Ilia Gruev

[The Subhuman]

Wonder what kind of time frame we're looking at. Only see him as 4th choice midfielder but will be good to add depth to the squad. Especially useful as his return would allow Ampadu to play in defence if needed.

Hopefully Gruev will go back to being Ampadu’s number 2. He’s a better DMF than Tanaka and Rothwell

[1964white]

Hopefully Gruev will go back to being Ampadu’s number 2. He’s a better DMF than Tanaka and Rothwell

Is he?

[The Subhuman]

Is he?

Yes, Tanaka is a centre mid, he doesn’t play the third CB well.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Hopefully Gruev will go back to being Ampadu’s number 2. He’s a better DMF than Tanaka and Rothwell

I agree. But it does allow Farke some flexibility - a horses for courses

[1964white]

Yes, Tanaka is a centre mid, he doesn’t play the third CB well.

Poorer going forward.

[mentalcase]

I agree. But it does allow Farke some flexibility - a horses for courses

I don'y go for sstats but does any player cover as much ground as tanaka, not even ampadu and certainly not gruev.

[malcolmw]

Is he?

It all depends if Gruev comes back the same player after this long layoff and serious injury.
I rate both Tanaka and Rothwell highly.
Nice to have real competition in midfield.

[weasel]

I don'y go for sstats but does any player cover as much ground as tanaka, not even ampadu and certainly not gruev.

I think a lot depends on what you are looking for in a certain position. If you take Tyler Adams as an example he ran around all day and was great at that. However his positioning was poor which meant he had to run around chasing people as he was in the wrong place. Kalvin Phillips did far less running but because Bielsa had tuored him he positioned himself better.

As a DM I think SH is right and that the pecking order would be Ampadu then Gruev. As a central midfielder it would then be Tanaka then Rothwell.

[mentalcase]

I think a lot depends on what you are looking for in a certain position. If you take Tyler Adams as an example he ran around all day and was great at that. However his positioning was poor which meant he had to run around chasing people as he was in the wrong place. Kalvin Phillips did far less running but because Bielsa had tuored him he positioned himself better.

As a DM I think SH is right and that the pecking order would be Ampadu then Gruev. As a central midfielder it would then be Tanaka then Rothwell.

Well we certainly have the players, he could go horses for courses, but is more inclined to stick .
Now Ampadu is back he be in all season, just hope not aRB

[weasel]

It all depends if Gruev comes back the same player after this long layoff and serious injury.
I rate both Tanaka and Rothwell highly.
Nice to have real competition in midfield.

I would have thought Gruev will be eased in gradually as there is no need to rush. Hopefully he can then hit prime form towards the end of the season

[1964white]

I think a lot depends on what you are looking for in a certain position. If you take Tyler Adams as an example he ran around all day and was great at that. However his positioning was poor which meant he had to run around chasing people as he was in the wrong place. Kalvin Phillips did far less running but because Bielsa had tuored him he positioned himself better.

As a DM I think SH is right and that the pecking order would be Ampadu then Gruev. As a central midfielder it would then be Tanaka then Rothwell.

Ampadu & Gruev are so similar, though.

Tanaka is up there as our player of the season going from our MOTM polls.

Top 5 after the Hull game

987 Aaronson
933 Tanaka
798 Gnonto
630 Struijk
613 James

Gruev was nowhere close to the top five last season.

Also, Tanaka has won seven MOTM polls. I can't recall Gruev winning many.

[Trigger]

Poorer going forward.

I think so too, he doesn't offer much going forward, very limited player that's more suited to a grafting defensive type of match.

[1964white]

I think so too, he doesn't offer much going forward, very limited player that's more suited to a grafting defensive type of match.

Let's face it, his only goal from distance trickled into the net, as opposed to Tanaka stunning finish for Leeds.

4 league goals for Gruev

25 league/international goals for Tanaka.

We can't go back to playing two defensive midfielders who offer no goal threat whatsoever, that is one of our problems in our set-up.

[1964white]

I think so too, he doesn't offer much going forward, very limited player that's more suited to a grafting defensive type of match.

Gruev enjoys going sideways & backwards. He is a decent tackler!

[weasel]

Ampadu & Gruev are so similar, though.

Tanaka is up there as our player of the season going from our MOTM polls.

Top 5 after the Hull game

987 Aaronson
933 Tanaka
798 Gnonto
630 Struijk
613 James

Gruev was nowhere close to the top five last season.

Also, Tanaka has won seven MOTM polls. I can't recall Gruev winning many.

Not surprising given he didn't really play for the first half of the season.

[weasel]

Don't forget that we are looking at the Gruev who basically stepped into Ampadu's shoes after Ampadu had to play at centreback. He wasn't really afforded much license to go forward, that was Kamara's job. So people suggesting a Gruev & Ampadu partnership would be solely defensive have nothing to base this on given that they have rarely played together. At the start of this season was the first time we really saw them together and Gruev was given more freedom to get forward - however the partnership didn't have time to develop. As far as I am concerned I am happy with any 2 of Ampadu, Gruev, Tanaka and Rothwell - and hopefully Gully gets an opportunity today as well to show us what he can do over a full game.

[Trigger]

Let's face it, his only goal from distance trickled into the net, as opposed to Tanaka stunning finish for Leeds.

4 league goals for Gruev

25 league/international goals for Tanaka.

We can't go back to playing two defensive midfielders who offer no goal threat whatsoever, that is one of our problems in our set-up.

Yes, and there's the main point right there - You don't want 2 DM's, one of them has to be getting forward to support.

[1964white]

I thought we looked more efficient when IIia came on in the second-half against Norwich.

10 decent pieces of play from our Bulgarian.

[FeelsLikeThunder]

Solid player I think, gives us a great option at DM.

[DDB220]

I thought we looked more efficient when IIia came on in the second-half against Norwich.

10 decent pieces of play from our Bulgarian.

He is a good option for retaining possession and control. But as you mentioned, offensively he rarely offers much of a threat. Against the low block he is just adept at recycling the ball. He does not have a turn of pace. Perhaps there is more to come, but as things stand I would select Rothwell before him, simply because he can do what Gruev does but also has a more progressive all round game.

No bias, I think Rothwell has been a very good loan signing for us this season and I suspect he is hoping to play is way into consideration for a summer offer to Bournemouth. Can we do better, I would like to think so, he is a journeyman for a reason.