Alves loaned to Huddersfield - Official

[Scotch]

2 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

there was a Celtic migration from the Iberian peninsula to Scotland so I’m assuming that’s the origins of the connection there.. 

No. Alves means "plain by a cliff" in Gaelic and that's what the village is called in Moray where the name originated.

[ClaphamFox]

28 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

The origin of the name is irrelevant if his family want the rhymes with valves pronunciation. 

Alves is of Portuguese descent and that’s where his name comes from. His family may prefer the rhymes with valves pronunciation, but it wouldn’t have been that originally. 

[foxile5]

10 hours ago, foxile5 said:

Footballers are thick as they come. Even money he doesn't know how to pronounce his own name. 

Apparently I'm not wrong. 

[davieG]

Leicester City transfers could offer breakout chance to Will Alves despite Huddersfield issues
Story by Jordan Blackwell 

 

Will Alves only made five League One starts for Huddersfield this season

It’s been four-and-a-half years since Will Alves’ Leicester City debut but a first league start for the club still eludes him. Next season is his best chance yet to finally make a breakthrough.

While Alves’ name has been bandied about as a potential City star for some time, he only turned 21 last week. He is still in the infancy of his career.

However, it does feel like a breakout campaign is needed sooner rather than later to add some proof to the promise he has shown.

Jamie Vardy delivers in huge moment for Leicester City icon's survival fight
Marti Cifuentes opens up on 'very difficult' Leicester City problem as he reacts to relegation
He has been unfortunate to this point. The serious knee injury he was dealt in the FA Youth Cup late in 2022 required a long period in recovery, and he didn’t make his return to senior action until August 2024.

A loan spell at Cardiff for the second half of last season perhaps didn’t work out as planned because of the Bluebirds’ battle with relegation, which they eventually succumbed to.

This season at Huddersfield didn’t go ideally either. A foot injury kept him out from late September to late December, and then he struggled to get back into the team on his return. He was hit by another month-long absence from mid-March to mid-April.

When he was named in the Huddersfield line-up for their final game of the season, it was just his fifth League One start of the campaign.

He played his part to sign off on a high though, acting boss Martin Drury saying after the 4-0 win over Wimbledon: “I thought Will Alves was really good today as well. That’s credit to Will in one-v-one moments.”

When Liam Manning of the Terriers first took charge in the winter, Alves struggled to get a look-in. Manning said it was due to the context of certain matches and a preference for players with more defensive attributes.

But the manager was keen to praise Alves’ approach in training, making it clear the attacker was doing everything right.

Manning said: “He’s trained really well, his attitude has been fantastic. He’s someone that, let’s be really clear, I do like, and I think is someone that will have an impact between now and the end of the season, and he’s just got to be ready when that opportunity arises.

“Will epitomises (what we want) in terms of how he’s gone about it: he’s got his head down worked.”

Alves was able to shine in moments. Despite the stop-start nature of his season, of players to play more than 500 minutes in League One, he ranked eighth in the division for successful dribbles.

That remains his best asset, in one-v-ones, and that probably points to being at his best on the left wing. He has played a lot centrally coming through the ranks at City, but the ability to take on a defender is best utilised out wide.

And it feels like the door may be open for Alves to play on the left wing for City next season. Jeremy Monga is a target for Manchester United and a host of big-name clubs, while it wouldn’t be a surprise if Stephy Mavdidi attracted interest from Championship sides.

The key to Alves’ success is marrying up that dribbling ability with creativity and a goal threat, and ensuring he stays fit long enough to enjoy a good run of matches.

As things stand, it feels like he is ready, and the opportunity is there, for him to finally have a go at making himself a City regular.

[Chelmofox]

9 minutes ago, davieG said:

Leicester City transfers could offer breakout chance to Will Alves despite Huddersfield issues
Story by Jordan Blackwell 

 

Will Alves only made five League One starts for Huddersfield this season

It’s been four-and-a-half years since Will Alves’ Leicester City debut but a first league start for the club still eludes him. Next season is his best chance yet to finally make a breakthrough.

While Alves’ name has been bandied about as a potential City star for some time, he only turned 21 last week. He is still in the infancy of his career.

However, it does feel like a breakout campaign is needed sooner rather than later to add some proof to the promise he has shown.

Jamie Vardy delivers in huge moment for Leicester City icon's survival fight
Marti Cifuentes opens up on 'very difficult' Leicester City problem as he reacts to relegation
He has been unfortunate to this point. The serious knee injury he was dealt in the FA Youth Cup late in 2022 required a long period in recovery, and he didn’t make his return to senior action until August 2024.

A loan spell at Cardiff for the second half of last season perhaps didn’t work out as planned because of the Bluebirds’ battle with relegation, which they eventually succumbed to.

This season at Huddersfield didn’t go ideally either. A foot injury kept him out from late September to late December, and then he struggled to get back into the team on his return. He was hit by another month-long absence from mid-March to mid-April.

When he was named in the Huddersfield line-up for their final game of the season, it was just his fifth League One start of the campaign.

He played his part to sign off on a high though, acting boss Martin Drury saying after the 4-0 win over Wimbledon: “I thought Will Alves was really good today as well. That’s credit to Will in one-v-one moments.”

When Liam Manning of the Terriers first took charge in the winter, Alves struggled to get a look-in. Manning said it was due to the context of certain matches and a preference for players with more defensive attributes.

But the manager was keen to praise Alves’ approach in training, making it clear the attacker was doing everything right.

Manning said: “He’s trained really well, his attitude has been fantastic. He’s someone that, let’s be really clear, I do like, and I think is someone that will have an impact between now and the end of the season, and he’s just got to be ready when that opportunity arises.

“Will epitomises (what we want) in terms of how he’s gone about it: he’s got his head down worked.”

Alves was able to shine in moments. Despite the stop-start nature of his season, of players to play more than 500 minutes in League One, he ranked eighth in the division for successful dribbles.

That remains his best asset, in one-v-ones, and that probably points to being at his best on the left wing. He has played a lot centrally coming through the ranks at City, but the ability to take on a defender is best utilised out wide.

And it feels like the door may be open for Alves to play on the left wing for City next season. Jeremy Monga is a target for Manchester United and a host of big-name clubs, while it wouldn’t be a surprise if Stephy Mavdidi attracted interest from Championship sides.

The key to Alves’ success is marrying up that dribbling ability with creativity and a goal threat, and ensuring he stays fit long enough to enjoy a good run of matches.

As things stand, it feels like he is ready, and the opportunity is there, for him to finally have a go at making himself a City regular.

Manning is a complete Fraud.

[Rubbersoul]

Manning going there absolutely killed his season. Sounds like he’s allergic to any player with an ounce of flair 

[Stadt]

4 goal contributions in 667 minutes at Cardiff, there’s definitely more to come from him. A season of starting games at L1 should be exactly what he needs.

[ALC Fox]

Needs a proper run doesn't he. If he gets a good pre-season, heavy involvement in a sequence of games and no managerial upheaval, I think he'll fly.

[Nolucklcfc]

Obviously talented. Feels like he needs a proper Manager to believe in him. 

[Buzzell]

Great opportunity for him, along with others, to get involved within the first team. I hope some of these youngsters get a real good chance next season.

[Claridge]

32 minutes ago, ALC Fox said:

Needs a proper run doesn't he. If he gets a good pre-season, heavy involvement in a sequence of games and no managerial upheaval, I think he'll fly.

Based on hope? I’ve not seen him play much 

[emmo1987]

2 hours ago, Rubbersoul said:

Manning going there absolutely killed his season. Sounds like he’s allergic to any player with an ounce of flair 

Leicester are pleased to confirm the appointment of Liam Manning on a 3 year deal.