Sagbo wasn't at his best last night but don't forget it was his goal that earned us a replay in the first place. You can't judge anyone on one performance and Sagbo has played his part this season - he was immense against Liverpool at the KC. Skrtel was bricking it every time Sagbo closed him down.
I think Fryatt is what he is and doesn't have much improvement in him. However, I think Sagbo could massively improve within the next 12 months, especially working/training alongside Long and Jelavic. He's only 25, he's played in the fanny French league all his adult career. His first touch is good for a big fella and I think he'll prove himself to be a really useful tool over the next couple of year. He's only got another 15months on his contract but I'd like to offer him an extension.
I was at Everton and he looked a real handful and took his chance well. Since then however he doesn't seem to have stepped up, may be down to the fact he's getting limited game time. Last night in particular he just didn't close down defenders quick enough for me. Just an opinion, time will tell, but for sure he's not looking like a 10 goal+ a season striker at the mo.
I'm a big fan of Matty; he absolutely worked his socks off last night and his pressing was tireless. However, he never really looked a threat in terms of creating or converting chances, and it could well be that Saggy is further up the pecking order now, although playing him out wide doesn't get the best out of him. He's not nippy enough for a wide man, and holding it up when he's on the touchline means there's only really one place he can lay it off, rather than the range of options that would be there if he was used down the middle, in a traditional centre forward role, making best use of his strength. Then again, what the **** do I know? In Bruce we trust.
I'm a fan of Sagbo. My only concern is his attitude changing now he is starting on the bench but otherwise the guy puts in a shift like Mclean did but he can actually finish. He's not our best striker but he is our best hold up player and he helped us see out the game last night. Him and Aluko are gelling which is very useful. I can see him doing ok with Long also. He's not a very selfish striker. He's actually choosing to pass more than a striker should but he's very handy. He reminds me of Carlton Cole and he's still half decent now. To compare him to Prozzy is rather insulting, Sagbo has had a far better opening season settling down than NP did.
The bottom line is, both Sagbo and Fryatt (for different reasons) are miles and miles behind Long and Jelavic in terms of quality/productivity. Should either of our main duo have to miss a match, I imagine Aluko would slot in rather than Sagbo or Fryatt, even if it means changing the formation/style of play slightly.
Sagbo has contributed plenty this season. That's why he's lying a respectable 5th in our MoM table. Davies 37 Livermore 20 Huddlestone, McGregor 16 Sagbo 13 Elmohammady 11.5 Boyd 10.5 Brady, Bruce, Aluko 8 Quinn 6.5 McShane, Long 5 Faye, Rosenior 4 Fryatt 3.5 Koren, Harper, Figueroa 3 Meyler, Jelavic 2 Chester 1
I'm forever going to call him Fragbo from now on, after Burnsy called him that by mistake last night.
playing for Evian water-carriers against piss poor teams for most games here in France you get a lot more time on the ball here and the games are defensive and tactical. This is a rugby and cycling country That said if it wasn't for his goal last week this thread wouldn't exist!!
These stats don't like. He's played very well for us this season. His touch and hold up play are prem quality. I'd definitely offer him an extension.
My frustration with him is he doesn't attack any crosses when he's in the box, he just waits to see what happens when the ball arrives, if it lands near him he smashes it & sometimes scores. But is seldom just lands near him & thats why he doesn't score a lot. Against Brighton on Monday he stood on the left side of the six yard box and watched the ball being crossed from the right & didn't move, just watched. He isn't a natural striker his positioning is woeful. Its correct that he scored for the replay but we were lucky the ball came near him & he put it in, he doesn't do it enough though.
There was a point in the first half of the season, after a proper run of games, we were worried about him being snapped up for his £5m release clause in January. He's an excellent hold up player, great technique, big, strong, fast, causes problems, just doesn't have the positional nous of Jelavic to bang goals in for fun.
I quite like him but, as well as his positional problems people have mentioned, I'd like to see him take on his man more often than he does. To my eyes, he has the ability to take on his man, but he just very rarely does.
