Demarai Gray

[KingsX]

Who else have we got or are going to get ?!  The squad is paper thin.  The club seem structurally incapable of signing even one fast technical wide threat.  We should put ourselves in a position of needing two?  We’ll be playing two games a week, people.

 

The only credible link I see is a Brentford teenager who’s another project -- he shredded the Championship, well so would Gray.

 

People fantasizing about getting 10M-plus out of Daniel ****ing Levy for a sub with a year left on his contract.   Keeping Gray as an impact sub costs us nothing.  In fact, we would do better to extend him at a few mill a year, to recoup 4x or 5x that if we do ever get into a position to sell him.

[Matt]

2 minutes ago, KingsX said:

Who else have we got or are going to get ?!  The squad is paper thin.  The club seem structurally incapable of signing even one fast technical wide threat.  We should put ourselves in a position of needing two?  We’ll be playing two games a week, people.

 

The only credible link I see is a Brentford teenager who’s another project -- he shredded the Championship, well so would Gray.

 

People fantasizing about getting 10M-plus out of Daniel ****ing Levy for a sub with a year left on his contract.   Keeping Gray as an impact sub costs us nothing.  In fact, we would do better to extend him at a few mill a year, to recoup 4x or 5x that if we do ever get into a position to sell him.

I have to question how blinkered people are going into this season.

[Angus Scott]

Gray is better than Barnes & Albrighton. That is not to say he is any good, but they are both awful.

 

We desperately need some quality

[FoxinNotts]

Gray looked sharpe today. If he works on his end product, or it suddenly just ‘clicks’ for him, he would be some player.

Edited 29 August 2020 by FoxinNotts

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

Gray looked sharpe today. If he works on his end product, or in suddenly just ‘clicks’ for him, he would be some player.

That is, frankly, a couple of planet-sized ifs. He's been playing Premier League football for four and a half years now - he's had ample time to work on his end product. Has it noticeably improved over that period?

 

Every so often, usually after he's turned in his quarterly promising substitute cameo, we get the same discussion. People talk about him having these massive reserves of ability that he can't quite translate into consistent performances, like he's some Ravel Morrison or Adel Taarabt figure. He isn't. He's an OK winger with quick feet and a bit of pace who's average or below in basically every other area. It's down to our consistently poor recruitment in that position that a) him and Albrighton are still in contention for a starting role and b) we can't really afford to let them go either.

[FoxinNotts]

5 minutes ago, Guest said:

That is, frankly, a couple of planet-sized ifs. He's been playing Premier League football for four and a half years now - he's had ample time to work on his end product. Has it noticeably improved over that period?

 

Every so often, usually after he's turned in his quarterly promising substitute cameo, we get the same discussion. People talk about him having these massive reserves of ability that he can't quite translate into consistent performances, like he's some Ravel Morrison or Adel Taarabt figure. He isn't. He's an OK winger with quick feet and a bit of pace who's average or below in basically every other area. It's down to our consistently poor recruitment in that position that a) him and Albrighton are still in contention for a starting role and b) we can't really afford to let them go either.

I think this season is a big season for him. I think he’s on the brink of something good. I hope I’m right 🤞🏻. Just a gut feeling, from watching him closely recently 

[Guest]

Just now, FoxinNotts said:

I think this season is a big season for him. I think he’s on the brink of something good. I hope I’m right 🤞🏻. Just a gut feeling, from watching him closely recently 

I hope you're right as well, but I thought the same when Puel came in, then when Mahrez left, then when Rodgers arrived, all with pretty much the same result. My expectations are low but hopefully this season he makes me look like an idiot!

[honeybradger]

7 minutes ago, Guest said:

That is, frankly, a couple of planet-sized ifs. He's been playing Premier League football for four and a half years now - he's had ample time to work on his end product. Has it noticeably improved over that period?

 

Every so often, usually after he's turned in his quarterly promising substitute cameo, we get the same discussion. People talk about him having these massive reserves of ability that he can't quite translate into consistent performances, like he's some Ravel Morrison or Adel Taarabt figure. He isn't. He's an OK winger with quick feet and a bit of pace who's average or below in basically every other area. It's down to our consistently poor recruitment in that position that a) him and Albrighton are still in contention for a starting role and b) we can't really afford to let them go either.

He's played 5500 minutes of PL football in 5 years, 1000 of that in a frankly shit 16/17 side, 1500 of that in an ok 17/18 side where he also did alright tbh, 1700 in an absolutely dire puel side, 300+600 minutes in a good rodgers side where he's done well. If you look at it you cant be surprised that he hasnt developed properly, a young player like him needed to learn first in a free flowing attacking championship side before making the step up to the PL. It's like trying to do any job without learning the basics first, it's hard to do without making mistakes. We've ballsed up his development but there is still a player in there despite how cynical people are. For context barnes already has 4500 minutes in 2 years between west brom and lei that's how little gray has actually played.

[Koke]

I feel like Barnes will go the same way as Gray. Barnes was worse today. 

[sacreblueits442]

2 hours ago, FLAN said:

You didn’t see him miss an open goal and literally stand still in the middle of the pitch and just allow a player to take the ball off him then?

..poor attempt to finish,....won the ball back brilliantly to put us back on the front foot!!!!

[sacreblueits442]

34 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

I think this season is a big season for him. I think he’s on the brink of something good. I hope I’m right 🤞🏻. Just a gut feeling, from watching him closely recently 

..playing with his head up more...since restart and lends the ball more!!!

[Fightforever]

Barnes was just as bad today. Both need a Specialized coach.

[Trav Le Bleu]

4 minutes ago, Fightforever said:

Barnes was just as bad today. Both need a Specialized coach.

Will this do?

 

[Fightforever]

2 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Will this do?

 

At least that coach has enough end product to get to A to B without randomly deciding to shoot.

Edited 29 August 2020 by Fightforever

[Ian Nacho]

Am I the only one that thinks Gray has looked our most lively player this pre-season?

[Al-aLondon-Foxile]

51 minutes ago, Ian Nacho said:

Am I the only one that thinks Gray has looked our most lively player this pre-season?

I agree, but most want rid 

[lgfualol]

16 minutes ago, Al-aLondon-Foxile said:

I agree, but most want rid 

Because as soon as he starts a game in the Prem he'll be shit, sadly. 

Edited 29 August 2020 by lgfualol

[majaco]

Gray looked like a main man today.  He looked like he has got physically stronger.  From central positions, he showed drive and vision.

[Bert]

1 hour ago, Ian Nacho said:

Am I the only one that thinks Gray has looked our most lively player this pre-season?

Yep, but most fans have an agenda against him and can’t/won’t admit that he’s possibly made a positive change. 

[tsintskaro]

he has not progressed a bit and after all these years its still debatable if he is good enough or not.what a joke 

[Al-aLondon-Foxile]

22 minutes ago, lgfualol said:

Because as soon as he starts a game in the Prem he'll be shit, sadly. 

Best sub in the epl, and probably one of our most productive players in lockdown. Yeah, he’s frustrating, but I wouldn’t be selling unless we’ve a replacement lined up or he’s refusing to sign a new contract. We’re on our arses for wingers right now.

[Dr The Singh]

19 minutes ago, Bert said:

Yep, but most fans have an agenda against him and can’t/won’t admit that he’s possibly made a positive change. 

For me, does he want to be a guy that always sit on the bench and be happy?  Cus he is not top 4, and will never will b, IMO.

 

Any player at his age that does that needs to go.

[Stuntman_Mike]

12 minutes ago, Al-aLondon-Foxile said:

Best sub in the epl, and probably one of our most productive players in lockdown. Yeah, he’s frustrating, but I wouldn’t be selling unless we’ve a replacement lined up or he’s refusing to sign a new contract. We’re on our arses for wingers right now.

 

Based on what? 

 

He barely gets a game in our weakest position. He's replacable and should've been moved on years ago. 

Edited 29 August 2020 by Stuntman_Mike

[tetly]

I can’t see what people have against him, he is frustrating 90% of the time but he is no worse than any of our current wingers. We paid something like 3.5m for him and expect a 50m player. 

[peach0000]

gray is definitely starting to show improvements for me. At 24 it's an age where a lot of wingers start to show end product rather than just potential which is what he is doing starting to do. Salah and Mane for example suddenly started scoring at 24/25 after showing early promise but looking to be a bit mediocre.