Amdouni

[claretspice]

I agree with you, claretspice. The problem is who would buy him? If we do sell him I can only see a market like Turkey.

Think there are a few second tier leagues where he might have suitors but Turkey is certainly one, as is Saudi, Russia and various other leagues.

I'm not sure Amdouni is necessarily lazy by the way. He might be but I'm not sure it's proven. But Brownhill talked on that excellent podcast this week about the step up in intensity, running stats etc when he joined Burnley in the Premier League compared to the Championship. The Championship is a physical league so if that step up took some adjusting, the step up from a more technical but much less physical League would be really profound. I think it's something we have to bear in mind with anyone stepping up from a secondary league like Switzerland, Belgium and so on.

[claretspice]

Fair points, although I do think we need to go big on a striker because Flemming isn’t really a 9 and Foster isn’t the answer.

Without doubt we need an out and out 9. I quite like Haji Wright who reminds me a bit of Chris Wood.

[bpgburn]

We truly are blessed with football/technical/tactical/managerial experts on this MB. You can only hope that SP reads and taps in to the wealth of knowledge they have of, what seem every player in Europe before making any rash decisions...

[ksrclaret]

We truly are blessed with football/technical/tactical/managerial experts on this MB. You can only hope that SP reads and taps in to the wealth of knowledge they have of, what seem every player in Europe before making any rash decisions...

We've also got a few miserable, sarcastic old sods as well.

[fidelcastro]

He’s scored 6 goals and got 2 assists in 723 minutes of playing time in the Portuguese league this season, that’s not a bad return in roughly 8 games.

Not played all that much then?

Yet people want him back for a tilt at PL survival?

Okay then.

[Benson]

Has everyone forgotten how lazy Amdouni is? There is a reason he only plays the last 10 mins for his country.

10 goals in 25 appearances for his country is a pretty good return considering he only plays the last 10 minutes.

[Enola Gay]

Walks in to the team ahead of Flemming for me, if he stayed this season he'd have scored 30+ goals

Someone else has already mentioned it but people being given first-team places rather than earning them is exactly the kind of thing people gave Kompany pelters for.

In the last PL season he showed the odd increasingly-infrequent moment of quality but most of the time looked like a passenger. If he's added some intensity to his game then maybe, but if we can get some money for him to help fill the more obvious gaps in midfield and upfront I'd move him on.

[Benson]

Not played all that much then?

No, but when he has his goals to minutes ratio is impressive.

[Conroy92]

While I see comments suggesting he is work shy, it's not the player I quite remember.

I thought him tenacious and aggressive at times. Yes he was small and lightweight, but I don't think he particularly lacked in effort or hunger. If anything I thought he was hungry to get on the ball. It's not his technical ability that looked poor either, while I concede his touch didn't always impress me he seemed to have that ability to nudge a long touch round or through a player's legs. It's his decision making and intelligence that remain the big question marks for me. He couldn't release the ball early enough and often tried to take it through multiple players ignoring better options. He ran into alleys rather than made intelligent runs that brought others into the game.

He's still only young and a few seasons from his prime. I actually think having a season at championship would have benefitted him massively. If Parker's happy with him I'm happy to give him another shot.

[bpgburn]

We've also got a few miserable, sarcastic old sods as well.

Hey! Less of the miserable..

[fidelcastro]

No, but when he has his goals to minutes ratio is impressive.

So, he's either had some rotten luck with injuries or the manager at Benfica doesn't rate him all that highly. Which is it?

Either way, he's not what we need next season.

[bumba]

Someone else has already mentioned it but people being given first-team places rather than earning them is exactly the kind of thing people gave Kompany pelters for.

In the last PL season he showed the odd increasingly-infrequent moment of quality but most of the time looked like a passenger. If he's added some intensity to his game then maybe, but if we can get some money for him to help fill the more obvious gaps in midfield and upfront I'd move him on.

How poor did Trafford look last season? Majority of the squad looked terrible. Not saying he should just get the shirt but if he comes back and works hard then for me he gets in ahead of Flemming he's a much better player

[Darnhill Claret]

Amdouni fan, but he has to come back as a squad member and fight for the shirt. He would then have to fight to keep the shirt.

It's obvious that Flemming isn't everybody's cup of tea, but I think he's been great and I'm sure he's relishing the challenge of the Premier League.

I think people are forgetting that we have a young team with players who have the potential to further improve.

More than happy to leave all the tough decisions to our manager.

[Burnleyareback2]

Good news

[Bacchus]

We're very obviously light on strikers, probably need to add 2 or even 3 to what we have. That's no easy task for any recruitment team, so given that he's already contracted I'd be more than comfortable with Amdouni being part of that mix assuming he wants to be here.

[Indecisive]

Haven’t had time to read through the thread. To me, I liked amdouni. He clearly had natural ability, quality and confidence. One thing that I think is absolutely crucial now is that a player will HAVE TO fit in with the proper team spirit and willingness to ‘graft’ for the team, that I feel parker has properly facilitated. But equally I feel confident in I parker to make that call.

[Hedontplayforyou]

For me it’s simple with Amdouni, he lacked the work rate but had bags of ability.

Parker will already know wether he wants him or not based on pre season this year. We don’t need any passenger, if Amdouni decides to graft then he could become a serious player in my eyes , and I did see it briefly early doors last season but it died off quickly and was the undoing of him.

Benfica fans have clearly seen similar qualities , but could Parker be the man to guide him? We will find out in the summer.

[Bin Ont Turf]

A wet paper bag footballer. Get shut if possible.

[turbo5]

It's clear there is a good team ethos in the dressing room. Considering the want away players at the end of last season how would the team that stayed and achieved promotion feel if these players walked straight back in. Its Wegurst over again , Doubt the fans or the team would want them regardless of how good they think they are

[Colburn_Claret]

Those doubting Flemming, shakes head, forget we spent the first half of the season reluctant to put the ball in the box.

His goal return improved as soon as we started putting the ball in the danger zone. We've all agreed he isn't a target man, rather a no. 10, yet some criticise him for not being a CF.

[equinox]

A lad I know, who is a massive Benfica fan, says Amdouni had a fetish for chocolate éclairs and he even had an 'éclair' costume which he would wear when walking his dog in the local Lisbon park.

[Silkyskills1]

The only player I would like to see return is Tella. Not much chance presumably but Amdouni is not the type of player we need when we don't have the ball a lot of the time.

[Rileybobs]

There’s absolutely no way that Amdouni is equipped to play in the Premier League.

[Ampth7]

A lad I know, who is a massive Benfica fan, says Amdouni had a fetish for chocolate éclairs and he even had an 'éclair' costume which he would wear when walking his dog in the local Lisbon park.

WTAF!?

[Vegas Claret]

22 league games 6 goals 2 assists
11 Champions league games 1 goal

Benfica joint top so in all honesty I don't know if that's a good return or not as you would expect they create lots of chances.

He's 24 now so still improvement to come

[Steddyman]

10 goals in 25 appearances for his country is a pretty good return considering he only plays the last 10 minutes.

It is, but he does only play the last 10 mins.

[Stalbansclaret]

Surprising to say the least that some posters are so keen to have him back. My brother and I christened him "the nearly man" last season because every time he got the ball he seems to "nearly" beat his man or "nearly" deliver a good ball but very seldom actually did these things. A show pony and most definitely not what we need. Get rid if at all possible.

[Silkyskills1]

He's 24 now so still improvement to come

Is that really a given? Yes, I have seen players improve as they gain more experience but I've also seen many regress. We have a player currently that's been here over two years and came with a reputation. I'm still waiting for an improvement from him, willing him to do so but in reality I don't envisage it happening.

[burnley007]

Give him time with the coaches, work towards the team.
There is absolutely a good player there.

Let the same coaches, who have improved Pires, CJ, Hannibal etc, work with him for a few months.

I like him, the players seemed to like him, let's get him back in.

[bumba]

22 league games 6 goals 2 assists
11 Champions league games 1 goal

Benfica joint top so in all honesty I don't know if that's a good return or not as you would expect they create lots of chances.

He's 24 now so still improvement to come

Angel Di Maria has only returned 8 goals and 4 assists in 23 league games for them.
Amdouni has been used out wide and as a 10 but been used as a sub a lot so it's a good return.

[CoolClaret]

Angel Di Maria has only returned 8 goals and 4 assists in 23 league games for them.
Amdouni has been used out wide and as a 10 but been used as a sub a lot so it's a good return.

Di Maria is also 37 years old

[Big Vinny K]

Benfica won 3-0 yesterday.
They made 5 subs - Amdouni wasn’t one of them.

The Portuguese league other than the top 4 is p-iss poor. Just take a look at the teams in that division and how many of us have even heard of many of them let alone whoever plays for them ?

If you are playing for a team like Benfica in that league and averaging 2.5 goals every game against opposition that weak then scoring 6 goals and 2 assists is not what you expect for a £20m player. He’s 5th in the scoring stats and 7th in the assists. In that team in that league that’s just crap.

[dougcollins]

We could have a team based around Zeki and Mike next season.

[CrosspoolClarets]

The only player I would like to see return is Tella. Not much chance presumably but Amdouni is not the type of player we need when we don't have the ball a lot of the time.

I remain convinced that the Truman Show clip when we signed Banel was for Tella. It fitted the return story. I suspect that was closer to being done than we realise, and I expect it to happen in the summer.

We will need 8 or 9 quality front four players. Personally I would add Tella, Amdouni and a big strong striker to what we have now. Form dips in the PL for extended periods, we will need players who can be left out for a bit and others to come in.

[Vegas Claret]

Benfica won 3-0 yesterday.
They made 5 subs - Amdouni wasn’t one of them.

Benfica didn't play yesterday !!!!!

They are currently 5-0 up and guess who has scored
https://x.com/GoalsXtra/status/1916545027267797243

[Roosterbooster]

Benfica didn't play yesterday !!!!!

They are currently 5-0 up and guess who has scored
https://x.com/GoalsXtra/status/1916545027267797243

How dare you speak the truth

[bumba]

Benfica won 3-0 yesterday.
They made 5 subs - Amdouni wasn’t one of them.

The Portuguese league other than the top 4 is p-iss poor. Just take a look at the teams in that division and how many of us have even heard of many of them let alone whoever plays for them ?

If you are playing for a team like Benfica in that league and averaging 2.5 goals every game against opposition that weak then scoring 6 goals and 2 assists is not what you expect for a £20m player. He’s 5th in the scoring stats and 7th in the assists. In that team in that league that’s just crap.

Wrong again

[Robbie_painter]

Wrong again

Not again hahahha

[bumba]

Marcus Edwards played in the same league last year and only got 4 goals and 5 assists yet Burnley fans think he's a god.
Amdouni has been playing a lot off the right/left and in less games has scored more goals.
He scored as many championship goals as Edwards has in 13 games in 2 sub appearances.
I think he's good enough to start but if he was a sub and we wanted a goal in the premier league I'd be looking to him ahead of Koleosho, Laurent, Ramsey, Redmond, Benson or Foster.

[bumba]

I remain convinced that the Truman Show clip when we signed Banel was for Tella. It fitted the return story. I suspect that was closer to being done than we realise, and I expect it to happen in the summer.

We will need 8 or 9 quality front four players. Personally I would add Tella, Amdouni and a big strong striker to what we have now. Form dips in the PL for extended periods, we will need players who can be left out for a bit and others to come in.

But Tella only has 7 goals in 48 Bundesliga matches for a team that's going to finish second this season and won it unbeaten last season, with that return Burnley just cannot sign him it's no where near good enough!!

[CoolClaret]

Marcus Edwards played in the same league last year and only got 4 goals and 5 assists yet Burnley fans think he's a god.
Amdouni has been playing a lot off the right/left and in less games has scored more goals.
He scored as many championship goals as Edwards has in 13 games in 2 sub appearances.
I think he's good enough to start but if he was a sub and we wanted a goal in the premier league I'd be looking to him ahead of Koleosho, Laurent, Ramsey, Redmond, Benson or Foster.

Completely different roles.

Football also isn't a game of Top Trumps.

[bumba]

Completely different roles.

Football also isn't a game of Top Trumps.

Completely different roles to who?

[CoolClaret]

Completely different roles to who?

Marcus Edwards is an out-and-out winger, Amdouni isn't (even if he has played out wide at times)... They have differing skill sets.

Like-for-like comparisons in terms of goals/assists without any nuance are really silly.

[bumba]

Marcus Edwards is an out-and-out winger, Amdouni isn't (even if he has played out wide at times)... They have differing skill sets.

Like-for-like comparisons in terms of goals/assists without any nuance are really silly.

All players are different but comparing two players playing the same position is a good place to start.

[CoolClaret]

All players are different but comparing two players playing the same position is a good place to start.

I didn't realise that they always play the same position/same role in the same system?

Oh that's right... they don't!

* add one to Amdouni's goal tally after tonight.

[CoolClaret]

^ The above caption is meant to read, Marcus Edwards 23/24 Liga Portugal Positions/Goals/Assists... Couldn't edit it after submission

[bumba]

I didn't realise that they always play the same position/same role in the same system?

Oh that's right... they don't!

* add one to Amdouni's goal tally after tonight.

Whoever plays as a wide forward/winger I expect a fair contribution of goals and assists over a season.
Regardless of styles or systems that should be standard.

[CoolClaret]

Whoever plays as a wide forward/winger I expect a fair contribution of goals and assists over a season.
Regardless of styles or systems that should be standard.

Ok, but a winger can be heavily involved in attacking play without directly having goal contributions - what about the pass before the 'assist'?
Ryan Giggs only had 5 goal contributions in the league in 98/99, do you think Fergie would have had anyone else playing there for him?

[bumba]

Ok, but a winger can be heavily involved in attacking play without directly having goal contributions - what about the pass before the 'assist'?
Ryan Giggs only had 5 goal contributions in the league in 98/99, do you think Fergie would have had anyone else playing there for him?

What about the pass before the pass before the assist?

[CoolClaret]

What about the pass before the pass before the assist?

...exactly