(6) Imran Louza

Discussion in 'The Team Bus' started by Smudger, Jun 1, 2021.

  1. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    The first post in this thread covers what he was good at doing for Nantes. He did try and stick his oar in defensively and create from midfield. And starting to pop up on the edge of the opposition box generally playing the ball out to Kiko or Masina/Rose. Ranieri seems to have instilled confidence in him and letting him do what he does best in a free role in midfield always as a spare man. If he carries on like this he will be living up to his former transfer billing. Also looks a lot fitter as do several others.
     
    Eric IS Bananman likes this.
  2. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    I think Louza, Sissoko and Etebo all look like upgrades on Hughes, albeit based on a small sample size.

    Kucka may also be an upgrade. He's blown hot and cold, but his best performances have generally been better than anything I remember Hughes putting out at this level. Conversely, his worse performances have been far worse than Hughes, who was always a reliable 6/10 player at this level with no real stinkers.

    Of course, most of Kucka's appearances were under Munoz and we look a far better team since Ranieri came in, so it might be too early to judge. Sissoko looks a level above since Ranieri came into the picture, much better than he did under Munoz, so we may still have a lot more to see from Kucka yet. He certainly has a rocket of a shot on him and I reckon he'll smash in a couple of crackers this season before it's done.

    Not sure on Tufan yet.

    I see Hughes as better than Cleverley, Gosling and Sema (not that he should be in central midfield anyway, but still).
     
  3. WatfordTalk

    WatfordTalk First Team

    But the real question is how does Hughes compare to our latest big money midfield signing (thanks Gino!), Jerome N'Gakia?
     
    Chumlax likes this.
  4. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    Obviously he can't compare with such divine abilities, but who can?
     
  5. Rookery Refugee

    Rookery Refugee Reservist

    I think there's still a class player in Louza. He's not top class yet by any means, but he's young and it takes even more mature players time to settle in and learn what it takes to succeed in the PL. He needs minutes and time under Ranieri. If he loses confidence it would be a problem. Slow growth is what's needed - unfortunately we're in a relegation scrap.
     
  6. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Waste of a shirt IMO.
     
  7. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    I honestly don’t think Ranieri rates him and is only using him because he has no one else who can sit that deep. I think if he can replace him in January, he will.
     
  8. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    How’s it going on this one my self righteous friend.
    ? Not trusted in key game tonight. Pleased we used the whole budget eh?
     
  9. WatfordTalk

    WatfordTalk First Team

    I think you can separate the annoyance at using our budget on a midfielder with our defence so lacking, and Louza's ability as a player.

    Just because Ranieri seems to want to ease him into the PL doesn't mean he's dogshit, or won't turn out to be a good signing.
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  10. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Agreed. As stated on the match thread it’s a question of priority. Louza may turn out good and he looks promising. However budget wise Pozzo had a choice. Upgrade the awful WTE and Cathcart. Or spend £9m on a development player. Pozzo chose the latter because that is what he always does.

    The reality is Louza has contributed little so far, both managers don’t think he is ready and irrespective of how he turns out using the entire budget on him was a disgraceful decision.
     
    duewizard, Since63 and We hate 48 like this.
  11. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Yes. Shame we weren’t able to add a single player other than the highly promising Louza this summer.
     
    Knight GT likes this.
  12. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Still maintain that Ranieri doesn’t rate him - I think he will be further away from a regular starting spot come the end of January, not nearer.

    I expect him to be moved on next summer.
     
  13. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    This would concern me, because whether he's 'good enough' or not, we've literally seen that he brings more balance to the midfield than we can achieve with any other combination without him in in it, and he plays in a (slightly) different style to any other player we have - even if he doesn't rate him as the ultimate answer, I don't see how anyone being pragmatic (in this case the 'one' being Ranieri) avoids the conclusion that we need to play him whilst our squad is configured in the way it currently is.
     
    simpleMASH likes this.
  14. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Because I suspect Ranieri prefers a more 'combative' type like Kucka and Cleverley. And will want a proper CDM in January. Whether that would allow Louza to get one of the roles further forward would remain to be seen I guess.

    I'm not saying I agree with Ranieri preferring those 2 players. But it's just my opinion that it's probably his thinking. He's benched him a few times now - and I'm sure there can't be a player in English football who has been taken off at HT 3 times already - we aren't even 50% of the way through the season.

    The signs are there that Ranieri doesn't trust him. Same goes for Tufan who remains a very confusing addition given his total lack of input.
     
  15. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Yeah, Tufan is the more worrying contribution-wise as he has literally not contributed anything at essentially any point in the season. I think he's capable of it, and again, it fits with the Turkish fans' appraisal of him in terms of what situation he'll work well in and what situation he'll work poorly in, but for one reason or another we clearly don't consider him worthy of that favourable situation. After Friday I just don't see how Claudio can possibly be persisting with the idea of Kucka being worth it for the combativeness, though, even taking into account the relative lack of it in other options.
     
  16. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Kucka, WTE and probably Rose are the three players that need to be nowhere near the squad anymore if there is a remotely viable alternative, which includes people like the coach driver and the team lady.
     
  17. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    download (2).jpg
     
    RS2, Chumlax, a19tgg and 1 other person like this.
  18. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    To be fair, I'd have Rose back when, and only when, a proper fitness regime has been undertaken.

    But I don't want Kucka or WTE ever near the match day squad again.
     
  19. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Agree, that’s why I said probably, because in his current incarnation he can’t start, but there is a way back for him if he wants it and if the club can set him on the right path.
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  20. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Whilst that's true about Rose, my own personal appraisal of the situation is that the chances of him every being fit/in shape enough are functionally zero - the fact that he still is has to be driven entirely 100% by him, just as it was when he played a season for Newcastle fat - he's just not prepared to change. The problem is we shouldn't be indulging it, and yet we are (presumably because our farcical defensive recruitment leaves us beholden to him in a way a club should not be to any player, let alone an over-30 with well-documented fitness and attitude problems who continues to display said problems).
     
  21. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    I know it won't be a popular opinion on here but from the last couple of games he has played I'm starting to like the look of this lad.
     
  22. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I think more people have taken to him now after some good performances against top sure sides .
     
  23. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    I think he shows promise and I’d certainly rather he started instead of Kucka and Tufan, especially given the outlay Pozzo made on him. It’s a worry though that both managers so far seem to view him as second last resort over Gozza.
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  24. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Why would that not be a popular opinion here?
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  25. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

    We look better as a midfield with him in it and his set pieces were decent.
     
    Jumbolina and Chumlax like this.
  26. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Not sure it says much considering how god awful both sides were yesterday but he looked like the best midfielder on the pitch after he came on. It's bizarre that he doesn't start regularly when you see his passing range and composure on the ball, two things we massively struggle with.
     
    Happy bunny, Chumlax and Knight GT like this.
  27. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Looks a bargain at £9m :)
     
    Jumbolina likes this.
  28. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    The only thing I'm thinking is that he might have picked up Covid and got it worse than some of the others, but recovered enough to sit on the bench, otherwise I don't really get it, yeah, Louza isn't Xavi reincarnated, but he's certainly better than Kucka
     
  29. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    I think Gozza’s wages are only £5m over the course of his contract so it’s not as bad as that :)
     
    The undeniable truth likes this.
  30. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    I assume he didn’t have COVID before Brentford when he sat on the bench whilst Kucka stunk up the joint for 90 minutes.
     
  31. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    He's had a bit of stick, albeit mostly without playing. His transfer fee and whether it could have been better spent aren't down to him but some seem to have a downer on hime for it.

    He doesn't seem shy of a tackle, retains possession very well and generally seems progressive with his passing, appreciate half a season after he signed but quite like him, young as well so has a decent chance I would say.
     
    Knight GT likes this.
  32. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    He wasn’t the best appropriation of funds by a long, long way, but I’d play him over Kucka and Tufan every time.
     
    Jumbolina and Hogg-DEENEY!!! like this.
  33. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    I think he's had a fair bit of praise, recognition that he somewhat improves the midfield as it currently is, and questions as to why Ranieri won't start him, from myself and others - but that is a distinct issue from questions over the money spent on him and whether it was a smart use of what money we had available at the time.
     
    wfc4ever, Dreadnought and Jumbolina like this.
  34. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    I thought Imran was very good today. His composure, awareness and technical ability will definitely be missed. Hopefully Morocco are knocked out early doors or if they go all the way he has a good tournament and comes back flying.
     
  35. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Agreed. Thought he was very good.

    Was anonymous for the first 20 mins and then grew into the game and stood out.

    Still suspect Ranieri will drop him for Cleverley though when everyone is fully fit.
     
    RS2 likes this.

Share This Page