Steed Malbranque joins Sunderland

[Adam456]

Exactly what i was going to say, you could add park to that list too. I would like steed to stay as he is a trier and sometimes you need a battler to get you through the tough games (away at sunderland etc) Thats another reason id like tainio to stay, very good when fit and it has been seen this season against fabragas, especially as he can slot in to many positions and also has hardly ever, if ever played in his natural attacking midfielder position.

I know what you're saying here but it works both ways. You say it's good to have players who don't mind warming the bench but if you use them as backup you never bring youngsters through.

If we buy no more players this window (unlikely) and we make Dos Santos first choice LW and Lennon first choice right and Steed as back up then when do Tarabt, KPB etc get a game. I'd have good prospects as backup rather than journeymen any day of the week. That's what ManUre did through the 90s (with the exception of Brian McClair who let's face it, was much more of an impact player than Steed)

 

[blanchflower007]

I find this one quite tough as I love steed but like others on here question his ability at the very top level. I think a lot of this depends on who comes in if we do get Bentley and Capel then there isn't going to be a place for him.

 

[idlepete]

For £4m they can fuck right off, anyway.

 

[blanchflower007]

For £4m they can fuck right off, anyway.

Yeah think £4m is a bit on the cheep side, I would say £5.5m is a bit closer to the mark

 

[Locotoro]

If those youngsters dont have any older players to learn from then surely that defeats the purpose of signing them in the first place. Steed is an experienced premiership performer and does everything you'd want from a midfield player

its strange how everyone writes him off as not good enough for a top 4 club when we are not a top 4 club.

All the players who played for spurs last season need to up the ante and improve their game, i dont know why any would think that we've seen the best of steed. Steed was more consistent than jenas imo last season but why do people think we'll see more from JJ than steed for example?

 

[pagevee]

If those youngsters dont have any older players to learn from then surely that defeats the purpose of signing them in the first place. Steed is an experienced premiership performer and does everything you'd want from a midfield player

its strange how everyone writes him off as not good enough for a top 4 club when we are not a top 4 club.

All the players who played for spurs last season need to up the ante and improve their game, i dont know why any would think that we've seen the best of steed. Steed was more consistent than jenas imo last season but why do people think we'll see more from JJ than steed for example?

Simple, JJ has more talent and was picked first-choice consistently by Jol and Ramos. I agree with you about Steed though. I love the little guys work ethic and overall game.:up:

 

[SpurSince57]

Or was picked, along with Zokora, for want of anything better.

 

[DC_Boy]

I hope Steed stays

if the season kicked off tomorrow I think he'd have a very good chance of starting and would certainly be on the bench

and a mid of Bentley Modric JJ and Steed would probably work well enough, with Bale and Hutton getting forward too

Even if we get the elusive DM in, which I think we need to do as well as Bentley- I still see plenty of opportunities for Steed both as an occasional starter and a regular sub in what will be hopefully a 60+ game season

I think without doubt JJ Modric and Bentley are better than Steed- but Bentley's not signed yet - and I guess it's possible it might only be Bentley or a DM that's signed - not both - then we'll still need Steed plenty

 

[SpurSince57]

As the only one of our current midfielders (apart from Tainio) who can and will tackle and get stuck in generally, too right we'll need him if we don't get the fabled DM.

 

[guy]

Keep steed!! If we sell him we will just have to go out and get a replacement squad player. Waste of time, effort and money

We're going to sell or loan TT, ghaly, boateng and taarabt so we will need to keep the rest to have a squad.

steed will start certain games when we need that extra steel in MF.

MFs:
bentley, modric, DM, giovanni
lennon, jenas, zokora, steed
hudd, ohara

any less and we could fall short through injuries

 

[Lilbaz]

Is it just me or does Steed remind you of Rocket Ronnie?

 

[SpurSince57]

It is just you.

If anything, he's started to morph into Super Ed,

 

[joey55]

As the only one of our current midfielders (apart from Tainio) who can and will tackle and get stuck in generally, too right we'll need him if we don't get the fabled DM.

Steed also made the second highest number of interceptions of our midfielders, which considering he wasn't playing in the middle, is pretty impressive. JJ bashers won't be pleased to know that it was yet another area he was top in. JJ made 58 inteceptions to Steeds 54.

 

[SpurSince57]

I think we need to distinguish between JJ bashers and those who have justifiable reservations. I've been supporting him forever, but it's got to the point where I feel he's really got to step up to the mark.

 

[The Original Yiddster]

personally would like to see SM start next to Modric in the middle of the park. I think his battling ball winning qualities plus the fact that he can see a pass would be suited there.
He would have to curb his natural desire to go forward to a degree but really think he could save us a fortune.

 

[mil1lion]

personally would like to see SM start next to Modric in the middle of the park. I think his battling ball winning qualities plus the fact that he can see a pass would be suited there.
He would have to curb his natural desire to go forward to a degree but really think he could save us a fortune.

I think that could work but i'd still have to have a proper defensive midfielder in there. I wouldn't be surprised if Juande tries a diamond midfield during pre-season with Modric left of centre, Malbranque/Jenas right of centre, Zokora in the hole (until we at least sign a new defensive midfielder) and Giovani as the central attacking midfielder.

 

[sim0n]

Steed also made the second highest number of interceptions of our midfielders, which considering he wasn't playing in the middle, is pretty impressive. JJ bashers won't be pleased to know that it was yet another area he was top in. JJ made 58 inteceptions to Steeds 54.

I see your point, but how many times did JJ lose possession? Top 3 on the team? Top midfielder? I'm only guessing and it's because I've alwys had reservations regarding JJ. I'm sure he's a wonderful lad and all, but just curious about his passing/possession stats.

:beer:

I like Steed, don't sell him.

 

[DC_Boy]

I see your point, but how many times did JJ lose possession? Top 3 on the team? Top midfielder? I'm only guessing and it's .

I can't you tell that - but my guess would be that JJ is nowhere near the worst when it comes to losing possession-

In fact guess what - i reckon JJ would be near the top for retaining possession-

I know that on quite a few occasions last season when some posters had slagged JJ off or given him a 4 or 5 marking - I then went to the Telegraph report where he would almost always get a 6/7 mark sometimes 8 - but re possession - his would normally be a high pass completion rate - also a high number of passes too

I can't actually think of one of last season's mids that played on a regular basis that would be better at retaining possession than JJ - but maybe one or two were

The Actim stats, whenever I check them, consistently have JJ as our top mid - cos guess what - that's what he is -

And I would bet a stack of virtual cash that the more comprehensive Pro Zone stats would not only confirm but probably underline that superiority

(obviously next season I expect Modric to take JJ's mantle)

 

[Leachie]

I think there is one thing we are all forgetting here - it's in the Suday Mirror - as an after thought. The story is dubious at best!

On another note, SS57 has said recently that Steed could perhaps play the DM role. The idea has grown on me and could be a possibility. He is strong in the tackle, harries players brilliantly, Is strong for his size, can run all day and has a good pass on him. Only reservations are weather he can read the game to the required standard and, possibly, his height. Not all DM's are big though.

 

[psturdy]

Steed

I have long been suggesting Steed for DM position - I would be interested to know (from Dan) how well Steed is rated by Ramos given that he was a regular starter throughout last season and was at times protected (by an early substitution) in the games preceding the important games (CCSF,CCF). Didi Steed not play more games than anyone else 2007/8?

Note also Makalele, Davids & co are not especially tall.

Steed is my favourite player from last season (except for Berbatov) simply for his workrate. Let's not forget he has been consistently played out of position and (near the top of the stats) has done pretty well.

I think he is key to Modric settling in next season. IMHO Steed will cope better than Modric with the heavier pitches in the Winter months.