Hamza

[Tuna]

Looks hungry and fearless, something we've lacked a bit of this season.

 

 

 

 

[Tielemans63]

What impressed me most today was his reading of the game. He has an innate ability to anticipate where the ball is going to go and what the opposing player is going to do. Was the best player on the pitch today bar Evans maybe.

 

Has to keep his place next game.

[Paninistickers]

I posted several times a couple of weeks back that he's not up to it.

 

But, credit where it's due, he looks to have an energy about him that I like.

 

Still a bit worried about his touch and ability to receive  in such a congested midfield. But fair play, 90% of foxestalk faith in the lad seems to be well founded at the mo

[SheppyFox]

Pay rise time.

[StriderHiryu]

18 minutes ago, Edingleyfox said:

Needs to play every week.No coincidence that results have improved having a player       that can run tackle and press teams back.He was everywhere today and we look a lot more solid with him in the team.I think he is more than just a defensive midfielder 

Yeah I agree he seems more like a box-to-box midfielder than someone who just sits. Reminds me of some of Danny Drinkwater's better games, though we haven't seen any quarterback style long passes yet. His all round game in each of the last three games has been impressive and he's seemed very confident. Not shying away from trying to pass the ball, run past a player of put in a crunching challenge.

 

I'm not sure he's ready yet to be played as a midfield two but in the three man central midfield he has been immense.

[majaco]

10 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Yeah I agree he seems more like a box-to-box midfielder than someone who just sits. Reminds me of some of Danny Drinkwater's better games, though we haven't seen any quarterback style long passes yet. His all round game in each of the last three games has been impressive and he's seemed very confident. Not shying away from trying to pass the ball, run past a player of put in a crunching challenge.

 

I'm not sure he's ready yet to be played as a midfield two but in the three man central midfield he has been immense.

Towards, the end against Cardiff, we seemed rudderless.  Despite his age, he plays like a leader.  

[LCFC hub]

Another good performance by Hamza. Just makes you wonder why it took so long for him to be given an opportunity this season. 

 

Got to be in the team now when he's fit for me. 

 

Apologies if there's already a Hamza thread, I couldn't find one. 

[shailen]

Massive credit to Puel on him. I thought he was nowhere near good enough seeing him and speaking to a Burton fan at work but he has proved that he is more than capable. 

 

If he can improve offensively he could become a really good box to box midfielder

[Dr The Singh]

Such a hard worker, gives his all.  But I have doubts if he played in a 2 man. Centre midfield.  In a 3 he has been the best of three.

[StriderHiryu]

28 minutes ago, Dr The Singh said:

Such a hard worker, gives his all.  But I have doubts if he played in a 2 man. Centre midfield.  In a 3 he has been the best of three.

I think the coaching team know this and think they have managed the situation quite well. Positional discipline is really hard in midfield because the game can be in any kind of crazy state at any time. Younger players understandably tend to get attracted to the ball or chasing lost causes, and then all of a sudden they are out of position and the entire shape of the team is wrong, making you susceptible to an opponents attack. There was an interview with Mendy earlier in the season where even he said that Puel told him during the Liverpool game to "stop chasing after the ball!" Once we got our shape back we then got on top of Liverpool and though they ended up winning we outplayed them for large patches, so it's vital to know your role.

 

The only way to get better with positioning is experience and practice, but in the 433 Hamza doesn't have to worry about that so much. Mendy sits and then in various phases of play, Hamza, Ndidi and Mendy form a bank of three to compress the play. This is great for a young player because he just needs to listen to and follow Mendy and thus not worry about positioning as much. That's allowed Hamza to exert more of his own game and strengths and it's added a lot to the team. As an example, Pogba had a similar role at Juventus when Vidal and Pirlo where the other two, so he could play his own game and not have to really know the details of where to stand, whereas under Mourinho he didn't. Luckily for him, Solksjaer has pushed him forward again so he doesn't have to worry about the defensive side!

 

The irony here is I reckon Adrien Silva would also do well in a midfield 3 as that's how Sporting played, but I can see why Puel would be reluctant to try him there as he gets brushed off the ball too easily. Hamza physically is made for this league and his high octane and no nonsense style is one reason why he's impressed so much. He's a very dynamic player to watch actually, as represented in those stats today.

 

All of this makes me REALLY excited for Harvey Barnes because voices from the academy have been saying they have rated him as our best prospect for years, and that's over an England international in Chilwell and our academy captain Hamza.

[Deeg67]

I think Choudhury's ideal role would be taking Ndidi's spot with a more creative option in front of him.  He has the engine to be a box to box MF and reads the game well (his interceptions are the proof of that) but he's not an innately creative player or good distributor and that's not something most guys can ever learn.

[MPH]

2 hours ago, Dr The Singh said:

Such a hard worker, gives his all.  But I have doubts if he played in a 2 man. Centre midfield.  In a 3 he has been the best of three.

i think  playing three in the middle has helped him settle in. it’s the perfect environment and gives him that support a new player breaking into the side needs.

 

 

as he grows, there will be a time when he will be able to play with just two down the middle. He’s almost there

[gerrytaggart]

On 19/12/2018 at 21:27, Paninistickers said:

Well, I'm sorry, but the lad is a trier but nothing else.

 

I wish him well. A local lad and without doubt a 100%er.

 

His touch is as delicate as a lump hammer. And when he had possession, on almost every occasion he rolled it back to the keeper. With respect, I could do that.

 

In pissing down conditions, he did however excel at the slide tackle.

 

No shame in it but I suspect he'll forge a career at league 1/2 level.

 

(Before I get battered for slagging off a young lad, I recall James wesolowski. He was miles ahead at the same age. And cut out a career earning 300 notes a week at Hamilton accies in the end)

 

2 week old comment not ageing so well.

[Dahnsouff]

6 minutes ago, gerrytaggart said:

2 week old comment not ageing so well.

Indeed, and then again everyone, including the OP love to be proven wrong in such situations I am sure 

[Paninistickers]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

Indeed, and then again everyone, including the OP love to be proven wrong in such situations I am sure 

Indeed. I do hope I'm wrong. But a bit early to decide if he's made it or not.

 

I've been been pleasantly surprised with his games, his touch is still suspect for the highest level and playing in a three is a whole different game to a two.

 

But he's energy, good engine, he's game and hopefully he'll develop his all round game. Good luck to him x

[The People's Hero]

Loves a flying interception. The sort of player to get a crowd going and to pull players along with him.

 

 

[Buzzell]

Needs to be in the starting 11 as much as possible now. Seems to be taking his opportunity well, obviously helps with us fans behind him. 

[Fox85]

If we Take Hamza out the squad, we don't win.

Edited 2 January 2019 by Fox85

[FilbertFrog]

He is still young and he needs to be given time he will have bad games and good games , but he has that drive and the will to win you can’t train into someone 

 

Claude must be given a huge round of applause for how he has motivated and managed this young man , even the gentle suggestions of a loan move to keep him grounded and working hard. 

 

Its like we got a £30m player for free 

[Lesta2014]

He’s quite lucky in that his game revolves from high energy and getting stuck in. Whether your on form or not they are two things he should be able to do consistently! He does need to improve with the ball but that will come and he is no worse than Ndidi currently with the ball at his feet. Has great pace over a short distance which is a great advantage in the premier league. Keep him in the squad 

[Tringfox]

Love him!

Don’t care his stats as my eyes tell me he will be the real deal!!

[foxes21]

Quote from Puel's press conference

 

“For Adrien, Mendy and Ndidi, we can play three in midfield and I think it will be an opportunity for Adrien (Silva) to have an opportunity in the second part of the season. We will see because it’s the end of the transfer window but for me, we have good balance and a good squad.

“It will be good at the end of the transfer window, for all the players, because they can keep their focus for the club. We can have players with different thoughts and we have to manage this situation.”

 

Surely if we're going to play 3 in midfield, Hamza is the first name on the team sheet? He should be playing every game imo. 

 

 

Edited 28 January 2019 by foxes21

[Nick]

2 minutes ago, foxes21 said:

Quote from Puel's press conference

 

“For Adrien, Mendy and Ndidi, we can play three in midfield and I think it will be an opportunity for Adrien (Silva) to have an opportunity in the second part of the season. We will see because it’s the end of the transfer window but for me, we have good balance and a good squad.

“It will be good at the end of the transfer window, for all the players, because they can keep their focus for the club. We can have players with different thoughts and we have to manage this situation.”

 

Surely if we're going to play 3 in midfield, Hamza is the first name on the team sheet? He should be playing every game imo. 

 

 

Wtf.

[Babylon]

RAGE ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

[lgfualol]

I'd like to see that midfield 3. Hamza should probably be playing though, Mendy and Ndidi are both droppable.