Max Gradel

[teblin]

Just hope we can hang on to him!

[Tommy G]

I can't help but think people are expecting too much of him, he does look a good player but we should't be relying on him next season.

Exactly my thoughts.

If he's as good as everyone says he is then he will be playing in the championship next season surely? Also didn't leicester treat him like shit at some point - I'm sure I've heard that from somewhere..

[Thracian]

I've not seen him play but i know a lot of people hold him in high regard. Is he really that good?

He won't be when he gets in our first team!

IF he gets in our first team, cos I'm still not convinced it will ever happen or, if it does, that he'll get any more than a couple of starts and otherwise mostly 20-minute cameos.

We've spent more than four seasons going downhill with sub-standard wingers or people we wanted to use more as defenders than attackers and I don't see us learning any lessons along the way.

Gradel might have signed a three year deal but he'd be better off - football wise - at a club with a far more attacking outlook.

Unless we change pretty quickly and there seems little sign of that happening.

[Benjani]

He's apparently a player with a great work ethic. But in a side such as Leicester when no one puts any effort in, I can't see Gradel caring much unless everyone does there bit.

I don't think he'll be in our starting lineup come August. Unless Bond is our manager.

[knowitall]

I have been and seen Max a few times while he has been at Bournemouth. Everytime he was the man of the match. In many games at the end of the match fans from both teams cheered him off. Which I have not all that often seen before.

The Cherries love him and think he is the best player to play for them this season.

Max will not be playing in France next season. He sees his near future in England. As yet I do not know which league that will be in. I do know that my team (Leicester City) do not do enough for their players. This may play apart in players picking Leicester as their team. I know that Max in under contract, but that does not mean 100% he will be playing for us next season.

[The Reverend]

He's apparently a player with a great work ethic. But in a side such as Leicester when no one puts any effort in, I can't see Gradel caring much unless everyone does there bit.

I don't think he'll be in our starting lineup come August. Unless Bond is our manager.

Has he got a great work ethic? I thought he was more of a flair player, one of those who's like 'oh fck this, i've attacked, im not running back aswel.

Dunno.

[Filberts lovechild]

Spoke to a Forest fan about Gradel and he told me he absolutely destroyed them. He couldn't believe we let him out on loan.

From what knowitall says Leicester need to sort there bloomin selves out. Why do we not treat the players well. We've got too many for a start must be very hard getting good team spirit with so many in the squad. Seriously cull the squad to about 20 - 24 for gods sake!!!

[Jonbluefox9]

Has he got a great work ethic? I thought he was more of a flair player, one of those who's like 'oh fck this, i've attacked, im not running back aswel.

Dunno.

That's the impression I got of him whenever I saw him play for the under 18s or reserves. That's why I don't think he'll fit in with our system. He won't be granted freedom here like I presume he was at Bournemouth. He's shown he's more than capable at this level so we should give him the freedom to express himself otherwise it'll be a waste and people may wonder what all the hype was about!

[breadandcheese]

I have been and seen Max a few times while he has been at Bournemouth. Everytime he was the man of the match. In many games at the end of the match fans from both teams cheered him off. Which I have not all that often seen before.

The Cherries love him and think he is the best player to play for them this season.

Max will not be playing in France next season. He sees his near future in England. As yet I do not know which league that will be in. I do know that my team (Leicester City) do not do enough for their players. This may play apart in players picking Leicester as their team. I know that Max in under contract, but that does not mean 100% he will be playing for us next season.

Being a football layman i.e. a fan, in what way do the club not do enough to help their players? Is it just that different players want different levels of support or is there someone or something lacking in regard to the off the pitch organisation?

[BigGibbo]

Being a football layman i.e. a fan, in what way do the club not do enough to help their players? Is it just that different players want different levels of support or is there someone or something lacking in regard to the off the pitch organisation?

Well Duuuh!!!

[knowitall]

Being a football layman i.e. a fan, in what way do the club not do enough to help their players? Is it just that different players want different levels of support or is there someone or something lacking in regard to the off the pitch organisation?

Both

[knowitall]

Spoke to a Forest fan about Gradel and he told me he absolutely destroyed them. He couldn't believe we let him out on loan.

From what knowitall says Leicester need to sort there bloomin selves out. Why do we not treat the players well. We've got too many for a start must be very hard getting good team spirit with so many in the squad. Seriously cull the squad to about 20 - 24 for gods sake!!!

Yes I agree to many players of the same standard.

[Thracian]

Yes I agree to many players of the same standard.

That's abundantly clear but what is not so clear is why the situtation is allowed to persist?

So many of our signings have had no logic.

For me they were made for the sake of it and without proper diligence.

You have to wonder why that would be?

And if there was proper diligence you have to seriously question people's judgement in signing them.

[Babylon]

God I hope he lives up to everyones lofty expectations.

[Ric Flair]

God I hope he lives up to everyones lofty expectations.

:laugh:

It's perhaps best he does leave.

[Thracian]

Let's be quite clear about Gradel.

It's not a question of whether he's good enough for us but whether we're good enough for him.

I mean that seriously.

Because as a football unit our first team hasn't been very good for a long time.

Knowitall summed it up when he talked about "too many players of a similar standard".

Combine that with a succession of managers who consistently employ safety first tactics and you have a recipe for poisoning every half-decent winger we ever get.

We need a different type of manager with a radically different approach to see the best of Gradel.

If MM is not sure what's needed he should talk to Beaglehole. The lad played consistently well enough for him and so did the team alongside him.

Not only in terms of their style of football but also their results.

The key lies in the ability to attack and recover in numbers. But then I'm sick of trying to get that message through to people who seem determine to do something else.

[teblin]

Let's be quite clear about Gradel.

It's not a question of whether he's good enough for us but whether we're good enough for him.

I mean that seriously.

Because as a football unit our first team hasn't been very good for a long time.

Knowitall summed it up when he talked about "too many players of a similar standard".

Combine that with a succession of managers who consistently employ safety first tactics and you have a recipe for poisoning every half-decent winger we ever get.

We need a different type of manager with a radically different approach to see the best of Gradel.

If MM is not sure what's needed he should talk to Beaglehole. The lad played consistently well enough for him and so did the team alongside him.

Not only in terms of their style of football but also their results.

The key lies in the ability to attack and recover in numbers. But then I'm sick of trying to get that message through to people who seem determine to do something else.

I guess the youth team is the only place there has been a "winning metality" over the last 4 years.

[Babylon]

Let's be quite clear about Gradel.

It's not a question of whether he's good enough for us but whether we're good enough for him.

I mean that seriously.

Because as a football unit our first team hasn't been very good for a long time.

Knowitall summed it up when he talked about "too many players of a similar standard".

Combine that with a succession of managers who consistently employ safety first tactics and you have a recipe for poisoning every half-decent winger we ever get.

We need a different type of manager with a radically different approach to see the best of Gradel.

If MM is not sure what's needed he should talk to Beaglehole. The lad played consistently well enough for him and so did the team alongside him.

Not only in terms of their style of football but also their results.

The key lies in the ability to attack and recover in numbers. But then I'm sick of trying to get that message through to people who seem determine to do something else.

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[James.]

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[Fez of Mahrez]

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Is this a special Bernie edition of Stars In Their Eyes?

[Steven]

I guess the youth team is the only place there has been a "winning metality" over the last 4 years.

Quite and why we have not played to those strengths is beyond me.

[Ric Flair]

Let's be quite clear about Gradel.

It's not a question of whether he's good enough for us but whether we're good enough for him.

I mean that seriously.

Because as a football unit our first team hasn't been very good for a long time.

Knowitall summed it up when he talked about "too many players of a similar standard".

Combine that with a succession of managers who consistently employ safety first tactics and you have a recipe for poisoning every half-decent winger we ever get.

We need a different type of manager with a radically different approach to see the best of Gradel.

If MM is not sure what's needed he should talk to Beaglehole. The lad played consistently well enough for him and so did the team alongside him.

Not only in terms of their style of football but also their results.

The key lies in the ability to attack and recover in numbers. But then I'm sick of trying to get that message through to people who seem determine to do something else.

Gradel shone in a team that was a shambles up until the final few months of the season, so there is no reason why he won't do the same here. Obviously if we can play to his strengths then we must do, but I think the lads quality will shine through whatever the circumstances.

[Thracian]

Is this a special Bernie edition of Stars In Their Eyes?

I'd have thought even you'd accept we've had quite enough of the other approach.

But perhaps I shouldn't be surprised to be wrong. Sometimes I think some fans' acceptance of non-attacking football if it achieves an end (which it hasn't even threatened to do so far) is a part of the problem at City.

You know, the "win at home draw away," mentality which never works cos we don't win at home.

The "I'd rather win 1-0 than lose 5-4," which doesn't work cos it's invariablily us that gets the nil.

And there was "we need some muscle".

Well, sod the speed and skill, we got some added muscle with Howard and Hayles on top of McAuley, Kisnorbo and N'Gotty plus the supposedly competitive Hendrie and Oakley. With Stearman, Hume and Mattock as well, we were always competitive, but some good it turned out.

We didn't have pace and we didn't have firepower in enough places - so we got relegated. In fact our muscle men didn't just get relegated they surrendered on the back of orders from our supposedly tough but, in fact, invariably cautious manager.

All for the lack of qualities that people like Gradel could have provided from day one.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'd have thought even you'd accept we've had quite enough of the other approach.

But perhaps I shouldn't be surprised to be wrong. Sometimes I think some fans' acceptance of non-attacking football if it achieves an end (which it hasn't even threatened to do so far) is a part of the problem at City.

You know, the "win at home draw away," mentality which never works cos we don't win at home.

The "I'd rather win 1-0 than lose 5-4," which doesn't work cos it's invariablily us that gets the nil.

And there was "we need some muscle".

Well, sod the speed and skill, we got some added muscle with Howard and Hayles on top of McAuley, Kisnorbo and N'Gotty plus the supposedly competitive Hendrie and Oakley. With Stearman, Hume and Mattock as well, we were always competitive, but some good it turned out.

We didn't have pace and we didn't have firepower in enough places - so we got relegated. In fact our muscle men didn't just get relegated they surrendered on the back of orders from our supposedly tough but, in fact, invariably cautious manager.

All for the lack of qualities that people like Gradel could have provided from day one.

I think you've bizarrely misinterpreted my banal witticism as a sleight on good old Match Gradings. I hope he tears League One up for us but I wouldn't blame him for leaving after the way he's been treated here.

[Manwell Pablo]

Well you were all told Howard and Hayles were wank!

This thread is getting silly. Bit too much pressure on the lad eh?? Lets hope he gets in the team and established himself (not a cert espeically if Ian's still in charge) before we start talking about playing football to benefit Max Gradel.