Rachid Ghezzal opens up on transfer, first half of season and road to improvement

[lgfualol]

Liked him at CAM that one time. Dont think he suits the wing in the prem yet.

 

Had a few shockers but who hasnt in our team this season? Hope he turns out to be a success here. 

[Deeg67]

I think Ghezzal is what he is - a good squad player with limited physical ability but a decent work rate and a legit ability to pick a cheeky pass and find the net.  He’ll never be a star but he can be a useful player - indeed, already has been. His best role may be as a regular 30-minute sub when you’re looking for a goal rather than as a starter.

 

My biggest concern with Ghezzal has been inconsistency. When he’s been bad, he’s been really really bad.

[jayfox26]

4 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

I haven't heard him booed on to be honest. Iheanacho I have but not Ghezzal. Ghezzal seems to get a bigger slating on here and on social media.

Everton away, when he gave the ball away a small section of fans started chanting Albrightons name which was harsh. And one idiot behind me shouted "**** of Ghezzal, you're shit" as he was stood just in front of our fans. Like every club, we have a small section of absolute idiots and unfortunately some of them have targeted Ghezzal from the off. £12m isn't alot these days and im convinced he'll contribute more than the likes of Silva have done who cost way more! While he has alot of improving to do and needs to adapt to the prem, there are others I'd rather see leave our club before he does. Hes a decent age and is probably on pretty small wages in comparison to other players in the squad. 

[Analysethis]

If only he didnt look so much like Mahrez!

 

I may be in the minority but I see something in Ghezzal. I think he will get better as the season goes and we will see the best of him next season, if he is given the chance. On that subject, one of my criticisms of Puel is he chops and changes his side all the time. The better teams always play better when patterns of play are formed on the pitch and partnerships. Ghezzal is in and out in a forever changing team so I feel sorry for the bloke. 

[Tuna]

I think most of the disappointment stems from unrealistic expectations he was a replacement for Mahrez.

[waylander]

5 hours ago, Costock_Fox said:

I have been pretty harsh about Ghezzal but it’s clear he has been made a scape goat and after some utter bell end at Newport was swearing in the blokes face I really want to see him succeed.

There was a lot of bell ends and Richard heads at Newport. Oops I was there two ??

[waylander]

Hopefully given time like the manager 

[Stan]

The treatment he gets on the Leicester Facebook pages is disgraceful. 

 

 

[Wizerud]

It’s kinda odd given that he’s the most Puelist of signings and yet he’s often our most direct player. Perhaps that’s because he’s a bit ball-greedy and doesn’t want to pass unless there’s no other option but one of these days that drive into the box might actually pay off with a goal. I believe we will see it before seasons end. 

[wokinghamfox]

Not hungry enough in my eyes and lacks confidence. If thats not the reason for his poor performances then quite frankly he's just garrbage. 

[Finnegan]

6 hours ago, Tuna said:

I think most of the disappointment stems from unrealistic expectations he was a replacement for Mahrez.

 

I don't agree with this at all. I don't know a single person that thought we'd replace Mahrez with someone even vaguely as good. Everyone knew there'd be a downgrade. 

 

The disappointment is that he's the only replacement for Mahrez and he's clearly not good enough for this level. 

[Nicolo Barella]

I think if/when Maddison gets injured or leaves the club early, we will be glad to have him.

[Nicolo Barella]

2 hours ago, Wizerud said:

It’s kinda odd given that he’s the most Puelist of signings and yet he’s often our most direct player. Perhaps that’s because he’s a bit ball-greedy and doesn’t want to pass unless there’s no other option but one of these days that drive into the box might actually pay off with a goal. I believe we will see it before seasons end. 

We must watch different players, he seems to be one of our only attacking mids to consistently attempt to pass dangerous balls forward. I'd say Gray passes a lot less than Ghezzal for example.

[nettle]

The guy is shight, squad player at best.

[Grebfromgrebland]

FFS just give him a chance. 

[Dames]

He’s not strong or quick enough to be a winger in the Premier League. His first touch can also be suspect sometimes, especially in the Newport game but that can be put down to trying to hard to impress.

 

As many people have also suggested his main strength appears to be his passing and he’s got a bit of an eye for goal, he’d probably be more a lot more effective playing more centrally. He’s never going to be a world beater but I like the attitude he’s showed in the interview, if he applies that enthusiasm and mixes a bit of confidence in there he’ll be alright. He won’t tear up trees but he’ll be a decent option if Maddison is injured/out of form.

 

I don’t think the constant chopping and changing has helped either. 

[whoareyaaa]

19 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I don't agree with this at all. I don't know a single person that thought we'd replace Mahrez with someone even vaguely as good. Everyone knew there'd be a downgrade. 

 

The disappointment is that he's the only replacement for Mahrez and he's clearly not good enough for this level. 

On what basis? he looks ok for this level... not spectacular but clearly has something to offer, saying he is not good enough is slightly exaggerating

[HighPeakFox]

18 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

saying he is not good enough is slightly exaggerating

That never happens on FT. Ever.

[Guest TaggertvsWise]

14 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester City summer signing opens up on transfer, first half of season and road to improvement

By Tom Coast - 

  

24th January 2019

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When Leicester City decided to spend over £12m on Rachid Ghezzal, more than one eyebrow was raised, especially in France.

Having signed him on a free, Monaco probably couldn’t believe their luck when Claude Puel came knocking for the forward, who had only started seven games in the league that season (26 appearances in total), scored two goals and picked up four assists.

So far, Ghezzal hasn’t quite lived up to his price tag, with just one goal and no assists in 14 league appearances, but, at 26 years of age, time is on his side to turn things around.

Speaking to beIN Sports Mena, relayed by Le Buteur, the Leicester City man opened up about his move to King Power Stadium and his first half of the season.

 

He said: “I opted for Leicester because the manager wanted me. He was at Lyon when I was in the youth system, he knows my qualities and appreciates how I play. It pushed me to choose this club. I also have to say Leicester are an ambitious club, well structured, stable and with great players in the team. That’s why I wanted to sign here.”

Ghezzal also revealed he spoke at length with Riyad Mahrez, his national teammate, who told him it was the ‘perfect club’ to process.

Finally, the winger touched on his first half of the season, and explained why things haven’t gone ideally so far.

He said: “The Premier League is different from Ligue 1. There’s more contact, physical battles are constant and there’s more suspense during games. I need a bit more time to adapt, to settle and therefore find my real level. I’m discovering a new way of playing, a new life and a new language.”

Setting himself a goal of ‘scoring more goals, assisting more and being more decisive’, the former Lyon player ‘wants to leave a good impression on the club’, but knows he ‘needs to work more’.

Those are just the words Leicester City fans will want to hear.

 

http://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-city-summer-signing-opens-transfer-first-half-season-road-improvement/

Nice read. I like the guy and think he needs game time and consistency in his role, I just hope the real level bit doesn’t mean the Championship.

[ThaiFox]

At least he tries and gives the impression he cares, which is more than can be said of Nacho. I hope we give him at least another season to see if he can make it. There are glimpses of something there, but he must sharpen up soon with more consistency.

 

Sometimes, I just think he tries too much to impress though, rather than just playing a natural game.

 

The fact he is Algerian does not help in comparisons made to Mahrez. 

 

 

[Nick]

Who are we selling him to?

[Xen]

He suffers big-time from being compared to Mahrez, which would be an impossible standard to live up to for pretty much any player that we could realistically sign.

 

I maintain that we never planned on replacing Mahrez with one player but improving across the board (Maddison/Pereira/Ghezzal etc), and instead Ghezzal is a 'ready made' upgrade on Diabaté whilst the latter needs more time to develop. With that in mind, it seems a bit more sensible.

 

Up until now he's been average, which is never going to sit well with fans given the high (inflated) expectations. Talk about him being championship level is a bit harsh though - he'd easily get into most of the bottom-half PL sides and he's good enough as a squad player here.

 

 

My only criticism - and it isn't really of RG himself - is that we probably overspent on him. Prices are inflated across the board so its hard to judge what the going rate would be, but if we'd got him for sub-£10m then I think the transfer would be more palatable for a lot of people.

[RowlattsFox]

Lots of positive words from people in this thread, not sure it really compares to what is put in post match threads. I think Ghezzal has been harshly treated and I've bene pretty consistent in that opinion throughout the season. He's certainly as consistently inconsistent as our other attacking players. He has decent vision and can pick a pass, plays it forward when he can and always tries to get on the ball. 

 

If Gray/Ghezzal both played for 10 games consecutively I would back Ghezzal to create more. The only difference is Gray has pace so can kick and run past players, Ghezzal can't do that and doesn't really have the Mahrez skills either, and that is what will hold him back. 

 

Its not easy for him, one bit of mis-control and massive groans which don't happen when Vardy/Albrighton/Maddison and co make mistakes. 

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

Having signed him on a free, Monaco probably couldn’t believe their luck when Claude Puel came knocking for the forward, who had only started seven games in the league that season (26 appearances in total), scored two goals and picked up four assists.

 

The Premier League is different from Ligue 1. 

 

 

Whilst I believe the guy is trying his best, who in their infinite wisdom would sign a player nearly 27 who as only ever been released from contracts or they've been allowed to expire for £12.6M

 

We are reasonably well equipped with wingers but obviously crying out for a striker and creative midfielder.

 

Players are selected by the recruitment team nowadays, this signing however was obviously instigated by Puel.

 

There is obviously a difference between the leagues. If you've spent virtually all of your career be it a player or player then manager there's a risk you'll struggle 

 

 

[nettle]

43 minutes ago, Swan Lesta said:

Who are we selling him to?

Probably a league 1 club or worse??