/2015 at 16:26:11
Knew which way this thread would turn...

DoesnÂ’t detract from the fact that Atsu is gash though...

Jim Bennings
57 Posted 24/04/2015 at 09:35:03
IÂ’m sorry if people misinterpreted the point I was trying to make but I have made a similar statement regarding Belgian and Dutch footballers.

It's not a judgement on these guys itÂ’s simply plain fact from what we have witnessed with our own eyes and not just from our own club but the example of Toure at Man City speaks volumes of a player spitting his dummy out over trivial things.

I donÂ’t remember turning this thread into a racial argument, can people not be allowed to make a honest judgement anymore without being accused of something sinister?

I simply suggested that African football has been neglected in terms of coaching and they are more known as individual type players than team players, it is not an argument over race just my assessment over whenever I see African teams perform.

Winston Williamson
58 Posted 24/04/2015 at 10:39:57
To be fair to Jim, he has a point. ItÂ’s okay naming the best African players and saying youÂ’d have them in your team, but we all remember certain players like Nyarko... looked great in pre-season but, as soon as the temperature dropped, he looked like he didnÂ’t want to be here...
Jim Bennings
59 Posted 24/04/2015 at 11:29:47
Winston,

I hope you have your tin hat here with you because you're likely to get pelted from all angles and accused of things youÂ’d not even say.

The point of mine was every country or continent has different styles in its footballing beliefs, coaching etc.

The Dutch and Belgians seems to have a very high opinion of themselves and like hyping up their own abilities even ordinary ones.

The British stand alongside headlines of the Americans, Australians and the Far Eastern players in terms of what they lack talent-wise they make up for in their appetite to continually run and work for their team-mates.

The African players do seem to be more individualist in their playing skills, too often watching the African Nations Cup games were ridden with bad decisions made and selfish play and that’s not the fault of the players – it’s just the coaching isn’t there to coax through more team ethics.

Eugene Ruane
60 Posted 24/04/2015 at 12:58:59
Sorry, Jim, but imo, youÂ’re only seeing what you want to see and I believe just about everything you said is unsubstantiated generalisation.

"The Dutch and Belgians seems to have a very high opinion of themselves and like hyping up their own abilities even ordinary one's"

Really?

Name 10 then, including four Â’ordinary onesÂ’ who like Â’hyping up their own abilitiesÂ’ (and when youÂ’ve done it, IÂ’ll give you 10 English players guilty of exactly the same).

Then there’s – "The African players do seem to be more individualist in their playing skills, too often watching the African Nations Cup games were ridden with bad decisions made and selfish play and that's not the fault of the players, it's just the coaching isn't there to coax through more team ethics."

Again, selective nonsense, real 2 + 2 = 5 stuff.

African players playing in Africa may play a slower pace because of heat (or coaching) but the suggestion that thereÂ’s more Â’selfish playÂ’ and less teamwork from the average African is tripe.

IÂ’ve lost count of the amount of times IÂ’ve see non-African players in the PL go it alone, rather than pass to a better positioned player. (Sterling does it more in one game than most African players do in a season.)

Is Ronaldo not as greedy? Mirallas? McGeady? Sterling? Bale? Stanley Matthews?

Sorry but it’s all sounds very... um... ’Farage’ – pointing out faults in foreigners, even though it’s obvious players (including English players) are prone to exactly the same strengths and weaknesses.

Zaire certainly looked naive in 1974, but that was 40 years ago, now there are simply footballers – some great, some average, some hopeless, some team-players, some greedy, some hard, some weak and I’ve seen all the above from every continent (and so have you).

By the way, I didnÂ’t accuse anyone of racism, however I believe Â’unconscious xenophobiaÂ’ would be appropriate.

That said, IÂ’m impressed Â’ItÂ’s political correctness gone mad!Â’ has been avoided (guessing one or two must have been itching).

Denis Richardson
61 Posted 24/04/2015 at 18:10:38
Jim and Winston, for every African player you name as shit, lacking stamina, not coached well etc, I can name you a French, Dutch, Russian (take your pick on the country) Etc player who ticks those boxes too, including Britain.

Africa is a continent with 50 plus countries with over 600m odd people and many African players have in fact been coached in Europe before they even came to the UK (work permits being an issue they tend to go to places like France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands as teenagers first).

Hence, yes coaching standards are generally poor in Africa compared to Europe (obviously due to financial issues) but most Premier League players from there were coached elsewhere anyway. The continent is littered with European scouts afterall.

As for Atsu, we will never know if he was good enough for Everton given the manager didnÂ’t exactly give him a proper crack in the first team. That has little if anything to do with his nationality.

According to you we should therefore not sign anyone from Africa at all, avoid all Belgians and also steer clear of all Dutch players. Do you not see how ridiculous that sounds?

Andy Crooks
62 Posted 24/04/2015 at 18:57:07
Atsu canÂ’t be judged on the chances he has had. Ten games in the side might show him to be a fine player. If we had a lesser squad he might have had the chance. If we had a better squad he wouldnÂ’t be here. Wrong player, wrong club, no oneÂ’s fault.
Andy Crooks
63 Posted 24/04/2015 at 19:06:37
Eugene # 60, I think you might have contributed to the highlight of McGeadyÂ’s career. He is in a sentence and being likened to Stanley Matthews.
Ray Roche
64 Posted 24/04/2015 at 19:25:39
Bernard Matthews more like it.
Nicholas Ryan
65 Posted 25/04/2015 at 18:45:42
Atsu is talented, but unfortunately, in a 50-50 challenge for the ball with my 8 year-old daughter, heÂ’d come second!

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