The Prophet Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I'd also add, he played circa 2,000 minutes up top for us, notching 12 goals and 2 assists. I get it was a frustrating experience at times, but he was no where near as ineffective as some would have you believe. Particularly for his second full season in the top flight and his first in England. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I think the lad is a talented, gifted footballer. I also don’t see how he is going to fit into Howe’s system or potentially the PL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Just now, TheBrownBottle said: I think the lad is a talented, gifted footballer. I also don’t see how he is going to fit into Howe’s system or potentially the PL. I still think we ultimately need a game plan where we don’t press like crazy though, as we’ve seen it’s not sustainable in a busy season unless we can really sign a high volume of the right players. Summer transfers will be very interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Just now, AyeDubbleYoo said: I still think we ultimately need a game plan where we don’t press like crazy though, as we’ve seen it’s not sustainable in a busy season unless we can really sign a high volume of the right players. Summer transfers will be very interesting. 100% - this summer is a massive one. If Howe is serious about changing style, I’d fully expect last year to be last one where we sign athletes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) FWIW I do think we tried to walk the line between the two last summer to some extent. People like Pedro and Ekitike definitely aren’t just athletes, they’re brilliant technically. The goalkeepers we missed out on have good distribution, especially Trafford. Even Elanga is meant to be better technically than he’s shown so far. Lots of things didn’t work out for us. Edited February 25 by AyeDubbleYoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 1 hour ago, The Prophet said: I'd also add, he played circa 2,000 minutes up top for us, notching 12 goals and 2 assists. He's not scored 12 goals for us Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fak Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) 3 minutes ago, joeyt said: He's not scored 12 goals for us If you include his missed penalty v. Bournemouth in the FA Cup and his goal in the derby he has Edited February 25 by Fak Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I don't think anyone's denying he looked good when he initially joined but he was also able to win a header in the box when he first joined Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holloway Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Can gifted,talented footballers not succeed in the PL nowadays 🤔 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I do think the way he’s been reffed has had a major impact on his confidence to compete in duels. What are you supposed to do when the referees view every bit of contact on you as fair game, and every bit of contact you initiate to be a foul? It’s genuinely been mental to watch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 21 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: FWIW I do think we tried to walk the line between the two last summer to some extent. People like Pedro and Ekitike definitely aren’t just athletes, they’re brilliant technically. The goalkeepers we missed out on have good distribution, especially Trafford. Even Elanga is meant to be better technically than he’s shown so far. Lots of things didn’t work out for us. Speaks more of a transfer strategy akin to a blindfolded man throwing darts at a dart board to me. No joined-up thinking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 6 minutes ago, Holloway said: Can gifted,talented footballers not succeed in the PL nowadays 🤔 Depends, it isn’t as stupid as it sounds. I remember seeing Juan Sebastian Veron and Angel Di Maria being mediocre. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 7 minutes ago, Holloway said: Can gifted,talented footballers not succeed in the PL nowadays 🤔 Of course they can. But do you sacrifice the team and system for the benefit of a player we don't even know where his best position is and if he's going to be any good there in this league? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) I don’t think we need to change the system to fit Woltemade in. I definitely don’t think it’s worth it this season anyway given the lack of training time. As I see it, the rest of the season can be a good opportunity to see how he does in the 8 role he’s been playing recently. Before last night he’s been good there the last few games, and on paper I think he can be the player we need in certain games where we lack the technical ability and creativity to break teams down. He has a lot of potential I think, and he really hasn’t played that much top level football at all. Needs coaching, game time and confidence first and foremost. Edited February 25 by Smal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 31 minutes ago, joeyt said: He's not scored 12 goals for us Apologies, it's ten goals he's scored. Point still stands though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) 4 minutes ago, The Prophet said: Apologies, it's ten goals he's scored. Point still stands though. 9 as a striker But as said before he started brilliantly but has rarely looked like threatening the goal much the more the season has gone on Edited February 25 by joeyt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Magpie Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 2 hours ago, Kid Icarus said: Yeah, last night was probably his worst game, but until last night he was playing well imo. He lost a few more balls last night than we've seen him do in the past. The frustration on his face after he blew a cross out of bounds was evident and may actually be feeding some of the sentiment on these boards, methinks. That said, his ball to Burn (a smooth as you like one-touch) unlocked the defense for the first goal, his pass to Barnes unlocked the defense two minutes later. Never mind the beauty he threaded to Murphy. If Murphy doesn't crap his pants, that's all we're talking about today. We need to get Nick in the weight room this offseason. No reason he can't add some strength to stay on the ball better and to fight his way into the box for crosses. He'll play a big part for us going forward. Just can't ruin his psyche in the meantime. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 1 hour ago, Fak said: If you include his missed penalty v. Bournemouth in the FA Cup and his goal in the derby he has You finally got me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I don't think he's technically gifted. He's got an excellent touch and great fit for a big lad. Somr of us talk like he's Paul Pogba or someone technically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ9 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 He’s better technically than the majority of our players I think. Maybe aside from Bruno and Hall. I actually feel for him tbh. He’d be forgiven for wondering why the fuck we signed him if he was going to be shifted into midfield after a goal scoring start. We have no plan for him really, which is because it was a panic buy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEntertainer Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 55 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: I don't think he's technically gifted. He's got an excellent touch and great fit for a big lad. Somr of us talk like he's Paul Pogba or someone technically. Woltemade isn't technically gifted? I'm all for the criticism about him being too slow and weak for the prem and the way we play and not really having a role in our team, but to claim he's not technically gifted is just wrong. His entire game is nice touches, quick feet, flicks and cute passes. Sure he's not Zidane, but he's definitely a technician. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 He's essentially a more polished Zirkzee let's be honest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abacus Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) 39 minutes ago, AJ9 said: He’s better technically than the majority of our players I think. Maybe aside from Bruno and Hall. I actually feel for him tbh. He’d be forgiven for wondering why the fuck we signed him if he was going to be shifted into midfield after a goal scoring start. We have no plan for him really, which is because it was a panic buy I think similarly. If you believe the blurb when he was signed it was that there was a plan to make him the no 9 here over time, but I think that plan was a bit scuppered by Wissa getting injured so it has been a bit of a mend and make do season for him and us instead. Having him drop into midfield now is more by necessity than anything else. The fact he seems happy and willing to play that role because we need it for the team is a credit to his character. Edited February 25 by Abacus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFEE Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 2 hours ago, joeyt said: Of course they can. But do you sacrifice the team and system for the benefit of a player we don't even know where his best position is and if he's going to be any good there in this league? Also add to that there is still a debate in my eyes how actually technically gifted he is. Yes he’s got some talent. Not going to be oblivious to that to prove a longstanding point that we should’ve went nowhere near him for that price with the team we’d built. Yes the team needs to evolve and not be stuck with just one way of playing. I just don’t see a successful style in this division that fits him as a CF. Next season will be the real test to be fair. If he’s still here which I have my slight doubts about if he has a great WC and an offer comes in. When Bruno is fit I can see him on the bench again before the season is out if everyone else remains fit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holloway Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 2 hours ago, joeyt said: Of course they can. But do you sacrifice the team and system for the benefit of a player we don't even know where his best position is and if he's going to be any good there in this league? Sacrificing the team is a bit dramatic like. If you listen to Eddie talking about it,the shape hasn't changed much, Nick has dropped back into an attacking mid role. The question I suppose is what happens when Bruno comes back, but that's some eay off Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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