Demarai Gray

[sk3since03]

These people who critise Albrighton need to watch him closer in games and realise what he brings to the team, he works hard and his defensive contribution goes massively unoticed imo! 

 

As for Grey though, he looks a threat every time he's got the ball! Would be nice to see him have a run in the team  

[Thracian]

21 hours ago, TheMightySystem said:

And yet he only gets 5 minutes as a sub in the champions league..

 

Have you and others not reflected on the predicament faced by our manager? We're 1-0 up against a highly experienced Champions League team in front of a near full-house of home fans just hoping we can make it over the line. 

 

The team has done so well but is tiring noticeably but time is ticking away.

 

Gray's been in sparkling form but he's not really a defender and we're arguably past the point where we're going to be chasing another goal.

 

Imagine bringing the youthful emergee on with, say, 15 minutes to go and him making a mistake that costs us victory when we could go instead for a central midfield specialist who we know has seen it all and is the least likely of our entire squad to panic or be in any way indiscreet.

 

We've seen the alternative already with Waso. Sent off against Chelsea and against Arsenal, both arguably to our cost.

 

I'm not for a moment suggesting Gray would be sent off or do something rash like Waso. But he might easily lose possession in the wrong place or simply be caught in two minds. If, if, if, I know - and I'd personally have every faith in him - but at a time when we're closing out a game I see every sense in going for experience rather than giving so much responsibility to a youngster.

 

Had we needed a goal it would have been different. But in the circumstances I'd have gone for Shinji as my next choice. Gray would have stayed put. 

 

I actually think he's shown a lot of maturity in helping close out two or three games in the past but can't seriously argue with Ranieri's thinking. - and more especially given the success of it.             

 

 

 

 

[MrSpaM]

I'm also not sure why people think throwing on a youngster against an experienced side in the champions league when we're 1-0 up and got our backs to the wall is a great idea

 

By all means give him a chance but that's not the time to do it

[StriderHiryu]

Might not be for a while but when AFCON is on we will be without Mahrez for 3-7 games. I'm sure Grey will get his run in the team then. Likewise expect to see Kaputska coming off the bench around the same time. 

 

Personally I find the development of those 2 plus Amartey exciting. Often teams buy young talent but it's very hit and miss. Grey and Amartey are already pretty good. They could definitely end up being star players for the team in a few seasons. 

[Ric Flair]

37 minutes ago, MrSpaM said:

I'm also not sure why people think throwing on a youngster against an experienced side in the champions league when we're 1-0 up and got our backs to the wall is a great idea

 

By all means give him a chance but that's not the time to do it

Because you're giving your team some fresh legs and an outlet to ease the pressure off the defence. So many times last season Gray was bought on in the closing stages and he helped close out matches brilliantly. He has mastered getting the ball from deep and running it out of harms way. Sometimes you need to be brave and make changes like this because your team is getting deeper and deeper and caught up in the onslaught.

[Gerard]

It's hard to play Mahrez, Vardy, Slimani and Gray in the same team.

 

I'm really impressed with Gray, he has developed so much since he came here and will be a top player.

 

It's a dilemma for Ranieri as we have some excellent attacking players but fitting them all in to the same team is difficult.

[shen]

10 hours ago, adejo92 said:

Can't drop Mahrez. He is the kind of player that could do nothing for 89 minutes and then score a wonder goal or create a goal from nothing. Gray is looking great, we are just spoilt for choice!

So just like Gray did against Man Utd? Not at all saying Mahrez should be dropped, but this is evidence that Gray has that same 'special' feel to him as well.

 

1 hour ago, MrSpaM said:

I'm also not sure why people think throwing on a youngster against an experienced side in the champions league when we're 1-0 up and got our backs to the wall is a great idea

 

By all means give him a chance but that's not the time to do it

It sounds very cliché-y what you're saying. It really is about the mentality and ability of the individual player, not his age. Maybe it's the case that many youths get nervous when the big occasion hits them, but the fearlessness you sometimes see from teenagers can be very useful. Obviously the coaches and manager will know this best when it comes to Gray.

[Max Power]

2 hours ago, sk3since03 said:

These people who critise Albrighton need to watch him closer in games and realise what he brings to the team, he works hard and his defensive contribution goes massively unoticed imo! 

 

As for Grey though, he looks a threat every time he's got the ball! Would be nice to see him have a run in the team  

I don't think anyone denies his work rate and positional discipline. His use of the ball bar one nice crossfield pass on Tuesday was awful. Overhit crosses and misplaced passes galore. I suppose Ranieri values that discipline very highly in the 4-4-2 which is fair enough.

[AKCJ]

4 minutes ago, Gerard said:

It's hard to play Mahrez, Vardy, Slimani and Gray in the same team.

 

I'm really impressed with Gray, he has developed so much since he came here and will be a top player.

 

It's a dilemma for Ranieri as we have some excellent attacking players but fitting them all in to the same team is difficult.

 

Yep, Gray only gets his chance when one of those 3 are rested IMO.

 

Gray ---Slimani---Mahrez (4-3-3)

 

or

 

Gray---Vardy---Mahrez (4-3-3)

 

or

 

Vardy - Slimani

Albrighton-----------------Gray(4-2-2)

[foxes21]

we need to rotate more. We may aswell have rotated Vs United/Liverpool, we still have the players to be competitive.

 

Gray Okazaki Kaputska

 

Musa

 

That front four could be as frightening as Mahrez/Slimani/Vardy. And it'll also offer the same defensive quality as Albrighton. Okazaki & presumably Kaputska can both defend well.

[Gerard]

4 minutes ago, foxes21 said:

we need to rotate more. We may aswell have rotated Vs United/Liverpool, we still have the players to be competitive.

 

Gray Okazaki Kaputska

 

Musa

 

That front four could be as frightening as Mahrez/Slimani/Vardy. And it'll also offer the same defensive quality as Albrighton. Okazaki & presumably Kaputska can both defend well.

 

We can't afford not to play our best side in any game.

 

The players don't need wrapping up in cotton wool. I don't mind the odd bit of rotation but we should play our best players 90% of the time and manage the situation with substitutions. We don't need two different XI's just because we play twice a week.

[MattCan]

50 minutes ago, shen said:

So just like Gray did against Man Utd? Not at all saying Mahrez should be dropped, but this is evidence that Gray has that same 'special' feel to him as well.

....

Really? when? how? Show us some videos of that ... I saw the Chelsea game last week and I didn't see any "flair". Yeah, show it. Give us ten "flairy" actions that Gray did (which are comparable to those of Mahrez) that have led to goals or assists. Show it if you are truthful.

[BrummieFOX]

19 minutes ago, MattCan said:

Really? when? how? Show us some videos of that ... I saw the Chelsea game last week and I didn't see any "flair". Yeah, show it. Give us ten "flairy" actions that Gray did (which are comparable to those of Mahrez) that have led to goals or assists. Show it if you are truthful.

I'll give you 8 and then see if you need the other 2.

[shen]

19 minutes ago, MattCan said:

Really? when? how? Show us some videos of that ... I saw the Chelsea game last week and I didn't see any "flair". Yeah, show it. Give us ten "flairy" actions that Gray did (which are comparable to those of Mahrez) that have led to goals or assists. Show it if you are truthful.

Uhh, I was referring to the 'special' goal he scored against Man Utd. Not sure what you're getting worked up about. The argument from the poster was that Mahrez can 'do nothing for 89 minutes' but produce one moment of magic. Gray provided a moment of magic right then, didn't he?

Obviously Gray has had nowhere near as many opportunities as Mahrez, nor am I suggesting that he can do this on as regular a basis as Mahrez can. But Mahrez wasn't very prolific in our first season back either.

Given time and development, maybe we'll see more of those moments from Gray.

[MattCan]

3 minutes ago, shen said:

Uhh, I was referring to the 'special' goal he scored against Man Utd. Not sure what you're getting worked up about. The argument from the poster was that Mahrez can 'do nothing for 89 minutes' but produce one moment of magic. Gray provided a moment of magic right then, didn't he?

Obviously Gray has had nowhere near as many opportunities as Mahrez, nor am I suggesting that he can do this on as regular a basis as Mahrez can. But Mahrez wasn't very prolific in our first season back either.

Given time and development, maybe we'll see more of those moments from Gray.

There are many young players in the country with great "potential". Gray is only one of them.

Mahrez, on the other hand, is a proven brand (PFA POTY who helped us win a lifetime achievement) who is not that much older than Gray.

Instead of supporting the guy (an exciting player worth paying to watch) to thrive even more in a Leicester shirt, we are trying to discredit him and trash him because of reasons which have nothing to do with football. Shame!

[shen]

5 minutes ago, MattCan said:

There are many young players in the country with great "potential". Gray is only one of them.

Mahrez, on the other hand, is a proven brand (PFA POTY who helped us win a lifetime achievement) who is not that much older than Gray.

Instead of supporting the guy (an exciting player worth paying to watch) to thrive even more in a Leicester shirt, we are trying to discredit him and trash him because of reasons which have nothing to do with football. Shame!

What the flippin 'eck are you on about? Where am I not supporting Mahrez or discrediting him? This is a thread about Gray. I am supporting Gray and think that his goal is evidence that he has something in his locker which, if developed correctly, can lead to us getting another impactful player like Mahrez in the mid- to long-term future.

Christ, it's frustrating when people read (or rather DON'T read) something that just isn't there.

 

[MrSpaM]

1 hour ago, shen said:

So just like Gray did against Man Utd? Not at all saying Mahrez should be dropped, but this is evidence that Gray has that same 'special' feel to him as well.

 

It sounds very cliché-y what you're saying. It really is about the mentality and ability of the individual player, not his age. Maybe it's the case that many youths get nervous when the big occasion hits them, but the fearlessness you sometimes see from teenagers can be very useful. Obviously the coaches and manager will know this best when it comes to Gray.

It may sound cliché, but if the past few seasons have taught me anything, is that inexperience can cost you points and ultimately your place in competitions

[MattCan]

7 minutes ago, shen said:

What the flippin 'eck are you on about? Where am I not supporting Mahrez or discrediting him? This is a thread about Gray. I am supporting Gray and think that his goal is evidence that he has something in his locker which, if developed correctly, can lead to us getting another impactful player like Mahrez in the mid- to long-term future.

Christ, it's frustrating when people read (or rather DON'T read) something that just isn't there.

 

 

Thread is about Gray? Go read the original post and ensuing pages and tell me if it's not about Mahrez and Albrighton to a lesser extent.

[shen]

6 minutes ago, MrSpaM said:

It may sound cliché, but if the past few seasons have taught me anything, is that inexperience can cost you points and ultimately your place in competitions

Rashford, Iheanacho, Alli and Iwobi immediately pop up in my head from last season as young, 'inexperienced' players that actually improved their respective teams. Three of the most expensively assembled teams no less. Could even throw in Fosu-Mensah and Dier in there if you're being generous.

[shen]

6 minutes ago, MattCan said:

 

Thread is about Gray? Go read the original post and ensuing pages and tell me if it's not about Mahrez and Albrighton to a lesser extent.

The thread title is 'Demarai Gray', hence it's about Demarai Gray. I am voicing my support for Gray and it's effing ridiculous I'm being accused of 'trashing' Mahrez for making rather innocuous comparisons between the two.

For the record (i.e. spelling it out for you), I think Mahrez is indispensable to this squad. Even more so now that Kanté left us. But when he needs a rest, is injured or on international duty, I will be fully supportive of Gray who has shown he has improved during his time here.

 

[MrSpaM]

11 minutes ago, shen said:

Rashford, Iheanacho, Alli and Iwobi immediately pop up in my head from last season as young, 'inexperienced' players that actually improved their respective teams. Three of the most expensively assembled teams no less. Could even throw in Fosu-Mensah and Dier in there if you're being generous.

Honestly think half of those players would look normal in championship sides

[shen]

6 minutes ago, MrSpaM said:

Honestly think half of those players would look normal in championship sides

But they looked good, i.e. better than 'normal' in top Premier League sides...? I struggle to understand your logic here. You said that if anything, these players would have likely cost points and places. I'm pretty sure none of those mentioned left their teams worse off.

[MrSpaM]

5 minutes ago, shen said:

But they looked good, i.e. better than 'normal' in top Premier League sides...? I struggle to understand your logic here. You said that if anything, these players would have likely cost points and places. I'm pretty sure none of those mentioned left their teams worse off.

Youngsters are often made to look better than they are because of players they have around them. I know it might not be the most popular opinion but players like Marcus Rashford wouldn't look anywhere near as good if they were playing for a championship team

[MattCan]

14 minutes ago, shen said:

The thread title is 'Demarai Gray', hence it's about Demarai Gray. I am voicing my support for Gray and it's effing ridiculous I'm being accused of 'trashing' Mahrez for making rather innocuous comparisons between the two.

For the record (i.e. spelling it out for you), I think Mahrez is indispensable to this squad. Even more so now that Kanté left us. But when he needs a rest, is injured or on international duty, I will be fully supportive of Gray who has shown he has improved during his time here.

 

 

For the record, Mahrez is the ONLY player that my kids love to watch play. I hope he will give us more joy for the rest of this season. After that, you may have any player you want.

[shen]

4 minutes ago, MrSpaM said:

Youngsters are often made to look better than they are because of players they have around them. I know it might not be the most popular opinion but players like Marcus Rashford wouldn't look anywhere near as good if they were playing for a championship team

But it works both ways. You could just as well argue the youngsters I named made their more experienced teammates look better. Maybe because they're more direct, willing runners or just out to impress and thus take risks and make unexpected plays; things which help out teammates. Rashford has shat all over Rooney, Iwobi all over Walcott/Chamberlain/Campbell etc.

I'm not saying that inexperience doesn't cost sides, but I'd argue that mental application is far more important and age necessarily a factor here.

By your logic, someone like Tim Howard should've become less error-prone in his last years at Everton, which wasn't the case.