Leroy Fer

[Paul Handscombe]

He really wasn't though, was he?

Yes he had maybe 3 good games

I went to every home game bar one and 7 away games last season and can't remember him doing anything in 95% percent of them games, most players you can say oh yeah he did that well or he was unlucky there, Fer was a complete non entity last season.  Bottled tackles lost interest when we were behind, lazy.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Sorry, that's absolute nonsense.

How many times did  you see him live last season??

 

[morty]

Yes he had maybe 3 good games

I went to every home game bar one and 7 away games last season and can't remember him doing anything in 95% percent of them games, most players you can say oh yeah he did that well or he was unlucky there, Fer was a complete non entity last season.  Bottled tackles lost interest when we were behind, lazy.

Sorry but I think you're going to extremes here.

How could he play that badly and still get in the Dutch side at the world cup?

 

[Canaryboy]

I can't remember anybody on here being particularly upset about Fer leaving to be honest, certainly don't recall anybody calling him 'world class'.  May be wrong of course, but I thought most of the conversation around Redmond & Fer evolved around you valuing them at £5m.

We apparently got £10m for Fer. 

I was happy with that price, I'd have been very disappointed with £5m. 

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Tom Cleverly played for England, your point 

 

[Canaryboy]

Tom Cleverly played for England, your point 

He would tear this division apart too. 

In fact, he has already. 

 

[morty]

Tom Cleverly played for England, your point 

Lol, what has that got to do with anything? Tom Cleverly isn't / wasn't a Norwich City player. I don't think anyone has ever said Leroy Fer is perfect, but the fact remains that if a player can get into the Dutch squad at the world cup, and someone was willing to pay 10 million quid for him, he's hardly going to be "a complete non entity", is he?

 

[splutcho]

Paul, without wishing to get too personal, you seem to be at totally one end of the spectrum or the other. Someone's either amazing or diabolical. Where's the middle ground? And to answer your question, I probably saw him live 4 or 5 times, and watched him on tv for the rest, which, as you are well aware, makes my opinion no less valid than yours, so carry on.

 

[Boyerboy]

Fer was so bad for us last season that he was voted player of the month (I think more than once).  Also, Redmond disappointed last season but to describe his performance as "utter mediocrity" is so overstated as to be ridiculous.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I liked Fer, but my complaint was about his casualness about tracking back when the ball was lost. That was very much in evidence yesterday as well. It may prevent him from advancing his career. 

 

[shaun_wilkinson]

Nobody can deny that Fer is a lazy player and goes totally missing for long periods. He was awful against Man Utd yesterday.

 

[morty]

Nobody can deny that Fer is a lazy player and goes totally missing for long periods. He was awful against Man Utd yesterday.

We did well to get 10 million for him then. That Harry Redknapp must be a right soft mug.

 

[cityoldboy]

He has gone, we got a good fee and that is the end of the matter.

All footballers have ability, some more than others but it is certainly a requirement

to want to play for a club and its fans and if they don't want to then they can leave preferable 

for lots of cash. 

 

[Bethnal Yellow and Green]

'Arry needs to learn what Hughton didn't. Fer isn't a 'box-to-box' midfielder, you want him as close to the oppositions goal as possible.

It seems a lot of managers see Fer's build and assume he is like Patrick Viera or Yaya Toure, but he doesn't have the same qualities as them. Van Gaal only ever played him behind a striker for Holland, that is his best position - it's a bit like expected Hoolahan to be busting a gut to get back into the box, it doesn't suit.

 

[Fiery Jack]

Fer has the potential to be a Vieira type player and I think some on here are just trying to convince themselves too much that we're better off without him. The problem as stated is consistency and concentration.

There's a reason he's been linked to some decent sides in the past but the next stage is up to him. Needs to combine his natural talent with some hard work. Needs a coach to invest some time in him and for him to be receptive and willing to change. Then there would be fantastic player for the PL.

As for us selling him, great piece of business and he's simply not what we need right now. Passion fight and grit he doesn't show often enough and that's something I could never criticise Johnson for.

 

[Fiery Jack]

'Arry needs to learn what Hughton didn't. Fer isn't a 'box-to-box' midfielder, you want him as close to the oppositions goal as possible.

It seems a lot of managers see Fer's build and assume he is like Patrick Viera or Yaya Toure, but he doesn't have the same qualities as them. Van Gaal only ever played him behind a striker for Holland, that is his best position - it's a bit like expected Hoolahan to be busting a gut to get back into the box, it doesn't suit.

Fer was tried behind RVW for a while in pre season and then early on and he looked so out of place. As said he doesn't track back often and having him that high up the pitch was too much of a luxury (Hoolahan works for the team). He's got pace, skill, strength and the eye for a pass - very much a Vieira type player

 

[Bethnal Yellow and Green]

Fer was tried behind RVW for a while in pre season and then early on and he looked so out of place. As said he doesn't track back often and having him that high up the pitch was too much of a luxury (Hoolahan works for the team). He's got pace, skill, strength and the eye for a pass - very much a Vieira type player

Fer spend his entire youth career and all his games for Holland U21s (joint highest of all time) and Holland in that position. Fer has many talents, but tackling isn't one of them.

Most players in that position don't track back, as they are needed in more attacking positions - Fer's biggest qualities are his passing, finishing and dribbling on the ball - playing him too deep means he is exposed too often.

I like Fer a lot, think he is a quality player who is still inconsistent, but he has had his position changed by managers such as Maclaren and Hughton which has affected him also.

 

[Boyerboy]

Isn't that football?

I first saw Fer in a friendly when he was never more than 20 yards from Ricky and he looked fine.  I thought we had a player.

He played that role in the league and I thought he looked his best there.

 

[Boyerboy]

Sorry, that was supposed to quote Fiery Jack.

 

[Fiery Jack]

Fer spend his entire youth career and all his games for Holland U21s (joint highest of all time) and Holland in that position. Fer has many talents, but tackling isn't one of them.

Most players in that position don't track back, as they are needed in more attacking positions - Fer's biggest qualities are his passing, finishing and dribbling on the ball - playing him too deep means he is exposed too often.

I like Fer a lot, think he is a quality player who is still inconsistent, but he has had his position changed by managers such as Maclaren and Hughton which has affected him also.

Tackling isn't one of his talents?? Was always amazed at some of his tackling and ways of keeping hold of the ball when it was seemingly lost. With his long legs he manages to just about get/keep the ball in tackling and possession. He was inconsistent yesterday but put in some good tackles.

People see things differently but I never thought he looked comfortable further forward (he's most definitely not a David Silva type player) and his most impressive performances for us and when he got MOM was in that central midfield, box to box position.