Elyounoussi

[LegalEagle]

I think he deserves his own thread.

I’ve watched a lot of football over the years and I know there are players we all don’t like or appreciate but we can see what they might contribute. 

I just don’t get it with ME. I can’t think of anything that he has ever done which could be called a decent contribution or indeed a contribution at all. Perhaps I’m just missing it and I’m happy to be corrected but in my very simple mind, when he’s on the pitch we might as well be playing with 10 men. There is much more wrong at Saints than ME but why start every game with one arm tied behind our backs?

I wouldn’t even have the guy on the bench let alone starting. Can anyone shed any light why any manager would play him? He’s up there with one of the poorest players I’ve seen at Saints in the last ten years and I cannot see how he is a premiership player.

 

 

 

 

 

[S-Clarke]

He must have a contract which means we have to pay out if he doesn't play.

In all seriousness he provides shape when we're off the ball, that's it. On the ball we're 10 men, I always sigh when he's turned up in space to receive the ball as it's a pointless situation. In an attacking sense, as an attacking midfielder, one of the worst players we have ever had at any level.

[Wade Garrett]

Three managers this season continually select him.

Think that shows how good those 3 are, because he is absolute dogshit.  I wouldn’t pay him in shirt buttons.

[Lighthouse]

He’s useless and if Walcott, Tella, Aribo, Redmond and Djenepo hadn’t ALL contrived to be sh*te, whilst Stu has been continually unfit, he wouldn’t be anywhere near a Premier League team.

[Jack]

He butchers just about everything he’s involved in, in favour of an east backwards/sideways pass if we’re lucky. 3 managers in a row see something in him, it’s bizarre. 

[Turkish]

When a football players biggest strength is when they don’t have the ball then you know there is a problem. 

[ally_uk]

Should of been sold and upgraded two seasons ago..

[Bad Wolf]

Is his contract up at the end of the season? Signed under Hughes and I don't remember him ever signing a new one.

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Is his contract up at the end of the season? Signed under Hughes and I don't remember him ever signing a new one.

Yes, thankfully. Apparently we have a contract on the table for him to sign (why the fuck, no idea), but decisions will be made in the summer now.

Hopefully that decision is to rip that contract offer up and go our separate ways, as he'd be just as useless, probably even worse, in the Championship.

Edited 25 February, 2023 by S-Clarke

[Bad Wolf]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Yes, thankfully. Apparently we have a contract on the table for him to sign (why the fuck, no idea), but decisions will be made in the summer now.

Hopefully that decision is to rip that contract offer up and go our separate ways, as he'd be just as useless, probably even worse, in the Championship.

We have several players that I think will excel in The Championship. He isn't one. 

[Lighthouse]

29 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Should of been sold and upgraded two seasons ago..

Easy to say but somewhat reliant on another club being willing to buy him and having the money and recruitment to find someone better.

[Harry_SFC]

He is an absolutely terrible footballer. Actually he's not even a footballer full stop. 

[Bad Wolf]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

He is an absolutely terrible footballer. Actually he's not even a footballer full stop. 

But he is...This is the issue.

[The Kraken]

His giveaway pass in the first half today was just utterly abject. We were on the attack in their half, he had plenty of time and space and he just side footed it straight to a Leeds defender, nowhere near our player. Proper head in hands moment. He’s such a nothing player and he just shits the bed whenever he is put into any sort of attacking situation. Same at Chelsea last week, we had a great breakaway and he just shit himself and gave it away.

After today I’m not overly sure what our best shape/team is right now, I just know that Elyounoussi isn’t in it.

[bangkoksaint]

Him and Bednarek getting in the starting 11 and Diallo being subbed on says all we need to know about why we’re going down. It also brings into question Selles as a manger

[sydney_saint]

He is the perfect example of how standards have slipped. He arrived at the club, and within about 6 months it was pretty clear he wasn't good enough. Not enough pace, not even strength, not enough creativity. So we shipped him off on loan. And that should have been it. Not all signings work out, we wish him well. The club were decisive. 

And yet without any real improvements to his game, or even an excellent run of form, he has become first name on the team sheet!

[Badger]

10 minutes ago, sydney_saint said:

He is the perfect example of how standards have slipped. He arrived at the club, and within about 6 months it was pretty clear he wasn't good enough.

If I remember, we wanted Maddison from Norwich (£22m) but when he chose Leicester, our next MF signing was Ely. Hard to believe there wasn't anyone 'in between' their standards. 

As for the original subject of Ely,  he's a waste of space, weak, feeble, easily knocked off the ball, and not quick enough by foot or of thinking. Sad reflection of the state of our squad , despite what we've spent the last two windows, that he's a regular starter.

[LegalEagle]

3 hours ago, sydney_saint said:

He is the perfect example of how standards have slipped. He arrived at the club, and within about 6 months it was pretty clear he wasn't good enough. Not enough pace, not even strength, not enough creativity. So we shipped him off on loan. And that should have been it. Not all signings work out, we wish him well. The club were decisive. 

And yet without any real improvements to his game, or even an excellent run of form, he has become first name on the team sheet!

And you could easily be talking about Bednarek as well. How can the fans see this but not the coaches. Quite bizarre.

[Turkish]

3 hours ago, The Kraken said:

His giveaway pass in the first half today was just utterly abject. We were on the attack in their half, he had plenty of time and space and he just side footed it straight to a Leeds defender, nowhere near our player. Proper head in hands moment. He’s such a nothing player and he just shits the bed whenever he is put into any sort of attacking situation. Same at Chelsea last week, we had a great breakaway and he just shit himself and gave it away.

After today I’m not overly sure what our best shape/team is right now, I just know that Elyounoussi isn’t in it.

You could find a player for £500k in league one that you could train to be the level Elyanoussi is at within a few weeks. Get them super fit level, teach them How to hold our shape when we don’t have the ball and anything they do when they’ve got the ball is a bonus. It was as funny as it was depressing when Ralph said Elyanoussis qualities were when he didn’t have the ball 🤣🤣

[EBS1980]

Doesn’t score, doesn’t assist. For someone in the no10 role that’s not good enough regardless of how hard he works. 

[saintant]

5 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

He must have a contract which means we have to pay out if he doesn't play.

In all seriousness he provides shape when we're off the ball, that's it. On the ball we're 10 men, I always sigh when he's turned up in space to receive the ball as it's a pointless situation. In an attacking sense, as an attacking midfielder, one of the worst players we have ever had at any level.

You could put a dustbin in his place and it would be in the correct position now and again. It would contribute and create as much as he does too. He wouldn't get in any other team in the Premier league and probably not many in the Championship. He offers zero in practically every element or attribute that a competent attacking midfielder should score highly on. Nobody can convince me he is more useful than Alcaraz and KWP could certainly do a much better job in his position. Like the majority of our fans I am completely baffled as to why our managers continue to pick him. 

[bpsaint]

I remember in his first season here the guy looked like he was running through treacle, and just looked so out of his depth. The fact that he is not only still here 4 and a half years later, but is also starting Premier League football matches is a prime example of why we are where we are. 

The real question despite his very clear failings, is how the hell he still gets picked.

[captainchris]

6 hours ago, Turkish said:

When a football players biggest strength is when they don’t have the ball then you know there is a problem. 

Not at all. He is terrible when we don’t have the ball too and never closes down properly..

A truly crap player but Selles loves him and that my Lord is why Selles is another huge risk.

Of course we knew all this before he took the job on again this time. 
 

A fortunate win at a poor Chelsea was never an indication of greatness from the Manager…

why many fans were wetting their pants over that game I just don’t know..

[Lord Duckhunter]

He’s an intelligent player, good positional sense and hasn’t got a bad touch. Would be decent in the French league or similar, but lacks the necessary strength & pace to play in England. Without both, You have to be exceptional over here & he’s clearly not. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

He’s an intelligent player, good positional sense and hasn’t got a bad touch. Would be decent in the French league or similar, but lacks the necessary strength & pace to play in England. Without both, You have to be exceptional over here & he’s clearly not. 

Agree with this balanced view. Take away his free kicks and you could say the the same about JWP if we’re being brutally honest.

[Wade Garrett]

7 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

He’s an intelligent player, good positional sense and hasn’t got a bad touch. Would be decent in the French league or similar, but lacks the necessary strength & pace to play in England. Without both, You have to be exceptional over here & he’s clearly not. 

There’s nothing intelligent about passing it to the other side, or hiding when we have the ball.  

[Billy the Kidd]

14 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

He must have a contract which means we have to pay out if he doesn't play.

In all seriousness he provides shape when we're off the ball, that's it. On the ball we're 10 men, I always sigh when he's turned up in space to receive the ball as it's a pointless situation. In an attacking sense, as an attacking midfielder, one of the worst players we have ever had at any level.

And this is the bit I just dont get - why is it that we need to keep such discipline when our situation demands we win matches? Losing or drawing simply isnt good enough (although y’day would have been a case of being happy had we drawn considering who it was against).

Im not sure I can watch another match if when reviewing the line up it has JB and ME starting. 

Next game we simply have to have better player - DCC and Alcaraz for me.

Id also be wondering with Sulemana is currently playing like a headless chicken, he doesnt seem to understand what to do just yet.

[Colinjb]

He is emblematic of our malaise since 2017. Cannot stand him as a result.

Overhyped on arrival, has never shown to be at the required standard and continues to steal a living since. His continued selection makes a mockery of the other signings we have made.  

[SotonianWill]

he must have a spot in the most useless eleven for saints ever. a squad of not bad players as such just do absolutely fuck all and still get picked.

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

There’s nothing intelligent about passing it to the other side, or hiding when we have the ball.  

I don’t agree he hides, he’s one of the ones that doesn’t. He just doesn’t get time & space because of his lack of pace. 
 

Passing the ball is a skill. Playing the wrong ball is a lack of intelligence, making the right pass badly is the lack of ability. His touch is good, his passing is ok but he’s limited by having no acceleration or movement when on the ball. He must be easy to play against because you can always get back in, he can never “leave you for dead”. 
 

I can see why managers pick him, not that I agree with it, but can see why. It’s the age old struggling managers trait. They know what they’ll get with him, he’ll hold his position defensively & follow instructions to the letter. It’s damning on other more talented players that he gets a game. 

Edited 26 February, 2023 by Lord Duckhunter

[OttawaSaint]

20 hours ago, The Kraken said:

His giveaway pass in the first half today was just utterly abject. We were on the attack in their half, he had plenty of time and space and he just side footed it straight to a Leeds defender, nowhere near our player. Proper head in hands moment. He’s such a nothing player and he just shits the bed whenever he is put into any sort of attacking situation. Same at Chelsea last week, we had a great breakaway and he just shit himself and gave it away.

After today I’m not overly sure what our best shape/team is right now, I just know that Elyounoussi isn’t in it.

That was him I'm a nutshell. Gets the ball loads of space to drive into and either work in a shooting chance or roll it across for someone else and instead he stuttered like a faulty internet connection. His feeble brain scrambling to function and execute. By then it was too late and like a laggy connection in FIFA he just passed it straight to Leeds.

I think it tells us a lot about just how shit our other attacking midfielders are that this clown is picked ahead of them.

 

Edited 26 February, 2023 by OttawaSaint

[Convict Colony]

Moi is the reference point going forward for how absolutely shit is the Scottish League.

[saintant]

Our managers really have to stop picking this guy. We have far better options so give them a chance - it's not as though any one of them will do worse than Elyounoussi.

[derry]

At the moment we are bottom of the league taken there by three managers that all regularly picked him. That says more about the managers team selections than some of the misfits regularly picked by them.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Our managers really have to stop picking this guy. We have far better options so give them a chance

Do we? Talk me through this talent pool we are overlooking?

[revolution saint]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

Do we? Talk me through this talent pool we are overlooking?

It's difficult and goes to show that we've got a bloated squad but still lacking in quality in certain areas.  Hard to make a compelling case for anyone being an obvious standout replacement.  I'd hoped that Orsic would be the one but he's not been good when he's played.  After that it's probably Djenepo or Edozie although they're not quite the same type of player.  Djenepo can do a job defensively if needed and can sometimes beat a player, provide an assist or score a goal.  Edozie needs to work on his end product and tracking back.  I guess Alcaraz but defensively he needs to shape up as well.

Personally I'd be prepared to give Djenepo a try - thought he did well in the Spurs game at the start of the season and against Man City in the cup.

[West end Saints]

Our two 'experienced' players in this area are neither good enough, we are getting no where near enough assists from them. For me, Ely offers more than Stu Armstrong, however we needed to upgrade both. 

Their stats for last two seasons are telling:

22/23

Goals 

Ely 0

Stu 1

 

Assists

Ely 1

Stu 0

 

Blocks / tackles / clearances / headed clearances / aerial battles won etc - Ely actually surprised me with decent stats and miles better than Stu. 

 

21/22

Goals 

Ely 4

Stu 2

 

Assists

Ely 2

Stu 0

Again defensive stats Ely miles better. 

When you add his work rate, and reasonable decision making you can see, with the lack of decent alternatives managers have Ely as one of the first names on the team sheet. 

If we are going for 4/2/2/2 formation I would hope that Alcarez and Orsic would be better but we don't seem happy to rely on them??? 

Other options are Theo, Aribo, Edozie or AA. 

I guess the point I'm making is despite his failings, Ely wouldn't be far off my 11 - unfortunately as others haven't proven to be better. 

I would like to see a midfield and forward set up of

JWP / Lavia

Orsic / Alcarez

Onuachu / Sulemana

 

With Mara / Edozie coming off the bench. 

 

 

[richardc]

if he does nothing offensively but is better defensively - why not put a defender in that position to be even better - im sure KWP would be much better in that role

[sydney_saint]

14 minutes ago, richardc said:

if he does nothing offensively but is better defensively - why not put a defender in that position to be even better - im sure KWP would be much better in that role

Moi has 4 goals and 3 assists in EPL matches with us. KWP has 2 goals and 5 assists, albeit with a handful more matches. So yes, we probably are better off just sticking KWP there.

[West end Saints]

13 hours ago, West end Saints said:

Our two 'experienced' players in this area are neither good enough, we are getting no where near enough assists from them. For me, Ely offers more than Stu Armstrong, however we needed to upgrade both. 

Their stats for last two seasons are telling:

22/23

Goals 

Ely 0

Stu 1

 

Assists

Ely 1

Stu 0

 

Blocks / tackles / clearances / headed clearances / aerial battles won etc - Ely actually surprised me with decent stats and miles better than Stu. 

 

21/22

Goals 

Ely 4

Stu 2

 

Assists

Ely 2

Stu 0

Again defensive stats Ely miles better. 

When you add his work rate, and reasonable decision making you can see, with the lack of decent alternatives managers have Ely as one of the first names on the team sheet. 

If we are going for 4/2/2/2 formation I would hope that Alcarez and Orsic would be better but we don't seem happy to rely on them??? 

Other options are Theo, Aribo, Edozie or AA. 

I guess the point I'm making is despite his failings, Ely wouldn't be far off my 11 - unfortunately as others haven't proven to be better. 

I would like to see a midfield and forward set up of

JWP / Lavia

Orsic / Alcarez

Onuachu / Sulemana

 

With Mara / Edozie coming off the bench. 

 

 

Forgot Djenepo as another option

[Charlie Wayman]

How does a thread like this help the team or the player. With fans like the OP it is no surprise that the players couldn't care less whether they win or lose.

 

[sadoldgit]

I don’t think that Ely is a poor player but he just isn’t suited to the pace and the physicality of the EPL. The last 3 successive managers have picked him and whilst it is not entirely down to him that we are rooted to the bottom of the table, surely it is time now to try something different? We have nothing to lose and need to find a way of creating more. That isn’t going to happen if Ely is used as an attacking option.

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

I don’t think that Ely is a poor player but he just isn’t suited to the pace and the physicality of the EPL. The last 3 successive managers have picked him and whilst it is not entirely down to him that we are rooted to the bottom of the table, surely it is time now to try something different? We have nothing to lose and need to find a way of creating more. That isn’t going to happen if Ely is used as an attacking option.

This is true, and it really makes you question the people making the footballing decisions if they believed he deserved a new contract. How much evidence do they need to see he can't cut it? He's been here 5 years too long as it is, I just hope we don't do anything daft in the summer and get him to sign that extention. I'd lose all faith at that stage.

He needs to go to a foreign league which is played at a much slower pace, just like you say. In english football he's dump.

Edited 27 February, 2023 by S-Clarke

[Chez]

18 hours ago, revolution saint said:

It's difficult and goes to show that we've got a bloated squad but still lacking in quality in certain areas.  Hard to make a compelling case for anyone being an obvious standout replacement.  I'd hoped that Orsic would be the one but he's not been good when he's played.  After that it's probably Djenepo or Edozie although they're not quite the same type of player.  Djenepo can do a job defensively if needed and can sometimes beat a player, provide an assist or score a goal.  Edozie needs to work on his end product and tracking back.  I guess Alcaraz but defensively he needs to shape up as well.

Personally I'd be prepared to give Djenepo a try - thought he did well in the Spurs game at the start of the season and against Man City in the cup.

Djenepo has been largely crap for us, and it concerns me that we are discussing him as our best left midfield option, but he does have a trick and the pace to beat a man from time to time. He at least makes the fullback work sometimes. His workrate has been good and positional sense improved from a low base. Obviously he treads on the ball, miscontrolls and generally looks like a fish out of water at times, but his unpredictability is a weapon a non-scoring team needs right now. He's like the opposite of Ely, who is neat and tidy but ultimately just a bit too lightweight to make a difference.

Ely is a bit like Tadic, in that he doesn't have enough pace and strength to ever beat a man, but he doesn't have the same qualities Tadic had to made up for it - touch, vision and quality of pass/cross. Never has that been more obvious than at Leeds on Saturday when we had a break and it was down to him to pick that right pass to take advantage and he just couldn't do it. That happens too often. Right idea (not always), but poor execution. 

[saintant]

5 minutes ago, Chez said:

Djenepo has been largely crap for us, and it concerns me that we are discussing him as our best left midfield option, but he does have a trick and the pace to beat a man from time to time. He at least makes the fullback work sometimes. His workrate has been good and positional sense improved from a low base. Obviously he treads on the ball, miscontrolls and generally looks like a fish out of water at times, but his unpredictability is a weapon a non-scoring team needs right now. He's like the opposite of Ely, who is neat and tidy but ultimately just a bit too lightweight to make a difference.

Ely is a bit like Tadic, in that he doesn't have enough pace and strength to ever beat a man, but he doesn't have the same qualities Tadic had to made up for it - touch, vision and quality of pass/cross. Never has that been more obvious than at Leeds on Saturday when we had a break and it was down to him to pick that right pass to take advantage and he just couldn't do it. That happens too often. Right idea (not always), but poor execution. 

I must have been watching different games because I remember Tadic beating many opponents through tricks and feints - yeah, he wasn't physically the strongest but he had enough skill to make up for that.

[revolution saint]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

Djenepo has been largely crap for us, and it concerns me that we are discussing him as our best left midfield option, but he does have a trick and the pace to beat a man from time to time. He at least makes the fullback work sometimes. His workrate has been good and positional sense improved from a low base. Obviously he treads on the ball, miscontrolls and generally looks like a fish out of water at times, but his unpredictability is a weapon a non-scoring team needs right now. He's like the opposite of Ely, who is neat and tidy but ultimately just a bit too lightweight to make a difference.

Ely is a bit like Tadic, in that he doesn't have enough pace and strength to ever beat a man, but he doesn't have the same qualities Tadic had to made up for it - touch, vision and quality of pass/cross. Never has that been more obvious than at Leeds on Saturday when we had a break and it was down to him to pick that right pass to take advantage and he just couldn't do it. That happens too often. Right idea (not always), but poor execution. 

Yeah, it's hard to make a compelling case for any of the candidates.  Ideally it would be Orsic and when he signed I had hopes we were getting a similar player to prime S. Armstrong but a bit quicker and clearly that's not happened.

Whenever we get a break and the ball goes to Elynoussi my heart sinks - just know that the majority of the time he'll give the ball away or make the wrong decision.

[Lord Duckhunter]

15 minutes ago, Chez said:

 

Ely is a bit like Tadic, 

I guess he’s got a head, 2 arms, 2 legs and a Cock, other than that I’m struggling with the comparison. 

[Chez]

23 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I guess he’s got a head, 2 arms, 2 legs and a Cock, other than that I’m struggling with the comparison. 

I knew I should have phrased it better: Just like Tadic, Ely has no pace, but there ends the similarities.

[Chez]

35 minutes ago, saintant said:

I must have been watching different games because I remember Tadic beating many opponents through tricks and feints - yeah, he wasn't physically the strongest but he had enough skill to make up for that.

I guess what I was trying to say was Tadic didn't dribble or power past anyone, he just didn't have that in his locker. Ely also can't dribble or power past anyone. Sadly, Ely doesn't have other qualities to make up for that. He's a drinks carrier. He plays like a central midfielder, get it and move on to someone else, but that's all he has.

[benjii]

Walcott is better FFS. Redmond is many times better. We signed Orsic and he can't get in the team ahead of this guy?! 🤣

 

Fuck me!