Thetownend.com

Considering he has been praised so much since the season started, I think the lad deserves his own thread.

I get the impression he is the defensive midfield equivalent to Colin Calderwood?

I was just saying in the transfer thread, he has been a great signing. He's only 22 as well. Was he signed on a 1 year deal? Get him signed up longer i say, you can see why Brighton thought he had something about him.

I was just about to post in the match day thread, then saw this...

I could watch our third goal all night just for the touch, skill and vision shown by YK.

It was truly exquisite. And his pass to Ranger for the first goal reminded me of Hazard threading it through the eye of a needle for Shearer 'back in the day'.

His vision and passmaking is much better than ice cool cols ever was, more along the lines of Hazard I would say
He looked good first game out and has just got better

Doesnt always manage a full game so guessing not 100% fit yet

I love the way he goes about his business. He covers a huge amount of ground, closes people down quickly, makes himself available to receive the ball, plays the simple pass to open up play and did you see the way he played Ryan Mason in for his first goal?  Oh. and he couldn't get a game in the Conference last season.  I hope he acquires cult status here.

I'd say more akin to John Moncur - hard in the tackle but vision and quality with it.

I suspect he's well on the way to it.

Have we finally replaced John Moncur?  I think we have.  Kasim's a bloody star.

I like him, saw him getting back into back into covering positions. breaks up play well and picks out passes well.

Ooeerr :(

Got it in one, very good call

I've said this in the MD thread but whoever spotted him deserves huge credit, great signing.

+1

First town match I've managed to get to this season. First thing on my mind after seeing that match is just how classy Kasim is. Read a few things on here saying he looks pretty composed and cool, but wasn't expecting anything as good as that. The way he set up ranger's and mason's goals was superb. Look forward to watching him a lot more.

Kasim looks like nonchalance personified. Very impressive.

I had him down as a squad filler when he signed. The fact that he was only given a one year deal suggests that, initially, the club did too.

My friends rave about him, it's bordering on homoerotic. But it seems justified!

I'm not sure he's match fit yet or maybe he's one of those players who never looks fit but he's got a great footballing brain on him. He breaks up play and passes it simple , pings it out to the flanks and then just provides the killer pass. If we're comparing him to Moncur and Hazard, I'd also suggest an element of Ling in there as well.  

A couple if weeks ago I posted that he reminded me of the good Johnathan Douglas, since then he has got even better.

If he keeps improving he is going to be a Town legend

If you can't get a bit homoerotic on a Saturday night when you've just won 5-0, when can you??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBBz1-1bun0&ytsession=JA5qzZfJPMvfqnf_B9uBeV5Xtn_kyXIvMuNRby03yq6SDQeP5Xq-A-zwerAo7ikNwXiBs71mAQMq4aY589lFwskr8wTE61O14c5q8gRCM3ej9KAWw0RGWFkLlpIM0PiimlFt8v-1VfGgRtBQtDKCCrAjPT41FxUPQOi8Y_DTW5-ZdvTKNpC8vspK-Hyr2324OqD5xcCw8KI3qKLQxnbr2P7S0H95vg8mLKDyvQ6_yWaDmsDH5gigDrsyg5iyr6zCCXGEveqG2cfqIqhJV_KIE9a1NyrnujJlsRvzR2C2DlttH0yHKVjYyQnq5Fwqyw6gGVbc4xucFYYfI1XpX_saOQHj2ML-Pw0O88HWJimp4whlDDjRtMNz2i_3gJQvs-DmMdhSftRUeXe3EdzuYj3b311rJfnh4vK5J5F9vD3plKDoWDjKJscThcgCVO5DgMBLOG6KaezhLcPtKN71Z7s8XVVbe4ygHUkrEvSBmcOaGnRAORLuRG_VPsxpfpWeOXX3GxIX18IlaFpBdOLy3PzaA_FdYNYzPdFs9eEC1Qo_GHXCcduX9mFhRa2RIqofidGS1dXQOGZJsZBxmlKGg0o5jtZMns6pn_OfwhOVyNrjdOhH35Zdwqp9e477j6dgPHCuIgIX3WLKmTAxF-9EJzOjXXRlueuliOdL4H_3T7z8Koo

Calderwood was a centrehalf

Which is why he said defensive midfield equivalent.

Having said that, I didn't quite understand the comparison either.

That is.............when he wasn't singing for the Fine Young Cannibals

And Flasheart said he was like a defensive midfielder equivalent...

He was the defensive midfield equivalent of Max Bygraves would have been just as understandable

I guess he was referring to his growing status among fans - Calderwood was always a crowd favourite

Untill he fucked off to Spurs on the eve of our biggest ever season

This guy is incredible, rumour has it he hasn't misplaced a pass since 2009.

Yaser Kasim facts could be the new Chuck Norris facts.

Iraq's fabled weapons of mass destruction were in fact Yaser Kasim's slide tackles.

It sounded better in my head.

Just watched the highlights on the FL show
The 3rd goal was even better than I remembered it
Great win back by Kasim in their pen area, couple of drag backs and the killer flick thru to Mason

 :banana:

When the bbc did their season preview they earmarked him as the man to watch from our team. At first I thought they were joking but now I can see why. I hope we have an option for another year on his deal.

Very inpressed with him yesterday cant believe we got him on a free transfer what price would you put on his head if someone come calling ?

How did he struggle for game time in the conference? I can only imagine that it's the style of play..

Cracking signing. Quality player. Even if he does look like an Iraqi Michael Timlin.

Pure luck on the BBC's part. If they get all our players names right then they are having a good day :)

Agree with the douglas comparison

His ball control was sublime. Cracking player

This chap is starting to look class and has the hint of the Ray McHale about him

Well, he should have twatted one of those Pikeys in the tunnel last week, then!

I expect it was Luke Williams, who would have been his coach in the development squad at Brighton.

So is he our new cone gatherer?

Funnily enough I was thinking he reminded me of McHale.

Just needs a decent mostache now.

Got this little snippet from a Spurs fan.

Kasim was the leader and most important player anchoring the midfield of our great 1991 generation (Caulker, Townsend, Mason etc.)
Those who followed that team regulary most had Kasim as their favourite player (him and Mason mostly).
Kasim left as he got angry of the youth recruitment policy at Spurs, he felt that those brought in for big money (Parrett, Bostock, Rose etc.) were given more game time and advantage ahead of those who had been with Spurs for years.
Was probably a bit hot headed decision, that set him back at least a year, he went long time without any football. Hopefully he's back on track now.

Well it worked to our advantage
We now have him and indeed Luongo because of their continued policy of buying the world and not needing their own academy players

Can't see us getting Caulker or Townsend anytime soon, but let's hope we're having the same conversation about Ryan Mason in a few months' time. He won't make it at Spurs, it's just a case of whether we can keep Championship clubs at bay.

I know Mason scored the hattrick yesterday, for me Kasim was the man of the match, he seemed to be instrumental in everything we did defensively or attacking.

Andros Townsend was loaned out to loads of clubs before he cut the mustard at Spurs.

The same may apply to some of those now at STFC.

The cream will always rise

Unless it goes sour of course...then it will curdle and have to be binned.

He's clearly the new Ross Mclaren. He's even got his big arse.

What Mason has the ability to do better than any of our other players in my opinion is change the pace of the attack.

We've seen a lot of pretty passing when Harley, Luongo and Kasim have played together, but the speed and pace of progress up the pitch has generally seemed more ponderous.

I think the difference we saw on Saturday with Mason in the team was a lot of great quick transitions from long spells of slow, controlled possession at the back, anchored by Kasim, to bursts of quick interplay in behind the opposition, often set in motion by a first-time pass forward by Mason.

In terms of that sudden transition, which really caught Crewe off guard, the two complement eachother's game perfectly.

To get back on OP and Kasim, I agree with everything that's been said. Player and find of the season so far.

So far, this has been one of the most shrewd signing I've ever seen us make. An absolute nobody signed for nothing and he's been an absolute gem. Easily better than Ferry IMO.

A lot was made by fans of other clubs about our transfer policy of signing Spurs kids, or ex-Spurs kids. No one seemed to actually think that these kids are fucking awesome. Even the rejects!

Good point about being better than Ferry. Ferry was capable and a good player in a fairly good side but Kasim looks like he could be even better, in an even better team. I was sad to see Ferry go but it looks like a good decision by the board now.

Early days still and plays in a slightly different role to Ferry but it looks like he could end up being a much superior player to Ferry.

If nothing else he has the physical presence that Ferry lacked, Yassir certainly likes a tackle.

Yeah he's certainly 'full blooded'

He reminds me of Alan Mac.

Good on the ball but a good tackler and a great engine.

Like what I've seen so far from Kasim, deffo has potential to be a Town great and on his way to becoming a cult hero!

I think a direct comparison is misleading. Kasim is playing a very different role, in a very different system. Ferry never played the role dropping off to take the ball from the back, or at least when he did - in a different way to the current, patient, slow build up that we're playing. Ferry injected pace and energy, closed down and ran with the ball a fair bit. Kasim slows the game down and acts as a fulcrum, starting attacks off and making sure the ball gets to Luongo and Mason. Of course there are similarities - he does his fair share of closing down, but From what I have seen, he is being played more as a deep lying playmaker than a midfielder bruiser, or a bit of an allrounder, as Ferry was. We're also only a few games into his Town career - we don't know if he's just in a rich vein of form, or if (hopefully) this is his par.

I assume you mean Bald Alan Mac, as opposed to the International Alan Mac

No...i mean the international.

And i am not comparing them in ability...just his style.

Not so sure about that, Alan Mac was a more attacking player, the spearhead of Ossie's Diamond.

Although I agree both look very assured with the ball at their feet.

Agreed Posh...its the composure really.

Nigholt maybe a better comparison?

He's a 'regista', orchestrating play from the base of the diamond. He's the Iraqi Pirlo

What a description!

Fucking hell, genius.

Pieman, this needs a chant.

We've had a few of them fuckers as well Leefer!

I thought a "Reg-ista" was an Italian misery  ;)

But you are right.

The closest player STFC player to Yaser here - in role - is Glenda

That's the long and the short of it in both stature and passing range

The Kerrouche song is ready made for Kasim.

Nah, need something better than that.

Also, I think if we're going to compare Ferry to anyone out of our new lot, it's either Luongo or Mason, both of which are probably turning into better players than him already. Not that I don't still love Fezzer but the newbies are both more dynamic and are already showing a better eye for goal.

Anyway.... I'm glad we managed to #keepkasim

Every time I hear his name it makes me think of the song 'Prince Charming'. Sure Jayo/Si Pie and their mob could improve it but something along the lines of

Don't you ever, don't you ever
Stop playing passes, showing us you're awesome
Don't you ever, don't you ever
Stop playing passes, showing us you're awesome

Yas Kasim
Yas Kasim
League 1 football's nothing to be scared of
Don't you ever, don't you ever
Stop playing passes, showing us you're awesome

I doubt anyone in the Town End is old enough to have heard of Adam and the Ants!

Haha that's quality.

Kerrouche is the warning from history that Kasim needs to avoid...

Yaser, he can boogie, he can play it short or long,
Oh Yaser, he can boogie, all night long.

That has promise.

I'd be slightly more concerned about the entire Town End trying to do that slightly camp foot stamping and finger clicking dance routine that went with it IIRC.

I heard it 3 months ago.












 :suicide:

Disco revival it's the way to go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui33_P9kP3M

On the subject of football songs,Liverpools song for Mignolet is superb based on in the jungle

In the Kop end the famous Kop end
A keeper plays tonight
A MIGNOLET A MIGNOLET A MIGNOLET

It's just an adaptation of Sunderland's tbf.

He's our keeper, our Belgian Keeper
Simon Mignolet.
A MIGNOLET, A MIGNOLET, A MIGNOLET...

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

The only thing I don't like about him is that his name sounds too much like a ground down the A420.

Nice and simple to the tune of 'Jolene' by Dolly Partment.

Kasim, Kasim, Kasim, Kasim,
I'm begging please don't sell our man
Kasim, Kasim, Kasim, Kasim,
He passes like no one else can.

Or something.

So nearly but not quite fits into karma chameleon .

Yasser
Yasser....
Yasser kaaaasiiim,
Iraq's pirlo,
Iraq's pirloooo,ooo

Haha yes! That can work.

In fact, if it isn't this, I will be absolutely gutted.

Amazing. Talking of quality chants, my friend who supports Arsenal is currently promoting "Cazorla to the left of me, Ozil to the right, here I am stuck in the middle Giroud...."

You just need 6 Yasers, it works perfectly.

brilliant

i remember going to a qpr game a few years back they went for

queens park rangers, we're queens park rangers
we're gonna win a way
a win away, a win away, a win away

Perfect!

We have got an Iraqi in our team
Who's called Yaser Kasim, whos called Yaser Kasim........



realise this will have been thought of by someone six months ago.  But this site is a site of claire voyents now !  :nod:

I'm Clare Voiyents and so's my wife

I saw that comment coming this morning.

3 months ago for me

I only heard it.

I've now watched "that goal", and Kasim's part in it, more times than I care to mention, and I've realised who he reminds me off.

Big arsed, straight backed, barrel body, likes to hold the centre, take the ball from defence and spread it, but can and will break forward given space with loads of close control and lovely little passes.

He's a middle eastern Jan Molby!

Nah....he's an Iraqi Michael Timlin....only by looks, not by talent.

may work may not. http://youtu.be/BH0tK5t_hSA (http://youtu.be/BH0tK5t_hSA) Absolutely love this chant and reckon it could fit well with yaser.

really complicated lyrics as well:  Yaser, Yaser Yaser, Yaser Yaser, Yaser, Yaser Kasim

need to find another player to continue the song tho, maybe Massa Luongo?

Surely this song should be used for Louis and Nathan Thompson?

I think, after reading your post, Yaser's song should be based on the Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger tune.

Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, Yaser, KASIM! KASIM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIyixC9NsLI

This ^^^

And for the snaaaaaaaaaaake bit?

Yaser Kasim, yeah
He's a favourite Iraqi
Yaser Kasim, Yaser Kaaaaa-aaaaa-asim


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERdd2nckdi8

Swindon connection with Diana Dors in the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HwFtaXALgY

Someone made a video compilation of a few of his games for us, plus a game for Brighton?

Nice find and a joy to watch
Looks like 3 games there in Brighton colours

So why did Brighton get rid of him?

Because they're twats?

Lord knows, I don't know how he'd get on in a 'true' midfield role but where he's played and how he's played for us has been a true joy to watch.

Odds on then that they're the ones that stuck in the bid

He really has been wonderful to watch.

Thought QPR put the bid in?

He really is one sexy beast isn't he?
(  :gay: )

None of us know who put the bid in. But my guess would be qpr as well.

I'd like to see his real name on the shirt. I think it might have to be number 41 though...

Yaser Safa Qasim Al Qadefaje

:girlgiggle:

I'm not snogging you.

Is it too early for a big Iraq flag to be hoist aloft?

In Iraq yes. In Swindon, probably yes as well, but why not.

Sam pretty much confirmed it was QPR, even Chang didn't claim the rumour it was that obvious.

Hey guys

Im an Iraqi who lives in Dubai  :)

I've been following your comments recently, especially about Yaser. Glad that he is shining this season.

oh and BTW, im the one who made this Video, I work in a team that scouts Iraqi talents around Europe/the glob. Also, Yaser is called up for the latest Iraqi NT squad!

our english page
https://www.facebook.com/ExpatIraqiPlayers

Cheers

Keep up the good work Yaser  :D

Aah so you did claim this as your own too Chang.  At least you are consistent.

I guess the question is, have you got any more like Yaser hidden away we can have :)

That's all really lovely and everything, but I really hope he doesn't establish himself for the national team. According to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_national_football_team#Current_squad) he'll be missing the Notts County game to join up with the Iraq team.

haha trust me there are so many.

I guess theres another one who might be good for english football, his name is Osama Rashid (Attacking midfielder).
google him ;)

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHwVURO_oGjqgyNxLAA-_KhwpLELr8C-GpQqG0n0mONBEDWLOldQ)

I doubt he's gonna join for now. None of the players who play outside the iraqi league (League one, MLS, Swedish and other leagues) still got any details yet. so its probably only the old guys who will. so Yaser will probably be part of the squad later. (Changes might happen).

Go round googling Osama, and we'll have GCHQ on us courtesy of the NSA.

Yaser's highlights vs. chelsea... all the touches, negative and positive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3axIcrzH8So


IMO: to play with this performance against a team like chelsea, isnt easy at all.. great player!

Love me some Kasim.

I'm glad we finally found a replacement for John Moncur - it only took 20 years  ???

This bloke was fantastic last night. How Pritchard got the MOM vote over him I will never know. It will be very difficult to keep hold of him for long if he plays like that regularly (which he has done all season).

That's the problem. More often than not, an attacking player will get MOTM. How often do you see a defender/defending midfielder get it when they have not scored?

He can still not get them as far as I am concerned as it then takes the lime light off him.

what about darren bullock?

To mix it with Essien for 90 minutes and still be alive is an achievement, but to do it so comfortably and manage to run parts of the game against that side is awesome.

The way he will get MOM awards is if the people deciding the award actually watch the game. with eyes.

The Mail gave him 5/10 confirming the fact that they really hate immigrants

And that they know sod all about football

That sentence could have finished after six words and still been entirely valid

You're quite right. Apologies for my redundancy

Immense.

So according to The Sun matey out the black eyed peas got a 7 but Kasim got a 5. Do me a favour, do these cunts actually watch the game?

Nope they look at the results and the team and take pot luck guesses, Kasim was one of the best players on the pitch whether Swindon or Chelsea.

So much of our attack and defence goes through him.

I never tire of pointing out that MoM is decided by goons on the sponsors jolly...most likely either pissed or knowing next to fuck all about football. Certainly not something to give even a millisecond of consideration to.

As for Kasim...he goes to the very heart of English football. There's still a culture of wanting direct football, the doubters would say...he recycles possession but where is the end product?  Where are the assists, where are the goals?

I daresay, if this is debated on the TEF...there will be those opposed to flick fanny football, and would have preferred an up and atem, in your face, POMO approach to last night.

I'm not sure what your point is here. Kasim is predominately a holding midfielder, so although he's got great passing ability and decent close control in tight spaces, most of his play takes place in and around the centre circle.

But when he gets forward to play up around the opposition penalty area, as he did against Crewe when we are on top, there's some very nice "end product" isn't there?

Dont think Reg was knocking Kasim, just making the point that England rarely produce this type of player. Besides, he can win the ball as well. The Sun and Mail know F.A about football, which feeds the lack of appreciation of skill. Think kasim is an excellent player, and sadly too good for this league.

My point is that English football has always been wary of Kasim type players...preferring to see a more direct style of play. Hence why he's getting 5/10 in newspapers, and posters like NMH are comparing him to Ray Wilkins, and calling for a more traditional approach to a cup game.

Ray was nicknamed The Crab, because he mainly recycled possession, seemingly sideways, never forward quickly enough...Dave Sexton was his mentor...a man who barely gets a mention in the list of great British managers, but was something of a prophet in a desert in the 60's 70's.

Talking shit Reg. Trying to find a way to smear anything positive going on at the club, as you always have. I dont know if you  believe it or you're just one of those annoying cunts who always plays Devils Advocate but never really has their own opinion.

He really isn't. He's not having a go at Kasim, he's trying to explain why the Daily Mail are ignoramuses for not appreciating what Kasim does.

I'm just not sure that's true. The tabloids out of 10 ratings have always been a bit shit. I don't think they're really a reflection of the opinion of "English football" (whatever that may be).

Every fan that I've seen post anywhere seems to think that Kasim is one of the best midfielders we've had in years, and less than 10 games into his Swindon career we were turning down a £250k bid for him. So someone in the game outside the County Ground obviously rates him as well.

English Football also seemed to have a decent opinion of Ray Wilkins from what I remember. Certainly he picked up enough England caps over the years under 3 different managers. And there's been a Wilkins type (hold, win it, give it short) player in the England side for much of the last 30 years. Part of that tiresome debate about Gerrard and Lampard was the fact that neither of them fitted that role (so in came Garth Barry).

If there's a type of player that English Football has always been a bit wary of then Wilkins isn't the exemplar of it but Hoddle, (and even more so Le Tissier), skilful playmakers who might not have the "workrate"  that coaches have demanded over the years. What idiots call luxury players.

I'd argue that Kasim's got more to his game than the hold and give role anyway. He can carry the ball, pass long and short and create when he gets forward. I'd like to see him shoot a bit more after having seen that turn and shot he got off last night, but he looks a very rounded midfielder.

The thing is Kasim will go un-noticed to a lot of people because he's not a Gerrard type 6ft powerful box to box midfielder that this country is obsessed about. He's like a Pirlo, Xavi light, ok probably extra light but you get what I'm trying to say. He's vital to the way we play, keeps everything ticking and is a joy to watch. He's got balance, tactical awareness, guile, a good engine too.. traits nowhere near appreciated enough in this country.

Poyet said he was very close to the first team at Brighton, but for some reason it didnt work out and he didnt know why

Brightons loss, Swindons gain!

I can appreciate his talent. Yaser retains the ball and recycles it rather than giving it away. The opposition cannot threaten if they don’t have the ball!!

Some good points, however I'd argue that English football has largely seen the holding midfield player as a defensive player, rather than the creative fulcrum of the team...dates back to Nobby Stiles, through Peter Storey and David Batty onto more recently the likes of Nicky Butt and even Phil Neville. The real obsession has always been with the big number 9.  Hence why the likes of Erikson and Capello were picking Emile Heskey.

Going to be interesting to see how Kasim develops....

Btw, I wasn't having a go. I like watching the way that we play through Kasim. The comparison with Wilkins was a positive one!

As for the Cup match, what I meant about blood and guts, was more that we didn't show urgency. I think, with the style we have, you sometimes have to mix it up. Chelsea played in a similar way, but could go from the slow intricate build up to a lightning strike. We didn't appear to have that ability.

Anyway, Kasim, The Crab, yeah, like it!

Spot on there Reg, hence why Carrick never gets a look in/the credit he deserves

Certainly there's been an element of that, but for every David Batty there's been a Paul Ince or a Steve Macmahon or a Garth Barry who can do more than just tackle.

I think we're agreed though that Kasim seems to have a few more tools than the average holding player in the English game.

I think he actually gives momentum to the rest of the outfield players - more so than Ray Wilkins ever did

Kasim makes himself quickly available (often in a different, more advanced position) for the return ball from the player he passes to - or from the next player in the link.

Great movement off the ball and makes beating a man unnecessary with the mobile triangles he creates.

Kasim also turns players very well

I haven't noticed any truly long passes and it may be that, just like his teammates, he moves the game forward too slowly and not directly enough in the last third.  This is a general problem and if I understand it correctly, part of what NMH is contending.

I know....I tried to open the subject up to wider debate, because the Board and manager, have stated this is the way we'll play, and they hope the fans can be patient, you happened to post a couple of points I'd been thinking about, namely can they carry the fans with them.

I don't think it's case of 'can they carry the fans with them' - as far as I'm concerned they already have.

After watching our particular brand of football this season, I have to come to realise that promotion, whilst all very good, isn't the be-all and end-all.

I haven't been to a home game yet where I have not been entertained - and it is this that will keep me, and many others, coming back whether or not we are in the mix for promotion.

Caught some of the Brentford/Orient game on Monday - fucking dross.

So far.

I couldn't stomach flicky fanny football with no prospect of success (or failure), i.e. turning into Crewe.

So far the league games have been interesting, and its the exact opposite of having no prospect of success.

From what I saw of Crewe there was very little 'flicky fanny' football - just a poor team.

I take it, then, that you are of the any style of football that is winning football persuasion?

I look at some of the sides that have gone up from League 1 lately and am undecided if I would rather be in the Championship fighting relegation than in League 1 having a tilt.

Hopefully, what has been started here this season is the beginning of a 'style' that will become synonymous with STFC - a la Swansea, perhaps

Crewe were shit this season. Actually I can't remember them playing well at the CG so maybe that's a bad example, they did have a reputation of bringing through a lot of young players but achieving nothing.

I'm not a long ball fan, but equally  I have to admit I enjoy the blood n' guts performances with hard tackles and a bit more direct play as much as nice passing performances. Particularly when we win :)

Not sure I'd say any winning style of football is a good style (long term), but I'd certainly like to see us try and play in the new holy grail of the Championship.

I'm not really sure what I'd think if became 'the Stoke of the Championship', promoted but limited. Probably moan at that too :)
---------
I have to say I'm extremely happy with what I have seen so far this season. More that I couldn't watch a few seasons of the type of game we saw last night as for the first time I agreed with the "get it forward" shouts. Thankfully we don't play Chelsea every week.

It's nice to see Kasim getting shots away now. He looks like a quality signing, god knows how he hasn't had regular first team football until now....although I suppose some players just 'click' at some teams eh?

Fittingly for us, he's like a steam train - he never stops moving, he's virtually unstoppable, and he's got power in spades.

Okay, maybe I'm stretching the analogy a bit, but still...

I reckon he hasn't fit in with other teams because of formation...the teams he played for on loan were Luton and Macclesfield....both teams play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3..I don't think he'd be effective in those formations..

Confirmed: Yaser Kasim will be there in the next qualification match of Iraq against Saudi Arabia. Official invitations will be sent to the clubs of the players outside Iraq (Swindon Town FC- English league one, Columbus Crew- MLS, Orebro SK, Swedish Superettan, Al-Hilal- Saudi league)

No, you may be onto something there. Iconic players get nicknames: Fridge, Chief, Animal... Steam? Has a certain ring.

I'd still like to know how we actually got him to the club - it hardly seems likely, given his struggles at Luton/Macclesfield, that he would have been  on anyone's radar.

Maybe it was purely a lucky punt, maybe someone did recommend him. If so, I'd like to shake his hand.

Can't think of a player who has so quickly become a firm fan's favourite - especially one who is unlikely to score goals or do something spectacular.

He's a strange one, that's for sure.

He came up through the Spurs development set up before being sold on to Brighton, so when he was released from there we had the recommendations of both LP's mate at Spurs Tim Sherwood, and our new first team coach Luke Williams to bring him in on trial. And of course the other Spurs boys had played in sides alongside him.

We play both of those, and we did against Chelsea (albeit a 442 diamond). I understand what you are saying though - he doesn't fit the box-to-box stereotype.

He didn't give the ball away till about the 85th minute mark which is an astonishing stat given the level of the oppostion. This isn't an exaggeration - I watched him probably more closely than I've watched any individual during a game at the CG in 20 years because I was intrigued as to how he'd get on against such quality oppostion. He didn't disappoint, the amount of times he turned Essien & Mata was unreal. He always looks calm and seems to have so much time on the ball, even when being closely marked. We'll do well to hold onto this one come January!!

From what I read in addition to lumps post above, he  left spurs youths after turning down  a contract because he didn't agree with the amount of foreign youths being bought into the academy squad. If true it would be superb irony.

Wasn't it more that the people who had been in Spurs youth academy resented the ones that were being brought it (Bostock, Parrett etc.) for getting special treatment rather than anything nationality based?

That sounds more like what I remember. He basically got fed up of the club buying in talent, at the cost of people who'd spent years at the academy.

Only from the Chelsea game on TV and highlights of other games, I'm really impressed like most others, especially when he's got the ball or finding space off it. On a slightly negative note defensive wise, he did get turned for the second goal last Saturday and for the second goal on Tuesday. It's great when putting your foot in nicks the ball away, but when it doesn't come off the other guy's away.

Just saying...

The other guy being Fernando Torres...

As regards how we came to sign Kasim didn't I read somewhere that he played (and impressed) during one of the trial/development games back end of last season in that brief period when Kmac (remember him?) was in charge......pre Luke Williams joining I think.

I didn't think Fernando Torres played for Bristol City?

Kasim does need to work on the defensive element of his game.

Oh we're talking about the Bristol City game are we? In that case the player in question was Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, an Arsenal trainee who is too good for League One.

Kasim must be shit if these are the two players to have turned him this season.

...and then there were those two occasions in the second half at Wolverhampton where he made last ditch tackles and came away with the ball both times.

Seriously? Because Torres and Emmanuel Thomas managed to get past him?

I think the number of times he's won the ball from the opposition must be higher than anyone else on the team, bar maybe Nathan Thompson. His tackle success rate, without looking at any official statistics, must be at least 90%. Granted, he has himself been tackled, but only Swindon fans would moan about the most complete midfield player we've had for...well, fuck knows how long, because on the odd occasion he got turned by players well above League One quality.

For a start, he must have won the ball from Essien on several occasions. At Wolves away, any Wolves player that got anywhere near him lost the ball to him. And these are just two games. Let's not forget how much the game changed when he came on at Peterborough, suddenly we won all the battles in midfield. It's not a coincidence.

And the saving block at Franchise.

The way we play he is crucial to the style but if he get's injured we have no one to play that type of role so let's hope he dosen't as that would then challenge us

Navarro is probably the only replacement, but as he's made of lego I doubt we'll be seeing him on the football field again.

Could the young Thompson grow into that player?

I think Louis Thompson can be a very good footballer personally.

Calm down, I didn't moan.
I simply commented on postings by somebody else who cited those 2 examples.

Kasim may well be an excellent player but he is stronger when we have the ball. Our defence is poor this season, 2 clean sheets out of 8 in the league is it? And even they were at home to Crewe and Stevenage.

The midfield has to take some of the blame for this, including Kasim.. You can't blame Gareth Hall for everything.

Gareth Hall? Have we gone back to 1998?

Called up by Iraq for game against Saudi Arabia on 15th October

Yeah saw that posted earlier on page 12



Just confirmed by Sam on twatter

So I guess he will miss the Rotherham game ?

Steam Kasim, I like it.

Nobody who's seen Kasim play this year would have failed to have been impressed. It was great watching him and Luongo make Essien and others look second rate, chasing shadows. They (K & L) didn't seem to get tackled very much, either because they had enough time to receive the ball and make a pass, or because they had the skill go past Essien etc. with the ball.   
As you say, Kasim wins a lot of tackles and comes away with the ball, staying on his feet. The risk is, if a midfielder misses his tackle in the last third of the pitch and he's not goal-side, he can be left with someone racing away with the ball, as happened with Torres and JET. It's not every week we'll be facing that sort of player. Winning the ball is a big part of Kasim's game, but there are times when it's okay to just jockey.  As other have mentioned, he reads the game well and can make goal-saving tackles too. I've seen a lot of Town mid-fielders over the last 50+ years, and I certainly think Kasim can be up there with Kamara, McHale, Butler, McLoughlin etc. Maybe he'll be better?

Not a moan, just my observations on the limited Town games I've seen this season (Sky and ST Player highlights). I'm looking forward to seeing a couple of matches in the flesh over Christmas!

 

Ironically enough, when Grant (nearly called him Gareth as well - memories if 99/00...shudder....)Hall misses a tackle, the chances are that it will be Kasim who is there covering and tidying up. I actually think he's excellent defensively.

Steam Kasim, the midfield machine.

Mean Lean Steaming Kasim.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kYMGeOOxALE/S1JUmOxe9zI/AAAAAAAAAF4/AhtmzqAWy3c/s640/1_georgeforeman.jpg)

I was impressed by him the other night, looks like a good prospect. I do like the idea of having two brothers in the team who have both come through the youth ranks

All it would take is a nice compliant mod prepared to do an auto-replace... Where can we find one of those?

I accept cash, Paypal and most major debit/credit cards.

You make 60p a post as it is! Fuckin' millionaire...

Nah, Barry's nicking it all now. I had to get a job.

Do the Iraqi men still have to do National Service?...if yes has Yaser done his i wonder.

Steam
Steam
Steam Kasim

Chanted nice and slow...it sounds good in my head...

Nope, stopped since 2003.


Also, I wanna ask you guys..
will there still be any cup games? FA cup I mean?

And I wanna get QPR's full game, can anyone help me? I wanna make a highlight video of him.


BTW its funny how this guy became a star in Iraq in one night! soapy tit wank All the eyes were on the other guys, especially the ones in Swedish league, but Chelsea's game changed everything.

Heard so many cafes were putting chelsea's game and the Arabic commentary kept saying his name, so everyone noticed him big time.

Hope our NT coach is gonna give him a fair chance though, which I doubt. He is gonna go with his U20 players who got the 4th place with in the U20 world cup recently.

What happens if he gets his fifth yellow card against Tranmere? Will the ban apply to the international or to the Rotherham game while he is away on international duty anyway?

Applies to domestic first team games that you are available for (not including injury) so I believe he will serve that when he returns.

The FA have him down at 2 bookings though??


Player                 Cautions    Dismissals 
 
Nathan Byrne                   1 1
Alex Pritchard                   5 0
Nathan Thompson            4 0
Ryan Mason                      3 0
Grant Hall                         2 0
Louis Thompson               2 0
Massimo Luongo              2 0
Ryan Harley                     2 0
Yaser Kasim                     2 0
James Mceveley               1 0
Miles Storey                     1 0
Tijane Freitas Dos Reis    1 0
Wesley Foderingham       1 0

Queens park rangers

Full game, not full name :)

Should've gone to....  :doh:

The answer's probably the same though.  He'll probably have to go to the club (QPR) to get a copy of the full recording.

haha alright thanks guys. i'll try to sort it out

Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC 3m

Town midfielder Yaser Kasim has today put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension, keeping him at The County Ground until 2016. #STFC

Great news!  :pint:

That is very good news . . . . .


lets hope he's not a McGovern. 

Happy days!

And the great man speaks on the official site, interesting accent and a shocking shirt but will let him off!

Just read on Wiki that he'd only played 19 pro games before coming here.

Has he played any international games previous ?

It has gone quiet on his call up after he said hewould have to discuss it with the club not sure he sounded keen but I suppose maybe it may depend if he expects to play or not he may be better staying here for experience

Great news, hope he keeps up his impressive start with us!

That's what makes it all the better. We have accidentally (I assume it's a semi-accident anyway), uncovered a gem. Hopefully it stays that way and he can continue to make us a better team and/or get sold at a massive profit later on.

Give him an extended contract so they can sell him for more come January.

Excellent business.

If that is what happens then nobody can blame the board at all. Uncovered a gem, made sure he signs a lengthy contract and we're quids in. Alternatively, we get a fucking brilliant player for a couple of years.

Not the sensible response I was after...

Was hoping for more of a backlash. Boo.

Stop trolling and go and wash your windscreen Sippo. :-)

He's looked disinterested since he signed his contract extension.

Looked like a non league player today.

unfortunately he wasnt alone in that but agree he looks a shadow of the player he was 4/5 games ago

Don't know about that, he's not looked the same since he came back from suspension. Were they both around the same time?

Also he had a strop at a supporter during the Walsall game telling them to "shut the fuck up" and since then he's very much gone off the boil. When he signed I remember Brighton fans questioning his attitude when he was with them so maybe we are starting to see a little of that at the moment.
It could just be that he is in reality a bit of a luxury player who looks good when a teams playing well but just becomes a passenger when a team isn't ...... We really do need some kind of midfield enforcer though as we are very powderpuff when it comes to breaking up play!

I dunno, I thought that's one of the things he brought to the team when he was doing well, perhaps not an enforcer as such but he broke up plenty of attacks, did really well at making winning the ball back look easy.

I think the same, since his contract extension was announced he hasn't been the same...here's hoping he returns to the player he was at start of the season!

We are at our best when the game has some tempo. Last few games the ball when it has gone to Kasim almost seems to have come to a standstill.

Mason gets the ball up the pitch quicker and more effectively than any other player we've got.

Might just be me but has Kasim got shite since he got his extended contract?