Granero was poor? Are people for real (no pun intended)?

[silvercue]

Granero had 2nd highest pass completion rate on the pitch last night - so if he "gave the ball away a lot" how would you describe the rest of the team????

He is a very good player and will shine more when we have better strikers in front of him. Unfortunately many of our fans prefer useless, slow, grafters that kick opponents.

[Bluehoop]

We did get a bit frustrated with him last night because there were a couple of passes that went astray that could have unlocked their defence if they had been more accurate. That doesn't mean he had a bad game or that he kept giving the ball away but those couple of mis-placed ones may have been highlighted by the TV, therefore giving home viewers the impression he was poor?
In point of fact, for work rate, quality of ball retention and break up play, he was one of our best along with MBia and Traore.

[MYU]

Granero had 2nd highest pass completion rate on the pitch last night - so if he "gave the ball away a lot" how would you describe the rest of the team????

He is a very good player and will shine more when we have better strikers in front of him. Unfortunately many of our fans prefer useless, slow, grafters that kick opponents.

It's a damn good question mate?

It might be the fact all eyes are on him because we expect to much from him, I don't know. What he needs is other players like him around him.

[willis1980]

Granero had 2nd highest pass completion rate on the pitch last night - so if he "gave the ball away a lot" how would you describe the rest of the team????

He is a very good player and will shine more when we have better strikers in front of him. Unfortunately many of our fans prefer useless, slow, grafters that kick opponents.

Out of interest who had the highest?

[Norths]

Out of interest who had the highest?

M'Bia I think....

[hoopsididitagain]

one of those players that would probably look much better in a better team (hard to judge on his bit-part impact at Madrid). However, to say he was poor last night or in general is a bit harsh. He wasnt amazing and gave the ball away on a few occasions, but remember it was absolutely lashing it down up there which didnt help.

[Robsondinho]

Never pay attention to pass stats, Joe Allen always gets around 90% because all he does is play 5 yard passes sideways, does that make him better then Steven Gerrard who might not complete 50% of his passes because he rather try the pass to create something? Not saying Granero is crap, but most of his passes are 5 yards sideways.

[silvercue]

Never pay attention to pass stats, Joe Allen always gets around 90% because all he does is play 5 yard passes sideways, does that make him better then Steven Gerrard who might not complete 50% of his passes because he rather try the pass to create something? Not saying Granero is crap, but most of his passes are 5 yards sideways.

Although your point is a good one, because stats don't tell the whole story, in this case they are very valid because more than one person has said he gave the ball away loads. The stats proove that is not the case. So if people want to #### the player off, at least get the facts straight or be more accurate. Maybe he gave the ball away a couple of times when we had a good runner he should have seen for example. To say he gave the ball away loads is factually incorrect and the stats proove that.

[RoryTheRanger]

It's hilarious that anyone with any genuine football knowledge can think he is poor. He had a terrible first half v Saints as he was out of position completely (there is a huge difference between central and wide midfield) and also because he seemed to sulk about it. Other than that he has been a great purchase for us. Our best central midfielder by some distance.

He is quick, he tackles well (and intercepts well), he is a fantastic passer, his positioning is first class, he has good set pieces on the whole, and he works hard (Saints aside).

There is a big difference between saying a player is poor and saying a player has had a poor game/run.

Granero IMO had a poor game last night, gave the ball away too much and took some awful set pieces. The guy is obviously very talented, just got to hope 'Arry can use him in the right way.

[superhoop67]

Never pay attention to pass stats, Joe Allen always gets around 90% because all he does is play 5 yard passes sideways, does that make him better then Steven Gerrard who might not complete 50% of his passes because he rather try the pass to create something? Not saying Granero is crap, but most of his passes are 5 yards sideways.

the 1st season when these stats came out Gary Breen was the most succesful .All his passes were back to the goalie

[silvercue]

the 1st season when these stats came out Gary Breen was the most succesful .All his passes were back to the goalie

I think you are missing the point. The stats proove that people here are talking nonsence as he gave the ball away less than anyone, bar one person, on the pitch.

[willis1980]

while stats are interesting i dont think they help much, the breen example highlights this. the stats also dont tell you whether some of those missed passes were the most costly or possibly led to the opposition scoring. i think saying that people are slagging a player off is a little hyperbole, i think youre entitled to say someone has played poorly without slagging him off

[NW9_RANGER]

he's a very good player but cmon he was quite poor by his standards yesterday

[Yousef]

He was one of the best players for us, he rarely gave the ball away, and commanded possession well. Maybe he was poor compared to the expectations some fans had of him (he'll score two goals every game because he is from Real Madrid), but to call him poor yesterday is complete and utter rubbish.

He was ok but not poorQ

[stanistheman]

Granero is a good player and if his team mates made good intelligent passes he Taarabt and Faurlin would pick them out. Taarabt picked out Mackie last night only for his 1st touch to let him down and he shot too close to the keeper.
IMO the only thing letting Granero down so far is his finishing. He could have scored 3 or 4 already. Same goes for Taarabt.

I quite like the idea of Diakite and Mbia in central midfield and using Taarabt Granero and perhaps Hoilett playing just behind Cisse. Mackie is better coming on as a sub.