Nick Powell isn't a striker, he's an attacking midfielder His ability isn't the problem, he has been heavily criticised for his attitude, apparently here doesn't have any drive to suceed and his personal discipline is shocking
He started as s striker, became a midfielder and now he's a striker again (and that's the position we've signed him to play).
He'll be back up to Diame (No 10) which is the role that Powell himself said he prefers. He most definitely is NOT an out and out striker and never has been
I have it on good authority that Steve Bruce intends to watch him in training, watch the other players, consider the opposition, and then decide whether he will play him or not based on who he thinks will most likely get a good result for us and in what formation. He may not always get that right, but he is going to stick to that crazy plan regardless...you heard it here first!
Either way, whilst results are positive and remain so , I expect little change to the starting eleven
You can say that about Jordan Rhodes FFS. Everyone is a risk no matter who you get. However I rate McCormack higher than Rhodes.
NOW THAT IS DOWN TO CJM. He has the ability but needs to show it in a much higher league than the stiffs league. Kevin Nolan should bring him on...................hopefully.!!!!!
McCormack will be 30 at the start of next season and Rhodes will be 25. So you could only say that about Jordan Rhodes if you thought 25 was almost 30, which in footballing terms, it clearly isn't.
I don't care about age. More about ability. Now saying that Nick Powell has more than both put together. Now hopefully Powell will be that 2nd striker/goal machine. Joyce and Giggs think he can be. twt mind,. I also suspect that we shall keep Powell for the PL. Will be a great signing in the summer.
I was wrong actually, Rhodes will be 26 at the start of next season, but the point still remains valid. You said "you can say that about Jordan Rhodes", but you can't, because he's 4 years younger than McCormack. I disagree that Powell has more ability, he looked good as a teenager but Rhodes is a player who has scored 181 goals in 337 games, and scored over 20 a season for the last 6 seasons. Difficult to compare the two.
Nobody ever was. Thankfully the naysayer's who said it would be armageddon in august and January with our squad can now relax and take a few deep breaths. Talk about drama bed wetters / hissy fitters on here ?
Ability is easy to compare. Powell has it. However Rhodes has the goal stats....yes. Powell now has to rise to the challenge and finally get back to where he once was(Wigan 2013) and what his ability should allow. Rhodes has been a marmite player to many. Especially to PL clubs.
His interviews at Orient suggest he already knows he's not coming back and he wants a permanent there.