It's not uncommon to see teams employ a strike partnership that has a combination of a finisher and a hold up player. In our first season in the PL, we had King and Cousin. Then we had Fryatt and McLean, then Simpson and Aluko. Now we have Jelavic and Long. Holding the ball up doesn't mean standing in the box waiting for other players to run in. Well it does, but not literally stood there like a donkey. You have to have strength and vision to hold off defenders until you can play somebody in. If you don't think Sagbo can finish, I suggest you look at his goal against Southampton. I don't think I've ever walked away from a match and said "Sagbo was bloody awful". If we use him right next season, he'll be a great option to have.
Hold- up play is a combination of shielding the ball and/or moving it into space to create gaps for your players to run into and receive the ball. It's simply daft to think of it as a static role, or that goals are not important from it, as goals and assists do come. Sagbo is an excellent finisher, whether for goal or a well judged pass. We need different styles and different levels of pace/strength, but, at the end of it all, it needs goals, if none come from him or his link play then folk can complain; before anyone complains he should be given a fair chance.
Don't forget that we spent almost half the season with the infamous Danny Graham and Proschwitz as two of our "goal scoring threats".
Striker = Goals, Assists, Pass Completion, Target Man, Holding up the ball, Strength and ball retention. Anyone who thinks a strikers only purpose is to score goals is an bonkers. If we're winning 1-0 and we're parking the bus and holding on for a win with 10 mins to go then I would rather have Sagbo up front on his own holding up the ball and working the ball into the corners wasting away time and playing it safe for the points than Long up front get battered around by defenders and ensuring the ball comes back in a threatening position.
He's had his chances and I believe he was played as a 'lone striker' a few times so who was he 'holding the ball up' for - himself! If we get another striker in Sagbo will be lucky to make the bench.
Check out his beautiful assist for Koren against Fulham for a clue as to who he can bring into play if he's lone striker.
Yes, I remember the entire USA "Big Soccer" boards waxing lyrical over 70-odd pages about how Altidore "turned the English Captain, John Terry" on one occasion (ONE occasion). And how many goals did he score in 29 games? Quality players show their class in just about every game not just one. I commend your support for Sagbo but you are connecting dots that simply aren't there. I might just add that on those same "Big Soccer" pages one of Altidore's supporters and obviously one of his most ardent fans declared that "Jozy will be the next 'black' Heskey" - yes, I had to think about that for a while.
The answer to your one question qualifies his worth, we did not have a mix of players (the options) to play off him effectively; we do now. Your point is inconclusive and avoids the bigger picture; why not see what those options bring?
Because I am simply not qualified - and neither are you. I have no doubt Steve Bruce is looking though.
Yes! I was in the York and Lancaster Regiment from December 1957 - December 1959 and was on active service in Aden from April 1958 to December 1958. I was classed as 'Marksman' on both the Light Machine Gun (Lewis Gun (or Bren Gun) to you and also Rifle both the Lee Enfield and Belgian FN. If you would like to visit me some time and bring a bucket of sand and a tine helmet I will tell you some desert stories.
Sagbo is not a 'lone up top' striker! We've all just discussed it. And your 'who was he holding the ball up for?' is exactly the point. He had nobody to hold it up for last year and with the lack of striking options he was playing up top on his own. Now we have brady, aluko, snodgrass, ince, long who are all reasonably fast players who will excel playing with sagbo when he's on the pitch. No, he's not first choice, but he's a different option to have on the bench to come on and change our style when it isn't working. If you keep saying none of us are qualified to judge players why do you keep judging him?
I'm a big Sagbo fan. No way you can group him in with Altidore. In a related fact, ever wondered what rag n bone men are shouting... [video=youtube;lFeojLKwY9o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFeojLKwY9o&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
I'm not judging him - his form is judging him. He's made 29 appearances in the English Premier league and has scored twice. I am saying that we need better quality in our depth up front and I don't believe that Sagbo has the 'runs-on-the-board' to make it at this level. I hope the bloke proves me wrong but I just can't see it.
****, better close this message board down then. No point us talking about the team since we aren't qualified.
Still amused at him disagreeing with me over what term is used for Best on Ground in Aus, when I then go on an Aussie footy forum, and see the Ins and Outs for my team, the Swans, with everyone arguing that the bloke coming into the side wasn't BoG for the Reserves.
