Why do loads of people not rate De Ridder?

[mulletsaint]

Because he runs down blind alleys and can't cross for his life. Having said that he looks ten times better than the spanish kid agent Harry has sent us.

 

This is the problem. The modern football fan wants instant results.

 

Some players, especially those from other countries and/or cultures can take a while to settle in. Nasri looked pants for the first couple of seasons at Arsenal, but his performances last year prompted City to pay somewhere in the region of £25m for him. He looks like he's taking his time to settle in again.

 

Andy Cole was awful for United when he first joined but turned in to great striker for them. Some times it just takes a while for us to see the true player. Unfortunately if they don't prove to be world beaters immediately we get on their backs, often making the situation worse.

[Avenue Saint]

This is the problem. The modern football fan wants instant results.

 

Some players, especially those from other countries and/or cultures can take a while to settle in. Nasri looked pants for the first couple of seasons at Arsenal, but his performances last year prompted City to pay somewhere in the region of £25m for him. He looks like he's taking his time to settle in again.

 

Andy Cole was awful for United when he first joined but turned in to great striker for them. Some times it just takes a while for us to see the true player. Unfortunately if they don't prove to be world beaters immediately we get on their backs, often making the situation worse.

 

Exactly this!

[John B]

This is the problem. The modern football fan wants instant results.

 

Some players, especially those from other countries and/or cultures can take a while to settle in. Nasri looked pants for the first couple of seasons at Arsenal, but his performances last year prompted City to pay somewhere in the region of £25m for him. He looks like he's taking his time to settle in again.

 

Andy Cole was awful for United when he first joined but turned in to great striker for them. Some times it just takes a while for us to see the true player. Unfortunately if they don't prove to be world beaters immediately we get on their backs, often making the situation worse.

 

But some players are not that good and De Ridder seems to be one of them runs around a lot but little end product

[The9]

But some players are not that good and De Ridder seems to be one of them runs around a lot but little end product

 

A very strange interpretation of his performances so far. He's scored important goals at Cardiff (albeit we didn't capitalise on it) and Reading so far this season, both away though.

[Avenue Saint]

A very strange interpretation of his performances so far. He's scored important goals at Cardiff (albeit we didn't capitalise on it) and Reading so far this season, both away though.

 

John b is a dumbed down version of alpine.

[sfc1971]

De Ridder reminds me of Wallcot in some ways. Like a speedboat without a driver.

[John B]

A very strange interpretation of his performances so far. He's scored important goals at Cardiff (albeit we didn't capitalise on it) and Reading so far this season, both away though.

 

If he was any good he would be playing regularly

[suewhistle]

I have hopes, although my views are limited to a few live games and some internet feeds. But I'm not sure we've exploited his pace in the best way. Some of our tight passing can be good but we need to move it a bit quicker sometimes so that he can receive it when he's already in movement forward, not coming back into tight spaces, where, as people have said, he goes round in circles. Crossing and decision making could be better (doesn't that almost always apply?), but I think some of the criticism is unfair and I'm certainly not disappointed when I see him on the team sheet.

[kpturner]

He's scored important goals at Cardiff (albeit we didn't capitalise on it)

By "important goals" do you mean the goal he scored right at the end of injury time? I don't think we had time to capitalise - although it helped our GD I guess.

[RobM]

When we have our new forwards in and settled, I would rather have SDR as our 'luxury' player than Guly. SDR scares defences, he has pace and strength (which we lack!) and isn't afraid to just run at them and try to make something happen. All he needs to improve is bringing others into the game, knowing when to pick a simple pass and we'll get a lot more out of him. But, like Guly, he can offer little for 80 minutes and have just a few moments of brilliance, but those moments can change games.

[kpturner]

If he was any good he would be playing regularly

You have to be more than "good" to play regularly. You also need to be injury free.

[John B]

John b is a dumbed down version of alpine.

 

 

You appear to be slightly retarded as I once you suggested I was John Westwood.

 

Just because De Ridder has scored a couple of goals it does not make him a good player he just seems to run about a lot and cannot pass.

 

Are you suggesting Forecast is a good goalie as sometimes he makes a good save

[RobM]

If he was any good he would be playing regularly

 

You have to be more than "good" to play regularly. You also need to be injury free.

 

And fit in with the tactics for that game, against that opposition.

[Bucks Saint]

De Ridder reminds me of Wallcot in some ways. Like a speedboat without a driver.

 

This. He may come good over time with coaching but so far he is fringe first teamer (and with new arrivals may not make the bench in future) for good reason. Everyone likes a direct, speedy player but the quality is a disappointment

[Charlie Wayman]

Never understood what Adkins could see in him and so it has proved, a one trick pony if ever there was one. Joins the illustrious ranks of brilliant Adkins signings Forte and N'Guessan who came and went before we even noticed they were supposed to be playing for us. Guess we won't see much more of him if Tandoori is any good - on loan to Crawley soon?

[mitch01]

Never understood what Adkins could see in him and so it has proved, a one trick pony if ever there was one. Joins the illustrious ranks of brilliant Adkins signings Forte and N'Guessan who came and went before we even noticed they were supposed to be playing for us. Guess we won't see much more of him if Tandoori is any good - on loan to Crawley soon?

 

You don't half talk some rubbish. So his goal at Reading lacked quality did it? I might go so far as to say that was the best piece of finishing we've seen this season, perhaps along with lallana on the opening day. De Ridder has got a bit of the Walcott about him, and not in a good way, but he is quick, skilful and direct. He makes things happen even if he can be frustrating. Should have started vs Leicester.

[derry]

This is looking more like the age-old "We need to play to his strengths" VERSUS "He needs to fit within our system" dilemma.

 

I can't help but wonder whether bringing Puncheon in from the cold is a sign that Adkins strongly doubts that De Ridder can fit within the system he wants to play.

 

It's hard to see the Puncheon decision doing anything other than pushing SDR down the pecking order.

 

The problem for me is that although he was my number one choice when Pardew went and he has done overall a magnificent job, Nigel Adkins seems at heart a pragmatist and is possibly a better manager chasing than out in front. He reminds me of the golfer faced with a four shot lead coming down the stretch who abandons the free flowing drive and tries to play safe pulls out the three wood and hits it into the lake and ends up finishing fourth.

 

We didn't get eight points clear, top scorers and decent defensive record by playing safety first. Against Bristol City we took the 'safe?' option playing the so called safe pair of hands in the wide right position. We wasted four of those five games with a midfield that was anything but safety first and virtually doubled our goals against because we no longer were pressing the oppositions defence with our pedestrian tempo and produced virtually no goals from play. Then the fates hit us hard, DeRidder came in and was injured along with Fonte, Lambert suspended, Richardson out and than Lallana. The poor safety first run then sent us tumbling into even worse, something that only a fully fit side and reinforcement might pick up. We are now between a rock and a hard place and the three midfielders won't cut it against Cardiff who will go above us if they inflict a third defeat in a row at SMS.

 

DeRidder is unique for us he is the only really quick player we have. Adkins has used him in the no brainer plan B when we are in the mire and overall he has done alright but he brings something to the game that nobody else in the club can provide. He can play tippy tappy but he can unsettle defences used sensibly which we have hardly done. The system doesn't need to change to provide for him the players inside and behind him just need to be more aware of the service he needs then supporting him. Richardson can overlap but only if we are in the oppositions half otherwise get slightly infield and support him by staying out of his space in the right hand corner. He is our plan B as the quick break is his speciality and is at his most dangerous when the opposition are pressing us. We should start him, and add that to our game by using him rather than trying to get him to conform. I bet the opposing defences are grateful to play against our static midfield rather than DeRidder chasing them ragged. If he plays we have to give him the ball, many times he takes up great positions in free space and is ignored.

[derry]

I rate him highly it's just a few on the forum have nothing better to do but moan and slag off players . Look at the connolly thread for yet another example of the doom and gloom merchants

 

Mike, I think the problem with these things is that many on web sites have never played at any sort of level and some not at all. Only spectating will never provide the been there and done it along with the awareness of how difficult it actually is. SDR is a bloody good player and just needs to be used properly.

[K,Billy's supersound]

all imo he's a awfull crosser of the ball, dallys on the ball looking unsure where or what to do. does not link up with the fullbacks well and constantly will ingore the fullback on the over lap. head is always down.but he does has great burst of speed helping him to get a foot in to win the ball and pace. he also is starting to track back to help defend. but up till now for me he really hasnt done anything of note other than the one goal at reading. he aint much different to forte so far. if chaplow was fit he would start ahead of him for every game.

[Special K]

I like him. NA likes his "impact" players (subs in my book ) and De Ridder has the ability to be an excellent impact player. But he also has more than that. When he comes on he often pushes the play further up the park. He often takes one defender away man marking and another on cover, he covers a lot of ground and can be an effective link up man, but for some ropey first touches (where i dare say he almost looks as if he's trying too hard). I think he should start more to try and influence games, as opposed to trying to break the established pattern of play when he comes on with 15 mins to go, imho of course.

[surrey1saint]

The problem for me is that although he was my number one choice when Pardew went and he has done overall a magnificent job, Nigel Adkins seems at heart a pragmatist and is possibly a better manager chasing than out in front. He reminds me of the golfer faced with a four shot lead coming down the stretch who abandons the free flowing drive and tries to play safe pulls out the three wood and hits it into the lake and ends up finishing fourth.

 

We didn't get eight points clear, top scorers and decent defensive record by playing safety first. Against Bristol City we took the 'safe?' option playing the so called safe pair of hands in the wide right position. We wasted four of those five games with a midfield that was anything but safety first and virtually doubled our goals against because we no longer were pressing the oppositions defence with our pedestrian tempo and produced virtually no goals from play. Then the fates hit us hard, DeRidder came in and was injured along with Fonte, Lambert suspended, Richardson out and than Lallana. The poor safety first run then sent us tumbling into even worse, something that only a fully fit side and reinforcement might pick up. We are now between a rock and a hard place and the three midfielders won't cut it against Cardiff who will go above us if they inflict a third defeat in a row at SMS.

 

DeRidder is unique for us he is the only really quick player we have. Adkins has used him in the no brainer plan B when we are in the mire and overall he has done alright but he brings something to the game that nobody else in the club can provide. He can play tippy tappy but he can unsettle defences used sensibly which we have hardly done. The system doesn't need to change to provide for him the players inside and behind him just need to be more aware of the service he needs then supporting him. Richardson can overlap but only if we are in the oppositions half otherwise get slightly infield and support him by staying out of his space in the right hand corner. He is our plan B as the quick break is his speciality and is at his most dangerous when the opposition are pressing us. We should start him, and add that to our game by using him rather than trying to get him to conform. I bet the opposing defences are grateful to play against our static midfield rather than DeRidder chasing them ragged. If he plays we have to give him the ball, many times he takes up great positions in free space and is ignored.

 

Derry is about the only bloke on here to make any sense!

[capitalsaint]

I rate him

[Chez]

if chaplow was fit he would start ahead of him for every game.

Chaplow isn't fit though, so perhaps Adkins should have stuck him in and stuck with him for five or six games instead of ****ing around with Morgan, Cork, and the bloody diamond. The IMO embarrassing showing for Falque summed it up fro me. Adkins would rather drop a guy in at the deep end, played out of position and even reshaping the formation before playing de Ridder. A poor man's Fabrice he might be, but he's still a much much better option than Falque.

[The9]

By "important goals" do you mean the goal he scored right at the end of injury time? I don't think we had time to capitalise - although it helped our GD I guess.

 

There were a few minutes left, but I'll be sure to tell him not to bother next time. The point from that was that we changed our approach in the last 20 minutes by going more direct and feeding off Lambert's knock-downs behind their defence, and De Ridder's pace was what allowed us to do it.

[Stubby]

If he was any good he would be playing regularly

 

I think exactly the opposite. If he played regularly, he would settle down, learn, grow in confidence and become a very good player.

[Chez]

If he plays we have to give him the ball, many times he takes up great positions in free space and is ignored.

this is exactly what I see. he comes on and we pass to him and he causes problems. we then invariably take 15 minutes before we get the ball to him again. It is a simple game. Davis gets the ball. passes to Richardson,. he taps it 15 yards down the touchline and then we all stand back and watch as de Ridder runs the fullback ragged. Repeat until we score or de Ridder causes so many problems that they double up and space opens elsewhere. Adkins needs to get up in the stand to watch the game. All he sees down there is tackles and the physical stuff.

[The9]

all imo he's a awfull crosser of the ball, dallys on the ball looking unsure where or what to do. does not link up with the fullbacks well and constantly will ingore the fullback on the over lap. head is always down.but he does has great burst of speed helping him to get a foot in to win the ball and pace. he also is starting to track back to help defend. but up till now for me he really hasnt done anything of note other than the one goal at reading. he aint much different to forte so far. if chaplow was fit he would start ahead of him for every game.

 

He's always running into the corner to create space for Richardson to cross, whether De Ridder is making those runs with the ball and then laying it back or just creating space. I'd say that shows great awareness. He also has a great touch and the ability to send players the wrong way - and, last match aside, his crossing is usually good.

 

His tracking back is what's got him so many yellow cards.

[shurlock]

The problem for me is that although he was my number one choice when Pardew went and he has done overall a magnificent job, Nigel Adkins seems at heart a pragmatist and is possibly a better manager chasing than out in front. He reminds me of the golfer faced with a four shot lead coming down the stretch who abandons the free flowing drive and tries to play safe pulls out the three wood and hits it into the lake and ends up finishing fourth.

 

We didn't get eight points clear, top scorers and decent defensive record by playing safety first. Against Bristol City we took the 'safe?' option playing the so called safe pair of hands in the wide right position. We wasted four of those five games with a midfield that was anything but safety first and virtually doubled our goals against because we no longer were pressing the oppositions defence with our pedestrian tempo and produced virtually no goals from play. Then the fates hit us hard, DeRidder came in and was injured along with Fonte, Lambert suspended, Richardson out and than Lallana. The poor safety first run then sent us tumbling into even worse, something that only a fully fit side and reinforcement might pick up. We are now between a rock and a hard place and the three midfielders won't cut it against Cardiff who will go above us if they inflict a third defeat in a row at SMS.

 

DeRidder is unique for us he is the only really quick player we have. Adkins has used him in the no brainer plan B when we are in the mire and overall he has done alright but he brings something to the game that nobody else in the club can provide. He can play tippy tappy but he can unsettle defences used sensibly which we have hardly done. The system doesn't need to change to provide for him the players inside and behind him just need to be more aware of the service he needs then supporting him. Richardson can overlap but only if we are in the oppositions half otherwise get slightly infield and support him by staying out of his space in the right hand corner. He is our plan B as the quick break is his speciality and is at his most dangerous when the opposition are pressing us. We should start him, and add that to our game by using him rather than trying to get him to conform. I bet the opposing defences are grateful to play against our static midfield rather than DeRidder chasing them ragged. If he plays we have to give him the ball, many times he takes up great positions in free space and is ignored.

 

NA led L1 with Scunny for a considerable time, so I'm not sure where the "chasing, rather than out in front" jibe comes from.

 

Likewise, worth properly analysing why we got eight points clear - Guly played on the right for most of that spell and frequently came inside, interchanging with the midfielders which sucked teams in and opened up space for Richardson on the outside. Had nothing to do pace or width as you put it, though even then it was clear we needed some pace alongside with Lambert to keep teams from pressing too high.

 

We've tried De Ridder on the right -I've seen him home and away (did you see him at Palace, Donny etc?)- and the jury's still out IMO. Admittedly, our pedestrian passing in midfield doesn't help him; but neither am I for the old-fashioned ball down the line or into the channels. The game has wisened up to that. I think he has something to offer but you're expecting far too much of the lad which probably says more about your prejudices about how the game should be played than anything else.

Edited 26 January, 2012 by shurlock

[Reynoldson!!]

Nasri looked pants for the first couple of seasons at Arsenal

 

haha what?? No he didn't. I remember being at a mates place watching Arsenal play some no-hope team and watching Nasri tear them apart on his debut, pretty sure he scored in that game as well. Not long after that he tore Man U a new one as well, single handedly put them to the sword he did. Scored an exquisite double. I actually agree with your post in general, but comparing it to first season Nasri is drawing a long bow indeed - he was class for Arsenal from day 1. Had a few injuries here and there but never did he look 'pants'

[derry]

NA led L1 with Scunny for a considerable time, so I'm not sure where the "chasing, rather than out in front" jibe comes from.

 

Likewise, worth properly analysing why we got eight points clear - Guly played on the right for most of that spell and frequently came inside, interchanging with the midfielders which sucked teams in and opened up space for Richardson on the outside. Had nothing to do pace or width as you put it, though even then it was clear we needed some pace alongside with Lambert to keep teams from pressing too high.

 

If you knew as much about the game as you think, you wouldn't be writing this garbage. Fine, you don't agree with me but your aggressive responses point to a bloody great chip on your shoulder rather than a wish to discuss or disagree. This is the last response you will get from me as I can't be bothered talking to ignorant people like you.

[shurlock]

 

If you knew as much about the game as you think, you wouldn't be writing this garbage. Fine, you don't agree with me but your aggressive responses point to a bloody great chip on your shoulder rather than a wish to discuss or disagree. This is the last response you will get from me as I can't be bothered talking to ignorant people like you.

 

I'm not attacking you -just disagreeing. What garbage? I back my points up each and every time. I am just interested to know how you think we scored plenty of goals and went eight points clear. Its a fact that we did so without a player like SDR or conventional width/pace. I do think the lack of pace up top has been an issue - said it as early as the Barnsley game; but that's a slightly different point.

Edited 26 January, 2012 by shurlock

[derry]

 

I'm not attacking you -just disagreeing. What garbage? I back my points up each and every time. I am just interested to know how you think we scored plenty of goals and went eight points clear. Its a fact that we did so without a player like SDR or conventional width/pace. I do think the lack of pace up top has been an issue - said it as early as the Barnsley game; but that's a slightly different point.

 

THIS is my last response. You missed the point completely. Pre Chaplow injury we were flying. The response to the Chaplow injury was the problem. At that point DeRidder should have been used as Guly was needed to partner Lambert and not available to play right midfield. DeRidder was the only viable alternative, switching Lallana wasn't an option and Holmes wasn't considered. DeRidder is a good player if we used his strengths, the three central midfielders plus a misfiring Lallana stopped us in our tracks and the injuries have turned our form into possible slide. I see more the poor service than DeRidders ability being the issue. He was the only midfielder that could have successfully replaced Chaplow. Schneiderlin and Cork was more about keeping the three in the team than whether it would work or not. It was a total failure and to be used six times after the Hull game even if DeRidder was subsequently injured was bizarre, even Holmes would have given more balance than either. Beating Coventry and Notts Forest was shown up by how easily Leicester ripped us apart until DeRidder and Holmes came on.

[shurlock]

 

THIS is my last response. You missed the point completely. Pre Chaplow injury we were flying. The response to the Chaplow injury was the problem. At that point DeRidder should have been used as Guly was needed to partner Lambert and not available to play right midfield. DeRidder was the only viable alternative, switching Lallana wasn't an option and Holmes wasn't considered. DeRidder is a good player if we used his strengths, the three central midfielders plus a misfiring Lallana stopped us in our tracks and the injuries have turned our form into possible slide. I see more the poor service than DeRidders ability being the issue. He was the only midfielder that could have successfully replaced Chaplow. Schneiderlin and Cork was more about keeping the three in the team than whether it would work or not. It was a total failure and to be used six times after the Hull game even if DeRidder was subsequently injured was bizarre, even Holmes would have given more balance than either. Beating Coventry and Notts Forest was shown up by how easily Leicester ripped us apart until DeRidder and Holmes came on.

 

OK - apologies if any offence taken. I agree with you to a point that we've lacked balance with 3 defensively-minded midfielders (we lacked balance with two DMs last season and the season before!).

 

But how far that alone has cost us in games as opposed to various other factors and how far SDR would have really made a difference given his inconsistency is less clear. We've looked excellent (Blackpool) and poor (Leicester) without him; just as we've looked excellent (Hull) and poor (Bristol City) with him.

 

That alone makes your certainty on this issue hard to accept, even though I continue to respect your insight.

Edited 26 January, 2012 by shurlock

[derry]

 

OK - apologies if any offence taken. I agree with you to a point that we've lacked balance with 3 defensively-minded midfielders (we lacked balance with two DMs last season and the season before!).

 

But how far that alone has cost us in games as opposed to various other factors and how far SDR would have really made a difference given his inconsistency is less clear. We've looked excellent (Blackpool) and poor (Leicester) without him; just as we've looked excellent (Hull) and poor (Bristol City) with him.

 

That alone makes your certainty on this issue hard to accept, even though I continue to respect your insight.

 

Ok thanks. My certainty is based on what I have seen off the ball. He consistently makes himself available, gets into excellent positions drifting away from defenders and is consistently ignored. What is not generally appreciated is the fact that outstanding pace cannot be fairly blocked. With the risk of boring you, I coached a team in a relatively high standard league. One of the players was a 28 years old ex Olympic sprinter (in football terms the fastest thing you've ever seen), he had been a representative footballer at schoolboy and youth level before seriously taking up sprinting. It took me a couple of training sessions to convince him that he needed to only take two or three touches in fifty yards to get to the byeline. The other players realised they had a dream outlet and the service was tailored to utilise his pace, not to the detriment of the team play. He was unplayable as he never dribbled, furthermore because of the turning of the defence the little left sided midfielder who had a cracking right footed shot (remind you of anyone?) scored about 35 goals coming in off the left after the defence was turned, the right back and centre backs dragged across but too late to stop the ball back to the edge of the penalty area with our players racing to get there with the centre cracked open. We won the league against teams containing many Ex League players by a distance. His pace used properly by the team was the difference. DeRidder is nowhere nearly as quick but he is very quick and used to exploit breaks from our half could do the same job.

[hypochondriac]

Relatively high standard league? What standard was that?

[kpturner]

Hands up who couldn't work out who was responding to who in that Derry/Shurlock spat. A bit of training on the quote facility required!

[kpturner]

There were a few minutes left, but I'll be sure to tell him not to bother next time.

Why?

[latter day saint]

Hands up who couldn't work out who was responding to who in that Derry/Shurlock spat. A bit of training on the quote facility required!

thank fook! thought it was just me !

[The Cat]

Decent player, not seen the best of him yet.

 

I'm struggling to see why people are tossing Falque on the scrapheap after playing less than one game. And a game at that in which we continually ignored the fact he was coming inside and finding space and instead chose to hoof the ball past him to someone who isn't very good at heading.

[derry]

Relatively high standard league? What standard was that?

 

What would now be the level below the conference Premier which didn't exist then.

[surrey1saint]

Decent player, not seen the best of him yet.

 

I'm struggling to see why people are tossing Falque on the scrapheap after playing less than one game. And a game at that in which we continually ignored the fact he was coming inside and finding space and instead chose to hoof the ball past him to someone who isn't very good at heading.

Ridiculous isn't it,I was just thinking the same,give him a chance ffs.

[hypochondriac]

What would now be the level below the conference Premier which didn't exist then.

 

So the conference South?

[derry]

So the conference South?

 

Then, the three major non leagues were the Southern, Northern and Isthmian. Most of the teams around if they managed to fulfill the ground requirements for level 3 etc are either in the Conference South or the Southern Leagues. Some of the players had played in the Southern, half the team played representative football, most would have been regulars now in CS/SPL/S s&w depending how far they were prepared to travel.

[derry]

For anybody that is still interested. DeRidder played in four and a half games, three were won two lost, three clean sheets, 8 for 2 against. Hammond, Cork and Schneiderlin together, six and a half games only beat Notts Forest, drew 2, lost three, plus 0-1 at half time v Hull until SDR replaced one and helped turn the game for a win. 6 for 9 against only clean sheet v Forest plus three of the goals. So really very poor.

 

SDR is supposed to be poor defensively but the figures show that the defence is far better with SDR in it rather than the three holding midfielders.

[saint_stevo]

Because he runs around like a headless chicken, fails to look up, and his delivery is poor

[Surman4no7shirt]

SDR is supposed to be poor defensively but the figures show that the defence is far better with SDR in it rather than the three holding midfielders.

 

Makes sense - he draws attacking players back because of defenders lack of speed, usually there are both left sided opposition players tracking him and another being pulled out from the middle by Lallana.

[derry]

Makes sense - he draws attacking players back because of defenders lack of speed, usually there are both left sided opposition players tracking him and another being pulled out from the middle by Lallana.

 

I'm not being funny but that is the no brainer. It's obvious but very few get it