Just now, Scott Harris said:

It would be mental to sell him now, but I see him definitely being sold in the summer. Maresca clearly isn't a fan.

Don't know who replaces him though. I would like Duran, but it's not going to happen. He's just took Watkins place and has a contact that doesn't end until 2030. We would have to pay something insanse to get him here.

Isn't it crazy that, in the space on 5 months, the majority of the forum has gone from not wanting Duran, to him being in the top 3 of several people's striker wanted lists.

Psg looking to move on Kolo Muani. Nkunku has been linked with a return,  they could afford a transfer and would mean he does not stay in the PL.

23 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Psg looking to move on Kolo Muani. Nkunku has been linked with a return,  they could afford a transfer and would mean he does not stay in the PL.

I really would prefer we keep him and utilise him more. He is our best and most clinical finisher. I think he’s looks demotivated. I would be too if someone who’s had one season comes in and plays ahead of me when I have been one of Europes best forwards.

4 hours ago, El regreso said:

I really would prefer we keep him and utilise him more. He is our best and most clinical finisher. I think he’s looks demotivated. I would be too if someone who’s had one season comes in and plays ahead of me when I have been one of Europes best forwards.

Yeah but do you think Maresca will start to use him more? I don't.

On 24/12/2024 at 22:29, Sexyfootball said:

I hope we put some faith in Guiu ahead of signing another striker like Duran or Omorodion at this point.

 

18 games in, Guiu only have 17 min in PL, no chance 

Edited December 26, 20241 yr by Bob stark

Best finisher at the club cannot get game time. Yet Jackson never dropped. Just cannot wrap my head around it 

2 hours ago, Andy2461 said:

Best finisher at the club cannot get game time. Yet Jackson never dropped. Just cannot wrap my head around it 

Yep - it is madness.

I can't pretend I didn't see Nkunku as the real replacement of Hazard (after Pulisic turned out to be a bit weak), feels almost mind-blowing that he couldn't set the tone for the whole team but I agree that all space and trust should be given to Palmer.

Why Nkunku couldn't adapt and play as the inside-forward on any side? Hope Maresca and the staff tried their best to make it work, Nkunku looked perfect for the PL on paper.

He needs to do a lot more when he plays. Limited minutes, but start with the work rate that is expected. 

if you really don’t want to be here then he should leave. Need a lot more from that role 

Don’t want to complain too much as he’s clearly not a striker but I would still expect more effort from someone looking to impress.  
 

Him coming in for Jackson never works, I would rather see Guiu come on at this rate. 

I posted this in the match thread in response to @Gordon Bennett, but it's worth sticking on here I feel.

But I am convinced that if N'kunku got the consecutive starts and minutes that Jackson gets, and if even a third of the chances that regularly fall to Jackson, fell to N'kunku instead, we would score a lot more goals and look a lot more fluid up front. 

But that's never gonna happen Gordo, because N'kunku is going to be sold and, unfortunately, he is going to show his class at another top European team. And it will be on Maresca.

 

 

 

Just now, just said:

I posted this in the match thread in response to @Gordon Bennett, but it's worth sticking on here I feel.

But I am convinced that if N'kunku got the consecutive starts and minutes that Jackson gets, and if even a third of the chances that regularly fall to Jackson, fell to N'kunku instead, we would score a lot more goals and look a lot more fluid up front. 

But that's never gonna happen Gordo, because N'kunku is going to be sold and, unfortunately, he is going to show his class at another top European team. And it will be on Maresca.

 

 

 

Maybe, although I've seen nothing at all from Nkunku in the Prem to suggest he's a number 9.

He may well do brilliantly for another side but I'd imagine that would be as a 10?

22 minutes ago, just said:

I posted this in the match thread in response to @Gordon Bennett, but it's worth sticking on here I feel.

But I am convinced that if N'kunku got the consecutive starts and minutes that Jackson gets, and if even a third of the chances that regularly fall to Jackson, fell to N'kunku instead, we would score a lot more goals and look a lot more fluid up front. 

But that's never gonna happen Gordo, because N'kunku is going to be sold and, unfortunately, he is going to show his class at another top European team. And it will be on Maresca.

 

 

 

He wouldn’t get the chances that fall to Jackson cause he wouldn’t be there making the runs behind to begin with. 
 

We all agree Nukuku is a better player and finisher than Jackson but he is not a striker. In an ideal world we have Palmer on the right and Nukuku in the middle but Enzo can’t seem to make it work. 

The problem is that Nkunku is not a striker. It you're going to bring him on, pair him up with Jackson. Have him play off Jackson, not just bring him on like for like. A lot of this comes down to Maresca's refusal to move Palmer around. Palmer is a brilliant footballer, but like we saw once again today in that second half, you can nulify him by quickly surrounding him when he gets on the ball. We can take the work load off Palmer by switching things up as the game is going on. If it's needed, then move him to the right and bring either Nkunku or Felix on.

Maresca seems reluctant to make any tactical changes.

32 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

The problem is that Nkunku is not a striker. It you're going to bring him on, pair him up with Jackson. Have him play off Jackson, not just bring him on like for like. A lot of this comes down to Maresca's refusal to move Palmer around. Palmer is a brilliant footballer, but like we saw once again today in that second half, you can nulify him by quickly surrounding him when he gets on the ball. We can take the work load off Palmer by switching things up as the game is going on. If it's needed, then move him to the right and bring either Nkunku or Felix on.

Maresca seems reluctant to make any tactical changes.

Does not even have to be Jackson. Can be Guiu. His runs and work rate will make the space Nkunku needs arriving late in to the box.

Honestly see this guy as a starter on teh left.. no idea what he has to do to start in teh league. Think he'll be better than Sancho more consistently. 

Brings him on to play as a target man striker for our long balls out from Sanchez.

Then his deliberate handball trying to control said long ball leads to fulham going down down other end and equalizing.

Deary me.

Come on and decided to walk about instead of joining the press with him teammates when HE was the one with the fresh legs. Not for the first time either.

Proper disgrace that and should be out of the squad for Ipswich for "technical reasons" like Madueke after the latters disgraceful cameo v Everton.

I would guess Nkunku now wants to leave, the sooner the better.

25 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Brings him on to play as a target man striker for our long balls out from Sanchez.

Then his deliberate handball trying to control said long ball leads to fulham going down down other end and equalizing.

Deary me.

Or......version 2 as shown on my TV... Cucurella has gone walkabout into a central forward position when Sanchez has to punt the ball long, and there is a huge gaping hole where our left-back should be, which Fulham attack and duly score from. 

He's not a CF however that shouldn't stop you from running. He is so lazy.

1 hour ago, jack_super_class said:

He's not a CF however that shouldn't stop you from running. He is so lazy.

I would guess he is hoping for a January move and is protecting himself.

Think we are now at the point where we need to see some tactical flexibility for Palmer and find a way to add Nkunku. We've given sides the blueprint that when Palmer is taken out of the game we pretty much have to rely on the hot/cold Jackson. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think we are now at the point where we need to see some tactical flexibility for Palmer and find a way to add Nkunku. We've given sides the blueprint that when Palmer is taken out of the game we pretty much have to rely on the hot/cold Jackson. 

 

 

I don't think Maresca wants that. He wants work ethic and defensive ability from his wide players. Netos 1 goal and 2 assists is fine by Big Enz as long as he defends well.

Palmer does not give him that, so he stays in the middle. 

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I would guess he is hoping for a January move and is protecting himself.

Don't think we can afford to lose both N'kunku and Palmer in the same window!

Though with Palmer allegedly not having the same level of performances as previously, you may well be right that he will be off-loaded shortly. The rumour that West Ham are apparently interested would back up your original prediction.