Aye, Van Wolfswinkel has stepped up, hasn't he? Just because they've scored loads in another league doesn't mean it'll be the same in a different one. Jozy looks worse than when he was here. Why would we want that?
Yeah hes been poor this season but there are other issues at play maybe. He knows the area and us. Fryatt didnt score goals for a while a lot of strikers don't.
Just a thought mate, no need to get arsey. Van Wolfswinkel is nowhere near Jozy to be honest, I follow Sporting where he came from
When? He scored 9 after joining us in January 2011, scored 16 the following season, missed the next one through injury and has this season he has been scoring for fun out on loan and when he has been in the side he has regularly scored.
A couple of things. Just my opinion but Fryatt, Sagbo and Aluko are about as useful in the Premier League as tits on a bull. I haven't the faintest idea what the answer is but probably another permanent striker and maybe a loan-in of the quality required at this level. I don't know what the contracts of Fryatt, Sagbo and Aluko are therefore we may HAVE to retain a couple of them. I have followed Jozy Altidore's career ever since he joined us but I have found that he is a Rock Hudson type "Looks like a leading man but really isn't". He found his level in the Eredivisie where he got good support and looked to have improved his game but when he went to Sunderland it was obvious that (sadly) he was out of his depth against some of the best defenders in the world. Personally, I would have liked him to have gone to the Bundesliga which would have been a step up but not a step too far as the English Premier League has proven to be. He may find a club in the Championship after Sunderland (or he could be IN the Championship with Sunderland) but I think he will return to the Mickey Mouse League. There is no sentiment at this level of football and Steve Bruce knows what he needs and Fryatt doesn't have the pace or first touch at this level, Sagbo is way out of his depth whilst Aluko shows game after game that he prefers to do it his way rather than be a 'team man'.
Aluko has signed another contract Laurie so will be with us next year as will Sagbo. Aluko is far off his best form and desperate for goals so his decision making has been poor but there is big potential there. Altidore is a real conundrum. Last year he was very impressive albeit in a second tier league but some of his 30 goals were remarkable and his heading and positioning were vastly improved from his time with us when, we should remember, he was only 19. This season with Sunderland has been a disaster for him and he has lost all confidence in a poor team. However he's still young, and a good World Cup showing and transfer to a Prem team that plays to his strengths (Villa, Everton) could revitalize his career. Its highly unlikely that it would be us though, but I'd be very surprised if he returns to the MLS which I'm sure he'd view as a step backwards.
Fryatt is a very good footballer, he simply lacks pace, which is obviously a bit of an issue at this level. Sagbo is no world beater, but he has a decent touch, is strong and is handy to have around, he certainly won't be going anywhere. Aluko is every bit a Premier League player and will definitely be going nowhere. They're all better than Altidore.
I agree with your last comment. Fryatt not only lacks pace but a first touch and a left foot. He is a good footballer but he is being well held at this level by some of the best defenders in the world. Matty can't live with the majority of them. Sagbo went to the same "School for Headless Chooks" that (sadly) Altidore did. They both run around all over the place but there is no 'end product' with both of them. I say 'sadly' for Jozy because I have learned that he is a really nice bloke and did some 'hard yards' and 'upped' his game at AZ but he doesn't score - and that is what he is there for. I copped a lot of abuse at the beginning of the season when I stated that (imo) Aluko was far from this level and I have seen nothing in him (apart from that glorious goal against 'The Toon') to change my mind. He was fine at Rangers and in the Championship with us but he is not only struggling in the EPL but every time he gets the ball he is 'bound for glory' and goes his own way. Compare him to Long who, when he gets the ball, looks for a team-mate in a better position before he has a go himself.
In the season he scored 16 he had a 4 month spell where he only scored 1 (a penalty). It doesn't mean much for Fryatt but it's a good point that Jenks has made; people are far too quick to write off a striker if he doesn't score for a spell, even when he's proven he can score a lot before, or when he's clearly playing very well despite not scoring.
Can't believe people criticising Aluko as he comes back from injury. He was the best player in the championship and at the start of this season he looked brilliant again. His decision making has been poor in the couple of games he's played recently but that will improve as he plays more again. He, Long and Brady are the only real creative players we have and we need more players that look to turn and run at defenders, not less.
At the moment, there's no doubt that Long's form is way ahead of that of Aluko, but I don't expect that to remain the case. I think the only problem with Aluko, is that he's so desperate to get back in the starting XI, he's trying too hard and is taking pot shots from daft areas(I also think he's missing Brady, as those two were brilliant together). I think he'll get over this and will be a great player for us again, though that still leaves Bruce with a headache, as he has to decide where to play him. He has no chance of dislodging Long or Jelavic in the short term and unless we're mathematically safe, I can't see him being tried in the hole behind a front two.
As soon as Aluko gets the ball you know what will happen, he will run side ways check and turn back, run the other way check and turn back, then he'll lose the ball.
I think this is a fair assessment. My thoughts on Fryatt are that he not only lacks pace, but he habitually forces another touch and that, at this level, makes him less of a threat. Would I keep him around - no - I think Bruce is putting him up for sale. If he did stay around it would not be the end of the world as he has a good attitude; I just think we could improve the squad. Sagbo is a good player who has played to instructions; his hold-up play is strong and varied, he is finding his way in a developing squad and he will be very important for us. Shipping him out would be daft. Aluko doesn't let my expectations down. The guy had a bad injury and still is not fully recovered in guile and physical confidence, he is a targeted player who draws two defenders and a lot of agro, he too is in a developing team at a time of squad rotation through cup games (symptomatic of Jan/Feb) and he is the same player who excelled prior to injury - he may be a tad greedy, but I love that; he is regaining the confidence of a game- changer and winner.
Fryatt's lack of pace will hold him back all his career, he has everything else going for him it is a shame. Bruce sticks to his word if people work hard and impress they will get their rewards (Macca, Fryatt) Like Rosie for example who couldn't get in Bruce's team but has worked hard and impressed and now is a key member of the team again.
