People are actually pretty much now pining after Morata in this thread.

Rewind 3 months and Morata was the worst striker that had ever played for us. Worse than Torres they said.

It really is hard to keep up on this forum sometimes...

3 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

People are actually pretty much now pining after Morata in this thread.

Rewind 3 months and Morata was the worst striker that had ever played for us. Worse than Torres they said.

It really is hard to keep up on this forum sometimes...

I haven't seen anybody pining for Morata, just people saying Higuain is so poor that we may as well have kept him.

We should have got him before the season started. He said the club didn't want him then and stuck with Morata. Not saying he would have 15-20 goals by now, but I'm sure he would have scored a handful during that five month period. 

1 hour ago, enigma said:

We should have got him before the season started. He said the club didn't want him then and stuck with Morata. Not saying he would have 15-20 goals by now, but I'm sure he would have scored a handful during that five month period. 

It's not as if Higuain spent first half of the season on a beach, he's been playing regularly. He's struggled in a slower league and now he continues to struggle in a faster, more physical environment. I doubt that getting him last summer would have made any difference. He's just past it.

What's really surprising is that Sarri wanted the club to buy him before the season started. Then again, knowing what we know now, not surprising.

Maybe it's not Higuain………..maybe it wasn't Morata...…….maybe it's not Giroud……. maybe it's not Batshuyi………..All these strikers and none of them can score consistently?

On current form I would say Giroud deserves to be first choice striker. Although he has certainly benefited from playing more games with a more creative midfield behind him.

I wouldn't want him to stay past this summer. Sarri himself said Higuain finds it difficult here because of the physicality of PL-defenders.
He's also lost a step of pace and not even his finishing has been impressive overall. He's only scored against two teams that will both get relegated.

 

14 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I haven't seen anybody pining for Morata, just people saying Higuain is so poor that we may as well have kept him.

"at least Morata had pace"

"currently Morata is the better striker"

"Morata is better than Higuaín"

 

Considering how dog sh*t Morata was for us this season, which is something everyone on the forum could agree on when he was still here, I find references of this nature comical.

1 hour ago, mclovin83 said:

"at least Morata had pace"

"currently Morata is the better striker"

"Morata is better than Higuaín"

 

Considering how dog sh*t Morata was for us this season, which is something everyone on the forum could agree on when he was still here, I find references of this nature comical.

As you’re going to use my quotes to back up your point... go back and find where I’ve ever said Torres was better than Morata... I can guarantee you won’t find any, and anyone who does say that has amnesia from the time Torres was here.

 

Morata does have pace - Higuain doesn’t.

currently Morata is the better striker.

 

feel free to provide evidence to dispute these points if you wish but i find it unlikely you’ll find any.

 

The quotes you’ve referenced are not ‘pining after morata’ its stating what is plain to see to most people. We’re no doubt lumbered with the majority if not all of Higuains wages which (if the internet is to be believed are £130k a week) while Morata was apparently £100k a week. - are we better off for it? Not even a little bit in my opinion. As Scott said, it’s a simple fact we may as well have kept him than bring in Higuain.

13 hours ago, forbzy said:

On current form I would say Giroud deserves to be first choice striker. Although he has certainly benefited from playing more games with a more creative midfield behind him.

Giroud's really effective as a massive post you can just belt the ball at and expect it to bounce back off him in a helpful way probably more than 50% of the time.

Strong, good touch, good finisher, fantastic with his back to goal - if only he could actually run or last more than 60 minutes on the pitch without looking knackered he'd be fantastic!

1 hour ago, EdinburghBlue said:

As you’re going to use my quotes to back up your point... go back and find where I’ve ever said Torres was better than Morata... I can guarantee you won’t find any, and anyone who does say that has amnesia from the time Torres was here.

 

Morata does have pace - Higuain doesn’t.

currently Morata is the better striker.

 

feel free to provide evidence to dispute these points if you wish but i find it unlikely you’ll find any.

 

The quotes you’ve referenced are not ‘pining after morata’ its stating what is plain to see to most people. We’re no doubt lumbered with the majority if not all of Higuains wages which (if the internet is to be believed are £130k a week) while Morata was apparently £100k a week. - are we better off for it? Not even a little bit in my opinion. As Scott said, it’s a simple fact we may as well have kept him than bring in Higuain.

Blimey, calm down.

I didn't quote you,  and the example quotes I did use were from various different people.

I won't be scrolling through the archives to find an example of you saying Torres was better than Morata...... mainly because, I never said that you specifically said this.

As for disputing your points;

- Morata having pace. I don't really think Morata is lightening fast but quicker than Higuaín, granted. As you are all for providing "examples", can you provide a few examples of Morata's pace causing Premiership defenders problems this season? Perhaps an example of him beating a defender and then going on to score. Unless he uses his pace to his advantage, it's not really all that useful.

- Morata being currently better than Higuaín. Playing for a different team, in a different league, with different players around him. I am only interested in how they perform for Chelsea, and this season, Morata's performances were worse than Higuains.

As for the whole "we may as well have kept Morata" line. I agree that Higuaín has not represented much of an upgrade, but I think it was worth a roll of the dice given how awful Morata was for us. I also would rather have Higuaín in the starting 11 than Morata, but I would concede it terms of contribution to the team there is not much difference.

The fact that Higuaín manages to stay on his feet and not mince about the pitch with a face like a slapped arse all game, means he probably edges it. Morata looked like he was about to cry every time something didn't go his way for us, and looked so miserable that he didn't even smile when he (rarely) scored for us in his final months.

I don't miss him, not anything about him, even that 'blistering pace' of his. Higuaín being not much/no better won't change that.

I'm sure that putting Michy and Abraham next season and giving them the time and trust will pay off much more than anything else.

Higuain was a gamble of Sarri, and it's not working so far...

15 hours ago, Boston Blue said:

Maybe it's not Higuain………..maybe it wasn't Morata...…….maybe it's not Giroud……. maybe it's not Batshuyi………..All these strikers and none of them can score consistently?

You can’t score if no f**ker will pass forwards. 

14 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

You can’t score if no f**ker will pass forwards. 

But could that be because there is no one to pass to? bit chicken and egg 

 

In short, everyone apart from Sarri knew he's going be sh1t and struggle, and Sarri still took him in and making him the undisputed number 1 striker. The transfer ban comes at a good time, won't be able to sign him even if Sarri persists.

28 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

I'm sure that putting Michy and Abraham next season and giving them the time and trust will pay off much more than anything else.

Higuain was a gamble of Sarri, and it's not working so far...

I think any striker will struggle in this side. We have full backs who dont deliver regular quality crosses, we have midfielders that dont get in the box to at least draw attention, and our wingers bar hazard are inconsistent and at times quite selfish. As a team we dont move the ball quick enough and there is very little movement off the ball. 

These issues weren't as much of a problem when we played on the counter, but the system we play now, makes these issues even more apparent because we have so much of the ball, and teams are usually sitting back in their own half. 

I think if we address the other issues in the team, then the striker situation will fall into place. 

31 minutes ago, Bonzodog29 said:

But could that be because there is no one to pass to? bit chicken and egg 

 

For years I’ve been at the bridge watching our forwards making good runs that just get ignored. The pass isn’t easy enough so they go back to the defence/keeper or the players with the ball isn’t quick enough to spot it so they pass it 5 yards sideways. It’s even crept in to passing the ball from the back in to midfield now.

You see the whole game from your seat in the stadium as opposed to the bits here and there the tv shows. (This isn’t a dig at you btw, I have no idea how you watch our matches, just a general statement)

11 minutes ago, big blue said:

I think any striker will struggle in this side. We have full backs who don't deliver regular quality crosses, we have midfielders that don't get in the box to at least draw attention, and our wingers bar hazard are inconsistent and at times quite selfish. As a team we don't move the ball quick enough and there is very little movement off the ball. 

These issues weren't as much of a problem when we played on the counter, but the system we play now, makes these issues even more apparent because we have so much of the ball, and teams are usually sitting back in their own half. 

I think if we address the other issues in the team, then the striker situation will fall into place. 

This for me is why CHO and RLC have to play ... you have to have your players on the field that can hurt the opposition, and who carry goal threat, and the ability to create.

3 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

For years I’ve been at the bridge watching our forwards making good runs that just get ignored. The pass isn’t easy enough so they go back to the defence/keeper or the players with the ball isn’t quick enough to spot it so they pass it 5 yards sideways. It’s even crept in to passing the ball from the back in to midfield now.

You see the whole game from your seat in the stadium as opposed to the bits here and there the tv shows. (This isn’t a dig at you btw, I have no idea how you watch our matches, just a general statement)

No offence taken dont worry ?... It was a devils advocate comment to be fair... however I would say the since Drogs left we havent had strikers who would consistently put in good runs at the right time. I dont think Costa did that often but was often bailed out by the quality of cesc's passing. 

And add to that we havent had strikers with a proper first touch so it makes the creative player worry about whether the pass will be controlled... 

Unfortunately in the current climate you need to spend 100m plus in order to get that sort of striker and again I dont think there are many around.  

11 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

This for me is why CHO and RLC have to play ... you have to have your players on the field that can hurt the opposition, and who carry goal threat, and the ability to create.

We would look a different team with those 2 starting every week. RLC was on the pitch for 25 mins, he got his goal, and he also nearly got in twice more but the ball just didnt fall to him. That alone would give our strikers more of a fighting chance, because it gives the centre backs something else to think about. 

I dont think Higuian has been great, morata was probably more of a goal threat, but morata's overall game was worse. I have sympathy for both though, it isnt great playing up top for us at the moment. 

2 hours ago, Munkworth said:

You can’t score if no f**ker will pass forwards. 

Yes, that was my point.  Hasn't mattered who the striker is, the results have been mostly the same.  The position has been consistently starved of service...…..

Edited April 2, 20197 yr by Boston Blue

1 hour ago, Bonzodog29 said:

however I would say the since Drogs left we havent had strikers who would consistently put in good runs at the right time.

Torres did but we were used to and in a way still setup to playing to Drogbas strengths. 

Costa did but, like you said, benefitted from having Fabregas. 

Morata made runs, Cesc found him but he was sh*te with the ball at his feet. He benefits more with crosses from out wide aimed at his gormless face it would seem. 

Michy made good runs and I think showed that us a bit that if you can find him facing the goal he’lol stick it in there. 

Higuain always seems to start out moving well, making runs in behind but again the ball doesn’t come because it’s not an easy pass. We’ve seen Jorginho find him a few times since he came. 

10 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

Blimey, calm down.

I didn't quote you,  and the example quotes I did use were from various different people.

I won't be scrolling through the archives to find an example of you saying Torres was better than Morata...... mainly because, I never said that you specifically said this.

As for disputing your points;

- Morata having pace. I don't really think Morata is lightening fast but quicker than Higuaín, granted. As you are all for providing "examples", can you provide a few examples of Morata's pace causing Premiership defenders problems this season? Perhaps an example of him beating a defender and then going on to score. Unless he uses his pace to his advantage, it's not really all that useful.

- Morata being currently better than Higuaín. Playing for a different team, in a different league, with different players around him. I am only interested in how they perform for Chelsea, and this season, Morata's performances were worse than Higuains.

As for the whole "we may as well have kept Morata" line. I agree that Higuaín has not represented much of an upgrade, but I think it was worth a roll of the dice given how awful Morata was for us. I also would rather have Higuaín in the starting 11 than Morata, but I would concede it terms of contribution to the team there is not much difference.

The fact that Higuaín manages to stay on his feet and not mince about the pitch with a face like a slapped arse all game, means he probably edges it. Morata looked like he was about to cry every time something didn't go his way for us, and looked so miserable that he didn't even smile when he (rarely) scored for us in his final months.

I don't miss him, not anything about him, even that 'blistering pace' of his. Higuaín being not much/no better won't change that.

I am calm mate, the first two things you quoted were literally from my post on the previous page. 

 

I never said he was lightening fast but he does have pace. His goal for Atlético just this week proves this as did his goal against Stoke for us. He’s no Hazard I admit but definitely significantly faster than Higuain.

 

Higuain has been equally honking for us this year, particularly when he is supposed to ‘get’ Sarri’s way of working and understand the tactical ins and outs of the style of play. He’s only scored against teams that are gonna get relegated. He was also poor for Milan in a worse/slower league than Morata has been in La Liga. Of course, again different leagues but I’d say that the Spanish league is higher quality than Italy.

 

I disagree that it was worth the roll of the dice, to try another striker? Yeah, it probably was but most people could see Higuain is in the decline and that he’d struggle in this league. It was a poor decision but the club to bring him in, should we have rolled the dice and tried to replace Morata? Sure, but not with Higuain.

 

That’s fair enough if you think that, I felt Morata brought more to the table even with the negative attitude. Would I like to see him back? Not particularly, but if Higuain was the other option then may as well have kept him around!

 

But hey, it seems every striker struggles (except Costa with Cesc) with us so maybe it’s the rest of the team that needs to be looked at. 

Edited April 2, 20197 yr by EdinburghBlue

On 02/04/2019 at 13:30, big blue said:

I think any striker will struggle in this side. We have full backs who dont deliver regular quality crosses, we have midfielders that dont get in the box to at least draw attention, and our wingers bar hazard are inconsistent and at times quite selfish. As a team we dont move the ball quick enough and there is very little movement off the ball. 

These issues weren't as much of a problem when we played on the counter, but the system we play now, makes these issues even more apparent because we have so much of the ball, and teams are usually sitting back in their own half. 

I think if we address the other issues in the team, then the striker situation will fall into place. 

IMO Higuain is doing better than Morata, so I think that if everything works out and we get into Champions league for the next season, it would be great to see more young faces because we will need to rotate even more often and I believe that a young Abraham will work out great.

I took the time to look up Higuain's stats; 8 games, 3 goals (all with right foot), 31 shots taken, 8 shots on target, 2 big chances missed, 1 shot that hit the post, 5 offsides called.
He is taking on average more than 3 shots per game, almost 4.

Morata in comparison had played 16 games, 5 goals (3 with right foot, 2 with left), 35 shots, 16 shots on target, 10 big chances missed, 0 woodwork shots, 20 offsides called.
He was taking a bit more than 2 shots per game.

 

Lets be honest. It is not enough go be good at finnishing past 30. When you gets slower you need to be strong and be great target player for the team and also great in the air to compensate. Higuain has neither. 

Edited April 5, 20197 yr by Ploki