Lua x2

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In the absence of any good news there seems to be a bit of straw-clutching going on among rhe fans....ie, if there's nothing to cheer us up we'll invent something instead. So here's my gambit: this Season we'll see Lua Lua blossom into a quality Premiership player. After an initial flurry of excitement when he first signed he seemed to fall away badly, so much so, that he was beginning to get barracked by the Geordie faithful. A couple of games towards the end of last year however led me to think that perhaps he'd turned the corner; principally when he came on as sub during the Leicester match - we we're struggling to put anything incisive or creative together until he came on and added some real spark. An early goal during the new campaign could be the catalyst he needs. You read it here first.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Answers

The lad has been completely forgotten about, in much the same way as Gavilan. The pair of them are only 20/21 and still have time to blossom.

I don't expect eithe rof them to be first choice straight away. With the loss of Gallacher, Glass and Cordone they really should be the bums on the bench to cover a midfield attacking option. Ideally we should have a bench with youth on it, although I'd be happy to see Barton as a defensive sub who can play to the same level :0) in any position.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001


The only time Luax2 has looked useful - other than as a specialty circus act - has been when he has played out wide. He gets just a little more time to lift his head and look for options when he on the touchline, which he doesn't get in the middle.

Is he left footed? He played wide left for Colchester, and imo we should try him there - our problem position anyway. He has a bit of pace, and can beat a man for fun - but he needs to be playing in a position where he has the time to look up and pick out a pass or a cross. To me he looks totally lost in the middle of the park.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001


I agree Clarky - stick him on the wing where A) he can do more damage if his tricks come off and B) he'll do less damage to us if they don't.

Re: Gavilan, in many ways he's even more frustrating; he came with such a big reputation but has really shown nowt. To compound the frustration just look how well Arca has done for the unwashed.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001


The difference is that Arca has been given a chance at the Mackems, whereas Gavilan only played 6 minutes of first team football for us last season.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Agree Paul - as has recently been discussed on another thread.

It is very rare imo for individuals to really shine in the Central League. I saw Gavilan maybe 5 times last season - invariably playing on cr@p ptiches and usually in high wind - and he looked totally demoralised, and not very good.

He undoubtedly has talent, but I doubt we'll ever see it in the Stiffs. We need to give as many chances as Luax2 had last season, and make him feel part of the senior squad to find out what he is capable of. Otherwise, we may as well just get rid of him - and write off another £2mm.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001



If he's turned a corner I hope it leads onto a long open road with excellent transport facilities. I have lost all faith in LuaX2 since the Southampton game. I hope he makes me eat my words.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Good post DSS. I agree with you in that I suspect our form for this season will depend on what we've got within already, rather than what we buy in, and that the prospects aren't necesarily negative because of it. Lua Lua was always raw, and will need coaching and premiership experience under his belt before he will be able to show his true worth. We should expect more from Abeobi too this season, within reason. Bassedas, if he's ever going to make it, should also now be up to speed, hitting the ground running for the new season. We discard Carl Cort, but he too hasn't had a proper chance yet to show us what he can achieve. Even Dyer isn't the finished article. Personally, I would feel so much more pride (vicarious of course) if players made names for themselves because of their achievements for us, rather than the feeling of short term off-the-shelf rent-a-pro security each time we look at a line up because of the players' previous achievements.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

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-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

What's the code?

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

just upping my posting ratebetter?

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001




-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Thanks for that clear message Steph.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

what you need is < /b > I think you just had the slash the wrong way and ended up in a mess

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Thanks McB. Always end up in a mess if I slash the wrong way ..fnarr.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

I still have high hopes for Lua*2. He has great natural ability. His contribution will improve if he can become part of a team. This is a coaching issue. You can't coach natural ability into a player but you can coach team play.

Perhaps, Clarky, the reason Lua*2 has not been tried wide left is that we already have an abundance of talent in that position already? Or perhaps not.

I'm sure Gavilan could make a contribution as well. YBR brought him in and surely he would like to see his choice justified and work with this player to reproduce the talent that made YBR want him in the first place. Failing that we'll have to go the Sunderland route and sue his agent for telling us he could play.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2001


I'm with Jonno on this: I was delighted when we bought him and was enchanted at the little glimpses of greatness we saw when he first joined. Jonno may recall, since he was sitting next to me, his performance when he came on against Everton. At one point he had about 5 men on him and their only recourse was to try to strangle him. SuperMac blames his demise on being alone up front against Arsenal which, he thinks, hurt his confidence. I'm not sure that it was the Arsenal game, given that our central defensive partnership was Hughes and Cladwell and they don't seem any the worse for the thrashing they got. His confidence has clearly been hurt by something, though.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2001

Cladwell - another new signing? No doubt a well-dressed central defender.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2001

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