[Albion] How many more points do you think we'd have if...

[Sheebo]

Shooting stats etc offer some of the picture, but not the full picture of a strikers’ role. I think Maupay isn’t great at finishing & decision making but is very good at linking play and coming deep to receive the ball and become an option. The all round game is just as important as goals scored. Connolly is another who does so much more than occasionally score - some of his best work for the team comes when he’s NOT on the ball weirdly!

 

[Bodian]

Its not their trade. Their trade is to help the team win, its a team sport. Firmino scored only scored 9 goals for Liverpool last season. Dennis Bergkamp didnt score a lot in his later years. Kevin Davies in Bolton rarely if ever reached ten goals yet led the team to great results and any time he was missing they were nothing. Scoring is just a part of a strikers job.

As for "killer instinct",it doesnt exist. Its not a thing. Skill, knowledge, physique etc. are real concepts that you can work and improve on. "Killer instinct"... where is it? What is it? Is it close to the soul? How does it express itself in life outside football, are strikers more likely to end up convicted murderers than players in other positions? Its nonsense - fortunately, because the absence of the existence of some abstract instinct means every player has a tangible chance of improving.

To me, Maupay reminds a lot about a young Henrik Larsson. They have similar qualities: hard work, good movement, slick passing. And they both have a disadvantage: the height. Almost every successful center forward is above 185 cm, meaning you have to usually be more clever to beat your opponents, and that cleverness and experience could take a while to develop. Larsson aged 24 (same age as Maupay is now) was on the Feyenoord bench and when he did start, it was as a winger. About 12 years later he comes on for Barcelona to assist them twice as they beat Arsenal in the CL final.

And that is a pretty common story. We all remember the Owens and the Rooneys and so on getting their break-throughs aged 12 but the far more common story is that it takes longer time. What did Glenn Murray age 24 do? He sure as feck didnt score PL goals but it didnt prevent him from doing it later.

18 players got more PL goals than Maupay this season, 16 of them are older than him. People need to be more patient before they write players off.

Your all round football interest/knowledge is quite something Swanny. Do you do anything but watch foreign football and eat pizzas??

 

[Swansman]

Your all round football interest/knowledge is quite something Swanny. Do you do anything but watch foreign football and eat pizzas??

Not really no

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

We’d be in the Champions League. We have a European standard defence and midfield and a ****ing non league strikeforce.

Ings is a class act and I try to look at the positives with Maupay but to be honest after tonight he can **** off. Utterly useless.