Jaffka's gossip thread on the ins and outs at the 'Bok

[SmokinFrazier]

Lets not fall in to the trap of putting Muamba on a pedalo because of his recent unfortunate illness.

I wondered if Frazier had an exception to his general (and quite welcome) all-round sunny outlook - slightly surprised to find it's Muamba...

I suppose a good way of looking at it is that Coyle unquestionably undervalued Muamba because he's *only* defensive - break-ups, tackles - while his creative abilities (passing, shooting) leave a lot to be desired.

I do like Muamba a lot but I just think he's limited. There's nothing wrong with that though! I mentioned Makalele earlier and those players are essential, albeit not as well rounded as someone like Viera.

4-5-1 is a good formation with Muamba but I don't think he fits into our 4-4-2. For that role, you need someone a bit more creative.

[bobo the clown]

Lets not fall in to the trap of putting Muamba on a pedalo because of his recent unfortunate illness.

I wondered if Frazier had an exception to his general (and quite welcome) all-round sunny outlook - slightly surprised to find it's Muamba...

I suppose a good way of looking at it is that Coyle unquestionably undervalued Muamba because he's *only* defensive - break-ups, tackles - while his creative abilities (passing, shooting) leave a lot to be desired.

I do like Muamba a lot but I just think he's limited. There's nothing wrong with that though! I mentioned Makalele earlier and those players are essential, albeit not as well rounded as someone like Viera.

4-5-1 is a good formation with Muamba but I don't think he fits into our 4-4-2. For that role, you need someone a bit more creative.

Or, when you have Moo and Mavis as two of the better players available .... not play 4-4-2 ?!?!?!

[Loafer]

Well Harry Kewell is leaving Australia and heading back to England after an average season with Melbourne Victory here in the A-League.

There is talk he will play in the Championship.

[clapton is god]

Andrews not a done deal yet:

http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/bo ... m=facebook" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[plymouth wanderer]

I see Steven Naismith is going on a free transfer

Always look decent when iv seen him play IMO we need another striker plus he's useful on the wings

[jaffka]

Kewell on trial at Blackburn, who are also after Danny Murphy and leon best

[Wandering Willy]

Danny Murphy already signed I think.

[bobo the clown]

Kewell on trial at Blackburn, who are also after Danny Murphy and leon best

Are you sure it's not Leon Best who's on trial ? Or is that still to come ??

Mind you, Kewell should be in the dock having robbed a living on a Keiron Dyer scale for the past 5 or 6 years.

Danny Murphy ... yep, probably a good one at the level, but his back legs must be close to gone now.

[Bruce Rioja]

I see Steven Naismith is going on a free transfer

Not according to Rangers Nouveau, he isn't. They've transferred the player's registrations from the the old club to the new. (some of) The player's agents and solicitors are challenging the legalities of it. More messiness ensues!

[plymouth wanderer]

I see Steven Naismith is going on a free transfer

Not according to Rangers Nouveau, he isn't. They've transferred the player's registrations from the the old club to the new. (some of) The player's agents and solicitors are challenging the legalities of it. More messiness ensues!

Good player none the less worth keeping an eye on the situation

[bobo the clown]

In normal employment terms it'd be the equivilant of a TUPE transfer. However, in "talent" contracts it's unlikely to be that simple.

In a TUPE you have the right to transfer & essentially keep your t&c's unchanged. However, you DO have the right to decline & leave. If Rangers Mk 1 have folded then their contracts will have ceased. It may get messy &, of course, I don't know the intricacies of individual contracts, but I'd expect a determined player could expect a decent lawyer to win their arguement.

[TKIZ!]

Andrews not a done deal yet:

http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/bo ... m=facebook" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd take everything that click Lancashire says with a pinch of salt

[RealLifeHobbit]

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I think you've totally wanked up those quote marks - cos I didn't say that!!

Yes, I'm really not doing well here am I... I do assume it is me you're talking to?

[bobo the clown]

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I think you've totally wanked up those quote marks - cos I didn't say that!!

Yes, I'm really not doing well here am I... I do assume it is me you're talking to?

No, it was me. I couldn't be arsed correcting it.

[Puskas]

As much as I like Muamba, everything I said there was true.

Everything you said was true?

So there is no player in the Premier League - not a single one - who is worse at passing, at dribbling and at shooting (at least last season)?

If I recall correctly, didn't he have our best pass completion statistics at Opta a couple of years back?

I'm not sure about last season, but I would be _very_ surprised if he was bottom of everyone in the Premier League at passing, dribbling and shooting. Which is what you're claiming. Maybe if there's someone on this board who subscribes to Opta, we could get a definitive answer.

Let's face it, his shooting is wayward. He makes short, simple passes effectively. He can dribble with the ball (how many times have we seen him run with it into the box, before blasting at the corner flag?)

He isn't Cruyff. But neither is he Nicky Brookman. Sense of proportion here, that's all I'm asking for. It seems everything these days has to be either the best thing ever, or the worst. It's very rarely either.

Oh, and the idea that he can't play in a 442? I would ask - when, in recent years, has been our most effective period of playing 442? I'd suggest the season before last, from the start up to the ManU game and Holden's injury. And who, in that season, played alongside Holden in the 442 formation? I can't remember - can anyone help me out?

[Porrohman]

Nevermind all that shit have we signed anybody yet or not?

[Worthy4England]

As much as I like Muamba, everything I said there was true.

Everything you said was true?

So there is no player in the Premier League - not a single one - who is worse at passing, at dribbling and at shooting (at least last season)?

If I recall correctly, didn't he have our best pass completion statistics at Opta a couple of years back?

I'm not sure about last season, but I would be _very_ surprised if he was bottom of everyone in the Premier League at passing, dribbling and shooting. Which is what you're claiming. Maybe if there's someone on this board who subscribes to Opta, we could get a definitive answer.

Let's face it, his shooting is wayward. He makes short, simple passes effectively. He can dribble with the ball (how many times have we seen him run with it into the box, before blasting at the corner flag?)

He isn't Cruyff. But neither is he Nicky Brookman. Sense of proportion here, that's all I'm asking for. It seems everything these days has to be either the best thing ever, or the worst. It's very rarely either.

Oh, and the idea that he can't play in a 442? I would ask - when, in recent years, has been our most effective period of playing 442? I'd suggest the season before last, from the start up to the ManU game and Holden's injury. And who, in that season, played alongside Holden in the 442 formation? I can't remember - can anyone help me out?

As much as I like Muamba, everything you've said there is true.

Has his limitations, but actually it brightens some games up when he's 25 yards out with everyone shouting "SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT"

If people are expecting him to play Hollywood balls, then they're probably watching the wrong team, but he generally wins it and moves it on to a white shirt (according to the Opta stats - buggered it I can recall where I put 'em), and occasionally bombs forwards with "much enthusiasm"

[Worthy4England]

Nevermind all that shit have we signed anybody yet or not?

No, this thread is cursed.

[boltonboris]

Stats are sometimes bollocks though.

I've seen Muamba come short for a defender and receive a 5 yard pass into his feet, only for him (under no pressure) to give it straight back at face height.

[Puskas]

Stats are sometimes bollocks though.

What does that even mean?

Does it, perhaps, mean that you have a pre-conceived idea of what Muamba does, and when that is borne out by the statistics, you can say "Stats are sometimes bollocks", and relate how you once saw him cock-up badly, ignoring all the times he didn't?

Or does it mean something else? If so, what?

I'm always entertained by the arguments people make along the lines of "You can prove anything with statistics" - no you can't. And they're certainly more useful than taking atypical occurrences and suggesting they're the norm...