I would actually say that others have inferred that was what happened, I personally think it's a massive exaggeration to say that and also wrong, but that's just my opinion I'm not getting on Ricky's back by the way, I'd love him to come back and score 20 goals in a season - I'd love anyone to come and score 20 goals in a season - I just don't think he's good enough based on what I've seen, nothing against the lad at all.
Tbh, for a newly promoted club, having a couple of strikers scoring c.10 should be enough to get you comfortably safe. A striker scoring 20 goals in the PL will swiftly get snapped up by one of the big boys (not necessarily a bad thing though for the right price). If we get back up and RvW scores 1 in 3, that would be plenty to resurrect his career. I strongly suspect it won't happen though...
I'm with you on this munky. I do rate the guy and I would love him to come good. I just can't see it. Also, he wouldn't stand a chance in the Championship. Too physical. I see him in La Liga or something like the Dutch league long term.
Are we forgetting the footage we were persuaded to watch that showed RVW scoring for fun with his eyes closed - does that talent really not exist as some on here imply?
I didn't mean to sound like a sage with some sort of sixth sense! More like Mrs Fawlty's special subject on mastermind...
Hi guys, been away for a while and the enigma that is Ricky van Wolfswinkle fascinates me. Basically you don't become a bad player overnight and as some have already stated I blame Hughton for ruining an obviously talented player's career. Once I knew that we were going to sign him I researched him quite extensively. He is a very clever footballer and mark my words he will come good again and I just hope that that happens with us. If anyone can rejuvenate his career it's AN
I see last year a bit differently. I never subscribed to CH 'shackling' players and other accusations being made. If we go up to the PL, we will have to defend much better than we have this year, whether under NA or AN. Bassong returning has helped, as has keeping a settled back four, but the defence needs midfield cover to be effective. Tettey is our only player really equipped to do that, but he needs more help. If Brighton could expose that, imagine what Chelsea or Arsenal would do. As for RvW, for him or our other strikers to do well depends largely on the quality of our midfield. AN has moved BJ forward on the left and brought Dorrans back alongside Tettey and that has worked reasonably well. With Howson, Wes and BJ supporting Jerome, City have managed much better in midfield with reasonable cover at the back and much better support for Jerome up front. RvW could also thrive in that system, with balls delivered to his feet rather than to his head.
No comprendo? Why would you spend a record fee on a player with a reasonably proven track record, {albeit in less competitive foreign leagues,} and not build - or at least set up the team to provide for his strengths? Completely 'delinquent', to quote David McNally. If RvW had been used constructively, I still believe he'd have had infinitely more impact than CH allowed him to. But hey ho, we'll never know.
I thought this might set off a response, but it wasn't my intention to do so. Hughton had his downsides, but he was also a realist. Should we return to the PL many on here will suffer a major culture shock. The current vogue of a single striker without any flamboyance on the wings will become the norm again as we attempt to fend off technically superior teams. Two banks of four will be as present under AN as it was under CH. Survival will replace expression. The key, and this is where CH failed, is to establish an effective two level mid-field which can both defend effectively and attack effectively by supporting the striker with through balls that can be converted into goals. On the evidence so far, I think AN could well succeed where CH failed, by creating a balance between attack and defence that works often enough for survival. The availability of players like Dorrans, Odjidja-Ofoe and Andreu could make that possible, and that's what a player like RvW could thrive upon.
Got to agree with the majority of comments on this. My observation of RVW was in his early games, his movement was excellent, he was making runs, he looked hungry, however he wasn't being fed the ball. Obviously Snodgrass has been blamed for the lack of service however equal blame should be laid at the feet of Redmond, who scored against Southampton and spent the rest of the season cutting inside and shooting into row Z. The inverted wingers caused our flankmen to prefer to cut inside and they tended to shoot rather than pass to the Wolf. Obviously the toe injury did not help, and when he returned, confidence appeared shot, he wasn't making the runs (as he obviously didn't believe there was any point) and he looked physically lightweight, regularly being bullied by Premiership defenders. I'm confident that Alex Neill could restore the confidence in the player, and I think he has the tactical awareness to set the team up to suit the Wolf much better. I'd love to see what he could do with decent service. (I think Hoolihan could be key to that).
Gladly. Just backing up a mate. KIO is the most genuine fan on your board and a top notch fella. See you around.
No offence intended, but isn't that how you treat Canaries over in you place? No need to answer, we already know.
