Yaser Kasim

[mrverve]

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.

[tans]

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

[Gethimout]

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!!

[Reg Smeeton]

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.

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....

[Nomoreheroes]

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!

[london_red]

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....

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

[dagrumpymunki]

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.

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.

[RedRag]

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.

[Reg Smeeton]

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!

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.

[kerry red]

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.

[Batch]

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

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.

[kerry red]

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

[Batch]

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
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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.

[DarloSTFC84]

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?

[Honkytonk]

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...