Maxwell under the Silver Hammer

[IanMcL]

Bang Bang

Our Maxwell Cornet, who was stolen by West Ham, after they coughed up the transfer release, in full, is evidently available to the highest bidder.

West Ham are open to offers for Maxwel Cornet, 27, with the club ready to cut their losses on the Ivory Coast winger 15 months into his five-year contract. (Talksport)


Good luck on getting a decent club, Maxwell.

[mybloodisclaret]

Was great for us, but has been plagued with injuries, really preventing him from getting the game time he needs. Lucky for him he signed a lucrative 5 year deal, can't see anyone matching his wages so will likely remain at West Ham.

[claret wizard]

£65K a week….

[Boydesque]

Really how was he great for us

[Bigvince]

Really how was he great for us

He had 9 goals and 1 assist, in 26 games for a struggling team. That’s a pretty good return for a winger!

[NewClaret]

Really how was he great for us

Scored some absolute worldies for us, nearly 1 in 2.5 strike rate. Also missed sitters that’d have kept us up (West Ham pen, Norwich far post).

Sadly, also injury prone and expensive now.

No way we’re paying his wages longer term but could cover striker and LB so wonder whether a loan deal (to put him in the shop window for West Ham) would be on the cards.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Didn’t Maxwell play left back for Lyon?

Only kidding.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Good player during his time here

He’s never really reached those heights again since his time at West Ham, mainly due to injury

I wouldn’t have him back though

[superdimitri]

It's Maxwel with one L. We'd be mad not to have him back. Play him up top with Amdouni.

[Tricky Trevor]

All them wonderful goals he scored for us and all I can remember of him is the open goal miss at Norwich that led to SDs sacking and the penalty miss at West Ham that cost us 2 points that would have kept us up.

[ElectroClaret]

All them wonderful goals he scored for us and all I can remember of him is the open goal miss at Norwich that led to SDs sacking and the penalty miss at West Ham that cost us 2 points that would have kept us up.

The miss at Norwich was a shocker.

But scored some good uns.

[Nori1958]

It's Maxwel with one L. We'd be mad not to have him back. Play him up top with Amdouni.

More likely to keep Benson company on the not quite fit enough list

[Swizzlestick]

Loved Maxwel when he was here but not sure injury prone winger is exactly what we need right now…

[scouseclaret]

Replacement for Koleosho?

[Steve1956]

I never really got over the signing pictures of him pointing to the Umbro logo on his shirt...footballers not the sharpest knives in the drawer are they?

[Nori1958]

Replacement for Koleosho?

We've got at least 3 of those already

[CnBtruntru]

Didn’t Maxwell play left back for Lyon?

Only kidding.

He did, but with all his injuries we can do without another one taking up a treatment room bed at the moment, anyway we have enough wingers to deploy in the left back position if need be

[dsr]

I never really got over the signing pictures of him pointing to the Umbro logo on his shirt...footballers not the sharpest knives in the drawer are they?

True enough. It's always a mistake to make a joke on t'internet because there will always be people who don't understand it was a joke. (Andy Murray still gets stick for his facetious comment to Tim Henman.)

[Goliath]

Good player for us. Constantly showed great movement to get himself in goalscoring positions. Something koleosho needed to learn before his injury along with Amdouni.

Gets a lot of stick for the Norwich miss but all goalscorers miss good chances in their career. He reacted to it with goals against villa and Newcastle as well as scoring the winner in thr huge game v everton the week before. Ballsy

[Burnleyareback2]

When we signed him is was a novel change of a foreign fancy winger with a big life on social media.

Loved the guy but it was just exciting to sign such a different type of player than the “norm”

We’ve signed about 30 players like that in the last 2 seasons. I’d take Benson over Cornet any day

[Commy]

West Ham sent him to a specialist and they found out why he kept getting injured. He had an operation last season and, I think, he has stayed fit since but is now out of favour.

[IanMcL]

Put in a great cross for a goal last week!

[Vegas Claret]

good player but wasn't with us long enough for me to genuinely give too much of a toss about him.

[Carlos the Great]

Put in a great cross for a goal last week!

Did he ? Let’s sign him up

[ChorltonCharlie]

Unpopular opinion, but wouldn't interest me in the slightest. Always seems odd to say someone who scored goals like he did at Burnley is a luxury player, but if he wasn't popping up with a screamer, he was doing very little else. When he was scoring the screamers for us, I remember someone at the time bringing up some stats from French football that he had a tendency to score in bursts, but then go long periods without a goal and it was unlikely his form would last. 5 goals in his first 5 starts for us from an xG of only 1.1 was unbelievable stuff. From December onwards he regressed to more what you'd expect with only 4 more goals all season, and from an xG of 5.4. Form that was similar to the success rates of Barnes, Vydra and Wood.

What's funny from that season is that McNeil became a scapegoat as he suffered from a lack of confidence in front of goal and a profligate strike force that didn't take chances he created. On pretty much every other metric than goals, McNeil performed far better that season. Hardly a surprise which one is going from strength to strength.

[Goliath]

Unpopular opinion, but wouldn't interest me in the slightest. Always seems odd to say someone who scored goals like he did at Burnley is a luxury player, but if he wasn't popping up with a screamer, he was doing very little else. When he was scoring the screamers for us, I remember someone at the time bringing up some stats from French football that he had a tendency to score in bursts, but then go long periods without a goal and it was unlikely his form would last. 5 goals in his first 5 starts for us from an xG of only 1.1 was unbelievable stuff. From December onwards he regressed to more what you'd expect with only 4 more goals all season, and from an xG of 5.4. Form that was similar to the success rates of Barnes, Vydra and Wood.

What's funny from that season is that McNeil became a scapegoat as he suffered from a lack of confidence in front of goal and a profligate strike force that didn't take chances he created. On pretty much every other metric than goals, McNeil performed far better that season. Hardly a surprise which one is going from strength to strength.

They were totally different players. Basically Cornets strengths were mcneil weaknesses and vice versa. The problem was both were at their best on the left hand side so we always had to sort of squeeze one of them in somewhere else.
In hindsight we should have tried mcneil on the left of a midfield 3 drifting wide left to join cornet and to fill in for him defensively. Something along these lines...would have offered goals and solidarity

...................cork
Jbg brownhill mcneil
..............................................cornet
................Rodriguez/wood

[NickBFC]

I like him, but far too injury prone to even consider taking him back. Not to mention how heavily loaded we are in that position. Suspect he'll end up abroad somewhere.

[ChorltonCharlie]

They were totally different players. Basically Cornets strengths were mcneil weaknesses and vice versa. The problem was both were at their best on the left hand side so we always had to sort of squeeze one of them in somewhere else.
In hindsight we should have tried mcneil on the left of a midfield 3 drifting wide left to join cornet and to fill in for him defensively. Something along these lines...would have offered goals and solidarity

...................cork
Jbg brownhill mcneil
..............................................cornet
................Rodriguez/wood

Both are left wingers, and Cornet played there for us (though he also was played more central as well). Not sure how you can say they're completely different players. Even so, I can only assume you mean style. What was Cornet's style? He wasn't a fast direct dribbling winger. He wasn't a slower but more tricky one. He wasn't a winger that could whip a cross in. I only used McNeil as a benchmark, but those strengths you refer to were typical ones of a winger. Better dribbling, chance creation, pass completion were all well in McNeil's favour. All managers these days want hard working wide men, and McNeil was better at pressing and had far more sprints and runs than Cornet. Focusing on Dyche's style as a manager, McNeil also much stronger at defensive work such as tackles, blocks and interceptions.

It all comes back to goals. That was the one strength, and take out the initial purple patch and even that wasn't that great. The irony of the goals, was as a team looking retrospectively we were less likely to get points with Cornet in the team than without him. I just think there's some Cornet tinted glasses out there which is based on his first 6 games for us where he scored a few worldies. The rest of his time with us was very much underwhelming.

[ClaretTony]

He scored some stunning goals for us but I always felt that clouded his overall performances. Didn’t play well often enough for me, missed big chances in key games. I was gutted to lose Pope & McNeil that summer but Cornet going didn’t bother me at all.

[Kilson810]

Loved watching him play and I hope he gets himself a good club. Probably needs to go back to another European league.

[Goliath]

Both are left wingers, and Cornet played there for us (though he also was played more central as well). Not sure how you can say they're completely different players. Even so, I can only assume you mean style. What was Cornet's style? He wasn't a fast direct dribbling winger. He wasn't a slower but more tricky one. He wasn't a winger that could whip a cross in. I only used McNeil as a benchmark, but those strengths you refer to were typical ones of a winger. Better dribbling, chance creation, pass completion were all well in McNeil's favour. All managers these days want hard working wide men, and McNeil was better at pressing and had far more sprints and runs than Cornet. Focusing on Dyche's style as a manager, McNeil also much stronger at defensive work such as tackles, blocks and interceptions.

It all comes back to goals. That was the one strength, and take out the initial purple patch and even that wasn't that great. The irony of the goals, was as a team looking retrospectively we were less likely to get points with Cornet in the team than without him. I just think there's some Cornet tinted glasses out there which is based on his first 6 games for us where he scored a few worldies. The rest of his time with us was very much underwhelming.

Mcneil is a wide midfielder. Good on the ball, great delivery, works hard both ways but not much pace and virtually 0 threat in behind.
Cornet is more of a modern winger/forward that doesnt really track back very well but has good pace, has a great knack of getting in goalscoring positions with his movement and was a good finsher. You could see it when our centre half or right back had the ball, Cornet would always be testing their defensive line with runs in behind looking for the ball on behind, Mcneil would be nearer the half way line wanting the ball to feet and keeping the shape.
Completely different skill sets.

If i remember rightly we saw how it could work with the goal against Brentford at home with Mcneil feeding cornet from a more central position and him finishing brilliantly. But dyche unfortunately made the mistake of using Cornet as a number 10 (which he doesnt really have the skillset for) because he didnt trust him to do the work needed on the left hand side, instead of just using an extra man in midfield and letting him stay high on that side

[Goliath]

He scored some stunning goals for us but I always felt that clouded his overall performances. Didn’t play well often enough for me, missed big chances in key games. I was gutted to lose Pope & McNeil that summer but Cornet going didn’t bother me at all.

Strange criticism, if you keep putting yourself in goalscoring positions then statistically you are bound to miss some chances. There was 1 against Norwich and a penalty at West ham which you cant really count, the best in the world can miss penalties.
He also scored in key games v everton and on the last day v Newcastle which if Weghorst had a longer toe nail could have been vital. The one who was missing big chances was Weghorst who missed basically every chance he got bar the Brighton goal.

[ClaretTony]

Strange criticism, if you keep putting yourself in goalscoring positions then statistically you are bound to miss some chances. There was 1 against Norwich and a penalty at West ham which you cant really count, the best in the world can miss penalties.
He also scored in key games v everton and on the last day v Newcastle which if Weghorst had a longer toe nail could have been vital. The one who was missing big chances was Weghorst who missed basically every chance he got bar the Brighton goal.

Not strange at all. It’s my view of him. His goals masked what was a very average player at best.

[Hipper]

Not strange at all. It’s my view of him. His goals masked what was a very average player at best.

He was just someone we bought that was completely different to what we are used to buying. That's what attracted people.

[IanMcL]

I welcomed his goals.

[keith1879]

Unpopular opinion, but wouldn't interest me in the slightest. Always seems odd to say someone who scored goals like he did at Burnley is a luxury player, but if he wasn't popping up with a screamer, he was doing very little else. When he was scoring the screamers for us, I remember someone at the time bringing up some stats from French football that he had a tendency to score in bursts, but then go long periods without a goal and it was unlikely his form would last. 5 goals in his first 5 starts for us from an xG of only 1.1 was unbelievable stuff. From December onwards he regressed to more what you'd expect with only 4 more goals all season, and from an xG of 5.4. Form that was similar to the success rates of Barnes, Vydra and Wood.

What's funny from that season is that McNeil became a scapegoat as he suffered from a lack of confidence in front of goal and a profligate strike force that didn't take chances he created. On pretty much every other metric than goals, McNeil performed far better that season. Hardly a surprise which one is going from strength to strength.

I completely agree. To me he was a luxury player who would have graced a good team but who couldn't lift a poor one. I didn't dislike him but I rapidly learned to expect very little from him. What we needed then (and still do now) is Joey Barton type players who can win the ball reliably and pass it successfully.

[Goliath]

Not strange at all. It’s my view of him. His goals masked what was a very average player at best.

Am i right in thinking you're a fan of Chris wood?

[ClaretTony]

Am i right in thinking you're a fan of Chris wood?

What a strange post on a thread about Cornet.

[fungus_the_bogeyman]

Last I checked, goals were pretty important. And “average at best” players don’t score 9 goals from out of position in the Premier League. Take his contributions out of that season and we’d have beaten Derby’s record.

Been so unlucky with injuries and would have been an important player for West Ham had they not hit again.

If we could guarantee he’d stay fit, you’d have him back in an instant as he’d be one of the only players in our team with genuine Premier League quality.

[Goliath]

Last I checked, goals were pretty important. And “average at best” players don’t score 9 goals from out of position in the Premier League. Take his contributions out of that season and we’d have beaten Derby’s record.

Been so unlucky with injuries and would have been an important player for West Ham had they not hit again.

If we could guarantee he’d stay fit, you’d have him back in an instant as he’d be one of the only players in our team with genuine Premier League quality.

Agreed, his range of goals was fantastic, from true goalscorers goals like the header in the 6 yard box at Southampton and the finish at Everton to screamers v Palace and Brentord. The common thread between them all really was excellent movement and the ability to find space and finish with quality. If you have a player like that you have to build the team around him because its so rare/expensive for a team with our budget, think Salah, Bowen and players like that. Unfortunately he couldnt stay fit and Dyche wasnt willing to flex the system enough to really get the best out of him.

The problem is its been so long since he played regularly that whoever signs him has no idea what thet are getting, its completely dependant on how hard hes worked behind the scenes to keep himself ready.

[spt_claret]

I always wanted to see him in a front 3 with Jay/Vydra and thought the one time we tried that against Chelsea it looked good.
After Wout came in, I wanted to see Weghorst as the advanced link man, Vydra and Cornet off his shoulders or Vydra just behind with Cornet inverted to the right and McNeil on the left.

He was a strange player. Not a winger, not an out and out striker, not a second-striker/deep forward, not a wingback. Really reminded me of a Podolski, Muller, Schurrle, or at times Ozil type of player, someone who sits in a grey zone between the flanks & middle and between the number 9 and the top of midfield, looking to find space and break lines by lining up at weird angles compared to the defence. You'd need to completely adapt your setup to get the best out of him, and we kept trying to accomodate and ultimately despite him shining in moments, Wood's form capitulated and the rest of the team struggled. I'm not saying it's because of Cornet, just that his attributes and playstyle were very, very hard to pin down as a best position in the English system.
He'd do the job Tella did for us last season, this time, but on the left, however I don't know if he'd do it as well as while he had a hell of a goal in him he didn't have Tella's pace- wasn't slow but wasn't as fast as Tella by some margin. Good but awkward player and very inconsistent.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Last I checked, goals were pretty important. And “average at best” players don’t score 9 goals from out of position in the Premier League. Take his contributions out of that season and we’d have beaten Derby’s record.

Been so unlucky with injuries and would have been an important player for West Ham had they not hit again.

If we could guarantee he’d stay fit, you’d have him back in an instant as he’d be one of the only players in our team with genuine Premier League quality.

Of course goals are important, but there's a bigger picture that many people saw with Cornet and the data backs that up. He didn't offer anywhere near enough out of possession and when we had the ball didn't create much and lost the ball a lot. It's a strange comment to say we'd have beaten Derby's record when we easily got more points than Derby just in the games he didn't play. As I say, statistically we performed better when he wasn't in the team. It's a basic metric, because it doesn't take into account quality of opposition, but it's not hard to remember the poor team showings against Norwich, Brentford, Watford and Leeds to name just a few who were hardly outstanding teams.

[Goliath]

Its a completely meaningless metric nevermind basic.

[ClaretTony]

Last I checked, goals were pretty important. And “average at best” players don’t score 9 goals from out of position in the Premier League. Take his contributions out of that season and we’d have beaten Derby’s record.

Been so unlucky with injuries and would have been an important player for West Ham had they not hit again.

If we could guarantee he’d stay fit, you’d have him back in an instant as he’d be one of the only players in our team with genuine Premier League quality.

You saw a hell of a lot more in him than I did but just to stick to facts, we got more points in that season when he wasn't playing that would have beaten Derby's record.

[bfcjg]

I think Cornet would have performed better in a VK team, however he is to much of a risk re injuries so it is a big mo from me. As has been mentioned for tge spectacular goals there were some dire misses.