[Albion] Knocky on target

[Perkino]

The 4-2-3-1 formation we used against Bournemouth allowed us to have Jahanbakash and Trossard wide adding pace and trickery to our attacks, Knocky would flourish in such a formation. It is the formation I had anticipated us using this season when Potter came in but instead we have overloaded the midfield with central players who can pass well.

Knocky doing well is a good thing and I'd love him to come back and be successful, but I imagine we are moving into something different which he won't fit into and I can only hope someone else with the ability to dribble with the ball is signed to replace him as when he is on his game he is a joy to watch

 

[Stat Brother]

Bonkers.

2 goals and 4 assists in an injury-hit season (did you SEE that pass he sent to Mooy last week for the goal ??). Knocky had his days, maybe 2 or 3 a season if we're generous, but Trossard is twice the player he is.

I honestly don't know what some people are watching sometimes.

Pass being the operative word.

AK scores a twice a season AK goal.
But let's conveniently forget the 100 other attempts.

One Trick Pony is somewhat dismissive esp when your trick is that good, but nobody is calling AK a team player.
Potterball is all about team work.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Lot of rewriting of history here.

Knocky was the only player for me that I would actually look forward to see playing ...

I can’t really say there is anyone in the current squad that excites me when they get the ball....yes trossard is a good player, but when knocky picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the goal...remember that...everyone was on the edge of their seat.....when Stephens or propper gets the ball and turns backwards or sidewords everyone sinks back into their seats.

That is the difference.

I would have him back in a heartbeat, but it’s all about opinions.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Lot of rewriting of history here.

Knocky was the only player for me that I would actually look forward to see playing ...

I can’t really say there is anyone in the current squad that excites me when they get the ball....yes trossard is a good player, but when knocky picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the goal...remember that...everyone was on the edge of their seat.....when Stephens or propper gets the ball and turns backwards or sidewords everyone sinks back into their seats.

That is the difference.

I would have him back in a heartbeat, but it’s all about opinions.

That goes both ways ....that’s my opinion

 

[Guinness Boy]

Could turn a match. When he felt like it. Could score really great goals. When he felt like it. Could be "one of us" in the North Stand. When he felt like it.

Could be fragile and needy. Very often selfish, spurning great chances. Very often poor because he let his adrenaline rule his feet and head in big games. Sometimes a red card waiting to happen.

All of these are true. Potter needs percentage players and the above traits are not that. I get why people loved him but the fact he's not tearing up trees at Fulham, that Leicester got rid of him in the Prem and that he was much better for us in the Championship than the Prem all point to his race being run.

And, yes, Trossard is twice the player.

 

[dazzer6666]

Could turn a match. When he felt like it. Could score really great goals. When he felt like it. Could be "one of us" in the North Stand. When he felt like it.

Could be fragile and needy. Very often selfish, spurning great chances. Very often poor because he let his adrenaline rule his feet and head in big games. Sometimes a red card waiting to happen.

All of these are true. Potter needs percentage players and the above traits are not that. I get why people loved him but the fact he's not tearing up trees at Fulham, that Leicester got rid of him in the Prem and that he was much better for us in the Championship than the Prem all point to his race being run.

And, yes, Trossard is twice the player.

You forgot the petulance, the diving and very poor decision making...........when he was good he was fantastic and I've go some brilliant memories of games where he starred. He also frustrated the hell out of me too.

 

[Icy Gull]

Lot of rewriting of history here.

Knocky was the only player for me that I would actually look forward to see playing ...

I can’t really say there is anyone in the current squad that excites me when they get the ball....yes trossard is a good player, but when knocky picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the goal...remember that...everyone was on the edge of their seat.....when Stephens or propper gets the ball and turns backwards or sidewords everyone sinks back into their seats.

That is the difference.

I would have him back in a heartbeat, but it’s all about opinions.

He doesn’t like passing when he’s anywhere near goal, which is a big problem if you play in a Potter team. He scores some brilliant individual goals and I loved watching him especially in the Championship. I imagine he frustrates the hell out of other forwards and midfielders in his teams.

On another note Connolly is starting to annoy me in that he seldom looks for any other option than getting a shot off when he is in range.

 

[GT49er]

"Knocky on Target".

The fact that that warrants a thread all of its own says it all really.

 

[kevo]

"Knocky on Target".

The fact that that warrants a thread all of its own says it all really.

Of course - because goals are the only way of measuring a winger's ability, right? How many has Trossard scored this season? AK had our highest number of assists last year. Just because he doesn't score spectacular goals every week doesn't mean he's not capable of great performances (eg voted overall man of the match v Man City in the FA Cup semi). Yesterday's game was crying out for someone with his passion and ability to take the game to the opposition. We have no-one really like that in our squad. I actually think he would flourish in this team providing Potter could teach him to curb the disruptive edges to his personality.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The 4-2-3-1 formation we used against Bournemouth allowed us to have Jahanbakash and Trossard wide adding pace and trickery to our attacks, Knocky would flourish in such a formation. It is the formation I had anticipated us using this season when Potter came in but instead we have overloaded the midfield with central players who can pass well.

Knocky doing well is a good thing and I'd love him to come back and be successful, but I imagine we are moving into something different which he won't fit into and I can only hope someone else with the ability to dribble with the ball is signed to replace him as when he is on his game he is a joy to watch

Knocky had the better of most Championship defenders but he’s way too easy to read and meat and potatoes for Prem defenders. He almost always takes the ball too far inside on his own and gets crowded out. Crowd him out a few times and he starts to lose his composure; job done. The other approach to his predictability is to just have one player on him and close off the inside thereby forcing him outside where he’s ineffective. MOTD noticed this and ran a piece on this during our first Prem season. Again, job done. Sure he scores the odd screamer but equally he got a straight red in each of our previous two seasons and never ever truly established himself in the top flight mainly for the reasons I give. And he doesn’t seem to be the right character to take on board criticism and improve. Lots of people said they could not understand why no Prem team signed him up from Liege; with hindsight I think we now know.

In summary, a great Championship player 3-4 years ago. Nothing since has suggested he can make the step up to the Prem, or he still has the magic he showed us in the Championship

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

No doubting that there were times he could grab a game by the scruff of the neck and turn things round. We could really have done with someone with his passion today.

The trouble is he didn't do that nearly often enough, if at all in the Premier League. It was exactly the same problem whilst he was at Leicester.

 

[GT49er]

Of course - because goals are the only way of measuring a winger's ability, right? How many has Trossard scored this season? AK had our highest number of assists last year. Just because he doesn't score spectacular goals every week doesn't mean he's not capable of great performances (eg voted overall man of the match v Man City in the FA Cup semi). Yesterday's game was crying out for someone with his passion and ability to take the game to the opposition. We have no-one really like that in our squad. I actually think he would flourish in this team providing Potter could teach him to curb the disruptive edges to his personality.

No, because Knocky rarely scores one of his spectacular goals, so when it does happen it is memorable simply because it doesn't happen very often.

Knocky, like Hughton, has gone. We've moved on. He was better for us in The Championship than in the PL anyway.

 

[blue-shifted]

Lot of rewriting of history here.

Knocky was the only player for me that I would actually look forward to see playing ...

I can’t really say there is anyone in the current squad that excites me when they get the ball....yes trossard is a good player, but when knocky picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the goal...remember that...everyone was on the edge of their seat.....when Stephens or propper gets the ball and turns backwards or sidewords everyone sinks back into their seats.

That is the difference.

I would have him back in a heartbeat, but it’s all about opinions.

The way i'd look at it is this. Yesterday we had Schelotto on the right wing.

Asking whether Knocky is better than Trossard is asking the wrong question. We should be asking questions like, would he improve our squad? Would opponents want to play against him? Is he better than players like Schelloto, March, Izquierdo, Ali J?

I'd have him back in a heartbeat as well

 

[Whosh51]

On his day he’s exciting to watch his enthusiasm and drive is exactly what we were missing yesterday, I was not suggesting that he makes a return to the team far from it. We lacked any where near his type of performance for Fulham yesterday.
We definitely miss a player that excites on the ball.

 

[blue-shifted]

No, because Knocky rarely scores one of his spectacular goals, so when it does happen it is memorable simply because it doesn't happen very often.

Knocky, like Hughton, has gone. We've moved on. He was better for us in The Championship than in the PL anyway.

Yes. I will only accept players who score spectacular goals every week as well

 

[GT49er]

Yes. I will only accept players who score spectacular goals every week as well

You're going to have a hard time watching the Albion, then. Hope they find a left back you can accept.

 

[vagabond]

I said a while ago it was a mistake and we should take him back. I was criticised.

Yet AJ was given a chance to play Potter ball, why not Knocky? I’m not saying it was a sure thing, but we owed him a chance.

 

[vagabond]

The way i'd look at it is this. Yesterday we had Schelotto on the right wing.

Asking whether Knocky is better than Trossard is asking the wrong question. We should be asking questions like, would he improve our squad? Would opponents want to play against him? Is he better than players like Schelloto, March, Izquierdo, Ali J?

I'd have him back in a heartbeat as well

Exactly this.

I would have had him in the team over the Greyhound any day.

That said, it is possible Knocks was told he wouldn’t be playing much, and he wanted to leave. Would be good to know GPS real thoughts.

 

[portslade seagull]

I said a while ago it was a mistake and we should take him back. I was criticised.

Yet AJ was given a chance to play Potter ball, why not Knocky? I’m not saying it was a sure thing, but we owed him a chance.

Maybe he upset people

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I said a while ago it was a mistake and we should take him back. I was criticised.

Yet AJ was given a chance to play Potter ball, why not Knocky? I’m not saying it was a sure thing, but we owed him a chance.

One word....attitude