Ah -  its been a while, but nice to see/hear the old "attacker is tracking back" line again - it has been a while.... This line is the equivalent of "yeah they might be f**king ugly, but they have a nice personality" line that  @dkw or @just hear so often.... (well - perhaps not DKW who  also has an awful personality...but you get my sentiment).

Lets be clear for a minute. We need our attackers to deliver up the field - not in defence. Hazard was rubbish at defending, and that was fine.  We have defenders and less creative people for that....We don't expect our cb's to sprinting down the wings and beating people, and we shouldnt expect our wingers to do the opposite. 

Madueke has had what many (including myself) wanted - and that was a run in the team. He has proven what many (including myself) thought. He is a serviceable, mid tier winger, but not a consistent game changing monster.  We tried. We now know. 

Time for Neto or Palmer to be given a run there now. Not against giving Mudryk a proper run either - a final make or break. But would prefer others, including Chukky.

34 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Kids done sweet FA in the past few games. Time for Trykky Mykky to get another chance perhaps.

Madueke needs some bench time. Same as Jackson.

But the idea of Mudryk as a starter in the EPL is simply mental. He isn't a footballer. Despite how much he cost, United have bit the bullet and don't play Antony anymore and he is miles better than Mudryk!

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Clumsy dribbler ain't he? Unless he kicks it past the defender and beats him on pace, he really isn't the one who will work well in tight areas. Teams are doing well restricting the space he has. Once he does get in the box he's just not making any impact. 

He's been given the most game time out of any winger and hasn't been able to get through this bad patch. I'd drop him for Neto. 

 

Neto is playing along side him to be fair. Agree he needs to be dropped into the B team, personally don’t want him starting games again till around the festive period. Big problem is the other options are all underwhelming. We seem to have prioritised quantity over quality. 

Madueke is no better than Hudson Odoi. Like I mentioned in previous comments most likely he will be sold in summer and hopefully we can get some profits out of him as he has some decent performances in him once a while but he is not consistent enough. 

The wolves hat trick got to his head!!

Selfish at all the wrong times, definitely has the ability but the amount of times he makes the wrong decision when it matters most is so infuriating. 
He’s surrounded by more talented players (Not including Jackson) but seems to think he’s the best there is. 

I am expecting the same front 4 that faced United to play Arsenal.

Though has been suggested if Noni and Nico dropped out, and Felix came in as the false 9 and Nkunku the 10, Palmer wide right, we might unlock something special. 

They'll come a time we'll have to change the front four, be it bad luck, suspension or form based.  From what we've seen, I think it is time to mix it up, and would start with Noni.

He needs to improve his end product.  Can see his squad position being under threat when Estevao and Paez arrive. 

Apart from Palmer, anyone could be rotated or dropped. I like his direct approach and every game he will have those 3-4 threatening runs, but my feeling is teams have worked that out, just don't let him cut inside and he will give it away eventually.

Palmer, Colwill and Caicedo are the untouchables. 

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I am expecting the same front 4 that faced United to play Arsenal.

Though has been suggested if Noni and Nico dropped out, and Felix came in as the false 9 and Nkunku the 10, Palmer wide right, we might unlock something special. 

Holy sh*t this might be the most awful suggestion i've seen on this site. 

Time to sit on the bench a bit for Madueke, been very poor the last few games.

Was really hoping he would kick on so we could get more money from him when we sell in the summer.

Such a limited player, if he can't get a shot of he's pretty much useless. Palmer out right and Nkunku in the middle can't be any worse even if not as good defensively. 

 

He has been poor for a few weeks now. But Arsenal might just be the game for him to shine. Think I would start him, but hook him early if he has another game as poor as the last few. He must know his place in the team is under threat and we could really do with a top performing Madueke against the Gooners.

 

 

Edited November 5, 20241 yr by Nibs

12 minutes ago, Nibs said:

He has been poor for a few weeks now. But Arsenal might just be the game for him to shine. Think I would start him, but hook him early if he has another game as poor as the last few. He must know his place in the team is under threat and we could really do with a top performing Madueke against the Gooners.

Liverpool, Newcastle and United were the matches we needed Madueke to impress. Done sod all. 

Neto and Sancho need to start. 

I'm not averse to dropping Madueke given recent individual and team form. If nothing else Gusto can become the wide attacker in possession where he is far more effective than the unsuitable inside-right role he's playing now. 

The issue is that Madueke is one of the very few players in our starting XI who ever actually shoots. Neto and Sancho don't, and we would only have Jackson and Palmer left as consistent goalscorers. We would need to replace him in the XI with Nkunku or (gulp) Félix. If Palmer is injured for the Arsenal game then Madueke has to stay really. The shooting drop-off between Jackson, Palmer and Madueke and the other starters is really something we need to account for if one of those three is missing:

Madueke is often (not unjustly) called greedy, but it's one of the reasons he's been an important player for us this season. 

So that just really indicates how ineffective Madueke is in attack then.

I'd imagine Neto doesn't shoot as often because he's playing out wide on his dominate side which encourages him to pass more. 

Is odd Nkunku is not on that list.

Now, assuming we are not forcing him out to remove his large wages, Maresca really needs to use Nkunku, let him sink or swim.

At the moment there are many asking why Maresca does not use or trust Nkunku for PL games, given he is our most natural finisher.

Noni is not playing well enough to be put in the Cole Palmer level of cannot be dropped, Palmer himself was brilliant coming off the right last season and Nkunku is best suited as a 10.

Seems a simple solution to me, drop Noni, move Palmer to the right and Nkunku to the 10.

Maresca has allowed Noni a long run in the side, which many asked for, give Nkunku the same chance in his position. If he blows it by being lazy, or not producing, then we can all go "ok that's why he is not using him".

As it is our most senior attacker is relegated to parting the defence of Noah...

This guy lives off his hat-trick against Wolves and that’s it.

Same issues as last season and not good enough to be selfish as he is. Needs to ride the bench for a couple of games.

If Sancho can get fit, I'd like to see an attack of Sancho - Palmer - Neto for a bit.  Noni is too inconsistent with him end product.  It may well come, but 4 goals arriving in 2 of 11 games is not enough for me. 

Put some good crosses in. Unfortunately it's completely pointless crossing the ball given our centre forward. Fofana got on the end of one though. 

He's in big trouble next season with Estevao arriving. If he is as good as he is hyped up to be and not another overhyped Brazilian, then I don't see a future for Madueke unless he seriously improves his performances.

He needs a few games on the bench but the problem is whether Sancho is fit and up to it on the left (and don’t say Mudryck cause he isn’t a serious option).

Edited November 10, 20241 yr by RMH

On 04/11/2024 at 23:00, Sconnie Blue said:

Palmer, Colwill and Caicedo are the untouchables. 

Might just be me… probably is…. But Colwill is ok. But certainly not an untouchable. Only reason this is valid at all is because the Monaco mob are worse, much worse. 

Madueke has been poor, but I do give him some  let off as:

- he has a donkey upfront to play off, who seems incapable of getting on any ball in that mads puts across

- He is one of the few, who is consistently trying to take the initiative and change things. There were a couple of time when he ran at the defender, and cut in - albeit then messing up the shot.

But overall - should have a spell on the bench.