[Albion] Neal Maupay...SIGNED FOR EVERTON.

[Seagull58]

The reason I think Maupay might actually be toast at this club is the form of Welbeck and what he gives to this team when he is fully fit, i.e:

1. Real striker nous - where to make runs, how to win penalties.
2. Aerial threat.
3. Can defend corners.
4. Great temperament and discipline.

He is the template that Potter should be aiming to replicate, and I can see why there might be interest in Ings as he is a similar type of striker.

Maupay is a different sort of player but I don't see he brings as much to the table as Welbeck. I don't think we are set up for the short bustling nuisance type of striker which - in part - is why Connolly didn't work out.

Maupay might work out with a partner like Watkins or Mitrovic who are expected to score goals regularly.

In Connolly's case, his nuisance value is mainly in the nightclubs.

 

[portslade seagull]

Not sure GP likes players who get the strops and Maupay according to Warren has done one in the last few matches

 

[warmleyseagull]

accept we may be playing better without him but no idea where all this attitude stuff is coming from? we know he's passionate and probably not over the moon to not be playing right now, but potter has had nothing but positive things to say about his attitude and commitment

With his tongue firmly in cheek?

 

[Swansman]

Maupay is clearly a real footballer and a real human rather than a walking wallet who couldnt give a shit, so he'll want to play and feel important and as things has developed, this is unlikely to be the case going forwards. If there are any takers, he'll be sold in the summer. He absolutely won't sign a new contract. I'll miss him.

 

[warmleyseagull]

he'll want to play and feel important.

This. I have felt from early doors that he is a one man team. He gives shit for sure, but not as part of a team. It is the Maupay show all the time; look how Trossard has blossomed in his absence; how the midfield (a bete noire that you rightly pointed to) has actually scored (even PG nearly got one). Too often, Maupay has done too much and/or fluffed easy chances by rushing.

He needs to calm down, take joy from the success of teammates. A lot of the sympathetic posts on here refer to his workrate; I don’t disagree but it has to be EFFECTIVE, and IMO that is the nub of Maupay’s problem. He needs to be involved all the time, thus disturbing the efforts of team mates.

 

[dazzer6666]

accept we may be playing better without him but no idea where all this attitude stuff is coming from? we know he's passionate and probably not over the moon to not be playing right now, but potter has had nothing but positive things to say about his attitude and commitment

This, 100%. Despite limited starts recently he has worked his nuts off when he has played, got ‘his song’ when he was warming up mid-game yesterday and gave us all a wave. Just because someone posts on facebook that he ‘stormed down the tunnel looking pissed off’ doesn’t mean it’s true.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Maupay is clearly a real footballer and a real human rather than a walking wallet who couldnt give a shit, so he'll want to play and feel important and as things has developed, this is unlikely to be the case going forwards. If there are any takers, he'll be sold in the summer. He absolutely won't sign a new contract. I'll miss him.

I always felt this was a big season for him.

Halfway through, I thought “yes” he’s nailed it, but as much as I think the vast majority of fans want him to be a success, in reality I don’t think he has kicked on. When he doesn’t play he cuts a forlorn figure, and you’re right he needs to feel important.

If he stays, I won’t be sorry, but equally won’t be sorry if he goes either…..

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

This, 100%. Despite limited starts recently he has worked his nuts off when he has played, got ‘his song’ when he was warming up mid-game yesterday and gave us all a wave. Just because someone posts on facebook that he ‘stormed down the tunnel looking pissed off’ doesn’t mean it’s true.

Yes and all the cool down sessions, when we’re still in the ground he always acknowledges the crowd, so just a crock of shite really….

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Likely he'll look for a move.

He's now indisputably a back up striker, (albeit to one with a career record of injuries). We'll also be bringing in another player, Undav, who seemingly has similar attributes. Recent line ups have shown we're not afraid to play no strikers at all.

I think Neal will get an offer or two, my guess from Italy or Germany, and I think will take a punt on going elsewhere.

As others have said, he's not done bad for us, but i'm not sure he's the striker who can take us further up the league

 

[Swansman]

I always felt this was a big season for him.

Halfway through, I thought “yes” he’s nailed it, but as much as I think the vast majority of fans want him to be a success, in reality I don’t think he has kicked on. When he doesn’t play he cuts a forlorn figure, and you’re right he needs to feel important.

If he stays, I won’t be sorry, but equally won’t be sorry if he goes either…..

When I say I will miss him its not necessarily his footballing I'm referring to... I just think he is a wonderful character, seems to be very intelligent and hard working.

But too little has happened from his first season until now. He is a decent PL striker but Brighton need decent strikers to evolve into good ones, and it has not really happened in his case.

Wherever he ends up, I'll really wish him the best and he'll remain one of my favorite players in modern football.

 

[Stato]

When I say I will miss him its not necessarily his footballing I'm referring to... I just think he is a wonderful character, seems to be very intelligent and hard working.

But too little has happened from his first season until now. He is a decent PL striker but Brighton need decent strikers to evolve into good ones, and it has not really happened in his case.

Wherever he ends up, I'll really wish him the best and he'll remain one of my favorite players in modern football.

I share your affection for him. He's been a great player to celebrate with. He works hard, he feels it strongly and he shows it. Like others, I get frustrated with his failings, but I also don't think he gets the credit he deserves. I'd imagine that he was frustrated yesterday because he has been level with Glenn Murray on 26 Premier League goals for Brighton for a long while and fancied his chances to break that record against a Wolves defence that was there for the taking.

His 26 goals have come in 100 Premier League games compared to GM's 96. The difference is their records for us in this division is not that great and although I'd accept that Glenn did it in a team that created far less chances per game, their comparable treatment by our amateur pundits seems widely out of proportion. Maupay has missed chances this year, but he has also scored and made goals that have directly contributed to losses becoming draws and draws becoming wins. About nine points worth by my reckoning.

Scoring goals in this division is bloody hard and Maupay may never break through to becoming a 15-20 goal a season striker in this division, but he is in the next bracket down. That doesn't make him bad. It makes him a decent enough EPL striker, who if he left Brighton, would be in demand elsewhere in the division.

 

[Brian Fantana]

I share your affection for him. He's been a great player to celebrate with. He works hard, he feels it strongly and he shows it. Like others, I get frustrated with his failings, but I also don't think he gets the credit he deserves. I'd imagine that he was frustrated yesterday because he has been level with Glenn Murray on 26 Premier League goals for Brighton for a long while and fancied his chances to break that record against a Wolves defence that was there for the taking.

His 26 goals have come in 100 Premier League games compared to GM's 96. The difference is their records for us in this division is not that great and although I'd accept that Glenn did it in a team that created far less chances per game, their comparable treatment by our amateur pundits seems widely out of proportion. Maupay has missed chances this year, but he has also scored and made goals that have directly contributed to losses becoming draws and draws becoming wins. About nine points worth by my reckoning.

Scoring goals in this division is bloody hard and Maupay may never break through to becoming a 15-20 goal a season striker in this division, but he is in the next bracket down. That doesn't make him bad. It makes him a decent enough EPL striker, who if he left Brighton, would be in demand elsewhere in the division.

I agree with this, apart from your final eight words.

 

[Triggaaar]

accept we may be playing better without him but no idea where all this attitude stuff is coming from? we know he's passionate and probably not over the moon to not be playing right now, but potter has had nothing but positive things to say about his attitude and commitment

Standard internet BS.

For all we know, he was congratulating all the players after the game. It's easy to imagine that he's disappointed with his current form, wishes he was playing better and getting picked - and that's a bad thing is it? Has any insider said he's not trying in training or has a bad attitude? Not AFAIK.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

He's been Brighton's top scorer for the last 3 seasons so if he is going and we are looking for improvement, the recruitment team had better have something special up its sleeve.

 

[Brian Fantana]

He's been Brighton's top scorer for the last 3 seasons so if he is going and we are looking for improvement, the recruitment team had better have something special up its sleeve.

They may well have already signed his replacement in January.

 

[Stato]

I agree with this, apart from your final eight words.

Have a look at the number of goals scored by central strikers this season: https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/2...erStatistics/England-Premier-League-2021-2022

Ronaldo, Kane, Toney, Jota, Pukki, Vardy, then Maupay and Watkins level with each other. Not all teams always play with a central striker, but these stats list 63 players who have played in that position at least once this season and Maupay has more goals than 55 of them. Arrange them in goals per ninety minutes order and he's still in the top half. He's also renowned as a very irritating opponent for defenders.

Newcastle triggered a £25 million plus release clause for Chris Wood in January. Wood is 5 years older than Maupay, has scored less goals than him this season and in his career in the division averages a goal every 3.11 games compared to Maupay's 3.84. Look at it with an objective eye and I'd say that, although not every team outside of the top six would be starting him, he'd certainly have played for Wolves yesterday, he'd be back up to Antonio at West Ham, Brentford would take him back, Palace, Southampton, Leeds, any of the promoted sides. Until his recent spell, Arsenal fans would have swapped him for Nketiah. I've no doubt he'd have suitors and we probably wouldn't make a transfer loss on him.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

They may well have already signed his replacement in January.

Somebody with NO PL goals? Rather too speculative for me.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Somebody with NO PL goals? Rather too speculative for me.

At our level, that’s the reality of life though. We simply don’t have the money to go out and regularly pick up proven PL goalscorers - it’s just not going to happen. Indeed, did Maupay himself not have zero PL goals when he joined us?

Welbeck is obviously an exception, but his injury record somewhat limited his options.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

At our level, that’s the reality of life though. We simply don’t have the money to go out and regularly pick up proven PL goalscorers - it’s just not going to happen. Indeed, did Maupay himself not have zero PL goals when he joined us?

Welbeck is obviously an exception, but his injury record somewhat limited his options.

Yes but Maupay is a goalscorer at this level, our top goalscorer for the last three years, so to look to replace him with somebody who has no goals at this level is speculative, especially if we are looking to improve. We need to retain him and look for an additional striker, particularly if Trossard is moving on.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the summer.

 

[GT49er]

Somebody with NO PL goals? Rather too speculative for me.

It's asking a lot to score PL goals when playing in Belgium! How many PL goals did, say, Thierry Henry or Ole Gunnar Solshkear (sp?), score before signing for a PL club?