MrRaspberryJam Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 (edited) 3 minutes ago, WideopenMag said: He's just not the finished article yet and has some games that pass him by. Some people got carried away with some performances calling him world class etc when he's a fair bit off that currently. I think he could be though, still likely a couple of years off his peak. I also think he’s deliberately holding himself back a tad. We know he’s injury prone and we can’t really afford for him to go gung-ho and have another muscle injury given we have no backup at the moment. Edited December 8, 2023 by MrRaspberryJam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 7 minutes ago, MrRaspberryJam said: I also think he’s deliberately holding himself back a tad. We know he’s injury prone and we can’t really afford for him to go gung-ho and have another muscle injury given we have no backup at the moment. Aye. I'd rather he played full-throttle for 45 minutes... walk around a bit for 15 minutes and get subbed than do this pacing himself stuff. Even if that sub is Matt Ritchie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRaspberryJam Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 5 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Aye. I'd rather he played full-throttle for 45 minutes... walk around a bit for 15 minutes and get subbed than do this pacing himself stuff. Even if that sub is Matt Ritchie. With Isak I think you run the risk of him being injured for 2-3 weeks as well if we keep expecting him to go gung-ho even for 45 mins. I don’t think we’ve ever really given him a genuine chance to fully recover as him and Wilson always seem to get rushed back because the other is injured. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myleftboot Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 Think he’d be perfect behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanegg Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 18 minutes ago, Myleftboot said: Think he’d be perfect behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1. Swear we kinda played him like that when he come on as a sub against Fulham to score the winner last season? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 23 minutes ago, Myleftboot said: Think he’d be perfect behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1. I reckon we were to transition towards that this season, it makes sense of Tonali and Barnes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BullyDogs Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 id like to see him left in a front 3 with Gordon right and then go balls deep to get osimhen as our number 9 in the summer. Thats my idea of a front 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 (edited) Isak is a top 10 number 9 in world football. There's not a weakness in his game there other than perhaps a little bit of physicality. We'd be mad to put him on the wing or behind another striker imo. We need him to play more like he did against Man U where he dropped deep to link play though. He didn't do any of it against Everton and just got dominated by their CBs instead. To back that up with stats we had more possession against Everton but he had 26 touches there as opposed to 50 against Man U, and he completed 10 passes against Everton and 33 passes against Man U. Our CBs really struggled with their distribution against Everton and part of it is Isak wasn't available. We're never going to consistently get the best out of him when he has to play every minute of every game twice a week though. Really need Wilson back. Edited December 9, 2023 by Smal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
konvaljen Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Quote We need him to play more like he did against Man U where he dropped deep to link play though. Man U played a man marking system. Newcastles performance was text book on how to pick their system apart. One big piece there was Isak’s movement pulling out the center halves and creating space in behind. Wingers did similarly at times, reason for Tino to all of the sudden be in acres of space on the left flank. However, it’s not necessarily the best play against a more well organised/better defense as you might want your #9 to “push down” the center halves to create space for your midfield. In any case, Isak had different instructions in the Man U game and it might be hard to say what’s better for the team even if his involvement will be higher when he drops deep. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 21 minutes ago, konvaljen said: However, it’s not necessarily the best play against a more well organised/better defense as you might want your #9 to “push down” the center halves to create space for your midfield. In any case, Isak had different instructions in the Man U game and it might be hard to say what’s better for the team even if his involvement will be higher when he drops deep. True, but it doesn't suit Isak's game at all to go up against two physical centre halves like Everton's. Wilson can play that way but not Isak. He competed in 11 duels and lost 10 of them. Gordon and Almiron are good runners - I think playing them more narrowly to try and overload Everton's CBs might've worked better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 16 minutes ago, Smal said: True, but it doesn't suit Isak's game at all to go up against two physical centre halves like Everton's. Wilson can play that way but not Isak. He competed in 11 duels and lost 10 of them. Gordon and Almiron are good runners - I think playing them more narrowly to try and overload Everton's CBs might've worked better. I reckon Isak could do any centre half as long as he's not expected to battle them for high looping balls. He needs to be played in early on the deck so he can run behind them. Our deliveries and final ball haven't been good enough for some time now. Just look at the pass Miley put through to him for that goal against Chelsea. We need more of that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Adore Isak and he’s exactly who I want leading the line for us but it’s a tough watch seeing him jog for 90 mins and lose every aerial battle. He’s still got enough talent and ability to beat his man with skill but his body is just not there for battling and running at 100% Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 yeah, you have absolutely no faith he’s going to win any kind of challenge atm. Desperate for Wilson to come back into the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Away Toon Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Isak is not a CF, never was, never will be. The fact that Howe swapped him with Gordon maybe means he's finally realised it. He should never start up front by himself. he's an auxiliary striker. he needs a partner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Said it before. He needs to be stronger physically, better stamina and play at full tilt. He always plays at 80% intensity these days and it’s no good. Sometimes he comes deep and links well but today back to offering absolutely nothing. Not linking it up. Can’t win a contested ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanegg Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 1 hour ago, gbandit said: Adore Isak and he’s exactly who I want leading the line for us but it’s a tough watch seeing him jog for 90 mins and lose every aerial battle. He’s still got enough talent and ability to beat his man with skill but his body is just not there for battling and running at 100% 100% on this. He’s not looked great at all since he’s been back. Missed a few sitters from memory. Really feel he’d play a lot better just off/behind Wilson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEEJ Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 I think Wilson leading the press with Isak off the bench will be the way to go against Milan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WideopenMag Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 1 minute ago, ryanegg said: 100% on this. He’s not looked great at all since he’s been back. Missed a few sitters from memory. Really feel he’d play a lot better just off/behind Wilson. That means a complete system change tbf, not that I'm against that as if isn't working currently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 I don’t think he is fully fit. Must be carrying some kind of knock and not wanting to risk further injury. Glad we have Wilson back and can mix them up now. Barnes back as well will help and we are missing Murphy as an option on the right. Everyone will look much better when we have options. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanegg Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Just now, WideopenMag said: That means a complete system change tbf, not that I'm against that as if isn't working currently. Even if the current system is working, we’re in desperate need of a plan B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newcastle Fan Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Really good having Wilson back as he's been really off form, hopefully time to rotate the two again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiston Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 He's not had a chance to be fully fit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Whole team is off form to be fair. It’s ridiculous to single out Isak who’s being asked to do stuff that’s no where near his skill set. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 30 minutes ago, Away Toon said: Isak is not a CF, never was, never will be. The fact that Howe swapped him with Gordon maybe means he's finally realised it. He should never start up front by himself. he's an auxiliary striker. he needs a partner. He has been absolutely fantastic for us as a lone striker for the most part Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Expected a lot more from him today with Wilson on the bench. Thought he'd go pelters for 60 minutes knowing he'd likely come off. He's not a luxury player, imo, but he can be annoyingly inactive when things aren't going our way. Pretty sure one of Spurs' CBs today was a full back which makes it even more frustrating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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