Ekdal

[Papabendi]

what's happened to him?

[Vegas Claret]

i figured he must have a knock, to not even make the bench has been a surprise

[Ric_C]

Didn't he get injured on international duty? Don't think he's played since

[Taffy on the wing]

I hope it's a knock & not some kind of falling out with VK...........He's a very good player.

[bobinho]

I hope it's a knock & not some kind of falling out with VK...........He's a very good player.

Why would you think that?

[Hedontplayforyou]

Only like a few others not being in the squad . He was on the bench at Boro

[Taffy on the wing]

Why would you think that?

No obvious injury & he was out of the team as soon as THB was available.

[Father Jack]

Would suggest Kompany has already seen enough of him to form a positive opinion whilst THB was injured.
Now time to look at Ameen during an increased number of games.

[Taffy on the wing]

Al-Dakil looks a very good buy.

[Woodleyclaret]

So does Ekdal

[Woodleyclaret]

So does Ekdal

[KlyBfc]

I like Ekdal but the sluggish acceleration over the first 5 yards is blatantly obvious and could be a real issue at times next season as the top players will lap up the space and opportunities. Not sure what his role is going to be. If some magic is performed between now and next season starting and that acceleration issue is rectified then we may see plenty more of him next year. .

[Quicknick]

I like Ekdal but the sluggish acceleration over the first 5 yards is blatantly obvious and could be a real issue at times next season as the top players will lap up the space and opportunities. Not sure what his role is going to be. If some magic is performed between now and next season starting and that acceleration issue is rectified then we may see plenty more of him next year. .

Difficult to rectify a lack of immediate pace.

[beeholeclaret]

Tarks and Ben Mee aren’t the quickest over 10 yards? I know they played in a different system.

[Papabendi]

I like Ekdal but the sluggish acceleration over the first 5 yards is blatantly obvious and could be a real issue at times next season as the top players will lap up the space and opportunities. Not sure what his role is going to be. If some magic is performed between now and next season starting and that acceleration issue is rectified then we may see plenty more of him next year. .

What is your proposal to rectify this? We are all ears as some of us fancy applying for the Olympic 100ms.

[dougcollins]

As s defender, the first yard is in your head. Plenty have coped with lack of pace over the years.

[Burnley1989]

I hope it's a knock & not some kind of falling out with VK...........He's a very good player.

Another Twine rumour incoming

[Burnley1989]

As s defender, the first yard is in your head. Plenty have coped with lack of pace over the years.

Sol Campbell is a perfect example.

[KlyBfc]

Difficult to rectify a lack of immediate pace.

Correct, hence why I said if by magic

[KlyBfc]

What is your proposal to rectify this? We are all ears as some of us fancy applying for the Olympic 100ms.

Firstly you could read my post… if some magic is performed. I’m fully aware of the level of difficulty / practically impossibility. Though as pointed out by another, if other little things are tweaked (like reading of the game at premier league level / speed) he may be able to offset it a little.

[Taffy on the wing]

So does Ekdal

Agreed.

[Neil]

Sol Campbell is a perfect example.

....... of a really fast defender

[claretonthecoast1882]

If we had a manager that nobody wanted and a squad of 11 some would find it a lot easier to cope.

Kompany has said he is going to look at his squad between now and the end of the season, a player not being picked doesn't mean there has been a falling out. We have had this kind of nonsense earlier in the season with the p**s poor comments about Twine and his mental health due to somebody not accepting what the manager said, do we need to go down this route when someone isn't in a squad.

[boatshed bill]

Why read anything into this. VK is probably taking a look at various partnerships.

[Carwin261]

Like the rest of us VK probably now’s that Ekdal will feature next season,wouldn’t be surprised if Al Dakhil plays at Deadwood ( a good game to see if he copes under pressure)

[alwaysaclaret]

Al-Dakil looks a very good buy.

A real bright light for me on Saturday, looks very comfortable on the ball, made one or two good interceptions, and a couple of forays forward, and will only get better, looked well within himself on Saturday, possibly will be better than ekdal given time.

[IanMcL]

As s defender, the first yard is in your head. Plenty have coped with lack of pace over the years.

Michael Duff, not least. He just watched the ball and waited for the moment where he could poke his foot out and toe it away.

[nil_desperandum]

Difficult to rectify a lack of immediate pace.

Booby Moore managed it pretty well.
It's down to having a good football brain, experience and astute positional sense.

[AlargeClaret]

Ekdal can play a part but for VK’s football style you have to have speed and Ekdal has been outpaced by both defenders and forwards . In a SD type set up (4-4-2 and no money) he would be a fine fit . He looks like he likes to get forward too , which when you lack pace can be suicidal . A squad player though for sure .

[ClaretTony]

Booby Moore managed it pretty well.
It's down to having a good football brain, experience and astute positional sense.

Bobby Moore didn't play in teams that required any pace at the back

[Lancasterclaret]

I think Ekdal has been more than fine to be honest

I'll be surprised if he's not a regular next season

[Winstonswhite]

Ekdal has played 9 games for us and we’ve conceded 2 goals when he’s been on the pitch!

He’s got injured on international duty then we’ve tried others in his place. Nothing to see here.

[mkmel]

As s defender, the first yard is in your head. Plenty have coped with lack of pace over the years.

The late great Bobby Moore for one.

[nil_desperandum]

Bobby Moore didn't play in teams that required any pace at the back

If I'm honest, I don't understand this post.
Are you saying that no strikers had any pace in Moore's era?

[Claret Toni]

If I'm honest, I don't understand this post.
Are you saying that no strikers had any pace in Moore's era?

I remember Bobby Moore played against that lad Jairzinho who was quite quick. Bobby seemed to do alright then.

[Taffy on the wing]

Is Ekdal actually slow?......or is this based entirely on someones opinion.
He's certainly a very quick thinker & uses both feet.......can score goals too.
I think he's a steal.

[Big Vinny K]

You would think that Sweden would have at least a few speedy centre backs to choose from but yet they still pick Ekdal so he must be half decent at doing his job.
Centre back partnerships often compliment each other - how many successful partnerships do you see when both are fast, or slow, or both good at coming out with the ball etc ?
Ekdal reads the game well, comes out with the ball better than all our other centre backs other than Beyer. He’s decent in the air and seems to time his tackles and challenges well. He’s not fast but all of our centre backs have different attributes. If you had everything you wouldn’t end up at Burnley for a cost of around £3m !!

[Silkyskills1]

I remember Bobby Moore played against that lad Jairzinho who was quite quick. Bobby seemed to do alright then.

Think he won a tackle against him once in 1970. Fair enough.

[randomclaret2]

Ekdal has played 9 games for us and we’ve conceded 2 goals when he’s been on the pitch!

He’s got injured on international duty then we’ve tried others in his place. Nothing to see here.

He was on the bench for the 2 games immediately after the international break.

[boatshed bill]

I'm guessing that our manager was perfectly aware of any inadequacies in terms of Ekdal's speed before he signed him.

[beddie]

I read he’s disappointed not getting regular games and could be off this summer. Be a shame if we lost him. I really like the lad.

[Jamesy]

Ekdal is a very good centre back. Better at the old art of defending than THB in my opinion but perhaps not as good at playing out from the back. I thought he was a great addition to the squad. Hope all is ok with him in Vincent’s plans?

[Conroysleftfoot]

I read he’s disappointed not getting regular games and could be off this summer. Be a shame if we lost him. I really like the lad.

Funny, but i read he came here thinking he would have to wait for his chance, then when THB got his injury he got in the side. Can't see him wanting away so soon.

[superdimitri]

I think some of us are reading too much into this. He picked up an injury on international duty and probably was still suffering a bit from it when he played next for us.
Just needs to get more fitness like Churlinov (who we had already been reading into a bit too much).

[Socrates]

Funny, but i read he came here thinking he would have to wait for his chance, then when THB got his injury he got in the side. Can't see him wanting away so soon.

THB’s injury happened two weeks before Ekdal signed.

[fatboy47]

Screenshot_20230418_082018_com.android.chrome_edit_41768527734771.jpg (248.7 KiB) Viewed 2328 times

The signs are pretty clear that he's not feeling part of things, and he wants out.

[agreenwood]

Fair play to PapaBendi. I think three threads which led to the questioning of the future/suitability of our players in one week is a new record.

[1fatclaret]

I read he’s disappointed not getting regular games and could be off this summer. Be a shame if we lost him. I really like the lad.

Where did you read it? Everything written is now available online so it will be easy to find and share the link.

[fatboy47]

Where did you read it? Everything written is now available online so it will be easy to find and share the link.

Beddie's been at them tea leaves again.

[Ric_C]

This is interesting. Some fan of his previous club says that after 10 appearances it triggers some kind of payment?

https://twitter.com/forzadiffen/status/ ... sUsnQ&s=19