Ben Old (AS Saint-Étienne | France)

Obviously his start in round 1 is clearly indicative of this, but hearing that he is well and truly considered a starting XI player for this season by club management. Potentially the biggest transfer in history in terms of global optics for the nix.

I know Sarpreet to Bayern will always be massive but to go straight to a top 5 league and being a starter straight away is unheard of for us. Massively excited for Ben

Niche Cache states that a big factor he is playing exactly the same role he had at the Nix last season

St Etienne specifically were scouting a fast dribbling left sided player using worldwide data, and got what they wanted 

St Etienne host Le Havre

Pretty taken aback at just how awful this standard of football is. Really, really shocking. 

Old easily one of the best ASSE players; all over the ball in the first 15 mins, but ASSE have been so sloppy since then he’s barely had a sniff

Seems like the ASSE fans thought Old was one of the best for them on the pitch today, good to see he's playing well even when the team isn't. He should be able to nail down a starting role for the foreseeable future.

Thought the same! He’s easily one of their best players, so getting consistent starts this season for them won’t be a worry it seems.

What is concerning though is the lack of quality around him to feed him in the areas he’s dangerous in.

So far he’s just been dribbling them out of trouble/winning fouls and they haven’t been able to find him in the final third. They’ll definitely be in the relegation battle this season too it seems which is also worrying. 

mrsmiis

Pretty taken aback at just how awful this standard of football is. Really, really shocking. 

Old easily one of the best ASSE players; all over the ball in the first 15 mins, but ASSE have been so sloppy since then he’s barely had a sniff

St Etienne lose 0-2. Old off at 85 mins (0-2)

Unfortunately out injured this weekend and hasn't travelled with the squad

The right decision, don't want to risk making the injury worse before the Mexico, US friendlies, hopefully it's nothing too serious.

Someone in the AW vs Mexico thread said that Rogerson has been added to the squad, guess we'll have to wait for an update on Old.

this kid just cant really get a break can he, every big move is followed by an injury - is he trying to hard, or coming back from niggles to early?

Sounds like no Old as Saint Etienne travel to Brest

So yes absent as St Etienne get thrashed 4-0 to go bottom of Ligue 1.
Fingers crossed for AWs but doesn't sound hopeful.

Top 5 European Leagues, players 22 or younger... 🫡 pic.twitter.com/q9hitz0zUY

— The Flying Kiwis (@FlyingKiwisFC) September 2, 2024

 
Most successful dribbles/take on's in the Big 5 leagues (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇪🇸🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹) under the age of 22.

Some good company in that list.

Why is everyone's measured against attempts except Moro being measured against minutes? Bizarre way to display a tiebreak

Looks like his success percentage is higher than Doku and Yamal too. That probably means they’re expected to dribble almost irrespective though.

When you read some of the Saint Étienne fan forums Old is seen as one of the few positives from what has turned out to be a rather poor start to Ligue 1 football for thé club. 
The media too have been largely positive. The French daily sports mag L’équipe rated Ben the best Saint Étienne outfield player in their opening game against Monaco. He had a high dribble success rate in this game. For Ben to do that in his very first game in Ligue1 is remarkable. Monaco is a very good team. They finished second in last year’s competition and five days before the Saint Étienne game they beat Barcelona 3-0. 
Bens second game wasn’t rated so highly. L’équipe rated him 4 and criticized him for his lack of involvement, only 22 touches. I think that was a little unfair. The problem is the current Saint Étienne squad is poor, it’s not really Ligue 1 standard and they will be fighting to stay up. 

Not ideal to be in the league's worst team in your European debut, but if he's playing as well as everyone says then maybe he could at least get bought by a higher ranked team after the season ends?

I just hope he doesn’t end up like Singh and Thomas with constant injuries 

He got 20 minutes off the bench  in a 1-0 win over Lille. First win of the season.

Peverell

He got 20 minutes off the bench  in a 1-0 win over Lille. First win of the season.

I’ve watched a bit of it and I’m not convinced he got a touch! Lots of teenagers in the team.

Peverell

He got 20 minutes off the bench  in a 1-0 win over Lille. First win of the season.

Touched the ball four times in that 20 odd minutes. Backs to the wall stuff. 

Good to see him back in the frame after missing their last fixture through injury. Hopefully he can earn that starting spot back quickly as well.

martinb

Peverell

He got 20 minutes off the bench  in a 1-0 win over Lille. First win of the season.

I’ve watched a bit of it and I’m not convinced he got a touch! Lots of teenagers in the team.

I watched the 20 odd minutes he got in this game. He didn't get the ball much but did help a bunch in defence - even forced a foul from an opposition player to stop a Lille attack.

Also it felt like a few times he was in a great position for a shot on goal if only his teammates could've looked up and made the pass - they usually just held onto it and ended up losing it for a goal kick instead.

Good to see him involved in a win

Yeh it was 85 minutes or something and I stopped watching because he was clear for almost a tap in, but didn’t get a square ball.  Allegedly an offside, but I’m not convinced it was.

But also he wasn’t their out ball. They played up the left every time.