Our Iberians

[Woan]

In Sabri's system, Silva has to win the ball occasionally and he just can't. Watson plays so deep that if Silva doesn't win it, nobody will. He's much better when he is played in a more advanced position ahead of Sow but then Sow has been too slow lately to win anything. Yates can win the ball but doesn't know what to do with it. I want to see Silva progress but he needs to be played further up the pitch and once he gets the ball, needs to move it and stop hanging onto it so long because he gets dispossessed too easily. The potential is there but he needs to use his creativity better to get the attack moving quicker.

[Paplane]

Its interesting that Paul Taylor piece in the athletic this morning says that Carvalho's absence is more so do with his lack of desire to win his place back by working hard and banging on the managers door.

Sounds like this is the start of the club briefing against him before he's jettisoned.

[ThePromisedLand]

Referring to the the popularity of Lamouchi & the fact that everyone likes him Danny Taylor makes a telling comment?
‘And the players (on the whole) do too’
Just Carvalho?

[Tricky]

Its interesting that Paul Taylor piece in the athletic this morning says that Carvalho's absence is more so do with his lack of desire to win his place back by working hard and banging on the managers door.

Sounds like this is the start of the club briefing against him before he's jettisoned.

It's been on the cards all season when you think about it. Just thinking back Carvs performances this season when he has got on to the pitch, poor and half hearted. Add to that the interview he did with the Portugese magazine. It seems to me that he doesnt want to be here. He is too lazy for a full on league like the Championship, He is too lightweight and he looks disinterested.

I hope we can sell him on for a decent buck and he finds a club more suited to his style of play. But I doubt it will be in England

[Plymouth red]

He was an expensive gamble and unfortunate one that has not paid off. The amount spent on him could have been invested in 2 or 3 quality and proven championship players. Unless EM wants to sell him to himself for what we paid for him, I will struggle to see how he has retained his value

[the jock]

Ribeiro has been an excellent signing. Next year he will get even better .

Fig has improved alot since he first came . Fair play to him has been very good.

Silva far too often is below average. You only need to look back at match ratings to see this backed up.

That's just my opinion .

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Ribeiro has been far better thanI expected.

Silva is OK in patches and a good squad member. However midfield playmaker is such a crucial role to a team, he does not deliver nearly enough and at his age what you see is what you get, he wont improve. Bottom line is a promotion winning team needs better than Silva.

[tugger2018]

I agree Silva does not create , score or get involved enough and is a midget with no physical presence required for championship get a cheeky bid in for grosiki wba might let him go now and I feel we need better than ribiero he’s to lightweight

[zicorice]

OK. Seasons end, heres my honest, if brutal, take. 

Figs: Solid for 85 minutes every game, can play a bit too. But.....he gets bullied from time to time, appears to lack concentration in inury time and when I reflect on the season, our strongest, most solid defensive performances were mostly before Daws got injured. Figs deserved to keep his place when Daws fit again, especially after Sheff Weds (H). Overall a reasonable jobbing centre half, the "Portugal call up" talk was classic over the top supporters after he did his job quite well for a few consecutive games.

Ribeiro: Was clearly unfit and not ready for action when we signed him. Sabri gave him some outings in MF to build up his match sharpness for Championship and then he established himself as a very very good left back, targeted by opposition he usually came out on top and looked to be a top player...then came the last few games. Was he injured, knackered or just not quite as good as we thought? I actually think a full preseason will have him looking top draw again.

The next one is tricky as he clearly splits opinion and can play a bit.

Silva: Has produced enough tricks for his own "showboat" reel. Hits a decent free kick sometimes and is always buzzing about in midfield. He clearly can't play the deeper role, leaving a slightly non traditional no10 role which he looks ok in. Obviously he can't really tackle or head it very well, though that's not his job. Early on he took a few decent corners, but was taken off them after constantly hitting the first man. Scored a lovely goal at Brum. He did buy quite a few cheap free kicks at one point, but got found out. But he creates f@ck all for someone in that position. Literally f@ck all. His assists in open play are negligible. Not the end of the world as sometimes keeping possession is key...but he gives the ball away cheaply soooooo much some games it make me want to scream. In conclusion, I thought he would be a good back up to Carvalho but injury allowed him to establish himself as our "creator"...even though he doesn't actually create. Harsh as he is a good honest pro.

Carvalho: Heres the kicker. Faults physically are exactly the same as Silva. Lack of strength, pace and weak in the tackle, weak at heading and gives ball away too much. This season should have been his season, but wasn't due in part to injury and in part to lots of other things. This attitude stuff is weird, would you knock on your bosses door to say "I'm better than my best mate, sack him off and give me his job" maybe he should have. Against Swansea away he was imperious, after that we only saw flashes. Theres a stat being bandied about that in 18/19 season Carvalho had better stats than Silva has this season, in less games. However, conversely Watsons stats weren't exactly great in 18/19 either so a bit of a moot point. What I will say though, is that he may have all those negative attributes like Silva, but he also has quality in spades which nurtured properly would have been useful when we dominate possession and generally create f@ck all. His running stats are also very good so this myth that he doesn't work hard for the team is bollox. If he goes, I will understand why it may be better for all parties (assuming we don't sack another manager). That said, it's been a fun season (until last 20 minutes) but I enjoy watching classy creative players and Carvalho is certainly one of those. It broke my footballing heart to see him sat in stands, not even on the bench, because, we are being lead to believe he wouldn't snake on his mate...

So overall for me 3 of our Iberians have contributed to the good the bad and the ugly that has been this rollercoaster of a season and 1 hasn't really had the chance too for a variety of reasons.

Have a great summer all. See you in September.

[Tricky]

OK. Seasons end, heres my honest, if brutal, take. 

The next one is tricky as he clearly splits opinion and can play a bit.

Have a great summer all. See you in September.

What did I do? When have I split opinion? You clearly haven't seen me play lately have you Zico? I get absolutely blowing out of my arse just tying my laces!! 

Just kidding pal! Have a great summer too  :D

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Thanks Zico, agree with nearly all of that.

What do you mean by Carvalho “wouldnt snake on his mate”?

[zicorice]

Thanks Zico, agree with nearly all of that.

What do you mean by Carvalho “wouldnt snake on his mate”?

See pm

Over simplification - but still feel that Carv’s lack of a pre season seriously hampered him & he has been playing catch up ever since.

Not an over simplification at all. You are spot on. Anyone who has played or worked in the game at that level will tell you how important a good preseason is to set you up for the season as a player. Remember David Johnson had one good preseason and went onto score well over 20 goals.