Norwich City/ Anthony Grant

[Southend Neil]

I cant believe that this is true. If it was then it would be proof that the world has gone mad. 300k is just laughable, we only got 400k for Bailey and they are on a different planet in terms of quality.
I am surprised at the number of people who think Grant is superior to Moussa. Moussa can actually pass the ball more than 5 yards and make things happen.

 

[Rob Noxious]

I cant believe that this is true. If it was then it would be proof that the world has gone mad. 300k is just laughable, we only got 400k for Bailey and they are on a different planet in terms of quality.
I am surprised at the number of people who think Grant is superior to Moussa. Moussa can actually pass the ball more than 5 yards and make things happen.

Moussa is quality, no doubt about it...but he has a tendency to 'disappear' in games. I like Grant's ability to break up opponents' possession and play a short pass. It's functional but essential and the best midfields I've seen have a combination of ball-winner and creator in the middle.

 

[Blueshrimper]

Moussa is quality, no doubt about it...but he has a tendency to 'disappear' in games. I like Grant's ability to break up opponents' possession and play a short pass. It's functional but essential and the best midfields I've seen have a combination of ball-winner and creator in the middle.

Exactly! Although they both play in midfield they are completly different players. People moan that Grant can't pass the ball more than 5 yards etc but Moussa wouldnt be able to constantly break down attacks and cover the back four. Need a mix of both to get the balance right. I actually see Grant as captain material in the future.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

So we#ve got about 15 fit players and people would be quite happy to let Grant go??!! Madness, we need to sign players not sell! And we all know Tilly woldnt get any of the money anyway.

 

[Southend Neil]

Moussa is quality, no doubt about it...but he has a tendency to 'disappear' in games. I like Grant's ability to break up opponents' possession and play a short pass. It's functional but essential and the best midfields I've seen have a combination of ball-winner and creator in the middle.

Although to be fair, he is stuck out on the wing so more likely to disappear if we are losing midfield. I agree with you to an extent about that being the best combination for a midfield but I dont think that a so called holding midfield player should be excused from having a little quality on the ball. Also dont forget that Maher and Guttridge were a fantastic combination and I wouldn't describe any of them as ball winners.

I personally think that Moussa could play the holding role in time.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Although to be fair, he is stuck out on the wing so more likely to disappear if we are losing midfield. I agree with you to an extent about that being the best combination for a midfield but I dont think that a so called holding midfield player should be excused from having a little quality on the ball. Also dont forget that Maher and Guttridge were a fantastic combination and I wouldn't describe any of them as ball winners.

I personally think that Moussa could play the holding role in time.

Mmm...wouldn't want Moose as a holding player myself. I see his strengths as going forward, either with the ball or through more incisive passing than our other permanent midfielders. Maher and Guttridge were an excellent combination in League 1...I thought they were ball-winners to some extent and Maher's passing was a pleasure to watch at times, from an ex-midfielder's point of view myself. Really liked the probing, subtle nature of it and despite some stick he occasionally gets here, my feeling remains that we miss a midfielder of King Kev's quality in the middle of the park. I'm hoping for good things from young 'Asbo' though in this respect, so here's to the future!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Nope, couldn't see Moussa in the holding role... He's prone to a rash challenge or two and simply doesn't have the physical nature at the moment to play that role effectively. Grant may not have the build, but he has a low centre of gravity and great core strength, like most Premiership products, in order to pull it off.

Moussa is more of your mercurial, playmaking midfielder. He hardly ever loses possession cheaply, can pick the ball up and surge forward and has the vision and passing range to unlock defences with a single pass.

Both completely different midfielders who cannot be compared in the same bracket.

 

[Kris]

I'm very surprised by the lukewarm attitude towards Grant by some on here. For me he's the first player on the team-sheet. He may be a bit of a nutter at times but he's a great tackler and his positional sense is excellent. Plus, contrary to what some say, his passing is generally very good. Like Beefy said, he will establish himself as a Championship midfielder sooner rather than later.

 

[Beefy]

Grant's passing is really odd. He's got a good range and the number of times that he used to put Theo away with a perfectly played ball inside the fullback showed that he's got a very good eye for a pass. It's the simple balls that he seems to make mistakes with. I don't know whether that's a lack of concentration.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Big fan of Grant, really like his wholehearted attitude.

Provides a great barrier in front of the back four, and with him playing alongside either Macca or Sawyer it gives us good balance in the midfield.

The only thing I will say though is JFC can do exactly the same job...

 

[Southend Neil]

Mmm...wouldn't want Moose as a holding player myself. I see his strengths as going forward, either with the ball or through more incisive passing than our other permanent midfielders. Maher and Guttridge were an excellent combination in League 1...I thought they were ball-winners to some extent and Maher's passing was a pleasure to watch at times, from an ex-midfielder's point of view myself. Really liked the probing, subtle nature of it and despite some stick he occasionally gets here, my feeling remains that we miss a midfielder of King Kev's quality in the middle of the park. I'm hoping for good things from young 'Asbo' though in this respect, so here's to the future!

I could not agree more about Maher and I'm still baffled as to why he went. Thats my point though, he played the so called 'holding role' and yet was a good passer of the ball and is no way a similar player to Grant.

Basically there are many different types of combination that can be successful. Maher/Guttridge, Bailey/Macca and Martin/Butler were all successful but different. I just dont think we should pigeon hole it into saying you just need a tackler who 'sits' and an attacking player who doesn't.
I'm suspicious of this obsession with 'holding' players, no one had ever heard of them before Makalele made it fashionable. I just like us to play the best quality players we have available.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Where is this figure of 300k that has been made up come from??

 

[BaileytheQuitter]

Where is this figure of 300k that has been made up come from??

Shhhh don't complain, it's £250k over what his worth.

 

[Rob Noxious]

I could not agree more about Maher and I'm still baffled as to why he went. Thats my point though, he played the so called 'holding role' and yet was a good passer of the ball and is no way a similar player to Grant.

Basically there are many different types of combination that can be successful. Maher/Guttridge, Bailey/Macca and Martin/Butler were all successful but different. I just dont think we should pigeon hole it into saying you just need a tackler who 'sits' and an attacking player who doesn't.
I'm suspicious of this obsession with 'holding' players, no one had ever heard of them before Makalele made it fashionable. I just like us to play the best quality players we have available.

I think the 'holding' player has been there long before television commentators' observations on Makelele brought the role to greater public attention. Ideally, you'd have a holding player who could 'sit' in front of the back four, break up opposition attacks and pass the ball well out of a defensive position. With our squad as it currently is, I'd favour a holding player in front of our back four - it will undoubtedly be vulnerable for a while yet unless we get a decent centre-half and left back in soon - and a more creative player in front of him. My personal preferences are Grant and Sawyer respectively. I think we were lucky that Maher was much more than a holding player as his best work was done in an under-stated fashion when further forward with the probing, prompting nature of his passes - I was not seeking to bracket him and Grant in the same category.