We MUST keep Antonio

[Arizona]

Set up three goals today then scored the pick of the bunch. On his birthday too I am told. Not just a knee jerk reaction to today, I think he's been good all season.

[Torrent Of Abuse]

Looked so good. An absolute handful.

And right in there with the team spirit.

 

Can't disagree with you. He was great today.

[John B]

Set up three goals today then scored the pick of the bunch. On his birthday too I am told. Not just a knee jerk reaction to today, I think he's been good all season.

 

I agree he is pretty young and should develop into a very good player.

 

 

Puncheon or Antonio for Brighton?

[Rebel]

He was awesome today!

[Mr X]

agreed but reading will no doubt want him back!!!!!!!!!!

[Thedelldays]

isnt he out of contract in the summer anyway..?

[John B]

isnt he out of contract in the summer anyway..?

 

Yes I think so

[SNSUN]

He was very very good at times. My girlfriend's favourite player, and she's a Canary.

 

Sign him up. And Waigo.

[RobM]

The only thing he lacks is consistency, so he isn't quite the finished product which makes it more likely that Reading will let him go. I think we should snap him up.

[Supersubpuckett]

Not waigo, he flatters to deceive and clearly is one step behind the rest mentally.

[Arizona]

Reading don't have to let him do anything, he's a free agent.

[Under Weststand]

I'd definitely sign him up. He is raw, & at times frustrating but he has all the attributes to be a good effective winger. He has pace to burn is prepared to take people on & has a decent finish on him at times. At times his crossing is woeful, but that will come in time, i think he just lets his exuberance get the better of him, & his decision making will improve.

Definitely one for the future sign him up AP.

[chocco boxo]

I have had no time for Antonio this season but I take it all back awesome today.

[Red]

Defo sign him - out of contract so no fee, doubt he is on too much wages wise, and if we get rid of the dross we are never going to play, then he is a great squad player and will get better and better over time.

 

BTW - same for PW even at a £1M - but I am sure we can get him for less.

[St Landrew]

We had a thread on here several weeks back, asking people's opinions on whether we should keep Antonio and Waigo, if we could. This was a repeat of an even earlier thread.

 

I say again - they are both assets, and give excellent strength in-depth and options for the squad. Neither of them are same old-same old players. Both offer qualities that are unusual. Antonio offers a huge amount of strength to go with a fair amount of skill and fast pace. Papa Waigo offers a sniffer's ability to be there or thereabouts in the box. He has skill and surprisingly fast pace and strength. Both have achilles heels though. Antonio lacks vision and maturity, and Waigo is so laid back he sometimes gives himself too much to do. That said, I'd keep both in a heartbeat.

[toofarnorth]

I agree he is pretty young and should develop into a very good player.

 

 

Puncheon or Antonio for Brighton?

 

if schneiderlin's not fit i'd play both and leave out wotton. Lallana into the middle.

[St Chalet]

Defo sign him - out of contract so no fee, doubt he is on too much wages wise, and if we get rid of the dross we are never going to play, then he is a great squad player and will get better and better over time.

 

BTW - same for PW even at a £1M - but I am sure we can get him for less.

 

I remember one of the more reliable posters on here saying that the perm fee was £500k should we wish to acquire him.

[SuperMikey]

Antonio was my Man of the Match today, he really scared the sh!t out of their defenders. We've got nothing to lose by signing him on a free, and he could develop into a very good player.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

I remember one of the more reliable posters on here saying that the perm fee was £500k should we wish to acquire him.

 

Absolute bargain if true, sign him up.

[oxfordshire_saint]

Isn't he still only about 19 or 20? He's a great raw talent and if he can have the flaws in his game ironed out by the coaches, he could be brilliant.

[Chez]

Set up three goals today then scored the pick of the bunch. On his birthday too I am told. Not just a knee jerk reaction to today, I think he's been good all season.

 

could not agree with you more.

[Chez]

We had a thread on here several weeks back, asking people's opinions on whether we should keep Antonio and Waigo, if we could. This was a repeat of an even earlier thread.

 

I say again - they are both assets, and give excellent strength in-depth and options for the squad. Neither of them are same old-same old players. Both offer qualities that are unusual. Antonio offers a huge amount of strength to go with a fair amount of skill and fast pace. Papa Waigo offers a sniffer's ability to be there or thereabouts in the box. He has skill and surprisingly fast pace and strength. Both have achilles heels though. Antonio lacks vision and maturity, and Waigo is so laid back he sometimes gives himself too much to do. That said, I'd keep both in a heartbeat.

 

and I'd be surprised if they don't both make good financial sense as well. Are we going to find players better without a great deal or luck or a great deal of cash spent?

[Chez]

Isn't he still only about 19 or 20? He's a great raw talent and if he can have the flaws in his game ironed out by the coaches, he could be brilliant.

 

even if we don't he is still going to be bloody handy in this league next season.

[Thedelldays]

surely...SURELY we will sign him for nothing in the summer....

[saint_stevo]

as one of his biggest critics i groaned at his inclusion today......but i thought he was excellent. My motm

[doddisalegend]

Better than Puncheon from what I've seen he just scares the crap out of defenders excellent performance today.

[beatlesaint]

Antonio was my man of the match today, I thought if anyone was going to freeze today it could be him but he was superb.

 

As for Papa, I would sign him, he is excellent at picking up scraps around the box, hence he was in the right place at the right time for his goal, and not for the first time this season either.

[Bailey]

Antonio is very hit or miss, but can't fault him today as he was first-class and potentially MOTM.

 

He's clearly got ability, it's just getting these types of performances out of him consistently.

 

Definitely worth offering a contract to at the end of his loan spell, that's for sure.

 

Be interesting to see how he develops over the next year or two!

[Fowllyd]

Very impressive today - quick, strong, tenacious and showed no little skill too. Plus a great goal to top it all off. I'd sign him (and Papa too) like a shot.

[St Landrew]

Forgot to mention this earlier, but having remembered, while watching the highlights programme a little earlier, I thought I'd share it.

 

All season, when I've managed to see Antonio in action, he has occasionally vaguely reminded me of a certain famous player from the past, and I could never pin him down. Today, I got it. Antonio did a few runs with the ball and I was powerfully reminded who it was... Don't laugh..!

 

of Brazil. You think I'm kidding..? I'm not. Same build, Same stoop over the ball, Same leg cadence when running. Hopefully one day, same effectiveness.

[chrisobee]

Forgot to mention this earlier, but having remembered, while watching the highlights programme a little earlier, I thought I'd share it.

 

All season, when I've managed to see Antonio in action, he has occasionally vaguely reminded me of a certain famous player from the past, and I could never pin him down. Today, I got it. Antonio did a few runs with the ball and I was powerfully reminded who it was... Don't laugh..!

 

of Brazil. You think I'm kidding..? I'm not. Same build, Same stoop over the ball, Same leg cadence when running. Hopefully one day, same effectiveness.

 

Lol, you are kidding ! Jairzinho was a super star, I do remember him. I'd settle for Antonio being half as good, he'd still be top class !

[St Landrew]

Lol, you are kidding ! Jairzinho was a super star, I do remember him. I'd settle for Antonio being half as good, he'd still be top class !

 

Just click the link and watch the similarities unfold.

[chrisobee]

Hopefully both will stay, we need strength in depth and TBH Papa's lack of awareness at times at what he himself is doing must make it impossible for defenders to figure out !

[chrisobee]

Just click the link and watch the similarities unfold.

 

I did, they didn't !

[SaintBobby]

The pre-agreed fee for Papa Waigo is 500K (not sure if euros or pounds) - although I think there might be a problem on his salary. I think Fiorentina are paying a pretty high % of his salary at the moment. He may even be our best paid player, even if we're only paying him say 4K-5K a week.

 

I like him a lot and would love to sign in.

 

But with possible permanent signing of Antonio (I didn't release he was available on a free) and with Puncheon (AP's 1st choice, it seems), we have a LOT of players who can play right-midfield/wing/attack. Especially as Lallana can play there too.

 

I'd say our obvious gap is central midfield. Morgan and Deano are quality - but Wotton, Gillett and James are merely okay-ish.

 

We might need to look at LM too. Lallana and Punch are good here - but I think they both prefer the right-side. Mills is alright at LM, but not awesome.

[RinNY]

Antonio's a no-brainer, but I'd keep Waigo too. He makes intelligent runs, doesn't give up on the play, and that's why -- like today -- he's so often in just the right spot when there's a ricochet or fluffed clearance or whatever, sothat he can pop the ball into the net. An invaluable talent.

[St Landrew]

I did, they didn't !

 

Puh..! My old football eyes aren't that bad.

[chrisobee]

Puh..! My old football eyes aren't that bad.

 

Lol, I doubt you're any older than me !

[St Landrew]

Antonio's a no-brainer, but I'd keep Waigo too. He makes intelligent runs, doesn't give up on the play, and that's why -- like today -- he's so often in just the right spot when there's a ricochet or fluffed clearance or whatever, sothat he can pop the ball into the net. An invaluable talent.

 

Agreed [about Papa Waigo]. And name me another player, with his chance sniffing ability, in the side. There isn't one.

[St Landrew]

Lol, I doubt you're any older than me !

 

No I don't think I am, going on the brain test results.

 

Are you sure you don't see anything similar in them..? I bloody well do. Mind you, that's not the best video to illustrate, but it was the only one I could find quickly. I'm not for a moment saying Antonio is comparable, just that he is similar in style.

[chrisobee]

No I don't think I am, going on the brain test results.

 

Are you sure you don't see anything similar in them..? I bloody well do. Mind you, that's not the best video to illustrate, but it was the only one I could find quickly. I'm not for a moment saying Antonio is comparable, just that he is similar in style.

 

Seems I have 3 years on you ! Similar builds for sure and both wide players, you could draw a comparison in that sense. Raise the point again when Antonio scores after beating 4 players and I might change my opinion !

[sperm_john]

no way is antonio better than puncheon

[chrisobee]

no way is antonio better than puncheon

 

No contest at the moment TBH. Puncheon is already a quality player, Antonio has the potential.

[St Landrew]

Seems I have 3 years on you ! Similar builds for sure and both wide players, you could draw a comparison in that sense. Raise the point again when Antonio scores after beating 4 players and I might change my opinion !

 

Have we got that long..?

[Matthew Le God]

Better than Puncheon from what I've seen he just scares the crap out of defenders excellent performance today.

 

Not in a million years is he better than Puncheon.

 

I'd still sign both Antonio and Papa Waigo in the summer. Both useful squad players.

[Foxstone]

Set up three goals today then scored the pick of the bunch. On his birthday too I am told. Not just a knee jerk reaction to today, I think he's been good all season.

 

Could not agree more!

 

Got my vote as MOTM today and the finish for his goal was outstanding.

[Saint137]

Good to have him in the squad to keep Puncheon on his toes, or as a late impact sub. Potential to improve (as has Puncheon who needs to work on his consistency)

[Gudz]

Antonio was awesome yesterday & deserved his goal. Still can't believe it.

[Badger]

Antonio is very hit or miss, but can't fault him today as he was first-class and potentially MOTM.

 

Be interesting to see how he develops over the next year or two!

 

That description is typical of most modern day "wingers" though,which is the category I currently see Antonio in.

 

Agree could develop into a good quality player.

 

of Brazil. You think I'm kidding..? I'm not. Same build, Same stoop over the ball, Same leg cadence when running. Hopefully one day, same effectiveness.

 

Imaginative but if we keep him hope you are half right.

 

Simple question though, do we need or want Antonio,Papa and Puncheon ?

[david in sweden]

The only thing he lacks is consistency, so he isn't quite the finished product which makes it more likely that Reading will let him go. I think we should snap him up.

 

perhaps he lacks CONSISTANCY because he doesn't play first team football

CONSISTANTLY. Getting thrown in just for JPT games doesn't lead to better understanding either. He hasn't played for half-a-dozen games and was injured in between time. I think he's got great potential and his pace will be invaluable in the faster games in CCC...he just needs a bit more coaching.

 

Might save us ANOTHER million buy in a year or two's time.