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Will Kayal play a starring role in the rest of our season?

What role will Kayal play?

  • He will be a HUGE player for us-back in ASAP and will play whenever fit.

    Votes: 61 40.9%
  • He'll be a help, but subject to rotation. Stephens, Sidwell and Norwood will be just as important

    Votes: 84 56.4%
  • Injury could bring him back below his best-Not sure he will have as great an impact as the rest will

    Votes: 4 2.7%

  • Total voters
    149


blue'n'white

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2005
3,082
2nd runway at Gatwick
I thought Kayal was by far and away our best player last season and was deservedly POTS. When he was injured I was fearful for the rest of our season as I thought (and still think) of him as an integral part of our team but the strength we have in depth in midfield this year has alleviated the problem. Hughton now has a nice problem in that he has several midfield pairings which means he is able to rest some when needed
 




Couldn't Be Hyypia

We've come a long long way together
NSC Patron
Nov 12, 2006
16,724
Near Dorchester, Dorset
Kayal is a nailed on 7 every game with an occasional 8 performance. Sidwell has been a revelation but he wobbles between 6 and 7 each game. I'd have Kayal every time. Norwood does something different to both. I suspect he's a specialist that CH will use depending on the opposition.

None of players look great v. a three man midfield. They tend to get overrun. But that's a formation thing, not down to the individuals.
 




Marshy

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
19,955
FRUIT OF THE BLOOM
I am a big fan of Kayal - He creates better angles for the defenders an midfielders to play the ball out of defence and through the middle of the midfield. The downside to Kayal is that he is more difficult to control and make him stick to a rigid position that he is told to play. By that I mean he is often pushing too far forward which leaves you vulnerable to the counter attack.

I suppose I cant have it both ways. I want to see defences opened up through the middle but I want to be solid defensively as well. It's great to watch Beram and the Manager from the sidelines. You see him getting told to get back to cover his man and him asking can I go forward for things like throw ins and corners.

His enthusiasm is great to have in the team, I love it but I don't think it is a coincidence that the defence has been a little bit more solid with players like Sidwell and Ollie being more willing to stick to their more instructed rigid positions.


mmm I think Duffy has more to do with us being slighlty more solid than any deficiency Kayal may have positionally. The great thing is we have 4 excellent centre midfielders all with slightly different attributes.

For me Kayal is amongst the best 2 of those, its certainly marginal though and i could understand anyone saying otherwise, it really comes down to what sort of player you like personally.

With regard to POTS last season, it was a straight forward tussle between Kayal and Bruno, with no wrong answer.
 


BRIGHT ON Q

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
9,248
When up to speed he should be in next to Stephens.
 




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