Itchy does that same cut back for us two or three times every game - it's just that it always seems to go straight to the opposition full back at the moment. The Scots love him. I was reading their comments last night. I think he's got it too. A class act going through a ropey period at club level. We need to get behind him. I'd hate to see him running at OUR defence doing his stepovers n a different team's shirt.
Very good player, perhaps when he plays for Scotland he KNOWS he has to produce the goods cos no one else in that team will. At Watford he experiences less pressure, as if he doesn't find a cross or a finish, he knows Vydra or Deeney or Tozser or Abdi etc will do. Having said that we could probably fleece Celtic for far more money than he is worth if we wanted to.
Agree. I think this would be good for everyone involved. We would get a good fee that we could invest elsewhere and he would get a big wage increase. Anya would be deadly against most of the Scottish teams in the league who are not Championship standard and he would get annual Champions League outings. He would also be more appreciated by his fellow Scots. I am not sure how he really fits into our side now particularly if we reach the Premiership.
He's also one of our few first-team regulars that counts as home-grown, possibly necessitating buying a home-grown replacement or relying on some youth-team players on the bench more often.
I'm going to bump this thread up purely because of his poor performance today, but I personally think his head has been turned after the recurrent Scotland call-ups and Strachan's comments about him better off playing for a "better team" (sic) or Celtic (which ever one he said). His international call-ups have been done despite him playing crap for us/not playing at all. Couple that with him deleting anyone who's ever criticised him on Twitter and it could all possibly be pointing to him leaving the club in January. I'm gonna say it- I wouldn't be unhappy if he left. I would definitely be not unhappy if we replaced him with Demarai Gray or Jordan Obita. Both are young, English, at clubs that aren't good financially and (if we put in the right offer) would accept. Most importantly, both look like they would perform better on the pitch than Anya. Heck, I wouldn't even be opposed to us blooding in Jakubiak. If Anya wants to continue to put in good performances for Scotland and do ****e ones for us, then he can get lost IMO.
Is "criticising him" a euphemism for verbally abusing him? No wonder he a) deletes the posts and b) isn't playing his best for the very same abusers.
Anya has not been very good this season so far in what ever position he has played, but he is definitely not a CMF!!!! Please take note SJ!!! Unless he returns to his better form soon I would be inclined to try and offload him in January, especially as Gordon Strachan has been bigging him up for his Scotland performances. It would fit The Pozzo model of selling players at the height of their profile, because thanks to GS I think Anya is probably at that stage, even though he is not doing it for us.
A lot of it has genuinely been criticism, I've seen very little actual abuse directed towards him. He blocked a friend of mine who posted ''great guy but poor season so far''. Where is the abuse in that? He is blocking anyone who is saying he needs to work on his game - which he does. He can do one in my opinion, he's been poor for far too long.
Last season for him seems to be play well for Scotland pick up injury recover just in time for next international break play well for Scotland get injured A likeable character and when on his game can be a match winner but doesn't fit really into team pattern and not making good decisions when he does have the ball.
Weren't Sunderland and Crystal Palace interested in him? Hell, I'll even take an offer from Leicester. What if we got offered £2m for him? I think that's £2m than he's ever commanded in transfer fees, seeing as he's only ever moved for free or had his contract cancelled in his professional career.
Useful squad player, a good fit in a 352 or 442, a poor fit in a 433 or 4321. If he doesn't like that then sell in Jan and replace with a proper left back to compete with poodle
I actually think there's a role for him in most formations - even in a 4-3-3, he has the pace to do well on the outside. It's just a shame that, despite clearly having a good football brain, he only uses it in Scotland. £2/3mil move to Celtic is the best scenario for us and him, in my opinion.
I don't understand all the twitter blocking on his part. I think it's pretty obvious that we like him as a person and as a player but he just isn't performing for us atm. You don't have to go too far back to see how thrilled we all were for him on his Scotland call up but right now he has to face his critics. It's part of being a footballer.
Except his crossing is poor and his finishing rubbish.... I'd snap Celtics hand off at anything over half a mill
