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17 minutes ago, Sandrotastico said:

 

A beautiful pass and definitely something we see very little of in our team - that kind of vision.

 

Otherwise, I found him poor again. He refuses to attack a header, he rarely sprints into the box to attack a cross and he still jumps with his head under his shoulders.

He needs a to toughen up, play quicker, mix up his game and release the ball earlier.

 

Technically, he's great - but he needs to grab the game and do more. 

That's what's frustrating me - he seems to be able to do all the difficult stuff. First touch, vision, general technical ability.

 

It's the things you'd assume were a lot easier to pick up that he's lacking. How hard can it be to say "if the ball goes out wide, get your arse in the box as quick as you can".

 

Wasn't it SBR to Shearer, basically told him he was playing facing away from goal too often, turn around and focus on getting into the box? Then he scored five in the next home game!

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2 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

That's what's frustrating me - he seems to be able to do all the difficult stuff. First touch, vision, general technical ability.

 

It's the things you'd assume were a lot easier to pick up that he's lacking. How hard can it be to say "if the ball goes out wide, get your arse in the box as quick as you can".

 

Wasn't it SBR to Shearer, basically told him he was playing facing away from goal too often, turn around and focus on getting into the box? Then he scored five in the next home game!

Against Sheffield Wednesday I think.

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Love him but as bad a nine as big Joe.. His best position?
Fuck knows, look a nuisance 8 to my inexpert eye. Really feel this lad is playing in the wrong league./Country

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1 minute ago, Cornah said:

Love him but as bad a nine as big Joe.. His best position?
Fuck knows, look a nuisance 8 to my inexpert eye. Really feel this lad is playing in the wrong league./Country



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16 minutes ago, CallumG6 said:

That shimmy on Tonali’s penalty was *chefs kiss*


Just came in here to say this. It was so deliberate and he must have known Tonali was running off him. 
 

Very intelligent player. I just wish he’d be a bit more aggressive and purposeful at times. 

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I think we snapped at the chance of getting him when we were running out of options to replace Isak and Bayern pulled out of their deal without really thinking how he would fit into the team

 

He looked much more comfortable today being able to roam around in a 10 role and play facing the goal rather than having his back to it

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Considering we paid a record £70m for him as Isak replacement** I thought he may be more match ready. For that money we cannot say maybe he'll be OK next season. Needs to slot in now.

 

**= Wissa was always the Wilson replacement per Howe, hence we tried to sign him from June onwards once we didn't renew Wilson s contract. Up until the end of August we said Isak was not for sale and only when we sold him did we buy Nick as his replacement. 

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I don’t think it is as black and white as who is a replacement for who. Both are different players to who they replaced and Woltemade has a very different profile to both.
 

He is such a unique and talented player. I think we should really persevere with him and try and adapt our game to suit, the same as he needs to make adjustments and to improve certain parts of his game. 
 

He can be frustrating at times. Very lax on the ball and when trying to get on the end of chances. Would like to see a bit more fire from him. But he seems a very laid back and chilled guy personality wise and it plays out like that on the pitch. I want him going a bit Shearer/Diego Costa on some CB’s :lol:  

 

 

Edited by Lush Vlad

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Really liked him alongside Wissa today. He did a great job of bringing others into play and looked a threat. However, the moment we made changes he was left a lot more isolated, not just by the lack of a no.9 but by the wingers getting wider and us looking to play out to them more often rather than through the middle. 

 

There is a still a lot of room for him (and us) to adapt for get the best out of him. He's still looking for that extra touch or asking for a soft free-kick when defenders get physical, which he may have gotten away with a lot more outside of the Premier League. There are also far too many occasions where he seems to be looking for a cut back when the wingers are expecting him to attack the space ahead of him; that'll come with time. 

 

He's clearly a very talented player and I can't help but feel we've bought a player with a high ceiling rather than the finished article.


 

 

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There’s reason to criticise elements of his game but I still feel the criticism overall is OTT. 
 

I’ll keep repeating it. He’s not played regular top level football much at 23. He’s also not played lone striker that much either. He’s got a lot to learn. But with Howe I think he’s got a great teacher.  The personality profile is a head wind mind.  It’s clear he doesn’t have a bagsman mindset yet.  Not that aggressive but Eddie will push him in that direction.  

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He’s talented and I love his character but I don’t think he’ll be here very long.  Back in the Bundesliga in the next 18 months - 2 years imo 

 

 

Edited by Andy84

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17 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

There’s reason to criticise elements of his game but I still feel the criticism overall is OTT. 
 

I’ll keep repeating it. He’s not played regular top level football much at 23. He’s also not played lone striker that much either. He’s got a lot to learn. But with Howe I think he’s got a great teacher.  The personality profile is a head wind mind.  It’s clear he doesn’t have a bagsman mindset yet.  Not that aggressive but Eddie will push him in that direction.  

See what hes like next season or the end of this when we arent two games a week. Hes already quicker and more able to last 90mins than when he first came, he'll get physically stronger and hopefully his play can integrate more with our plans.

 

Hes not a 9 or a 10, he could be himself.

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5 hours ago, Andy84 said:

He’s talented and I love his character but I don’t think he’ll be here very long.  Back in the Bundesliga in the next 18 months - 2 years imo 

 

 

 


certainly, if our fans are as ridiculous as those in this thread.

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Easy to forget he's still only 23 mind, he's still developing as a player and won't peak for another 3 years or so, I have no doubt Howe will turn him into a world beater in time, we just need to have some patience with him and Wissa needs to start picking up some of the slack.

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7 hours ago, Sir Joel Inton said:

Played in his proper position and looked good today. He and Barnes have excellent link up.

 

The pass to Wissa for the missed opportunity early on was great too. Perfect weight at the perfect time.

Yes, this game if anything was the proof that he really is not a lone number 9. Really good performance and the team had more going forward - more than just relying on the wings to come up with something. If we could, we should sign another striker and play this way when Nick is on the pitch.

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10 hours ago, Cornah said:

Love him but as bad a nine as big Joe.. His best position?
Fuck knows, look a nuisance 8 to my inexpert eye. Really feel this lad is playing in the wrong league./Country


He has 7 goals in 16 premier league starts this season. He’s better than people give him credit for.

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10 hours ago, NEEJ said:

The assist for Barnes' first was absolutely ludicrous. :kurt:


What we need to do more of to support him, have runners come central and run beyond him. There’s no point wingers being on the touchline, that doesn’t help him IMO. 
 

He’s passing ability (in terms of weight) is near Bruno levels. 
 

Do feel Elanga is prime to be that type of winger on the right, but we’ve been making him to play like Murphy does, which doesn’t help anyone. 

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