Engel Appreciation Thread

[Colgates_shaving_foam]

the passes into the middle of the pitch is something he's been told to do otherwise he wouldn't keep doing it
also there's nothing ahead of him so it's the only pass he has
a few norwich attacks last night were 3v1 down the left

I know it's old school but I would prefer Engel to just play it down the line if there is not a clear pass on.

Those blind balls inside are so dangerous for us.

 

[Alzi]

We've signed 4 left backs since last July and we still don't have a good enough one.

We must have some academy lads who could do a better job than some of them. Production line for defenders/full backs seems to have ground to a halt.

 

[johnsmithsno2]

The stats don't bear this out. He is a fairly good passer of the ball. He does make some bloody awful passes which effects your opinion because they are memorable for how bad they are.

But he makes a disproportionate number of 15-yard passes back to the centre-back, so the stats may be misleading.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

But he makes a disproportionate number of 15-yard passes back to the centre-back, so the stats may be misleading.

Why does he have to do that?

 

[GingerTravel]

I think he's proved in several games that he's one of our more dangerous players going forward. He looks better in a back 5 than back 4 which makes sense given his defensive frailties.

Passing out from the left back slot isn't always easy, I've seen Hackney play a couple of hospital passes infield from that area, when he tries to clip it out. I don't really think he's any worse than others in the team at passing, admittedly he does get intercepted on occasions and often in dangerous areas.

 

[Laughing]

But he makes a disproportionate number of 15-yard passes back to the centre-back, so the stats may be misleading.

Less than 1 in ten passes is a long ball. Not sure how that compares to other defenders.

 

[dooderooni]

Engel is not playing much differently to how Giles did, but for lots of reasons, we've not had the same speed and fluency about our play this year.
As left peg said above, not being able to play a bounce pass with a midfielder stops a lot of forward progress. We had lovely little link ups last season, Howson and Hackney, Jones and Crooks, Akpom and everyone. We've struggled establishing anything like those combinations this season. If Engel had someone inside him who could form a similar bond then he'd benefit tremendously.
Is he a great defender? He probably won't be seen as that, but with a defensive centre mid to cover his forward runs and a left mid to link up with then I think he'll be an attacking asset and a foil for Jones on the right.

 

[AytonMews]

Not heard it called a “bounce pass” for many a year. Probably since my old pe teacher Mr Sugden!

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Engel's got the heart of a lion, unfortunately, he's ended up with a lifetime ban from Flamingo Land.

 

[Mysonpat.]

Engel has more going forward than Thomas, (he can pick a pass and knock a good ball in, usually picking runners out in the box) he has this rashness occasionally where he passes aimlessly, they are both poor defensively.
I would stick with Engel, play him, keep giving him experience, work on his defending on the training ground, he needs to beef up a bit as he still looks physically weak at times.
He needs to work on his explosive power off the mark, too many times the wingers has done him for pace over 10 yards.
You never know, he might be a different player next season? I have seen that happen a few times over the years.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

Let us all remember that it was the sainted Ryan Giles who gave the ball to Coventry who went up the field and stopped us getting promoted last year.

 

[B_G]

Let us all remember that it was the sainted Ryan Giles who gave the ball to Coventry who went up the field and stopped us getting promoted last year.

And Gerrard once slipped over and cost Liverpool the league. What's your point?