I think the air of expectation is weighing heavily on his shoulders. His price tag along with his goal tally last season is putting pressure not only on himself, but also on the fans, who are expecting him to hit the ground running. Most of the team are not playing like we know they can, they seem to be very edgy on times, like they`re afraid to do things in case it goes wrong. I think we need to be more direct at times, but that`s only my opinion. The next two or three games will tell us how we`re going to do. I don`t know why Brendan did`nt put Lita on a bit earlier, putting him on about 7 minutes from the end does`nt do him or the team any favours. Just my two pennorth`s worth.
Instead of doubting Danny Graham we should be doubting those who are supposed to be creating chances for him. He had no trouble scoring for Watford, in fact he scored for fun. Anyone here tried scoring a goal without a ball to do it with? Simplistic, I know. Now someone is going to tell me that he should be creating his own chances. Really? In the Premier League? If he could do that he would have cost £35 million not £3.5 million. Give the lad a chance. If he is the only striker in the box then he is going to be gobbled up - easy meat for defenders to concentrate on one man. Teams that score goals get bodies IN AND AROUND the box. It deflects attention, stretches defenders, gets them wondering who to mark and creates space. DG will come good and he will do his job but he needs others to be doing their jobs as well.
Lita has got to start the matches now as Danny has been poor and we must start scoring otherwise for all the possession will be a waste of time...we only have 36 games left and with our main rivals doing far better than us and getting points on the board then we could find ourselves out of contention by xmas. Danny to be honest has not set the world alight even through pre-season and he is struggling so far in the premiership.....we dont have time to wait until he may or may not produce the goals, we should play Danny in the reserves to try and find some form and bring in beattie to partner or cover Lita,,,im hoping we have not bought a dud in danny and he needs to up his game through the reserves as we dont have time to wait for him to find some form...
Ivoralljack, Graham has had some v good chances in the 2 games so far. For example I think borini would have scored 2 yesterday. But I agree, other players are also snatching at their chances (eg Sinclair a few times, and dobbie at man city). I hope that the nerves will be settled a bit more now - the players are hopefully beginning to realise we CAN front up and potentially play teams off the park. So a bit more composure (and a bit more directness on occasion) and hopefully it will all slot into place.
Well for once you have a point. We don't have the luxury of time here. I'd give him another couple of games as it may be a confidence thing for him but if he doesn't do the business he has to be dropped. If he wasn't getting chances I'd agree with Ivor but he should have put us 2 nil up at half time yesterday and he didn't. I don't by the argument that we're not creating chances for him. No time for sentiment in this league. Lita has proved he can score at this level and it may be time to let him loose.
For my part I wasn't saying 'Bench Graham as he's been poor', more that he's snatching at chances wheras Lita looks 100% more fired up and determined at the moment so I think he should get a start now and give way to Graham after 60-70minutes. I just want to see what both can do and it's Lita who seems more eager to impress. I've got no fears that Graham, Lita, Sinclair and Dobbie can get goals at this level - it's just a question of when and how many.
agree with the last comment but totally disagree with he has put in a hell of a shift, he hardly moves
If we had Rooney up front and he'd had 2 stinkers, would people want him to be dropped? He's had 2 competitive games, give the boy a chance. He'll come good.
Musty - WRONG! Whatever you say about his lack of finishing to date he does work very hard. Credit where its due. Personally I care less about work rate and more about goals a la Scotland in the Championship for us.
I am completely behind him, as he undoubtedly has quality. But the point is, when the chances have presented themselves, he has been poor. I do not expect him to score with every shot, and would have no problem with the fact that he is yet to score in a competitive game for us, were he getting his shots away and working the keeper, but that's just not happening. To be fair, the crowd were nervous to the point of fear during the Wigan game, and it definitely spread to the players, Graham included, and hopefully when his first goal comes he'll start to flow, but the acceleration issue is always going to be a factor in the prem, I feel.
Glad we missed out on him, seems well over priced from what I've seen so far. Especially when Bothroyd was free and DJ was 1.25m. Did have my doubts when you bought him as to whether or not he could handle the Premiership.
Really ? We have had two games , bothroyd who is completely crap and will fail at this level is obviously out of his depth, just ask Cardiff fans how he did for them
Guys other people have been missing chances. Scotty scuffed one or two on saturday, where we would have expected him to do better. They are all new to this league, we have to give them all time to develop. Yes i know we dont have for ever, but keep the faith. Ash missed a few tackles, but the opposition is better. The team will build in to this league week by week and so will the likes of DG. I know he is no rooney but he didnt score for about 15 consecutive games last season. was he dropped no. They kept faith with him and he came back and was scoring goals. Once DG gets his first he will will get the confidence and the belief that he can score and is good enough for this league. Please Please Please, dont turn this into a witch hunt on him as some supporters have in the past. Just get 100% behind him or whoever is playing.
hopefully he will get his act together and it better happen soon thats all i will say. .one thing i do agree is we have paid far to much for him with him not having any premiership experience,
Dai the guy has played twice for us, how the hell can you say we have over paid for him? Get realistic here hardly any of our team has premier league experience, our top scorer last season has also not scored in two games either, should we drop him as well?
