Ilmari Niskanen (Welcome)

[Egg]

Doesn't appear to have many attributes beyond "an engine"

He's like a pint-sized George Friend. Without the footballing ability. Or the looks.

To be clear, the above is, at least partly, tongue in cheek. I haven't seen Ilmari away from home, where the clear consensus is he has been much better, and it's still relatively early days in his Exeter City career, so am happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being at least – but, moving forward, I'd like to see much, much more from him.

 

[edwin_price]

He's like a pint-sized George Friend. Without the footballing ability. Or the looks.

To be clear, the above is, at least partly, tongue in cheek. I haven't seen Ilmari away from home, where the clear consensus is he has been much better, and it's still relatively early days in his Exeter City career, so am happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being at least – but, moving forward, I'd like to see much, much more from him.

He looks to me to be much better suited to a stretched game, where the structures broken down, the balls changing hands a lot and it's a bit chaotic. Technical posession football against set defenses doesn't seem to play to his strengths. Could imagine him doing better for us under Matt Taylor. He needs to get better with the basics though... I guess the lack of football and the injury has set him back a bit. Hoping we'll see more quality as time goes on.

 

[Devon Red]

You were standing near me then and I totally agree, the ball took a wicked bounce which took it over Vil's outstretched arm, he had it covered and couldn't do anything about that bounce. The problem was with Ilmari who weakly gave the ball away, then didn't get back quickly enough. Our back 3 also stood off Max Bird too much, allowing him the space to shoot.

Sounds like we were all standing in a similar place...

I guess it's one of those where we will have to agree to disagree. It's not like the 6 yard box is full of bobbles and divots, it's an absolute carpet so in my mind if it bounces over the keepers arm it's a misjudgement.

Not a howler, but one I'm sure he'd be annoyed he didn't save.

 

[andrew p long]

You were standing near me then and I totally agree, the ball took a wicked bounce which took it over Vil's outstretched arm, he had it covered and couldn't do anything about that bounce. The problem was with Ilmari who weakly gave the ball away, then didn't get back quickly enough. Our back 3 also stood off Max Bird too much, allowing him the space to shoot.

Agreed - but also

wicked bounce - are you blaming Chas for the uneven state of the pitch?(!)

back three stood off Max Bird - I thought it was more the responsibility of a central midfielder to close down Bird.

 

[Super Ronnie Jepson]

You were standing near me then and I totally agree, the ball took a wicked bounce which took it over Vil's outstretched arm, he had it covered and couldn't do anything about that bounce. The problem was with Ilmari who weakly gave the ball away, then didn't get back quickly enough. Our back 3 also stood off Max Bird too much, allowing him the space to shoot.

We thought it took an unusual bounce too. Did it hit the six yard line? Wondered if it hit a divot from where he was taking goal kicks.

 

[fred binneys head]

Agreed - but also

wicked bounce - are you blaming Chas for the uneven state of the pitch?(!)

back three stood off Max Bird - I thought it was more the responsibility of a central midfielder to close down Bird.

Yes I am, Chas out

And it was, but when he didn’t the defence should have engaged him.

 

[HarryECFC]

I don't think Niskanen is utterly rubbish. He's had some poor games, and good games.

Yesterday in a game where Derby were clearly trying to cover most passes, and most players were playing back or sideways, Niskanen was used as someone to try and take on their opposing player to open it up some more. Same as Rankine does, who also loses the ball a lot. I would say though, Rankine is the attacking option, Niskanen is the more defensive one.

 

[Mid Devon Grecian]

We thought it took an unusual bounce too. Did it hit the six yard line? Wondered if it hit a divot from where he was taking goal kicks.

Just seen it on Spotlight. Bounced just a fraction inside 6 yard box. He’d already committed to the dive. Did seem to pop up more than might have been expected.

 

[JGrecian23]

Doesn't appear to have many attributes beyond "an engine"

So does a Vauxhall Corsa but I don't want one at wing back!

 

[Super Leon Braithwaite]

Doesn't appear to have many attributes beyond "an engine"

But we knew this when we signed him, didn’t we? I don’t understand why everyone is making such a fuss about how bad he is now? He is what he is, exactly what the Dundee Utd Fans told us. He’s not actually that bad, he’s just an average squad player who can fill in.
When he was injured halfway through our 14 game capitulation certain people were saying “we are missing him” all the time.
Moving forward he’s a “squad” player who’s probably best at filling in at Right Back where he can run up and down and play a simple ball.