[Albion] Deniz Undav

[B-right-on]

I just reread his BHAFC article from last Feb when he joined.

"rejected by Werder Bremen at 14, and at 17 earning £120 a week as a semi-pro in the German fourth tier while working eight-hour days in a factory."

Undav has worked hard for his chance

Albion's new striker did eight-hour shifts in a factory before getting his big break.

www.brightonandhovealbion.com

Great to see how far he's come.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I think he's great – never gives up, always tries to make things happen (even if they don't) and seems a well-liked player in the squad. Eight goals in a PL season is certainly not shabby, either.

Let's not forget that he had some personal issues around the time of his fallow/frustrating period, too. Sure, there's plenty of room for improvement in his overall game, but given that there has already BEEN an improvement over the course of the season, I'm excited to see what he'll be like after an RDZ pre-season.

 

[oldboyroy]

When he first came, I was a bit of a sceptic due to his poor first touch, positioning and lack of contribution compared to Mitoma who started off like a rocket. Unfair comparison in hindsight.

But some brilliant coaching and dedication on his part has given him that need X Factor which has improved his game dramatically: confidence.

He really is a confidence player. RDZ putting his arm around him, building him up, a couple of goals and assists, then suddenly he looks completely different. Don't think he'll ever be in Ferguson's class but that's no insult, not many will.

He was absolutely loving it when we were signing the Undav song when warming up vs Stains. Really gives him a boost and he gives that bit extra on the pitch as a result IMO.

Every striker (even the very best)thrive on confidence. The very fact Deniz wanted to stay and fight for his place when he could of gone on loan back in January, is testament to him and again, the right attitude as opposed to throwing toys out of pram! Well done to him He reminds me of a Neil Maupay but, a huge upgrade!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Undav certainly knows where the goal is, but for a team who rely on possession, does a player with such a poor first touch fit the philosophy?

His positional play is also an issue, but that can be coached. His first touch however is a fundamental which I'm hoping is just a confidence issue that will improve in time.

I don't agree he has a poor first touch. He started out that way (FA cup semi) but he had to work off a lot of rust. The rust seems to have now gone. To me he looks like a massive upgrade on Maupay, capable of more goals. He reminds me of another very effective German, Gerd Müller.

 

[5Ways Gull]

⅘

I just reread his BHAFC article from last Feb when he joined.

"rejected by Werder Bremen at 14, and at 17 earning £120 a week as a semi-pro in the German fourth tier while working eight-hour days in a factory."

Undav has worked hard for his chance

Albion's new striker did eight-hour shifts in a factory before getting his big break.

www.brightonandhovealbion.com

Great to see how far he's come.

German Jamie Vardy maybe.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I don't agree he has a poor first touch. He started out that way (FA cup semi) but he had to work off a lot of rust. The rust seems to have now gone. To me he looks like a massive upgrade on Maupay, capable of more goals. He reminds me of another very effective German, Gerd Müller.

I'm not sure you can use the FA Cup semi as an example of him starting off with a poor first touch, when it was in April while Undav's first game for us was last August.

 

[macbeth]

now feel free to call me a revisionist or whatever, because i have absolutely no basis for this claim, but i suspect had potter stayed, he’d still be on 0 goals and 0 league starts

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

If you look at it from a MPG perspective he’s actually our most prolific goalscorer.

 

[Stat Brother]

If you look at it from a MPG perspective he’s actually our most prolific goalscorer.
View attachment 161482

The Albion was never, ever, about an X goals a season striker - despite what some who have us believe.

What it was about is answered right there:-

4 players in double figures.
&
4 players over 5 goals.

72 goals spread over 8 players.

Spurs have 30 goals a season Hazza but only scored 68 goals in total from 16 players.

 

[AstroSloth]

Undav certainly knows where the goal is, but for a team who rely on possession, does a player with such a poor first touch fit the philosophy?

His positional play is also an issue, but that can be coached. His first touch however is a fundamental which I'm hoping is just a confidence issue that will improve in time.

I thought his link up play and movement yesterday were excellent.

His first touch layoffs kept play flowing and he got in behind multiple times.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

The Albion was never, ever, about an X goals a season striker - despite what some who have us believe.

What it was about is answered right there:-

4 players in double figures.
&
4 players over 5 goals.

72 goals spread over 8 players.

Spurs have 30 goals a season Hazza but only scored 68 goals in total from 16 players.

Those Albion figures quoted above are goals in all competitions.

We scored 72 goals in TOTAL in the PL. (Spurs scored 70, so your general point still stands…)

 

[Super Steve Earle]

The Albion was never, ever, about an X goals a season striker - despite what some who have us believe.

What it was about is answered right there:-

4 players in double figures.
&
4 players over 5 goals.

72 goals spread over 8 players.

Spurs have 30 goals a season Hazza but only scored 68 goals in total from 16 players.

I prefer to break it down as:

4 players scored 10 (yes 10) or more

4 more players scored 30 (yes 30) between them.

Incredible stats.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

⅘

German Jamie Vardy maybe.

Without the pace or media whoring spouse?

 

[Carbonara]

I know we scored alot of goals but we still needed a top striker.Welbeck is getting on and injury prone.Ferguson is young and still learning.Undav seems to have finally woken up.Had we started the nseason with a top striker god knows where we would be,

 

[Springal]

I know we scored alot of goals but we still needed a top striker.Welbeck is getting on and injury prone.Ferguson is young and still learning.Undav seems to have finally woken up.Had we started the nseason with a top striker god knows where we would be,

Welbeck only missed 6 squads all season - the ‘longest’ run was 3 games.

Since his corrective surgery when he returned December 2021 he definitely has not been injury prone.

 

[dazzer6666]

I thought his link up play and movement yesterday were excellent.

His first touch layoffs kept play flowing and he got in behind multiple times.

This. He’s as strong as an Ox as well……

 

[Carbonara]

Welbeck only missed 6 squads all season - the ‘longest’ run was 3 games.

Since his corrective surgery when he returned December 2021 he definitely has not been injury prone.

Ok but how many goals has he scored? If we had a top striker who played instead of Welbeck then where would we be ??On the other hand if we did have a top striker then maybe alot of play would have been directed his way so instead of goals being spread around he might have scored and we might have still overall scored the same.

 

[dazzer6666]

Ok but how many goals has he scored? If we had a top striker who played instead of Welbeck then where would we be ??On the other hand if we did have a top striker then maybe alot of play would have been directed his way so instead of goals being spread around he might have scored and we might have still overall scored the same.

It’s only the number the team scores that matters, not any individual. Welbeck has made a very decent contribution to our play overall.

 

[ozzygull]

I am really pleased for Undav, he has obviously had to be patient and work really hard and it seems to be paying off.

 

[Bodian]

It’s only the number the team scores that matters, not any individual. Welbeck has made a very decent contribution to our play overall.

He also scored 7 (valuable) goals. Amazing that our lead striker was seventh in the scoring table, but still got seven! Not long ago that Dunk was out top scorer with five....