Nketiah?

[MrRobbo]

Still not excelling, but as Canterbury said, there is no need to write him off yet.

We are in the fortunate position to have one of the Worlds in-form strikers leading the line. So we can afford time for Eddie to find his feet.

Its clear fro his time at Arsenal that he can score, and he's shown that recently too.

 

[Willo]

Still not excelling, but as Canterbury said, there is no need to write him off yet.

We are in the fortunate position to have one of the Worlds in-form strikers leading the line. So we can afford time for Eddie to find his feet.

Its clear fro his time at Arsenal that he can score, and he's shown that recently too.

At Arsenal he was a bit-part player who only scored 19 PL goals over 7 seasons.
At Leeds he only scored 3 goals in the Championship in 17 appearances.

 

[MrRobbo]

At Arsenal he was a bit-part player who only scored 19 PL goals over 7 seasons.
At Leeds he only scored 3 goals in the Championship in 17 appearances.

Lets be objective with the stats. (JPM scored 8 goals over his first 3 seasons with us)

Its been be interrogated many times on here. His goals per min ratio at Arsenal was very good.

 

[JHB]

Lets be objective with the stats. (JPM scored 8 goals over his first 3 seasons with us)

Its been be interrogated many times on here. His goals per min ratio at Arsenal was very good.

But also goals per minutes is an mis leading stat. Esse’s goals per minutes for us is better than JPM. I don’t think anyone would advocate Esse starts over him. Nketiah has an average record for a striker so far in his career. The fact he had few minutes on the pitch with Arsenal tells you they didn’t think he was good enough to start. This seems to be OG’s view as well. He’s not completely hopeless and has a great attitude but not suited to our system. The only way he starts to get lots of game time and become a first eleven player is with a change of manager

 

[NEILLO]

Lets be objective with the stats. (JPM scored 8 goals over his first 3 seasons with us)

Its been be interrogated many times on here. His goals per min ratio at Arsenal was very good.

The comparison is JP is an interesting one.

JP wasn't getting a consistent run of games, he was frequently alternated with Edouard. Since JP established himself and got into a rhythm, he has delivered the goods.

The question is can Eddie do that too ? It's going to be hard for him because JP is now virtually undroppable. So not really any competition for his place. And then we come to the playing style, and again it's going to be tough because he's not a natural fit.

So I'm going with Nketiah being a player that can offer something different to JP, but it looks like only being from the bench when JP is available. That means it's unlikely he will get the game time he needs to get into that rhythm that he needs.

And ultimately we have paid a lot of money, for a club like ours, for what is amounting to a squad player.

 

[MrRobbo]

But also goals per minutes is an mis leading stat. Esse’s goals per minutes for us is better than JPM. I don’t think anyone would advocate Esse starts over him. Nketiah has an average record for a striker so far in his career. The fact he had few minutes on the pitch with Arsenal tells you they didn’t think he was good enough to start. This seems to be OG’s view as well. He’s not completely hopeless and has a great attitude but not suited to our system. The only way he starts to get lots of game time and become a first eleven player is with a change of manager

Of course, there is always a way of presenting stats that supports your argument. At Arsenal he pretty much always had a 'top' international forward to contend with (Jesus, Lacazette, Aubameyang etc), but often came in and performed when needed.

I'm not saying Nketiah is great, or should start. Far from it. I'm merely saying that he's got some ability. And I'd rather be supportive than write him off.

 

[Palacesince64]

Nketiah isn’t JP so we need to adapt our style of play if he’s in the team. I thought he did OK on Saturday in terms of his work rate and link up with Sarr and Eze. They make a very fluid front three and given time could be very effective. Unfortunately they are unlikely to get that game time together while JP is fit and scoring for fun.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

We have to hope he finds his feet given the investment, but he does look a bad fit - a rare Dougie miss.

Profile is way off it in terms of the way we need our striker to play, and honestly just seems to lack quality in a lot of his actions - loose touches, poor passes, and pretty wasteful in front of goal.

Huge opportunity for him yesterday; a first league start in his preferred position, a home game against a poor side and he's off the back of a couple of goals recently... and he was completely flat and missed a sitter.

Concerning.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

Of course, there is always a way of presenting stats that supports your argument. At Arsenal he pretty much always had a 'top' international forward to contend with (Jesus, Lacazette, Aubameyang etc), but often came in and performed when needed.

I'm not saying Nketiah is great, or should start. Far from it. I'm merely saying that he's got some ability. And I'd rather be supportive than write him off.

That's fair - I think people really overstate this 'there is a reason he didn't play at Arsenal' stuff.

Arsenal are an elite side with £50m+ players in every position - Henderson didn't play at United... Guehi didn't play at Chelsea, neither did Gallagher, neither did Loftus-Cheek... they all worked out pretty well.

 

[JHB]

Of course, there is always a way of presenting stats that supports your argument. At Arsenal he pretty much always had a 'top' international forward to contend with (Jesus, Lacazette, Aubameyang etc), but often came in and performed when needed.

I'm not saying Nketiah is great, or should start. Far from it. I'm merely saying that he's got some ability. And I'd rather be supportive than write him off.

Yes he isn’t hopeless by any means. I agree on being supportive. Realistically though he doesn’t suit OG’s system so I think it is going to be very hard for him to get regular playing time while OG is here

 

[dreamwaverider]

His head seems to drop quite quick if things dont go his way. Im sure OG will help with this. It may just be me, but having him run the line is not what he is about in my view. He is too small to be a target man and not fast enough to be a super nippy number nine.
He was slow to make a decision when Wharton put him clean through. East to say watching a slow motion action replay, but the keeper made a great job of covering the goal. Maybe he should have hit it first time. There are plenty of others who similarly would not have scored. It looked easier than it was.
But he didn't seem to get hardly any other chances and his substitution was a very good decision.
For me, for all the time Mateta keeps performing, he will remain a bench player, coming on to exploit tired defenders. And maybe this will lead to building his awareness and confidence.
Dougie hasnt had many failures and there are more than a few now in the wings hopefully who will improve enough to be solid squad members with serious options to use.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

It’s a real shame because Nketiah knows where the goal is and he’s great little striker BUT he’s one of those players who suffers because of the modern game where most teams only play one main striker and he’s never going to be that. A bit like Dwight Gayle, great finisher, knew where the goal was but he was never going to be a our main striker through the middle, Nketuah like Gayle need to play upfront with a centre forward, but it rarely happens these days

Even the great Ian Wright has mentioned he’s not sure how he’d get on these days, he’s always said he was so lucky to play up front with two of the best centre forwards around at that time in Brighty and the Alan Smith at Arsenal

 

[CPFCSaturn]

It’s a real shame because Nketiah knows where the goal is and he’s great little striker BUT he’s one of those players who suffers because of the modern game where most teams only play one main striker and he’s never going to be that. A bit like Dwight Gayle, great finisher, knew where the goal was but he was never going to be a our main striker through the middle, Nketuah like Gayle need to play upfront with a centre forward, but it rarely happens these days

Even the great Ian Wright has mentioned he’s not sure how he’d get on these days, he’s always said he was so lucky to play up front with two of the best centre forwards around at that time in Brighty and the Alan Smith at Arsenal

Is Nketiah a great finisher though? There's been limited evidence of that so far.

I agree with your post in terms of the profile of forward he's supposed to be, but he doesn't seem to be that clinical, which is a massive problem when that's the main thing you're meant to bring to the table...

 

[ASCPFC]

Not that good so far. He gets a bit of a pass as he's new and he makes a decent effort. Doesn't look like he'll ever be that good but we'll reserve judgement til the end of the season.

 

[eritheagle]

I just fail to see why we spent £25m of our limited budget on Eddie unless we see him as our replacement for JP if he leaves soon.

I am not a fan of Eduard in the slightest but I feel he would've contributed the same or slightly more this season (based on before with us rather than his Leicester troubles).

Hopefully Eddie will come good though.

 

[PatrickA]

There was an Olise size gap to fit in the front 3 in Glasner’s system at the beginning of the season.
The candidates for the role were Nketiah, Sarr and Kamada.
Kamada hasn’t looked comfortable in the role and neither has Nketiah.
At first Sarr looked ill at ease too, but presumably based on coaching and his own efforts he has adjusted his game dramatically.
He no longer crowds Munoz’s space, tucks in when necessary and joins the striker when we are on the attack.
It hasn’t worked every game, but Sarr has definitely adjusted to suit the system.

Which does beg the question why Nketiah hasn’t so far been able to make the adjustment.
You are being asked to play slightly to the side rather than down the middle, but there are opportunities to get into the box.
Furthermore, some on here have suggested that Nketiah would be better suited to 2 up front.
In our current system, when we are in possession the two outside forwards are asked to join the central striker in and around the penalty area.
Not that different to playing with 2 up front in those situations.
Nketiah should be able to adjust his game dramatically- it’s not like he’s being asked to play centre back or holding midfield.

 

[PatrickA]

There was an Olise size gap to fit in the front 3 in Glasner’s system at the beginning of the season.
The candidates for the role were Nketiah, Sarr and Kamada.
Kamada hasn’t looked comfortable in the role and neither has Nketiah.
At first Sarr looked ill at ease too, but presumably based on coaching and his own efforts he has adjusted his game dramatically.
He no longer crowds Munoz’s space, tucks in when necessary and joins the striker when we are on the attack.
It hasn’t worked every game, but Sarr has definitely adjusted to suit the system.

Which does beg the question why Nketiah hasn’t so far been able to make the adjustment.
You are being asked to play slightly to the side rather than down the middle, but there are opportunities to get into the box.
Furthermore, some on here have suggested that Nketiah would be better suited to 2 up front.
In our current system, when we are in possession the two outside forwards are asked to join the central striker in and around the penalty area.
Not that different to playing with 2 up front in those situations.
Nketiah should be able to adjust his game dramatically- it’s not like he’s being asked to play centre back or holding midfield.

I meant to say Nketiah should be able to adapt 'without changing his game dramatically.'

 

[Willo]

There was an Olise size gap to fit in the front 3 in Glasner’s system at the beginning of the season.
The candidates for the role were Nketiah, Sarr and Kamada.
Kamada hasn’t looked comfortable in the role and neither has Nketiah.
At first Sarr looked ill at ease too, but presumably based on coaching and his own efforts he has adjusted his game dramatically.
He no longer crowds Munoz’s space, tucks in when necessary and joins the striker when we are on the attack.
It hasn’t worked every game, but Sarr has definitely adjusted to suit the system.

Which does beg the question why Nketiah hasn’t so far been able to make the adjustment.
You are being asked to play slightly to the side rather than down the middle, but there are opportunities to get into the box.
Furthermore, some on here have suggested that Nketiah would be better suited to 2 up front.
In our current system, when we are in possession the two outside forwards are asked to join the central striker in and around the penalty area.
Not that different to playing with 2 up front in those situations.
Nketiah should be able to adjust his game dramatically- it’s not like he’s being asked to play centre back or holding midfield.

I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. 👍

 

[MrRobbo]

I just fail to see why we spent £25m of our limited budget on Eddie unless we see him as our replacement for JP if he leaves soon.

I am not a fan of Eduard in the slightest but I feel he would've contributed the same or slightly more this season (based on before with us rather than his Leicester troubles).

Hopefully Eddie will come good though.

Cos he's English, a forward, and has prem experience and we thought he was going to be great.

But in all seriousness, whilst we overpaid, thats part of it. We are also building a better squad, so are going to have players of decent value sat on the bench.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

Is Nketiah a great finisher though? There's been limited evidence of that so far.

I agree with your post in terms of the profile of forward he's supposed to be, but he doesn't seem to be that clinical, which is a massive problem when that's the main thing you're meant to bring to the table...

I know the early miss against Ipswich is fresh in everyone’s mind when he did get a start, but can you say he’s really had the chance to prove it so far? Coming on as sub for a few minutes here and there and not getting a run in the team has ruined many a good striker, they start to snatch at chances and confidence gets low.
I just think looking at him when he did score for Arsenal and the handful of goals he has got for us, given a run in the team he’ll score more than he misses. But as I said that run of games won’t happen all the time we’ve got JP.