[Albion] Kayal

[Exile]

Hughton is always going to have to leave players out of their matchday squad if most are fit.
On Saturday I'm struggling, despite everyone saying he should have been in the squad, to understand the arguments for who Kayal would have replaced ? A goalkeeper, 2 strikers, a winger, a centre back and a full back seems obvious.
Which leaves a full back vs a midfielder. Bong vs Kayal ? or a striker maybe Locadia vs Kayal ?
but yep harsh on him and no surprise he was annoyed. Who wouldn't be ?

Personally, I'd have had him ahead of every single outfield sub we named, bar Andone (as Glenn was guaranteed to tire) and Izquierdo (as the wild card).

With Groß injured, we have only 4 central midfielders available. If you are setting up to play with 3 of them starting, it is madness to have no cover for them on the bench. I know your default (and [MENTION=30752]NooBHA[/MENTION] 's) is to unfailingly support CH, but this really was a curious decision, to omit the only available player capable of covering all three CM roles.

Easy for the comments now (with hindsight) to say 'who would he have replaced?'. the comments would be very, very different, had one of the three starters limped off injured after 5 minutes.

 

[Nixonator]

Couldn't have put it better.

Kayal is competitive, energetic and is always looking to play a forward ball and can run with the ball too. All that and he has a bit of the "nasty" about him. My kind of midfielder but clearly not the manager's. Maybe Kayal is just a little bit adventurous and attack minded for a CH midfielder?

This. If Kayal moves on, it'll be some other club's tremendous gain and IMHO the Albion's loss.

He obviously doesn't think this, else he would have been pushing for a move away in the clear knowledge he is 4th choice.

Odd decision not to have him on the bench. However, despite being a favourite of mine in our two promotion seasons, people are missing his fundamental caveats as a player.

Incredibly injury prone - once you start relying on his presence he'll be out with something, often for months.
Zero aerial presence - doesn't even bother jumping most of the time, like a few other players we have.
Tenacity gets the better of him sometimes and results in rash challenges - 2 points lost this season already because of it.

Should go without saying that I think Kayal is a great player and I love the bloke for what he has done for us, but all players have limitations and unfortunately his are of greater concern than those of our other midfielders, and the manager obviously agrees.

Unless someone can correct me, from my memory CH has never played him in the holding role since we gained promotion. He rarely even utilised him there when we were in the Championship with Norwood or Sidwell preferred if Stephens was out. So you would be asking for him to replace one of Bissouma or Propper. Both of whom are (or should be) just as capable driving forward with the ball and each provide something else in addition.

 

[NooBHA]

Personally, I'd have had him ahead of every single outfield sub we named, bar Andone (as Glenn was guaranteed to tire) and Izquierdo (as the wild card).

With Groß injured, we have only 4 central midfielders available. If you are setting up to play with 3 of them starting, it is madness to have no cover for them on the bench. I know your default (and [MENTION=30752]NooBHA[/MENTION] 's) is to unfailingly support CH, but this really was a curious decision, to omit the only available player capable of covering all three CM roles.

Easy for the comments now (with hindsight) to say 'who would he have replaced?'. the comments would be very, very different, had one of the three starters limped off injured after 5 minutes.

In certain instances you are correct - Not always. Many times I will discuss who I would play or not play and often CH and I don't reach the same conclusion. That's just opinions in football and I don't see what's done in training and I am not privy to any game plan - In this instance I would have made the same conclusion.

You could see that we were trying to draw free kicks, get the ball into the box and hope to score from them. Have someone at the edge of the box and if the ball was nodded out to the edge of the box for them to have a shot at goal. In recent weeks there had been a few of them drop to Kayal and they all went within 4 or 5 yards of the keeper - So the man at the edge of the box had to be someone different than Kayal . That's why I am in agreement with him on this one.

 

[darkwolf666]

You could have a valid point about the players being left out. But to criticise Maty Ryan who has been magnificent for two seasons is ridiculous. He is rock solid. Magnificent. One of the best we’ve ever had.

Oh and he’s just 1cm shorter than Iker Casillas....

There you go again, bringing facts to NSC, will you never learn! Clearly everyone knows you have to post threads here based on your own jaundiced opinions, and nothing else!

 

[Exile]

In certain instances you are correct - Not always. Many times I will discuss who I would play or not play and often CH and I don't reach the same conclusion. That's just opinions in football and I don't see what's done in training and I am not privy to any game plan - In this instance I would have made the same conclusion.

You could see that we were trying to draw free kicks, get the ball into the box and hope to score from them. Have someone at the edge of the box and if the ball was nodded out to the edge of the box for them to have a shot at goal. In recent weeks there had been a few of them drop to Kayal and they all went within 4 or 5 yards of the keeper - So the man at the edge of the box had to be someone different than Kayal . That's why I am in agreement with him on this one.

Bizarre post, that completely ignores what I actually posted!

(That Kayal really should have been on the bench as COVER for the three starting CMs).

 

[darkwolf666]

Personally, I'd have had him ahead of every single outfield sub we named, bar Andone (as Glenn was guaranteed to tire) and Izquierdo (as the wild card).

With Groß injured, we have only 4 central midfielders available. If you are setting up to play with 3 of them starting, it is madness to have no cover for them on the bench. I know your default (and [MENTION=30752]NooBHA[/MENTION] 's) is to unfailingly support CH, but this really was a curious decision, to omit the only available player capable of covering all three CM roles.

Easy for the comments now (with hindsight) to say 'who would he have replaced?'. the comments would be very, very different, had one of the three starters limped off injured after 5 minutes.

I’m guessing if it’s such a glaring omission as some believe, then Chris Hughton had good reason to pick the players he did.

Unless it was a schoolboy error, “oh sh1t, forgot Beram on the team sheet, let’s pretend it was a tactical decision instead” - somehow doubt the later version of events!

 

[Exile]

I’m guessing if it’s such a glaring omission as some believe, then Chris Hughton had good reason to pick the players he did.

Unless it was a schoolboy error, “oh sh1t, forgot Beram on the team sheet, let’s pretend it was a tactical decision instead” - somehow doubt the later version of events!

That won't have been the case, of course. There are obviously merits in each of the subs he selected. He may have felt that we'd be under a lot of pressure, that any of our defenders were likely to pick up a yellow card (or worse) - and as such felt he needed specialist cover for each of them. Personally I'd argue that if that thinking had merit, then it was doubly true for the CM, most especially Stephens. Had he been neutered by an early yellow and a further last-warning foul, then we'd have been in serious trouble.

had that scenario played out, or had he or Pröpper picked up an injury, then Kayal's omission would have been universally called out on here as a mistake.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

He obviously doesn't think this, else he would have been pushing for a move away in the clear knowledge he is 4th choice.

Odd decision not to have him on the bench. However, despite being a favourite of mine in our two promotion seasons, people are missing his fundamental caveats as a player.

Incredibly injury prone - once you start relying on his presence he'll be out with something, often for months.
Zero aerial presence - doesn't even bother jumping most of the time, like a few other players we have.
Tenacity gets the better of him sometimes and results in rash challenges - 2 points lost this season already because of it.

Should go without saying that I think Kayal is a great player and I love the bloke for what he has done for us, but all players have limitations and unfortunately his are of greater concern than those of our other midfielders, and the manager obviously agrees.

Unless someone can correct me, from my memory CH has never played him in the holding role since we gained promotion. He rarely even utilised him there when we were in the Championship with Norwood or Sidwell preferred if Stephens was out. So you would be asking for him to replace one of Bissouma or Propper. Both of whom are (or should be) just as capable driving forward with the ball and each provide something else in addition.

CH does seem to have a bit of a blind spot about having LEADERS in midfield. We've got them in abundance in defence. But only Kayal in midfield. Stephens in particular, CH's golden boy, looks scared of his own shadow unless he's passing the ball backwards. Wouldn't happen at Withdean. Danny Cullip would have given him a slap

 

[NooBHA]

Bizarre post, that completely ignores what I actually posted!

(That Kayal really should have been on the bench as COVER for the three starting CMs).

My post isn't really so bizarre !

Your post was not in response to any of my previous posts. Your post was in response to that of Chaileyjem - I was only responding to the reference you made to me and my support of CH

If you want my response to the cover in midfield, if someone had got injured - That was there also - Bernardo would have moved into midfield and Bongy would have come on at left back

 

[chaileyjem]

Personally, I'd have had him ahead of every single outfield sub we named, bar Andone (as Glenn was guaranteed to tire) and Izquierdo (as the wild card).

Well you'd presumably have to have a centre back (Burn), at least one full back ( Bong/Bruno) , and you agree Andone & Izquierdo are definites.
Which leaves two out of three. And I think there's just as much a case to be had for picking Locadia and Bong/Bruno as CH did, as Kayal but agreed its a tough choice.
Given that Bernardo can be pushed forward, Locadia can play across the front line and both Bissouma or Propper can play in either a two or a three in midfield. Ie: you have plenty of options, even without Beram.
I'm not sure i even agree with it but i can understand the thinking.

 

[el punal]

Evidently Kayal was upset at being left out of the match day squad for the semi-final against Manchester City and I must say I understand his frustration. He featured in all the previous rounds up to this point and in my opinion was up there with our best performers in each match he played. I believe that he would have contributed positively in the semi-final whether he be a starter or off the bench. he is a good ball carrier, leaves nothing out on the pitch and scores the odd goal - the latter attribute sadly lacking in most of our team this season.
In the same vein, I was disappointed that Button was overlooked in the quarter and semi, having performed very well in the earlier rounds. I'm not a fan of Ryan, as good as he is, he's too short and when fine margins might be all that wins a game or keeps us up then I think this is an area that needs to be looked at. Both Wolves and Watford played their 'second string' keepers for the semis, having played all the previous rounds and they didn't let their team dowm yesterday.
I think it sends the wrong message to players who have to wait to get their chance, play well, then get overlooked again. Dan Burn was another example of someone who played really well in earlier rounds only to get overlooked as the cup progressed.
Any thoughts?

Any thoughts? Phone up Chris Hughton, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to hear your views.

 

[timbha]

Stephens in particular, CH's golden boy, looks scared of his own shadow unless he's passing the ball backwards. Wouldn't happen at Withdean. Danny Cullip would have given him a slap

what a strange post unless you have rock solid inside information. This is PL/FA Cup semi final, not League 1 where bullies like Cullip thrive.

 

[The Wizard]

Wasn’t bad till he mentioned Ryan being too short

Another NSC member for the loony bin, it’s getting rather full.

 

[Mellotron]

Very disappointed for Kayal. Would be well within his rights to put in a transfer request now.

 

[Mattywerewolf]

Yes, pretty sure Bruno would have come on towards the end if we were not still in it. He deserved to grace Wembley at some point

 

[aolstudios]

Very disappointed for Kayal. Would be well within his rights to put in a transfer request now.

Why shouldn't the manager pick the best team for the day?

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Very disappointed for Kayal. Would be well within his rights to put in a transfer request now.

I doubt if anybody would pay him what we do and interested clubs would be in the Championship, not the Premier League. He would not now be an automatic pick there.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

In the Championship, Beram Kayal is the real deal. He'll definitely be snapped up in the summer, he'll have his pick of clubs to join. I don't think he's got quite enough guile about him to play in the Premier League regularly. He always does a job and I rate him a lot, but do I think he's good enough to defend resolutely, get around the pitch and pick a crucial pass? Not consistently, and I think that our standard should be Bissouma and Propper. They can do every aspect of the game and in the Premier League, that's how it should be.

 

[BensGrandad]

My post isn't really so bizarre !

Your post was not in response to any of my previous posts. Your post was in response to that of Chaileyjem - I was only responding to the reference you made to me and my support of CH

If you want my response to the cover in midfield, if someone had got injured - That was there also - Bernardo would have moved into midfield and Bongy would have come on at left back

That would be an obvious move but too simple for many on here.

 

[BLOCK F]

My son is learning to feed himself at the moment and I can't bear the Weetabix sessions. 5 minutes of the spoon in his hand and there are tiny cement blobs all over the kitchen. Does my box.

Our grandson sucks on a biscuity thing when he is sitting on my knee and his wet blobs usually end up on my trousers. Always have to have a check before I go out.