Alexander Isak: has a chance to play against Everton (Howe)

[Cronky]

Yeah, he does things Wilson can't do, and I can't think of anything vice versa.

[LV]

11 hours ago, joeyt said:

Too early to say his heading may not be one of his strong points?

That was known about him before he signed. 

[STM]

9 minutes ago, Cronky said:

Yeah, he does things Wilson can't do, and I can't think of anything vice versa.

This is the thing for me.

 

Is there anything Wilson can do significantly better? Shithousing aside.

 

Also, it's time we gave Isak a run of games.

[gbandit]

You could argue that Wilson is stronger and can physically dominate defenders better with his hold-up play but Isak doesn’t need to do that as his technique means he can find space anyway

[Lush Vlad]

Wilson is the better player back to goal and trying to work the CB’s in 50/50’s or in the air, I reckon. 
 

He has looked a bit poor at that of late, mind. Last night he was constantly losing it under minimal pressure. Bar a really good second half against Leicester (I think?) plus some decent moments against Fulham. 
 

 

[TheGuv]

I think it’s fair to say we’ve been figured out with our 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation.

 

The 20 minutes against Fulham with the two of them was great. I don’t see why we can’t try that - it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

[ExiledGeordie]

3 minutes ago, TheGuv said:

I think it’s fair to say we’ve been figured out with our 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation.

 

The 20 minutes against Fulham with the two of them was great. I don’t see why we can’t try that - it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

Might see it against West Ham maybe. They’ll almost certainly play with a low block and hope to hit us on the counter or nick one with Ings.  

[Lotus]

1 hour ago, Cronky said:

Yeah, he does things Wilson can't do, and I can't think of anything vice versa.

Wilson can play with his back to goal. So far, Isak can’t. He might be able to in time but right now, no.

[AJ9]

I think both can play together and it can almost be like a when 352 in possession. Would give opposition something else to think about, especially if he makes defenders think twice about where Wilson is.

[Coffee_Johnny]

2 hours ago, gbandit said:

You could argue that Wilson is stronger and can physically dominate defenders better with his hold-up play but Isak doesn’t need to do that as his technique means he can find space anyway

Yep, he can. But hasn’t been. Maybe it is just who he has been up against recently. 

[Cronky]

1 hour ago, Lotus said:

Wilson can play with his back to goal. So far, Isak can’t. He might be able to in time but right now, no.

 

I just don't agree there. Isak is better at holding the ball up than his physique would suggest, and Wilson has looked rather sluggish recently and defenders are nipping in ahead of him.

 

Isak shows an ability to receive under pressure and somehow end up taking the ball forward. With Wilson now, that only happens occasionally. As far as creativity is concerned, there's no contest.

 

Wilson's main strength is finishing within the penalty box, but in reality I think Isak matches him there as well.

 

I don't think Howe is going to want to change formation against Southampton, but the case now seems clear to reverse roles, with Isak starting and Wilson coming on as sub.

[buzza]

I love the way Isak slows down slightly, waits for the defender to slow anlittle then hits the turbos… really seems to glide past them.

Elegant footballer!

[madras]

It'll take a little while to come together, but it will.

[NE27]

30 minutes ago, buzza said:

I love the way Isak slows down slightly, waits for the defender to slow anlittle then hits the turbos… really seems to glide past them.

Elegant footballer!

 

Wouldn't say he's rapid but as you say, has a very calm nonchalant look about him.

 

He then just powers away to gain a yard on the defender. So excited to see a bit more of him.

[gbandit]

He’s the classiest footballer we’ve had since Ben Arfa. Bruno is super classy but not a dribbler, whereas this guy can rinse people and has final product. I really like ASM but having someone with this quality who can get goals and assists consistently is amazing 

[STM]

He picked the ball up on the half way line with no support and danced his way to a corner for us.

 

He's the most Henry clone like player ive seen.

[bowlingcrofty]

Time to unleash this beautiful bastard properly. 

[Jaqen]

3 hours ago, TheGuv said:

I think it’s fair to say we’ve been figured out with our 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation.

 

The 20 minutes against Fulham with the two of them was great. I don’t see why we can’t try that - it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

 

I don't think we've been figured or found out like a few keep suggesting. We dominated an away game for 90 minutes and had 16 efforts at goal. 

 

Eddie will make a few tweaks and Isak and ASM will get a lot more game time I'm sure but we aren't going to have a change in system when we are third in the league and 15 unbeaten  For context City didn't even have an effort on target against Southampton, the worst side in the league. Man U just drew with Palace away this week as well with De Gea having to make 5 saves v Pope's 1.

 

We've been in top 4 form for 12 months straight now with the weakest squad out of the top 7. There's a fair chance Eddie knows what he's doing more than us. 

[The Prophet]

Aye chucking the whole system that got us to third in the league seems a bit unnecessary, but a few tweaks and a couple of changes in personal might do the trick. For example, I love Wilson but he's been a passenger the last couple of weeks.

[madras]

9 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

 

I don't think we've been figured or found out like a few keep suggesting. We dominated an away game for 90 minutes and had 16 efforts at goal. 

 

Eddie will make a few tweaks and Isak and ASM will get a lot more game time I'm sure but we aren't going to have a change in system when we are third in the league and 15 unbeaten  For context City didn't even have an effort on target against Southampton, the worst side in the league. Man U just drew with Palace away this week as well with De Gea having to make 5 saves v Pope's 1.

 

We've been in top 4 form for 12 months straight now with the weakest squad out of the top 7. There's a fair chance Eddie knows what he's doing more than us. 

Precisely this. We are lacking finishing, we are dominating and creating good chances. To some extent we have been found out but there's fuck all other teams can do about it so far.

[TheGuv]

It’s not really chucking the system though is it?

 

Its enhancing the system.

[Flip]

1 hour ago, STM said:

He picked the ball up on the half way line with no support and danced his way to a corner for us.

 

He's the most Henry clone like player ive seen.

Damn. No pressure on Isak I see. 

[STM]

40 minutes ago, Flip said:

Damn. No pressure on Isak I see. 

 

There's always one.

[Barnes23]

Aye, totally get the excitement but the hyping of Isak on such little viewing evidence so far is OTT imo.

 

He clearly has a quite specific set of strengths and weaknesses and it will be interesting to see how he gets integrated into the team in the fullness of time. Wilson looks off the boil at the moment and some rotation could well be a good idea but to suggest he has suddenly become an obvious second choice right now is jumping the gun for sure. 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by Barnes23

[Coffee_Johnny]

44 minutes ago, Flip said:

Damn. No pressure on Isak I see. 

Imagine though, there is a lot of similarity in their game, what if young Alex has that kind of growth in him? Look forward to the Renault adverts in a few years time: “Whey, whey aye man” (… not quite va-va-boom but ?‍♂️)