7 hours ago, Simplymo said:

I'm surprised you didn't give nkunku the Jackson treatment when he missed a 1on1 vs the keeper mate.

 

Lol, just joking bud, not surprised at all. 🤣

Bad miss....but Nkunku's brain farts are usually in isolation  - and the exception rather than the rule....unlike you know who! 

5 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Bad miss....but Nkunku's brain farts are usually in isolation  - and the exception rather than the rule....unlike you know who! 

Nkunku’s appearances are usually in isolation.

6 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Bad miss....but Nkunku's brain farts are usually in isolation  - and the exception rather than the rule....unlike you know who! 

Bad miss! OK bud.

I guess all the times he should have been called out, if you were to give him the same treatment as jacko, is also just a typical bad or unfortunate miss/pass/bit of play too.

🤣

Tbh, to me thats normal, especially given the age of our players and their experience. I won't rub it in that nkunku is 4 years older than jacko too, with vastly more experience and a proper footballers education from a young age. Oooops, lol

I just wish you call them all out equally and also give credit (equally) when due too, to all our players.

Again, I like nkunku and he is a valuable member of the squad but he is just a back up for Jackson in the #9 spot as he's not as good as jacko in that position.

His position in the squad is fighting/pushing felix for the second #10/second striker spot and vice versa. It will make them both (felix and nkunku) better competing against each other.

Maresca always stated he wants 2 players for each position and the only thing I think you and I agree on in rgds to jacko is we need someone to push/fight jacko for his spot. To make him and whoever it is we get to be better, do better. Again, he will fk up still while learning his trade, I'm expecting that. But pls remember to sprinkle a pich of perspective mate. 

 

P.s. Jacko gets an extra tick in his box from me btw, because I've seen way too many ppl without competition abusing it/that. Acting as no one can touch them, proper prima donna's. Jacko has not once put his head down and stopped fighting or learning. I really like that and I don't think he gets the credit for it.

Edited December 1, 20241 yr by Simplymo

Yet another unimportant opening goal. 

He's the clownshoe version of Drogba

18 minutes ago, Deino said:

He's the clownshoe version of Drogba

Think we forget how young Jackson is, Drogba wasn't this good at the same age

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Think we forget how young Jackson is, Drogba wasn't this good at the same age

It doesn't make it any less true currently. 

Needs to tighten up his focus

12 minutes ago, Deino said:

It doesn't make it any less true currently. 

Needs to tighten up his focus

yeah, and when Martinez passed the ball to him, I blame him for not flicking it up off his heel, performing three keepme uppies with his head before scorpion kicking it into the top left corner off the net of both posts and the underside of the crossbar... 

 

Was good in the first half, bad in the second. Happy that Maresca didn't wait to take him off, because Jackson never improves once the mistakes creep in. He's getting goals though, he just needs to cut out the rubbish parts of his game and I don't see any reason for us to complain.

1 minute ago, bluetrooper said:

yeah, and when Martinez passed the ball to him, I blame him for not flicking it up off his heel, performing three keepme uppies with his head before scorpion kicking it into the top left corner off the net of both posts and the underside of the crossbar... 

 

Oh man, that's too much. A nice sidefoot to the bottom left corner would have sufficed

Best and worst of him again today. Constantly dangerous, good finish for his goal, couple of dodgey decisions especially in the second half.

His ability to switch between coming short and going in behind is going to create a lot of space for us 

He’s getting better and better and if he scores a goal a game I am happy.

Great finish for the goal - loved it. A real strikers finish, and yep, an important opening goal. £10 well spent.

...but....

....The rest of the game he was utter utter sh*t, as is the norm.. This includes missing a 1:1 on failing on the basics of controlling the ball, when faced with an opening goal.  An utter liability.

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

Great finish for the goal - loved it. A real strikers finish, and yep, an important opening goal. £10 well spent.

...but....

....The rest of the game he was utter utter sh*t, as is the norm.. This includes missing a 1:1 on failing on the basics of controlling the ball, when faced with an opening goal.  An utter liability.

I wouldn't go as far to say an utter liability but an up and down game for sure. Should have had an hattrick, but cannot fault him for taking his goal well.

Think if Maresca makes the change on the hour and gives Nkunku a good half hour we would have had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

2 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Was good in the first half, bad in the second. Happy that Maresca didn't wait to take him off, because Jackson never improves once the mistakes creep in. He's getting goals though, he just needs to cut out the rubbish parts of his game and I don't see any reason for us to complain.

Two sides of Nicolas Jackson. Excellently taken goal. Proper centre-forward's finish. Really good.

Second half.

Superb sweeping ball from Palmer straight to Jackson out wide on the left. Villa are in trouble. Easy pass on to Fernandez in space on the edge of the Villa box. No pressure, a simple pass. Instead Jacko gives it straight to the closest Villa player. Danger over.

The good and the bad. 

Needs 1v1 sessions to improve that part of his game. Other than that he looks like he is going to be a top, top striker when he will hit his prime. But that 1v1 situations need a lot of improving. It's frustrating how good he is in the build-up and the way he works the channels, just to look ridiculous in a lot of 1v1 situations.

3 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

I wouldn't go as far to say an utter liability but an up and down game for sure. Should have had an hattrick, but cannot fault him for taking his goal well.

Think if Maresca makes the change on the hour and gives Nkunku a good half hour we would have had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Did Nkunku do anything in the 20 min he was given?

16 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Did Nkunku do anything in the 20 min he was given?

About the same as Madueke in the time allowed, except for the booking for diving. Was wide open when Felix decided to shoot instead towards the end. 

But it's not about one 20 minute run out is it. I'm pleased with the overall performance but I could just as easily say what did Jackson do in the preceding 20 minutes. Giving the guy minutes and patience and letting his confidence grow can only be a good thing surely.

5 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

yeah, and when Martinez passed the ball to him, I blame him for not flicking it up off his heel, performing three keepme uppies with his head before scorpion kicking it into the top left corner off the net of both posts and the underside of the crossbar... 

 

He simply just needed to use his powers to teleport a yard or two further back and it’s a tap in. If he can’t even do that he should give up.

I think some credit has to be given to Jackson, he appears to have cut out the theatrics of the posturing and diving around.

He’s really taken some opportunities well in recent weeks that he’d of 100% ballooned last season.

Inconsistency still remains prevalent though, should’ve easily had a hattrick today if he has a higher IQ and composure. 
 

I honestly believe Salomon Kalou is the greatest comparison and career trajectory for him.

18 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

About the same as Madueke in the time allowed, except for the booking for diving. Was wide open when Felix decided to shoot instead towards the end. 

But it's not about one 20 minute run out is it. I'm pleased with the overall performance but I could just as easily say what did Jackson do in the preceding 20 minutes. Giving the guy minutes and patience and letting his confidence grow can only be a good thing surely.

How much time would’ve been appropriate then? He hooked Jackson off and I can’t remember a single thing Nkunku did whilst on the pitch. 
 

It isn’t about giving him minutes or letting his confidence grow in my opinion. It’s the fact Nkunku is wasted as a lone ST. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

How much time would’ve been appropriate then? He hooked Jackson off and I can’t remember a single thing Nkunku did whilst on the pitch. 
 

It isn’t about giving him minutes or letting his confidence grow in my opinion. It’s the fact Nkunku is wasted as a lone ST. 

I'd make the guy a fundamental part of the first team squad, playing 20-30 mins for a good 5 games. If nothing has happened then, if he hasn't contributed,  if he is not responding to this rather than just playing against Burger King FC, then maybe we can start writing him off. But if he does start building his confidence,  feeling he's wanted and gets to play in a way that benefits his game, it might, just might be the extra something we need. 

I think jacko did really well and was constantly pressing high up. You can see he was getting tired from all that and maresca made the right call to sub him then. But until he started to get tired I was very happy with wacko (all our lot played well tbh). 

As I posted in the other thread...tons of positives in that game but what fills me with hope is that all the negatives/iffy stuff in that game were things that can be put down to inexperience. That includes wako, lavia, Enzo, etc...the mistakes/negatives today can all be sorted with practice/training and/or experience. Surely that's a very good sign that the kids are doing well.

6 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

yeah, and when Martinez passed the ball to him, I blame him for not flicking it up off his heel, performing three keepme uppies with his head before scorpion kicking it into the top left corner off the net of both posts and the underside of the crossbar... 

 

🤣 🤣 🤣,  he tried so hard to intercept it, I thought he was going to do the splits. No way he could have taken a shot in that split second too while off balance. In hindsight, easier to fall down and pass it to a team mate but no one in blue next to him unfortunately, that's something they will learn with time I guess.

It's all part of the learning curve...

6 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Was good in the first half, bad in the second. Happy that Maresca didn't wait to take him off, because Jackson never improves once the mistakes creep in. He's getting goals though, he just needs to cut out the rubbish parts of his game and I don't see any reason for us to complain.

100% agreed.

Also as above...and I'll add I'm also very happy with maresca too.

6 hours ago, Niall1905 said:

Best and worst of him again today. Constantly dangerous, good finish for his goal, couple of dodgey decisions especially in the second half.

His ability to switch between coming short and going in behind is going to create a lot of space for us 

100%

He at times isn't mark-able (that a word?) The cbs don't know if they should follow him deep or get dragged to the left. He's giving them a lot to think about.

1 hour ago, The Boehly Babes said:

I think some credit has to be given to Jackson, he appears to have cut out the theatrics of the posturing and diving around.

He’s really taken some opportunities well in recent weeks that he’d of 100% ballooned last season.

Inconsistency still remains prevalent though, should’ve easily had a hattrick today if he has a higher IQ and composure. 
 

I honestly believe Salomon Kalou is the greatest comparison and career trajectory for him.

Bit harsh, did a quick google and Jackson is already close to Kalou numbers... but then Kalou was played everywhere... 

Kalou looks like he's still playing in Djibouti - good effort that man. 

1 hour ago, Simplymo said:

 

🤣 🤣 🤣,  he tried so hard to intercept it, I thought he was going to do the splits. No way he could have taken a shot in that split second too while off balance. In hindsight, easier to fall down and pass it to a team mate but no one in blue next to him unfortunately, that's something they will learn with time I guess.

It's all part of the learning curve...

 

a chance his poisiotning created but sadly didnt take this time. got to be in it to win it.. the goldfish in a bag. 

Nico is delivering those opening goals, which nets me 5 lovely prediction league points and costs Jom a tenner.

Long may it continue  :)