Have to say after my early prediction that he wasn't up to it. Been very impressed with his application and energy since. Wether full time football is helping him I'm not sure but it's working and credit where it's due he's proving me wrong at the moment and I'll have that all day long.

What made you predict that he ‘wasn’t up to it’?

Get a season of full time football there will be no telling how high he could go.
He improves every game.
Love watching the lad, his going to go far in the game.

He’s a talented boy, Sousa. He played with the brother of a mate of mine who played with him at Darlo last season, and he said he was a phenomenal talent.

I do still see a rawness in him though, and I mean that in a good way - it’s his first time playing consistently at this level and I think he’s got loads of capacity to improve. I thought there were times on Saturday when he could have tried to beat his man but opted not to. Whether that’s a confidence thing or he’s been instructed to whip it into the box I don’t know, but I think we’ll see a lot more from him as the season progresses.

He’s one of a few in this squad who could go onto reach League One or above in my opinion.

Anyone know how long he's contracted for?
Have to say I'm very excited about Saturday, my first town match for a long time. Looking forward to seeing the new players, particularly Erico

Quoted from buckstown

Anyone know how long he's contracted for?

Until the end of this season.

Quoted from VinnyGTFC

Have to say after my early prediction that he wasn't up to it. Been very impressed with his application and energy since. Wether full time football is helping him I'm not sure but it's working and credit where it's due he's proving me wrong at the moment and I'll have that all day long.

Think the quote was "going to be out of his depth". However fair play to admitting you were wrong - he certainly has started the season well and long may it continue.

Ha ha I could have swore he was getting slagged on here by quite a few  not that long ago , I love the fishy 😜

Seems like he's been looked at by teams higher up in the leagues over the years so he obviously had something. There is a lot of ability there that just needs consistency of first team football to develop. Another one of those players who got released as a teen and bounced around clubs as a rough diamond. Amazing what you find in lower leagues sometimes with proper scouting and due diligence.

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Ha ha I could have swore he was getting slagged on here by quite a few  not that long ago , I love the fishy 😜

wouldnt say thats fair, was one poster saying he was out of his depth and he has since admitted he was wrong

Fair play to Hurst and Doig for spotting him and taking a punt on him when others have had a look and not bothered. He's found the right coaches at the right club at the right time to be here. Long may this trend continue.

Same with Effete

Already done more than Dembele did in his time here and look where he is now.

He’s made a great start. Good touch, good carrying the ball, tricky, works hard, gets stuck in and has end product.

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Ha ha I could have swore he was getting slagged on here by quite a few  not that long ago , I love the fishy 😜

I said that, against Weymouth, he played with his head down particularly second half. He's certainly not doing that now and seems far more aware of his options. Whether that's from the coaching or the players around him, who cares, it's good to see.

If the management team can tease similar work from Bapaga, then any defense will be pulled apart making more room for attacking midfielders who all seem to have good shooting boots !

Delivery is all, and Souza has shown that being fast and being able to cross accurately at speed has produced great results thus far.

Good to have crowd pleasers this season !!!

We should offer him a contract extension now. Be a shame to lose him at the end of the season.

Agreed Ron, now we have a new regime in place I would hope that it is something they will be looking into. The only problem is that if Sousa realises that he is doing well and attracting interest from bigger clubs, he could get himself a better deal elsewhere because there isn't a transfer fee involved. It won't be in his best interest to sign another contract and maybe price himself out of a move.

Is his contract just a year, or is it a year plus an optional year?

A lot of the new signings only have a 1 yr contract.

I guess Hurst isn't as generous as Holloway in throwing 2 and 3 year contracts around. I'm sure he knows what he's doing.


http://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=4202

Quoted from ginnywings

A lot of the new signings only have a 1 yr contract.

I guess Hurst isn't as generous as Holloway in throwing 2 and 3 year contracts around. I'm sure he knows what he's doing.


http://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=4202

I’m pretty sure the club will have put options in any one year contracts.

I can't speak for Sousa or Efete but I'm sure I remember reading that the club have options on a few of the deals.

Rest assured, if we go up and our top scorer is out of contract, I can't envisage him leaving without us putting up a good fight.

Quoted from ginnywings

A lot of the new signings only have a 1 yr contract.

I guess Hurst isn't as generous as Holloway in throwing 2 and 3 year contracts around. I'm sure he knows what he's doing.


http://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=4202

Thank intercourse we've got montel Gibson tied down until May 2023

Sousa is absolutely full of running (reminds me of Parkinson in that regard), but looks like he will be more effective than a Mackreth or Colbeck type to me, especially as he's decent with the ball at his feet and is linking up well with the players around him. I doubt that too many full-backs will keep him out of games completely this season so it just shows what sort of player can be found in non-league.

It doesn't look like he's going to get into goalscoring positions himself too often this season, but that's not a problem if the rest of the team are scoring goals.

Quoted from Maringer

Sousa is absolutely full of running (reminds me of Parkinson in that regard), but looks like he will be more effective than a Mackreth or Colbeck type to me, especially as he's decent with the ball at his feet and is linking up well with the players around him. I doubt that too many full-backs will keep him out of games completely this season so it just shows what sort of player can be found in non-league.

It doesn't look like he's going to get into goalscoring positions himself too often this season, but that's not a problem if the rest of the team are scoring goals.

He's already getting doubled up on. The Eastleigh 26 got an early booking for taking him out on Saturday. There was another moment where 2 players were on him and one of them tried to pull him down and missed, leaving 26 scared to do anything because he was on a booking.

He’s one of those players that I always hated playing against as a kid…

Before the game, you’d be pleased that you’re up against someone of his size and stature; however, as you’d go to knock him off the ball ‘easily’ for the first time in the match, he’d always clip it through your legs and be off before your ‘shoulder’ could meet him!

Then you’d realise you’re in for a nightmare game…

Quoted from thefish

He’s one of those players that I always hated playing against as a kid…

Before the game, you’d be pleased that you’re up against someone of his size and stature; however, as you’d go to knock him off the ball ‘easily’ for the first time in the match, he’d always clip it through your legs and be off before your ‘shoulder’ could meet him!

Then you’d realise you’re in for a nightmare game…

He's probably the sort who says "megs" as he does it too. Being told the obvious used to make me see red!

Quoted from jamesgtfc

He's already getting doubled up on. The Eastleigh 26 got an early booking for taking him out on Saturday. There was another moment where 2 players were on him and one of them tried to pull him down and missed, leaving 26 scared to do anything because he was on a booking.

If teams double up on him and McAtee then there is going to be plenty of space for the others

Quoted from bedders78

If teams double up on him and McAtee then there is going to be plenty of space for the others

It showed with the first goal against Eastleigh. They were too busy watching Waterfall at corners and having 2 men on him, that it left the room for Efete to get that header in.

I think that's the difference with this team to what we've seen previously.

Edwards last season was soon doubled up on.  Before that Dembele was rounded upon, Scott Neilson, Nathan Arnold....the list is endless of players we've had who have become our sole outlet and source of creativity.  Whilst not a similar type of player, James Hanson's effectiveness dwindled when teams had two players sandwiching him to nullify his ability to do anything in the air.  

What we've got now is two stand out creative types in Sousa and McAtee AND then players bombing on like Efete that creates spaces for others AND the energy of Clifton/Fox to drag players all over the place AND Taylor/LJL dragging people out of position when dropping deep AND (arguably most crucially) Hunt who keeps the tempo far too quick for most teams at this level.  Absolute perfect combination to cause teams havoc.

Look at how much space was found for Fox to shoot and score - like a biblical parting of the Red Sea !

This is where McAtee is valuable, see the space, create it for someone else by drawing out the defender marking him.

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see several midfielders weighing with significant goal amounts this year.

Then Efete and Waterfall pitching in with 5 or 6 each from set pieces ?

Quoted from acko338

Look at how much space was found for Fox to shoot and score - like a biblical parting of the Red Sea !

This is where McAtee is valuable, see the space, create it for someone else by drawing out the defender marking him.

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see several midfielders weighing with significant goal amounts this year.

Then Efete and Waterfall pitching in with 5 or 6 each from set pieces ?

pearson is always there or thereabouts with goals too isnt he, if he can get in the side

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think that's the difference with this team to what we've seen previously.

Edwards last season was soon doubled up on.  Before that Dembele was rounded upon, Scott Neilson, Nathan Arnold....the list is endless of players we've had who have become our sole outlet and source of creativity.  Whilst not a similar type of player, James Hanson's effectiveness dwindled when teams had two players sandwiching him to nullify his ability to do anything in the air.  

What we've got now is two stand out creative types in Sousa and McAtee AND then players bombing on like Efete that creates spaces for others AND the energy of Clifton/Fox to drag players all over the place AND Taylor/LJL dragging people out of position when dropping deep AND (arguably most crucially) Hunt who keeps the tempo far too quick for most teams at this level.  Absolute perfect combination to cause teams havoc.

When you build your team around one player making things tick, you get sussed out.

But teams can only realistically double up on one player and when McAtee starts running the show, do their instructions change and they double up on him instead which then means Sousa can do his thing?

Take the first goal on Saturday, all attention on Waterfall so up steps Efete. This then creates a huge problem for the defending team.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

He's probably the sort who says "megs" as he does it too. Being told the obvious used to make me see red!

Or something like “mos” in Sousa’s case. 😁


(Portuguese for nutmeg is noz-moscada)

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Take the first goal on Saturday, all attention on Waterfall so up steps Efete. This then creates a huge problem for the defending team.

Watching the highlights from Saturday and Tuesday, I picked up on Waterfall's movement which I didn't notice during the actual game.  Last season he frustrated the life out of me at set-pieces as he barely moved.  This season he's bouncing on the spot, dummying his runs, taking players with him (regardless if they like it or not).  Not just his defensive game that has been transformed over the summer.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think that's the difference with this team to what we've seen previously.

Edwards last season was soon doubled up on.  Before that Dembele was rounded upon, Scott Neilson, Nathan Arnold....the list is endless of players we've had who have become our sole outlet and source of creativity.  Whilst not a similar type of player, James Hanson's effectiveness dwindled when teams had two players sandwiching him to nullify his ability to do anything in the air.  

What we've got now is two stand out creative types in Sousa and McAtee AND then players bombing on like Efete that creates spaces for others AND the energy of Clifton/Fox to drag players all over the place AND Taylor/LJL dragging people out of position when dropping deep AND (arguably most crucially) Hunt who keeps the tempo far too quick for most teams at this level.  Absolute perfect combination to cause teams havoc.

Reads like a perfect recipe for promotion, especially with 9 goalscorers after 6 games. ;)

UTM

I'm glad that Hurst seems to be allowing our creative players a lot more freedom. I always felt that in his first spell players like Sousa were tied down with too many defensive duties and not allowed to express themselves and be creative. I just hope it continues.