Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has told his on loan Arsenal starlet Jay Emmanuel-Thomas that he must first realise how talented he is and then put his skills to use before becoming a ‘terrific’ footballer. That said Holloway has no doubt that ‘JET’ has everything in his locker to reach the very top.
Emmanuel-Thomas signs off after three months with the Seasiders during the international break with his final game coming this weekend at home to Scunthorpe United. Blackpool have been in fine form with Jay netting twice in an impressive spell at Bloomfield Road.
Many have speculated where is best to deploy the leggy youngster with Holloway proving equally dumbfounded in his attempts to settle the Forest Gate-born maestro into a settled position. Yet the often excentric coach has already identified what his loan rangers best qualities are, but he speculated to whether Jay knew how good he actually is.
“I certainly know what he’s good at.”
“When he realises what he has got and how best to show it off – I think he’ll be a terrific footballer. He’s still learning because he’s only 18 but a large amount of his game is very good.”
With a solid base to build on, the Under 18 double winning captain is already looking a more complete player. Some delicious foot work and then a classy finish against Doncaster was just an example of his explosive talent. Holloway has already earmarked the 18-year-old as ‘one to watch’ for the future.
“He’s a wonderful talent to watch and I’m sure if he chooses to use it to its maximum he could have a fantastic career.”
A solid performance on his swan song against Scunthorpe United would be a perfect way to cap off an experience building three months. Whether a further loan spell develops its not know, but Jay is ineligible for the Carling Cup.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Clearly there’s a question over his workrate then? That’s a heavily loaded quote from Holloway.
I hope he stays at Blackpool until the end of the season. If he plays well and develops there then we can access him afterward but I have my doubts about this kid. He has talent but he needs to improve significantly in some aspects if he is ever to challenge Diaby, let alone Nasri and Ramsey.
It is interesting that Holloway is clearly not taking his loan any further. I remember once Ian Wright was asked how good Anelka could be and he replied “as good as he wants to be”. In hindsight, this was a euphemistic way to say that he lacked commitment, subsequently proved all too true of Anelka. An interesting parallel between the serial moaner-underachiever Anelka and Thomas.
“how to best show it” would not likely be work rate, I got no clue but guessing like Wenger referred to not wanting to take out the natural attacking instinct of Diaby, but with time he would naturally develop to a more defensive minded midfielder. My guess it is such a balance with Emmanuel-Thomas as well. His versatility is a great strength, and I guess Holloway sees one part of it as more beneficial to focus on. Cant imagine work rate with JET
Jay thomas just doesnt fit into arsenal first team. where would he play? I cant see where he would fit in. Hes not really a team player as well. Maybe he could be a target man but i dont know.
Sounds like noone knows where to play him – what’s his optimal position?
No point him coming back this season, send him out for the season.
‘target man’ what a load of crap. This guy is seriously talented. 11 games in 3 months should tell you that. He scored in every round of the youth cup last year. He will end up a CM like Diabi because he always wants to attack. You guys would prefer he was sold and we bought someone else in with less talent, but more birthdays. Grow up.
here is evidence that they still want him, but the current loan agreement has ended:
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Pool-starlet-catching-the-eye.5788653.jp
I think at this age when looking at there prospects of making it as a proffesional, it is better to have skill and be lazy then to work hard but not have the skill. I think with experience and age, will come the right attitude. Plus I hate when people talk about these guys having to beat out Diaby or Arshavin…Etc, for a place. Look not every 18 year old has to be a starter. I think Arsenal should adopt a real madrid approach to some of these players that just arent good enough but might turn into good players. Sell them with a buy back clause.
i wish he could’v stayed out on loan till end of the season because he won’t get even on the bench for our 1st team.oh well,lets see what WENGER has planned for him.
good point SHANE.an alternative could be to loan them out each year to a league 2 club,then league 1 club,championship club,then to a low/middle-ish placed Premiership club.I think Arsenal should come to some sort of agreement with a club like WIGAN to loan out players who cant get games but are too good to let go, as in the case of JET,LANSBURY, RANDALL etc.
Actually KM Last season he made the bench for a Premiership game against Portsmouth as for you John, Ben Burgess a Blackpool player on Sky Sports website said what a special talent he was so again your criticism of him is unfounded and unquantified just your clearly biased opinion.
I think many of you are forgetting he’s only 18 and clearly still developing, he’s not supposed to be the finished article.
Obviously we all develop differently and JET has some way to go but Wenger and Holloway rate him and at the end of the day that’s all that matter. I’m sure he will take the experience and use it for the good of his career he certainly has a big future in front of him if like any young player he grasps it.
he will never be a target man
it looks like he is starting to show what he’s about. this loan will be a good learning curve, in a club ranked 7h in the league
The point is that this loan period has been extended the maximum number of times by league rules. As for him making it at Arsenal, we need to give some players more time than others. At the other 19 teams in the premiership how many teenagers or come to that U21’s are there in the 1st team or even the squadss for that matter. It was not so long ago that players were making their 1st team debuts at around age 23, now if they havent scored a hat trick on their 1st team debut by the age of 17 we are saying they aint gonna make it, Ok may be that is a little wide of the mark, but you get my point. We all wanted to start shaving at age 13 but in truth only some of us needed to and others are still waiting for their first facial hair at 23. Like wise experience we all wanted to be the class stud but only some manged it others are still the office virgin at 23. Give every player the time they need to develop and they will develop, whether they reach the Arsenal standard or may be just Tottenham or even only Stevenage, in my book any of them is still making it as a footballer, i for one would love to have reached Conference level.
Work rate? So who has got the prozone stats on JET? Can I raise an issue? I wonder sometimes if there isn’t a subtle bias against Diaby and JET, based on a cultural bias. Meaning, culturally there is a bias in favor of players who hustle and give their all, visibly, even slightly out of control, like Rooney when younger, or even Keown when older. Keown often looked out of control when tackling and savvy continental strikers would make a meal out of it and refs would award free kicks against us, even when Martin got the ball. When a young player looks in control of his body and not racing around does this mean he’s putting in less effort? I really don’t know about how many km per match JET covers, versus say Michael Essien or Cesc or Beckham in his prime. Maybe it just looks like tall loping players look with a composed sense of body control aren’t working as hard as some little guy who needs to work hard just to cover as much ground as JET?! So, it is appearance, or is it actual miles, or is it a choice of the player not to track back all the time, is it a lapse of concentration at times that means the player forgot to cover the ground to get himself into the right defensive position? A lack of forward runs late in the game? Someone enlighten me!
Maybe he looks lazy because he is actually lazy?
Like Kanu is lazy? I’m dumbfounded at how stupid some of you are.
The negative tone of many of these comments about the boy is frankly shocking! Jay Emmanuel Thomas is one of the most promising talents at Arsenal. He’s 18, big, gifted technically, and a born leader and team pleyer (that guy who said he’s “not a team pleyer” is foolish—he’s also insulting Stebe Bould’s credibility becauee Bould chose him to captain and lead one of the best u-18 sides of the last decade; would Bould be so stupid as to choose a captain who is not a team player? That guy’s comment is redicuulous nonsense!)
I think he needs another loan spell for the rest of the season and then he should come back and fight it out with Lansbury and Randall. I think it’s between those three to secure a spot in the first team. But in truth, if Merida stays, it’s hard to imagine that there will be room for any of those three because I can’t see any of them displacing Merida, Wilshere, or Ramsey.
Lansbury and Thomas have more potential IMO than Randall. But between them two it’s very much a toss up. It will likely come down to how each develops over the next 18 months. Should be a lot of fun to watch it play out…!
I know people hate me for saying it but I wish bloggers would spellcheck or re-read their articles. “excentric”? really?
Hehe. Samuel…ur so soooo pedantic mate. Remember, some of the guys commenting are still in School and London Schools at that.
JET is a box to box midfielder, not a center half or a target man.
wtf?!?
I disagree with most of these comments….
TBH i dont know what jet is, all i know is that hes got a bright future ahead of him with or without arsenal.
Would be fantastic if he can get another loan move back to the Championship or even a lower PL side if hes lucky. Can you only loan people when the transfer window is open, or can you loan throught the season?
I think the loan-window for the championship runs until March so he can be re-loaned now
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Hehe. Samuel…ur so soooo pedantic mate. Remember, some of the guys commenting are still in School and London Schools at that.
TJ DA GOON said this on November 6, 2009 at 3:51 pm
lol, feel sorry for anyone going to a London school then. I certainly respect J a lot for this terrific website but just to take 1 minute to check your work, would it be so hard?
Told you he is gonna be a berbatov type player!!!! that said, these guys need to show through effort and commitment that they want to improve and be top proffesionals. i like this guy for sure!!! time will tell!!! the next 2-3 seasons will make or break alot of these academy players (esp. FA cup winning squad) if they show they are good enough, then wenger will have to slowly start selling ‘certain 1st team players and promoting these guys but it really all depends on them. i wish i was in there shoes!!! (boots!!??)
Nice post ! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.