How good is Yakou Meite?

[Maguire]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

[RoyalBlue]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

[Snowflake Royal]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

The difference is this time we didn't have several players who were better, whilst being promoted.

[Millsy]

He is a Reading FC legend.

Corrected for you.

[URZZZZ]

Hands up, he's proved me wrong on two different occasions now. I thought he lacked the basic attributes to be a Championship player but his whole game has refined so much since last Christmas time. I think it helps being stuck to one position too, felt he was shifted a bit too much under Gomes between striker and out wide, always felt he was more complete playing out wide

As a couple of others have pointed out, he does sometimes stand out when having a poor game. But I think that's more because he's always battling, trying to get involved and not shirking, as seen by so many of our players in recent years

Personally feel his role is now the most important in this current team besides the duo of Laurent and Rinomhota

[Nameless]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

Indeed, the club obviously had no idea what Antonio could do, they only plucked him out of non league obscurity because he had a funny name....

[Hendo]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

The difference is this time we didn't have several players who were better, whilst being promoted.

Agreed, I really don't think that Antonio would be the player he is now if he had stayed at Reading as his development wouldn't have been the same.

[NewCorkSeth]

Hands up, he's proved me wrong on two different occasions now. I thought he lacked the basic attributes to be a Championship player but his whole game has refined so much since last Christmas time. I think it helps being stuck to one position too, felt he was shifted a bit too much under Gomes between striker and out wide, always felt he was more complete playing out wide

As a couple of others have pointed out, he does sometimes stand out when having a poor game. But I think that's more because he's always battling, trying to get involved and not shirking, as seen by so many of our players in recent years

Personally feel his role is now the most important in this current team besides the duo of Laurent and Rinomhota

I'm glad he has convinced you. Well done for holding your hands up. I dont think I would have if that wasteful shite Boye had turned good..

[RoyalBlue]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

Indeed, the club obviously had no idea what Antonio could do, they only plucked him out of non league obscurity because he had a funny name....

I saw him play in a friendly at Kingston before he was released. I thought he looked really good in that game (although IIRC it was a pretty poor team performance that game, which may have made him stand out as an individual from the rest) and was surprised when we let him go.

[SCIAG]

Thank God that the club actually spotted the potential in Meite this time, unlike the situation with Antonio.

Indeed, the club obviously had no idea what Antonio could do, they only plucked him out of non league obscurity because he had a funny name....

I saw him play in a friendly at Kingston before he was released. I thought he looked really good in that game (although IIRC it was a pretty poor team performance that game, which may have made him stand out as an individual from the rest) and was surprised when we let him go.

He wasn’t released, he was sold because he was fifth choice and had no prospect of making the first team with Kebe, McAnuff, McCleary and Robson-Kanu all streets ahead of him. Anyone can look good against Kingston but Antonio hadn’t been up to the Championship and certainly wasn’t ready for the Premier League. We made the right decision.

[paultheroyal]

In answer to the thread title, he's certainly no Antonio, but unlike Antonio current establishment see him better than what we have so run in team is benefiting him.

[TiagoIlori]

I remember Yakou Meite having intense interest from the premier league which is why we never heard rumours about him joining until he was actually announced. He’s the perfect build for a championship winger. He’s tall, strong and incredibly quick- the run for the third goal was utterly brilliant. He’s shown he’s not a striker, he needs to drift in as for some reason it just works but he can also dribble out wide and track back which is vital for a formation like ours. He has flaws which holds him back. His technical ability is very weak for this level. He has his moments where he loses his cool. Inconsistent- has absolute stinkers and is a very frustrating player although I feel like he’s starting to deliver more often than not. Clearly a likeable fella too in the dressing room, even though he’s had some horrible things happen to him lately such as losing his dad, racial abuse on social media he seems to always pull through.

[URZZZZ]

Hands up, he's proved me wrong on two different occasions now. I thought he lacked the basic attributes to be a Championship player but his whole game has refined so much since last Christmas time. I think it helps being stuck to one position too, felt he was shifted a bit too much under Gomes between striker and out wide, always felt he was more complete playing out wide

As a couple of others have pointed out, he does sometimes stand out when having a poor game. But I think that's more because he's always battling, trying to get involved and not shirking, as seen by so many of our players in recent years

Personally feel his role is now the most important in this current team besides the duo of Laurent and Rinomhota

I'm glad he has convinced you. Well done for holding your hands up. I dont think I would have if that wasteful shite Boye had turned good..

Our arrangement didn’t come to an end when Boye left

In all seriousness, he’s one of the strangest players we’ve ever had, he was capable of dribbling round three or four in a mazy run and then giving away a simple 2 yard pass

[NewCorkSeth]

Hands up, he's proved me wrong on two different occasions now. I thought he lacked the basic attributes to be a Championship player but his whole game has refined so much since last Christmas time. I think it helps being stuck to one position too, felt he was shifted a bit too much under Gomes between striker and out wide, always felt he was more complete playing out wide

As a couple of others have pointed out, he does sometimes stand out when having a poor game. But I think that's more because he's always battling, trying to get involved and not shirking, as seen by so many of our players in recent years

Personally feel his role is now the most important in this current team besides the duo of Laurent and Rinomhota

I'm glad he has convinced you. Well done for holding your hands up. I dont think I would have if that wasteful shite Boye had turned good..

Our arrangement didn’t come to an end when Boye left

In all seriousness, he’s one of the strangest players we’ve ever had, he was capable of dribbling round three or four in a mazy run and then giving away a simple 2 yard pass

Yup. I'm sure if he had a run he could have been more effective but it was staggering that almost every time he stepped on the pitch he would do something incredible then immediately lose the ball.

He was kinda like an out of form Ejaria. All sizzle no steak.

He scored a good goal for Elche not long ago and all the usual twitter folk were out saying "I told you he was amazing" etc.. Immediately followed that up with some poor performances.

[CountryRoyal]

In answer to the thread title, he's certainly no Antonio, but unlike Antonio current establishment see him better than what we have so run in team is benefiting him.

He’s probably slightly ahead of Antonio in terms of development at their relevant age. Think when Antonio was 24 he was having his first season at Forest when he scored mid double figures.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

Yup, this.

Actually, I'll come clean. SWLR and I refer to Yakou as the BoC - because his first touch was (and pretty much still is) truly awful for a professional footballer at any level. Having said that, he is Mr Enthusiasm, runs his nuts off, and has scored - and made - some bangers, too. It's clear he's done a lot of work on technique and movement over the past six months.

His brother is an awfully nice chap, too.

[Snowflake Royal]

SHunt was another. Technically really not that good, but so committed he got the rub of the green often enough to make it count.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Better than the sum of his parts. Bit like Michail Antonio in that respect - they don't really look like they're good at football but they're incredibly effective.

He's got tonnes of enthusiasm too, definitely not a surly wideboy like some modern professionals.

^^ good description that