Mateta Conundrum

C

cardiff eagle

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Wales
Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!
 
cardiff eagle said:
Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!
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His hold up play is excellent but he's having to come too deep to do it. He shouldn't have to be back on the halfway line when his job is to lead the line
 
Yes it's super tough, but the reality is with two games a week, we'll genuinely need both of them firing.
As we know with strikers, it's a confidence game. He just needs one to trickle in off someone's arse and he'll be firing again.
 
I think I’d be more worried if he was not getting into the situations he’s missing. Somebody brought up that our midfield just does not score. That needs to change. JPM brings so much to the shape and his hold up play is immense. that it’s a real conundrum because without the midfield scoring and when JPM is not firing who is going to get the goals.

Hopefully a bit of a change in scenery with his first international call up will do him good.
 
DenTyler said:
I think I’d be more worried if he was not getting into the situations he’s missing. Somebody brought up that our midfield just does not score. That needs to change. JPM brings so much to the shape and his hold up play is immense. that it’s a real conundrum because without the midfield scoring and when JPM is not firing who is going to get the goals.

Hopefully a bit of a change in scenery with his first international call up will do him good.
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Yes, he's getting in the right positions and when he doesn't have too much time to consider his options he's excellent but, not sure how to explain this thought properly, it seems we seldom actually look for him when he's there but wait for the ball to find it's way to him somehow.
 
cardiff eagle said:
Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!
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Could Uche be the answer?
 
I think he has been playing too long as the only option. Eddie is back now and looking sharp, which means more rest for Mateta. Confident he will recover and find form again.

Re midfielders not scoring it is an area for improvement but there are goals elsewhere in this side. Guehi and Mitchell both nearly scored today and have scored recently. I think Munoz could score 10 in a season. Yeremy will hopefully start chipping in soon.
 
He said recently that he is delighted Eddie is scoring and happy to have the competition. Time to show what that means. Eddie has earned a start and JP needs to sharpen up. I hope he gets a game for France and scores but he should be on the bench against Bournemouth.
 
Although he is still the main man he's goal scoring hasn't been good for some time now. He has only 3 goals from open play since he scored that cracker at home against the weed!!
 

Emmanuel Emegha is the man we need, he is Mateta/Nketiah cross, only 22, 6'6'' quick, and out injured which a hamstring, perfect 😍​

 
cardiff eagle said:
Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!
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Nketiah will be replacing him earlier and earlier in matches which will buck his ideas up!
 
Nketiah and Mateta are both confidence players. I'm not convinced the threat of losing gaming minutes works for Mateta, I felt like it didn't when he was competing with Edouard. Once he finds the net again I think he'll be back in business.
 
Part Time James said:
Nketiah and Mateta are both confidence players. I'm not convinced the threat of losing gaming minutes works for Mateta, I felt like it didn't when he was competing with Edouard. Once he finds the net again I think he'll be back in business.
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Mateta sees himself as pack leader his ego would react to being carted off.
 
beak said:
Mateta sees himself as pack leader his ego would react to being carted off.
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Working with the French squad should help sharpen him up but the problem is he needs a break. From the 18th October (Bournemouth) we have 16 matches in 9 weeks up to Christmas! Ollie will have to rotate or else there will be serious burn-out and injuries. Maybe a chance for one or two of the free-scoring ‘kids’ to get some minutes. We are due another AWB / Mitchell from the Academy but this time it may be a forward.
 
Hannes said:
Think every striker has a dry spell now and then. Personally I’m not worried at all
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If we have a weakness, it is not scoring enough goals. We do need other players to get on the scoresheet more regularly besides Mateta.

We are lucky to have a great defence so we usually get away with it. Yesterday was down to fatigue I suspect, and Everton got lucky.

The very best strikers miss sitters, but they keep getting chances in a good team. Assists are all important.
 
If you're not scoring you get dropped for someone that will and you wait for your chance again. I wouldn't hesitate in starting Nketiah now and bringing on Mateta if that doesn't work. It's just the way it is.
 
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