After a promising start, we seem to be in similar territory to where we found ourselves with Chris Wood earlier in the season.

We don’t seem to be able to get him into the game to a level that causes issues for the opposition.

He’s perhaps been hindered by not having a consistent partnership but I’m just not seeing enough - I don’t see him holding play up as well as I’d hoped or in positions that worry the defence or give options for the midfield to play in to.

He’s obviously a decent player, but how do we get more from him!?

not helped with McNeil playing on the wrong wing

I don’t think he’s obviously a decent player at all. He was signed to score goals, he will not be doing that with his inability to head a ball and his chronic lack of pace.

A good touch is a great thing, but he’s a striker - he does not threaten whatsoever. I’m not convinced he will score consistently a league lower either.

Agree he was pretty shite today, normally he creates a decent amount for others, aside from pressuring Konsa out wide that led to Mcneil's chance and a half chance header, pretty ineffective. The team in general is not helped with Lennon starting games, a complete passenger in a key area.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:03 pm

I don’t think he’s obviously a decent player at all. He was signed to score goals, he will not be doing that with his inability to head a ball and his chronic lack of pace.

A good touch is a great thing, but he’s a striker - he does not threaten whatsoever. I’m not convinced he will score consistently a league lower either.

How did he score the second most goals in the Bundesliga over the past 4 seasons then? Maybe we should study what Wolfsburg were doing that worked so well. What was the formation, tactics etc. Granted PL is a lot tougher than that league, but still, he has been a consistent goalscorer.

Don't play McNeil on the right, don't play Lennon/Vydra/Jay on the left and don't partner him upfront with someone even slower than he is.

Stating the obvious but we have to play more into his feet. Playing aerially or for him to run onto probably won't get us much joy, or him drifting out wide.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:06 pm

How did he score the second most goals in the Bundesliga over the past 4 seasons then? Maybe we should study what Wolfsburg were doing that worked so well. What was the formation, tactics etc. Granted PL is a lot tougher than that league, but still, he has been a consistent goalscorer.

How did Werner?

How did Havertz?

How did Kagawa?

I could go on (probably…), when are we going to accept that the league in question bar a few select teams is not of this standard?

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:01 pm

not helped with McNeil playing on the wrong wing

McNeil was again our best player and biggest threat. His performances on the right have been better than any on the left all season. Problem is we lost Cornet and been forced to play the invisible Lennon out there.

After a fairly promising start, he’s been pretty dismal in most games after. I still think he could score a bagful in the Championship, though.

Agree with the comment about Lennon as well. I hope that’s the last time he starts for us.

He needs someone like Andre Gray alongside him. Who is also out of contract this summer. Would love to see that partnership.

I think when you bring a player in from abroad, you're accepting the inherent risk that even if they're good it can take up to a year in the Premier League for them to really settle - this has been borne out at probably every club who has spent more than a season in this league recently.

You could then question the wisdom of doing it in January in a relegation battle, but to be frank I'm not sure the alternatives from England would have been good enough anyway.

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:09 pm

He needs someone like Andre Gray alongside him. Who is also out of contract this summer. Would love to see that partnership.

It's also funny to see people criticise Wout, while being delighted at the prospect of 2 more years of Jay Rodriguez.


We're gonna dog on a striker with 2 goals 3 assists in 17, while giving a free pass to Rodriguez who has 3 goals 4 assists in last 60 games.

Vydra since 2018: 8 goals 7 assists in 82 appearances.
Barnes 3 goals 0 assists in his last 42 appearances.

Another amazing stat:

Aaron Lennon has not registered a Premier League assist since 2018/19.

The fans are part of the problem, accepting mediocrity. Delighted at the resigning of Rodriguez and Lennon.

Aaron Lennon has not registered a PL assist since 2018/19, yet you're giving him high scores every week on the ratings, for what? running backwards?

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:17 pm

It's also funny to see people criticise Wout, while being delighted at the prospect of 2 more years of Jay Rodriguez.


We're gonna dog on a striker with 2 goals 3 assists in 17, while giving a free pass to Rodriguez who has 3 goals 4 assists in last 60 games.

Vydra since 2018: 8 goals 7 assists in 82 appearances.
Barnes 3 goals 0 assists in his last 42 appearances.

Another amazing stat:

Aaron Lennon has not registered a Premier League assist since 2018/19.

He has scored twice this season though and his killer pass to Roberts was the real "assist" for the first against Brighton as that's what opened them up.

You can't have a go at Lennon for not being quite good enough. He was a signing for free because (again) we didn't get a right sided player in during summer.

Plus he's playing on the left today. I mean wtaf?

And people are having a go at Weghorst because again he's shown little today.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:21 pm

The fans are part of the problem, accepting mediocrity. Delighted at the resigning of Rodriguez and Lennon.

Aaron Lennon has not registered a PL assist since 2018/19, yet you're giving him high scores every week on the ratings, for what? running backwards?

Nobody was delighted at the resigning of Lennon, surely?

Rodriguez I’m utterly ambivalent about - certainly on a two year deal. One year deal, fine.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:23 pm

Nobody was delighted at the resigning of Lennon, surely?

Rodriguez I’m utterly ambivalent about - certainly on a two year deal. One year deal, fine.

This.

Guess what, if Lennon chose to square it for a Wout tap in last week at Watford, he'd finally have a Premier league assist and Wout a platform. But no, Lennon completely fluffs the 1v1 with a weak effort. Even the first half Watford attempted cross, way overhit for a Wout tap in, was no need to hit it so hard.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:21 pm

The fans are part of the problem, accepting mediocrity. Delighted at the resigning of Rodriguez and Lennon.

Aaron Lennon has not registered a PL assist since 2018/19, yet you're giving him high scores every week on the ratings, for what? running backwards?

Having a go at fans for accepting mediocrity whilst continually giving themselves a pat on the back for “discovering” that prolific forward Wout Weghorst with a strike rate of 2/17. Now that’s funny.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:23 pm

Nobody was delighted at the resigning of Lennon, surely?

Rodriguez I’m utterly ambivalent about - certainly on a two year deal. One year deal, fine.

You're having a go at Weghorst but not Rodriguez, why? Weghorst needs 1 goal in his next 43 appearances to MATCH Rodriguez' output.

I don't rate Weghorst at all and think we've bought a dud. Agree he showed promise early on. But his hold up play has declined, he's rubbish in the air and he hasn't got a clue what to do with the ball to feet in the box. Always panics and chooses the wrong option.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:03 pm

I don’t think he’s obviously a decent player at all. He was signed to score goals, he will not be doing that with his inability to head a ball and his chronic lack of pace.

A good touch is a great thing, but he’s a striker - he does not threaten whatsoever. I’m not convinced he will score consistently a league lower either.

This.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:25 pm

You're having a go at Weghorst but not Rodriguez, why? Weghorst needs 1 goal in his next 43 appearances to MATCH Rodriguez' output.

This isn’t a thread discussing Rodriguez output, otherwise I might do. God, you’re stupid.

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:24 pm

Having a go at fans for accepting mediocrity whilst continually giving themselves a pat on the back for “discovering” that prolific forward Wout Weghorst with a strike rate of 2/17. Now that’s funny.

I think he's done fine on the whole, not sure he'll ever be prolific but he'll weigh in with a ton of assists and offer a lot to the team most games. 5 goal contributions in 17, not bad going. Takes foreign players time to adapt and he's surrounded by serial poor performers.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:17 pm

It's also funny to see people criticise Wout, while being delighted at the prospect of 2 more years of Jay Rodriguez.


We're gonna dog on a striker with 2 goals 3 assists in 17, while giving a free pass to Rodriguez who has 3 goals 4 assists in last 60 games.

Vydra since 2018: 8 goals 7 assists in 82 appearances.
Barnes 3 goals 0 assists in his last 42 appearances.

Another amazing stat:

Aaron Lennon has not registered a Premier League assist since 2018/19.

Coming on for 5 mins when you have no chance to really get into the game counts as an appearance though.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:21 pm

The fans are part of the problem, accepting mediocrity. Delighted at the resigning of Rodriguez and Lennon.

Aaron Lennon has not registered a PL assist since 2018/19, yet you're giving him high scores every week on the ratings, for what? running backwards?

Lots of criticism when Lennon was re-signed. Lots.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:27 pm

This isn’t a thread discussing Rodriguez output, otherwise I might do. God, you’re stupid.

but it never is, is it? That's my point, posters just accept years of sub par performances and sing and dance when he's given a new deal.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:07 pm

McNeil was again our best player and biggest threat. His performances on the right have been better than any on the left all season. Problem is we lost Cornet and been forced to play the invisible Lennon out there.

we were 1-0 down last week until we switched McNeil to the left. Agree though, we have zero alternative

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:30 pm

but it never is, is it? That's my point, posters just accept years of sub par performances and sing and dance when he's given a new deal.

Nobody sung and dance I don’t think (happy to be wrong though, can’t recall), it was a very ‘erm…’ opinion on it, I think. Most people I think questioned the two years. I fully get the one year (if we aren’t keeping Vydra, we probably can’t afford to replace two strikers this summer considering the good old leveraged BO).

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:32 pm

we were 1-0 down last week until we switched McNeil to the left. Agree though, we have zero alternative

Last week yeah agree. Lennon on the left just doesn't work. Well Lennon anywhere doesn't really work.

Not for me I’m afraid. I even think he hinders Jay Rods game. I’m sure Vout is a lovely chap but to me he adds nothing to the team.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:32 pm

we were 1-0 down last week until we switched McNeil to the left. Agree though, we have zero alternative

Disappointing not to see Castellaeo or whatever he's called given a run at 0-3, we have a mounting injury pile and little options, our own raw teenager could be an option but wasn't even given a chance. May have turned into our own Anthony Gordon type, fearless and direct

beddie wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:35 pm

Not for me I’m afraid. I even think he hinders Jay Rods game. I’m sure Vout is a lovely chap but to me he adds nothing to the team.

Another example of why it's the fans fault.

Jay Rod's game was already hindered along time before Wout rocked up, 3 goals in 60 appearances.
If Wout adds nothing, then what does Jay Rod add? 3 goals in 60 appearances?

1 goal every TWENTY games? Wow amazing

He's OK and if (actually when!) we go down he'll probably do OK, but as a PL striker he's not really good enough imo. Twice today in the first half he only had to hit the target and he missed it. It COULD have turned the game in our favour!

I can't see what he offers. No pace, no strength for his size, poor in the air. He has a decent touch at times, but watch how often the ball is taken off him.

We we’re poor today, Jacko should have learnt from last week and started McNeil on the left and Cornet needs to start on the right wing for me as Lennon was ineffectual.

We need to get Wout in the game it seems he doesn’t work in a 4-4-2 maybe we need to try 4-2-3-1 next season with him bringing others into play from a forward position.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:06 pm

How did he score the second most goals in the Bundesliga over the past 4 seasons then? Maybe we should study what Wolfsburg were doing that worked so well. What was the formation, tactics etc. Granted PL is a lot tougher than that league, but still, he has been a consistent goalscorer.

Tbf didn’t he only score 3 goals against top4 opposition in Germany?

I remember seeing someone post that his goal scoring record was to be taken with a pinch of salt when he signed.

Id get Pieters in at left back next game change it up a bit we need to be unpredictable again.

Work on a new formation against the u23’s in the week.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:37 pm

Disappointing not to see Castellaeo or whatever he's called given a run at 0-3, we have a mounting injury pile and little options, our own raw teenager could be an option but wasn't even given a chance. May have turned into our own Anthony Gordon type, fearless and direct

might not have a choice they way we are dropping

If you watch Weghorst's goals video in Germany, many come from balls pulled back from the byline.
He makes his run, stops, but the marking defender keeps going and leaves him free to score.
He may have done today but for an awful pass from Ashley Barnes.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:07 pm

McNeil was again our best player and biggest threat. His performances on the right have been better than any on the left all season. Problem is we lost Cornet and been forced to play the invisible Lennon out there.

That's the issue. As well as McNeil plays on the right, we may as well play a shop dummy on the left if Cornet is missing.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:41 pm

Tbf didn’t he only score 3 goals against top4 opposition in Germany?

I remember seeing someone post that his goal scoring record was to be taken with a pinch of salt when he signed.

I think it’s quite harsh dismissing a 1 in 2 scoring record just because more weren’t against the top 4 - whether that stat is accurate I’m not sure. Frankfurt just beat West Ham (top 7 PL) over 2 legs and they are 11th in the league. From videos on YouTube all of his goals were inside the box and most from low cut backs.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 6:25 pm

You're having a go at Weghorst but not Rodriguez, why? Weghorst needs 1 goal in his next 43 appearances to MATCH Rodriguez' output.

If you’re gonna start quoting stats at least add the stat for substitute appearances re: Jay/Barnes/Vydra

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 7:12 pm

I think it’s quite harsh dismissing a 1 in 2 scoring record just because more weren’t against the top 4 - whether that stat is accurate I’m not sure. Frankfurt just beat West Ham (top 7 PL) over 2 legs and they are 11th in the league. From videos on YouTube all of his goals were inside the box and most from low cut backs.

I am not dismissing it. I am just suggesting that his previous goal records have all been in worst leagues, his goal return in this division has been really poor.

It will be interesting to see how he does in the championship if we are relegated.

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 7:13 pm

If you’re gonna start quoting stats at least add the stat for substitute appearances re: Jay/Barnes/Vydra

Why only for those 3, seems unfair. Dress it up however you want, their output is shite and not good enough.

WW - well he’s not scoring many but he’s the hardest working forward in the league- closing down the opposition more than anyone else (surprising seeing how slow some people think he is). His hold-up play is also amongst the best too.

Just need to give him some half decent supply and he’ll score.

He’s a £15m forward, not a £25m Ings, a £28m Watkins or £38m Buendia!

Is there any £12m forwards scoring regular at the moment in the Premier league?

Give over.

What are you looking for? He's a decent player. He has a great touch. He is part of the rotation of strikers. Hr arrived in a team bereft of creativity and ideas when we were trying to fight off the drop.

We were not very good today. I don't think you need to target him. It's a team game. We weren't good enough. Stop looking for someone to persecute.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 7:35 pm

Is there any £12m forwards scoring regular at the moment in the Premier league?

Toney and Dennis