Player Watch - Djed Spence - Genoa

[chas vs dave]

I find it amazing that anyone could be happy if we had Emerson and Doherty as right wing backs next season.

Spence may have a lot of developing to do but he has the raw attributes that Emerson and Doherty lack. The explosiveness, the speed, the ability to beat players and get to the byline, to play dynamically.

Emerson for example is such a static player. Lack of pace, can’t beat players, receives the ball in space and essentially stops the ball and halts momentum in an attack etc.

Doherty showed good improvement and could be a decent option this season but even he lacks the kind of pace and dribbling/ball carrying skills you want to see in a wing back.

Having Doherty with experience and then Spence with the potential and raw attributes would give us a much better dynamic next season.

He won’t be the finished article but he will be the right template of player which we currently lack. He could also explode playing with better players around him and being coached by Conte.

I'm actually OK with Emerson and Doherty. Both improved massively throughout the season. Yes, Emerson is a bit more defensive, however, he played really well when it mattered.

 

[spurs mental]

To be fair, it’s spelt how it’s pronounced.

It's really not to be fair

 

[Singaspur]

Still don’t see him walking in to the first team as a starter. Don’t think Emerson Royal will be sold. IMO

Yeah, my guess is we'll keep Royal. Doc usually first choice, Royal and Spence getting sub minutes and cup starts. Probably Royal starts if Doc injured, depending on the type of game and how quicly Spence develops. And Doc also covers LWB if Perisic/Sess is injured. So 5 to cover the WB positions including cover for injuries and in-game shuffling. Only sell Regi.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I feel like this position is more important than any other to upgrade. Find the recent love in for Doc quite funny, after a few good games amidst two years of utter inadequacy. Emerson too was not good at all for most of last season. Yes he was reliable at the back during the last 6 weeks but don’t want him anywhere near the starting lineup next season.

Lot of clamour to upgrade the CBs but at least they all played well for the majority of last season.

Having said that I have full faith we will buy a RWB as all the itk are assured we will.

 

[spurmin]

I don't see why anyone would see him walking into the first team.

He clearly has attributes that we want for a RWB, is young and should develop a lot under Conte.

Agreed re Spence. I still think Emerson could develop under Conte. He just seems to have been written off by many..

 

[worcestersauce]

Agreed re Spence. I still think Emerson could develop under Conte. He just seems to have been written off by many..

He did develop last season, became much better positionally when defending which was purely down to coaching and he will get better without a doubt.
What he will never be is the player Djed Spence is, it's not about being better or worse they are just completely different.

 

[WiganSpur]

I find it amazing that anyone could be happy if we had Emerson and Doherty as right wing backs next season.

Spence may have a lot of developing to do but he has the raw attributes that Emerson and Doherty lack. The explosiveness, the speed, the ability to beat players and get to the byline, to play dynamically.

Emerson for example is such a static player. Lack of pace, can’t beat players, receives the ball in space and essentially stops the ball and halts momentum in an attack etc.

Doherty showed good improvement and could be a decent option this season but even he lacks the kind of pace and dribbling/ball carrying skills you want to see in a wing back.

Having Doherty with experience and then Spence with the potential and raw attributes would give us a much better dynamic next season.

He won’t be the finished article but he will be the right template of player which we currently lack. He could also explode playing with better players around him and being coached by Conte.

In an ideal world we upgrade on one of them but at least neither of them are absolute disasters tbf and did perform during certain parts of the season. That means we shouldn't be looking to bring in any old second rate shite. For me though if we have to pay up for someone RWB is a lot more important than the cherry on the top CM.

 

[mark87]

Agreed re Spence. I still think Emerson could develop under Conte. He just seems to have been written off by many..

The defensive side to Emerson's game is fine, we saw that at the end of the season but he doesn't have the attacking attributes needed for RWB, which is more important than the defensive attributes. Unless he gets converted to a RCB, then he isn't what we need as we need someone who's much better attacking-wise.

 

[spurmin]

He did develop last season, became much better positionally when defending which was purely down to coaching and he will get better without a doubt.
What he will never be is the player Djed Spence is, it's not about being better or worse they are just completely different.

I can’t have a huge opinion on Spence as I’ve only watched him in 2 games. Where as watched Emerson every game he has played.
Time will tell if Spence can be better.

 

[bigfrooj]

Spence looks a much better fit into the system we are playing than Emerson.

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

 

[djhotspur]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

Yeah but we can’t have 3 rwbs that is overkill.

 

[spurmin]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

You’re not.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

Nope, I'm happy to keep Emerson too. He improved a lot last season of course IF we buy a new RWB he may have to/want to go

 

[GutBucket]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

Would defeat the whole point of back 3 system to have a FB there. Unless Conte wants to switch to back 4 formations (which he never did unless forced) then Royal won't help much here. Starting with 3 CBs means you need plenty of attacking players elsewhere or you will have too many draws (even with world class attackers). Royal seems like a great guy but he's not a WB, therefore no point in him staying here.

 

[GetKaned]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

Didnt we have reports of Conte having to tweak the system to accommodate Emerson ? If we can get a proper RWB so that Conte can utilise without changing his tried and tested system, there is no harm in replacing Emerson

 

[djhotspur]

Didnt we have reports of Conte having to tweak the system to accommodate Emerson ? If we can get a proper RWB so that Conte can utilise without changing his tried and tested system, there is no harm in replacing Emerson

Agreed, plus he’s a 25-30m asset we can sell and wages he’s taking up. Get in spence etc and sell Emerson which could mean the difference between getting maddison/the right cam or not

 

[Cochise]

Whilst I agree that Emerson was defensively immense against the big boys, I disagree that that makes him a good choice.

The best example I can give was in the Liverpool game at Anfield. Emerson was played in behind on the right and just had to play a low, curving ball into the box for Son. He made a complete hash of it.

So whilst he helped to earn a draw with his defensive actions, critically speaking, he cost us points.

This is why I don't think he's great for big games. When you are unable to attack for large periods, you need to be able to make the most of the few chances you do get. Having a player with sub par abilities in an area where we really need quality hurts us.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

Conte was quite clear a RWB was on his list, so I’ve no doubt something will be pulled out the bag, but this is more a nice to have upgrade.
Doherty finally started to find his form (he was a goal threat for Wolves), sadly got injured at just the wrong time. Emerson although appearing limited in his execution, does have a habit of getting into decent attacking positions, maybe a full preseason could help.
So, whilst it’s not ideal to not have a RWB over the line yet, we do have functional options. LCB and CF are the areas where we didn’t have any depth at all, so Lenglet (in theory) and Richarlison do address more pressing needs.
Spence would have been/will be a decent option, dual result with having the required attacking game and athleticism, but also being HG. If we have to go with a non HG option, will that then impact where we can look for the remaining CCB and/or AM/WF, eg if we get Spence we could go after Paqueta/Zainolo for AM/WF, but if we go non HG at RWB, do we need to look at HG AM like Maddison (this weeks link) and that moves the budget.

 

[chrissivad]

I must be the only one left that thinks we should keep Emerson. I like players that do well after initially struggling and under the most demanding of managers too.
Spence looks decent but he’s a different kind of player.

I think Emerson is a good player, just not the right fit for us.

It's great to see that he has put in the effort and improved, but this could be the right time to sell. The good run in could have added a bit more value to him and caught the eye of a few more teams.

Then bring in Spence (or someone) more attacking who will add the goals assists that Conte is looking for from his wing backs

 

[worcestersauce]

I can’t have a huge opinion on Spence as I’ve only watched him in 2 games. Where as watched Emerson every game he has played.
Time will tell if Spence can be better.

My point wasn't whether or not he's better it was that he's different.