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Ghana defeated Algeria on Friday in the second round of the African Cup of Nations Group Stage.

In truth Ghana were poor throughout the game, as were Algeria.

However the Desert Foxes were slightly less poor in a game fraught with constant fouls and a terrible pitch.

Ghana were fortunate to get the win.

In the end it was a moment of raw ability that won the game, former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan netting a typical finish.

There was of course some Premier League interest in the game. For Ghana, Everton's loanee Christian Atsu was on the right-hand side.

The Chelsea owned player was awarded man of the match by WhoScored.com for his performance, but the truth is, he was poor.

Atsu has failed to impress in an Everton shirt and whilst his stats look great, including 'seven dribbles', this usually resulted in him running down a blind alley or cutting back onto his left-foot and swinging in an aimless ball toward the box.

His short passing was terrible and his ball control mixed. By the time he did wake up, playing through Gyan at one point for what should have been a goal, it was 70 minutes into the game and it was a fleeting moment which faded as quickly as it came.

He certainly looks nothing like the player who terrorised defences in the Eredivisie or at the World Cup in 2014.

In general he looked aimless and confused, as he has when given a chance in an Everton shirt. Based on this performance, Everton would do well to send him packing and consider another loan venture this winter.

Here is some of the reaction on Twitter to his performance...

 

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">January 23, 2015

 

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">January 23, 2015

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Comments

This article has 19 comment(s) , give your comment

Readers Comment

  • Kofi M. 9 years ago

    You commentators should open your eyes very well. Those giving these uhly and unfounded comments about Atsu are not Ghanaian s. The hate Atsu a Everton, need his position so they're trying to make him unpopular. Wise up.

  • ghboy 9 years ago

    plse jordan is a young player still learning the way he even touches the ball shows he is a genius on the ball he only needs our support and encouragement to peak to the point we all want we forget that gyan, dede ayew all had similar problems but now they are the stars of the team so fellow ghanaians we shouldn't kill our talents before they blossom. thanks.

  • Babs 9 years ago

    U must give out soccernews not twitter coments. Atsu deserve man of the match. This ur awful articles must stop. Is that hatred or what.

  • Nocturnal 9 years ago

    This is pure madness,why are ghanaian soo harshy.Even messi don't play to his best everyday.Atsu has done nothing wrong he was brilliant in this match.Go back nd watch the match again because i think u were watching with your ball.

  • Francis Obeng, Kumasi 9 years ago

    Atsu played but but needs to use more of his skill for the team.Better 2nd half from Ghana

  • Roy 9 years ago

    He did quite well,and what match r u fans watchn,for me he and amartey was my man of the man he only needs to be talk to to give good passes.somebody like jordan shld be out of the team for da school ball he is playn.most of his touches shows dat he is not mature he shld be replace by otoo or kwesi appiah.

  • maubs 9 years ago

    Kudos and bravo guys. Go bs Go. You still have the big matter with s. Africa so please keep focusing on the job at hand. Ignore bad mind, there are always africans particularly in uk who thrive on ghana bashing and ghana hate so if you dont who is commenting best to ignore lads. Atsu in my opinion showed glimpses in this game that he has the desire and temperament to be a team man so comments are wrong and hateful. Just look at the state of the pitch?its not maracana is it? Yet compared to thecother games you cant tell me ghana and algeria were poor. What two of the better african teams? Racist infested vitroil of africa hatred. Grow up scallywag toffee fans. Your comments have no substance, keep on beating san marino

  • joe1 9 years ago

    Atsu was my Man of the match.. Shame on Ghana soccer net for this publication... U think you are better than the coach.. Lets learn to encourage our own like the English media...

  • JUDE KWAKU Bonsu 9 years ago

    I think this is uncalled for. Atsu contributed his due. Ghanasoccernet you should do better. Why should you publish derogatory remarks about someone who set out to defend the national flag

  • Babs 9 years ago

    Eii Gh soccernet and their awful articles..go bak and chek ur article well.. For me, Atsu came into the game in the second half and deserve the award. Atsu was very good at the right flangs. This kind of bad journalism must stop. u must call a spade a spade. Stop hating Atsu.

  • Blow 9 years ago

    Too harsh on Atsu because he kick start the Ghana attack. Keep it up! you can do more.

  • Murtala 9 years ago

    Stupid Ghana soccer, and published this.

  • Kwame Adu-Gyamfi 9 years ago

    I thought he did pretty well in both games considering defenders have been on his case so much. Criticism is way too harsh and by the way Ghana played very well today especially considering how tough Algeria's defense is.

  • padi 9 years ago

    Which match were they watching. Atsu rather played well in this game

  • Maxwell Johnson 9 years ago

    Moronic fans I guess there were watching a different game Atsu was one of our live wires in the game. And did I hear em say GH were poor in the game? Pathetic remarks!! Though I will agree that we were a bit lethargic in the 1st half but we dominated the entire 2nd half and really deserved to win. Indeed empty barrels they say make the most noise ignorant fans!!

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    I have always thought of ATSU and Jordan Ayew as useless. What beats me is how they keep calling them to the Black stars. Is somebody at the GFA being paid to call them?

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    I have always thought of ATSU and Jordan Ayew as useless. What beats me is how they keep calling them to the Black stars. Is somebody at the GFA being paid to call them?

  • yesi 9 years ago

    Ghana and Algeria were not poor who wrote this negative article. Atsu did his best no one is perfect and this bring hiim down stuff is not cool at least give credit where its due not like he did nothing. gsn printing this is so unnecessary and unpatriotic. so now 5 ppl putting their opinion on twitter warrants an article??? what kind of journalism is this. This is not what our players deserve at least if you will criticize let it be constructive. tsewww Good job Atsu ...and if Gyan didnt score ppl would bash him and if Atsu did it would be a different story hypocrites. Good job to all the players for putting in a team effort and making the nation proud and hopeful once again.

  • For real 9 years ago

    Let's be serious guyz, there is a reason as to why Atsu does not start at Everton and even don't play many games. I still do not understand why people are expecting him to perform extraordinary things. He is just not what some of you think he is.

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