Suso

[Mystic]

Firstly, I don't want any semen in this thread, I'm looking at you Modo...

What do we think, is he good enough to come back next season and be integrated into the squad, not as a first teamer, but to play as many games as Allen has this season? I've heard he has some slight off the field issues leading to him being dropped, but overall he's been one of the stand out players, I'd love him to come back and play as a classy passing midfielder, is he good enough though? I remember how we've always gone on about how United have it right by using players from their youth as the squad players, well in Suso, Sterling, Flannagan, Kelly, do we finally have enough quality there to start doing the same?

 

[rurikbird]

I have doubts, to be honest with you. I am a fan of Suso and I still remember when the word got out that he was going to start his first game, I was so excited that I couldn't fall asleep that night. Well, I guess a big part of that was being happy just with the fact that Rodgers was giving "flair" players like Suso a chance, which was such a breath of fresh air compared to the previous managers, including Rafa. That was when I started to believe that Rodgers is probably the right long-term manager for us.

Anyway, back to Suso. Like I said, I like him a lot – but he has a pretty unusual combination of strong and weak qualities, so finding a perfect role in a team for him is far from straightforward. He plays like Alonso, but is built like Iniesta. For a CM in this league he is too weak physically (including stamina), for a winger or #10 not enough a goal threat. Maybe after some time he can become a Modric-like player; someone who can shuffle between midfield and attack and link the play together. But to me it seems more likely that he will succeed as a player in Spain, not in England.

 

[Glen C]

Very talented individual who definitely has the ability to make it. Needs to toughen up a bit, but I definitely see him more in the coutinho role. There's no reason why he can't make it in the premiership if he continues to work hard and develop his outstanding talent. He can shoot better than coutinho already but has to work on the defensive side of his game.

 

[Mystic]

That sucks to hear. I really like the idea of him coming back to us and play in the same sort of position Allen does. My worry has always been that he's as one footed as Riise, but he seems to have a good head for the game, and with time I think he could be the kind of player who could dictate the tempo of a game. Surely his physicality is no worse than Allens?

 

[hmmmmm1]

It would be good for all if he could go on loan to a team like Swansea/Southampton next season.

 

[Glen C]

That sucks to hear. I really like the idea of him coming back to us and play in the same sort of position Allen does. My worry has always been that he's as one footed as Riise, but he seems to have a good head for the game, and with time I think he could be the kind of player who could dictate the tempo of a game. Surely his physicality is no worse than Allens?

He's definitely been practicing with his right foot though as i've seen him taking on shots with his weaker foot. Ok they haven't resulted in a goal, but the fact he felt brave enough to hit it with it means he must be working on it.

No way can i see him playing the allen role though i have to say.

 

[mark1975]

Give Modo his due, he said he doesnt think hes ready to come back and start yet. He has been doing well though.

 

[Delinquent]

The problem is, his balance is nothing like Coutinho's. Coutinho rides physical challenges, often using them to change his momentum. Suso just gets bowled over by them. He looks like a boy playing amongst men. I'm inclined to agree with rurik - unless he hits the gym in a big way, or significantly improves his balance, he looks destined to end up in Spain.

 

[juniormember]

He has all the talent in the world to make it. It's up to him. Like Del, I'd say he really needs to hit the gym pronto and bulk up if he wants to make it in England.
His skills, vision and reading of the game are all there.
It's the rest that he needs to work on (work rate, strength and shooting) to make those qualities shine.

 

[StevieM]

Has HE played for the reserves yet?

 

[kingjulian]

Would a manager ever say "you have all the talent required to play, but you need to bulk up" to a ppayer...that just feels like what a high school coach would say.

 

[Frogfish]

Would a manager ever say "you have all the talent required to play, but you need to bulk up" to a ppayer...that just feels like what a high school coach would say.

Quite a number of players come to the PL and say after half a season or so .. "I've added a lot of muscle from working out". You need it in the PL and it's not a slight to advise someone that's what they need to do. The most recent one to say it was Aspas .... oh.

 

[RolandG]

Suso has the ability and desire. He needs to toughen and bulk up significantly by following Sterling's example. First team football has improved him and will continue to do so.

 

[BlitzAce]

Very talented footballer hopefully going to be a star for us in the future, also see him being popular commercially as well because I hear he is very popular with the young ladies.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

We will need him in our squad if we are in CL next year.

 

[Modo]

I agree with whoever said that he needs to bulk up, actually Suso said it himself a while ago that he's working on the physical side of his game.
Personally, I see him playing in midfield in the future. He's got the passing, controll and vision of a top class midfielder but he's lacking in experience.
I've been following his development at Almeria and I'm glad to say that he has improved.
He's always looking to get the ball and he tracks back when he loses it.
He also looks a lot more confident.
It's definitely fair to say that he's their best player but I also think he's suffering from playing in such a poor and frustrating team.
It'll be interesting to see what role he'll have when he comes back, cause I definitely see a future for him in Liverpool.
What he needs to work on is as I mentioned before the physical side of his game. He also needs to stop hogging the ball. He's suffering from the same syndrome Gerrard has which is always trying to find the perfect pass. He does get it right more often than not though.
Future is bright imo.

 

[mark1975]

I agree with whoever said that he needs to bulk up, actually Suso said it himself a while ago that he's working on the physical side of his game.
Personally, I see him playing in midfield in the future. He's got the passing, controll and vision of a top class midfielder but he's lacking in experience.
I've been following his development at Almeria and I'm glad to say that he has improved.
He's always looking to get the ball and he tracks back when he loses it.
He also looks a lot more confident.
It's definitely fair to say that he's their best player but I also think he's suffering from playing in such a poor and frustrating team.
It'll be interesting to see what role he'll have when he comes back, cause I definitely see a future for him in Liverpool.
What he needs to work on is as I mentioned before the physical side of his game. He also needs to be stop hogging the ball. He's suffering from the same symptom Gerrard has which is always trying to find the perfect pass. He does get it right more often than not though.
Future is bright imo.

I guess part of the latter problem, in his defense, is that playing in such a poor team, you try to be that more precise and he's probably looking out for players he knows will do more damage or will be less likely to fuck up. Holding onto the ball longer and trying to do more than he needs to, in turn he'd probably attract more focus from the opposition, as their best player and playmaker, this can only be good for him though you'd have to think, it'll make him fight for it more and maybe that's where we'll see whether he has it in him to be a winner. He's certainly got the makings (for me) of a young Xabi, in terms of potential. As said, the biggest thing going against him is his frame, if he can find that strength with his low centre of gravity, like many South American's have like Luis, Aguero etc (I know he's Spanish!), then he might progress on further.

I hope he makes it for us.

 

[Modo]

I guess part of the latter problem, in his defense, is that playing in such a poor team, you try to be that more precise and he's probably looking out for players he knows will do more damage or will be less likely to fuck up. Holding onto the ball longer and trying to do more than he needs to, in turn he'd probably attract more focus from the opposition, as their best player and playmaker, this can only be good for him though you'd have to think, it'll make him fight for it more and maybe that's where we'll see whether he has it in him to be a winner. He's certainly got the makings (for me) of a young Xabi, in terms of potential. As said, the biggest thing going against him is his frame, if he can find that strength with his low centre of gravity, like many South American's have like Luis, Aguero etc (I know he's Spanish!), then he might progress on further.

I hope he makes it for us.

I couldn't have said it better myself. He's already quite good at shielding the ball but it'll be a lot tougher in the prem.

 

[mark1975]

Playing every week will make him stronger and fitter. I thought last season he looked like he lacked stamina, maybe that was due to his lack of strength. All the battling would have taken it out of him physically when he probably wasn't upto it yet, which I guess is why he found himself on the flanks. It's interesting anyway, all this talk about bringing in a playmaker or going back for Xabi, we might already have the talent on our books.

 

[Glen C]

He has all the tools to be a world class player, its just up to his mentality and discipline as to whether he achieves it. He's a exceptional talent.

 

[Silver Sean]

Not good enough. Never will be. A long peripatetic career at slightly below the top level beckons. Good luck to him.

 

[Brizzle]

He looks like a boy playing amongst men

He is a boy playing amongst men. And his development technically and physically will define his career. If he gets stronger and able to hold his own a bit more, I think he can be a very important player.