Ridiculous comparison. Hernandez plays for his national team and only doesn't get more game time because the strikers in front of him play for Barca and Paris SG. In the matches I've seen, Hernandez has had little service and like Jelly struggles to make goal opportunities when the ball is hoofed up in the air, or played in front of you when you have two of their central defenders in close proximity.
I would not argue against us bringing in another striker as Sagbo was loaned out and we had bugger all options. He (Jelavic) does score goals but where are the other goals coming from - we are paying for 8 -10 goals/season strikers and ones that need the right support, that the manager has the responsibility of putting in place; he isn't and that makes him responsible to some degree. We are not playing Poker and your analogy is very weak, we have seen how we can play with these players (cards) so there is no doubt we have some quality, what we lack is the sleight of hand to surprise the opposition. I get a little weary of reading excuses about injuries, there are very few teams out there without them and we have built the best squad we have ever had - time to man up, use the squad intelligently and give the players confidence from the consistency available to us. Steve Bruce can see we must improve, he has said so, the media can see we must improve, they have said so, we can see we must improve, we have said so; Steve Bruce is the only one gifted with the ability to select the team and the media and the supporters are questioning his reasoning and results. He is a professional football manager, I agree, so he should manage his squad better until the window opens and he can reverse any mistakes he may regret. By the way, TigerRoo, there have been games, bloody critical games, when some, against Burnley many, players have been lucky to offer any where near 70% effort.
Do you honestly believe the likes of Sagbo, Hernandez, and Ramirez can be judged so finally on the appearances they have been allowed. I thought Sagbo did well holding up and showed a clinical finish when on song; Hernandez was forming a good partnership with Jelavic by his side and Diame rampaging through, while Ramirez made a daft decision when he was given a rare opportunity to show promise, which he was starting to show.
I think you misread me on Jelavic there. I said he's too good for us. I haven't commented on the other two you mention but RE Hernandez. He was dropped because he was a bit ineffective before Jelavic got injured. He wasn't doing as well as some on here seem to recall. He was dropped for Arsenal away, then Jelavic got injured and he came in last minute. Since then he's played against Southampton and Burnley when he was very poor and immediately dropped for the next game (Tottenham) once Jelavic was fit. The childbirth thing then set him back but since coming back from that he's had another ****e game against WBA and been subsequently dropped yet again. He keeps getting dropped because he keeps being completely ineffective. It's true that we rarely play positive through balls, but unlike Jelavic he's so far off the pace when the service does come in that he never gets near it. He's extremely easy to deal with for defenders, same as Danny Graham was and same as Proschwitz was. He obviously has a decent left foot and can head the ball, but it's useless if he can't get free of the defenders to use them, which seems to be the case. It's not like Bruce isn't giving him chances, he just keeps missing them and getting dropped afterwards.
I think people have to realise Hernandez has come to new country and what comes with that. He has to learn how to play in a league that is totally unique. Then there is a all the off field stuff like learning a new language, adapting to the weather and a different culture. He picked up a injury, he's had to fly three times for international duty and then had to fly back for the birth of his child. I think people need to cut him some slack.
I think you might have been correcting me, Sterling. I meant to put Hernandez, but somehow Ramirez jumped in! Perhaps that happens on Bruce's team-sheets!
No, I read you right, you did say he was too good for us and I said he was not. We are good enough for each other and I think everyone needs to reach his level of commitment and application. I think you responded to three separate posts which brought them in. The games you mentioned, re: Hernandez, are hardly bench-marks; his time since that has been highly disrupted. we have agreed he has been dropped or away and yet you accuse him of being off the pace - what pace, he hasn't been playing! I think Bruce needs to work harder at bringing his strikers forwards in their team development. Hallelujah! It's about time someone cut both Ramirez and Hernandez some slack - it bloody baffles me that folk will find every excuse possible for Steve Bruce, yet bury these two without a fair crack of the whip - I also count Sagbo into this.
Only reason I asked original question was becuaseAbel H played his best footbal for us when he was paired up with Jela, we then saw how quiet he was when he was played as a lone striker when Jela got injured, yesterday was the first chance to have that pairing back together which SB alluded to during his pre match interview and then doesnt play him. Just a bit confusing for me
SB isn't going to drop Aluko who has played well.. and he in fact mentioned Abel H but by alluding to his 'going off the boil' or words to that effect.
On Gaston Ramirez... http://afootballreport.com/post/68065774976/the-curious-case-of-gaston-ramirez-by-aniefiok
Is Hernandez good enough? Yes. Has he been given ample opportunity to show it? No. He's done well enough in the short glimpses we've seen, bagged himself a few goals. Given a prolonged run in the side I think he'll do well for us. It wasn't long ago that some of Europe's big clubs were chasing him, so you don't just lose that ability that attracts those scouts.
I respect your opinion Sterling but someone didn't do a very good job on their Hernandez Homework project. In 6 seasons with Palermo he made 111 appearances and missed 117. Excluding the penalty he has scored two in 'open play' for us which cannot remotely be described as 'bagging a few goals'. He did attract attention from European Clubs but they decided against signing him. Is Hernandez good enough - it remains to be seen but he is going to have to 'put in a shift' pretty soon or he will be filed under 'Firing Blanks' together with those others we signed.
He's only made 9 appearances though, how many should he have scored by now, given the meagre number of chances we've created in the last six games? I don't think goals from open play weigh any differently to scoring a penalty, they still have to be put in the back of the net under pressure and while it looks like a 'free shot', the penalty he did score was against England's number 1. He could've missed it, but he didn't.
Yeah, but he's already been benched Sterling and that is not a good sign. We have some 'bottom third' clubs to come up against in the ensuing weeks so if Abel has got something then these games will be his chance to prove it. I honestly cannot see us letting the Premier League slip away and whether the Allam's have got the Club up for sale or not we would be a far better investment in the Premier League than the Championship. I would reckon that there would have to be an effort to 'off-load' a few current players and I would expect a striker (or two) coming in either bought or loaned-in.
What's misread about that? PLT says he is too good and I say he is good enough; i.e. not too good. The tail-end of my comment hints there may be players who believe they are too good for us. No need for an apology, Tuckin, as you didn't bother for the similar mistake you made on the other thread.
