3 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Jackson is a striker. Jackson's finishing has somehow got even worse but what he offers in build up and occupying defenders no other player in the squad can currently do up top. Its compounded by the fact that outside of Palmer everyone else seems allergic to scoring. 

If he is a striker, then he is the worst striker to ever play for us. And one of the worst to ever play in the EPL. 

The people saying he is a winger are being kind and giving Jackson praise a generous off ramp to back down on their assertions and save some face. He is sh*t. A turd. A nugget. An unflushable.  

47 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

The fact that you prefer the options over Jackson is clouding your judgement.  Jackson has, for a year and a half, never demonstrated that he deserves a place in the team.  He has consistently cost us points, cost us chances and has generally been poor.

 

Now - I accept that Guiu and the attacking midfielders/false 9 options are not ideal - but things do not have to be ideal to give them a try. 

Enough is enough. The Jackson experiment has gone on too long, with too little to show for it. The lack of options cannot be used as an excuse. When does it end? If Jackson sits down in the centre circle and crosses his legs for 90 mins, are you still going to say we should play him, simply because Guiu is not experienced?  It is madness. He has to be dropped. Ditto to Sanchez.

 

Outside of his finishing Jackson is the best option we've had up top in years. None of the options you listed have any better finishing except Nkunku and we've seen how that ends up when he's played as a lone 9. Do you understand? 

47 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

If he is a striker, then he is the worst striker to ever play for us. And one of the worst to ever play in the EPL. 

The people saying he is a winger are being kind and giving Jackson praise a generous off ramp to back down on their assertions and save some face. He is sh*t. A turd. A nugget. An unflushable.  

Simply not true but whatever helps you sleep at night. 

4 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Jackson is a striker. Jackson's finishing has somehow got even worse but what he offers in build up and occupying defenders no other player in the squad can currently do up top. Its compounded by the fact that outside of Palmer everyone else seems allergic to scoring. 

But that's just it. He isn't scoring and he isn't causing opposition defenders any issues (bar the very odd moment). He doesn't hold the ball up well. he loses possession too easily, he gets caught offiside, he's no good in the air. So you're saying no other player in the squad can currently offer what Jackson does - which is pretty much NOTHING!! 

Alternatives are far from ideal but it IS time to try something else.

Edited January 29, 20251 yr by Nibs

1 minute ago, Nibs said:

But that's just it. He isn't scoring and he isn't causing opposition defenders any issues (bar the very odd moment). He doesn't hold the ball up well. he loses possession too easily, he gets caught offisde. So you're saying no other player in the squad can currently offer what Jackson does - which is pretty much NOTHING!! 

Alternatives are far from ideal but it IS time to try something else.

He's doing exactly what Delap does for Ipswich that everyone seems to want to sign.

Correct - no other player can offer what he does, that's how dire the options are. Guiu could be worth a chance at this point but he's looked poor as often as he's contributed. 

We need to sign someone serious. 

21 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

He's doing exactly what Delap does for Ipswich that everyone seems to want to sign.

Ouch 😆😆😆

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Outside of his finishing Jackson is the best option we've had up top in years. None of the options you listed have any better finishing except Nkunku and we've seen how that ends up when he's played as a lone 9. 

I think this is the crux of it - even when on a terrible run of finishing form/luck Jackson is still doing everything else he usually does in and out of possession: that makes him our best option by a distance.

This kind of scoring form (which has clearly affected his confidence) would usually, in a competently-managed squad, be when you'd rotate him out for another striker. We simply do not have one.

My kingdom for a Loïc Rémy!

Edited January 29, 20251 yr by PloKoon13

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

I think this is the crux of it - even when on a terrible run of finishing form/luck Jackson is still doing everything else he usually does in and out of possession: that makes him our best option by a distance.

This kind of scoring form (which has clearly affected his confidence) would usually, in a competently-managed squad, be when you'd rotate him out for another striker. We simply do not have one.

My kingdom for a Loïc Rémy!

Winning aerial duels? = no

Holding up the ball and bringing others into play = no

Assisting regularly? = no, 1 or 2 assists in last 10 ish games.

Managing to keep hold of possession? = no

Elite physical, strengh or jumping attributes? = no 

Outsmarting defenders with elite anticipation, concentration and decision making? = no

Putting it in the net, showign composure, finishing, and technique? No

....so apart from all these things detailed above - please enlighten us as to "everything else he usually does"

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

I think this is the crux of it - even when on a terrible run of finishing form/luck Jackson is still doing everything else he usually does in and out of possession: that makes him our best option by a distance.

This kind of scoring form (which has clearly affected his confidence) would usually, in a competently-managed squad, be when you'd rotate him out for another striker. We simply do not have one.

My kingdom for a Loïc Rémy!

Amen for a Loic Remy, Solomon Kalou or even Mikael Forsell at this time.... hell, I would even take a Mark Nicholls ...

10 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Amen for a Loic Remy, Solomon Kalou or even Mikael Forsell at this time.... hell, I would even take a Mark Nicholls ...

I'll take all those and raise you a Michy Batshuayi LOL

3 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

He's doing exactly what Delap does for Ipswich that everyone seems to want to sign.

Don't really care for Delap much. Not excited for any of the players we are linked with, is just more of the same.

Ivan Toni would be available. Id be happy to risk it, our ageist recruitment policy would be against it. Im sure we could swap someone... Felix not bowled over by earning 300K per week I wonder? 

Outside of Toni, I'd be looking at Anderson at Wolves to be a big mobile target man, see how Cunha has played off his this season... Jackson and wingers could all benefit from a platform around the box at times. 

We need a target man to mix it up. 

A little striker comparison of Jackson/Guiu vs other players that we have been linked to ... career-to-date data from Transfermarkt.

Benjamin Sesko would seem to tick a lot of boxes age/productivity wise ... big unit as well

Gyokeres has quite a lot of mileage for his age ... 

Anyone else you'd like me to add in ?

35 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Winning aerial duels? = no

Not particularly, but, again, better than the alternatives. What other forward in the squad is better at this than Jackson? Félix? Nkunku?

Holding up the ball and bringing others into play = no

Yes, he is excellent at this; it's one of his best qualities. Note that he has assisted Palmer, our top scorer and very much a ball player, more than any other player in the team.

Assisting regularly? = no, 1 or 2 assists in last 10 ish games.

Third-highest assists-per-minute rate in the squad (ahead of both Nkunku and Félix... and Isak and Delap), second in total behind only Palmer. He is the joint-top centre-forward assister in the league. Yes, he is good at this.

Managing to keep hold of possession? = no

Has marginally better numbers in this than Isak (and significantly better than Delap although the way Ipswich get the ball forward makes this a bit of an unfair comparison). I'd be wary of individual player stats on this as I think it is very much dictated by a team's style of play (see: Haaland's numbers). He loses the ball about as much as you would expect from the centre-forward in this team.

Elite physical, strengh or jumping attributes? = no 

He is a very athletic player and significantly better at this than the alternatives. Note that he hasn't missed a single game through injury this season (despite being the only viable person to play up front) which (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think is true of any other outfield player in the squad. If by physical/strength you mean 'does he elbow people?' then no, not particularly.

Outsmarting defenders with elite anticipation, concentration and decision making? = no

Yes, he frequently beats defenders and gets into good positions. If you want a stick to beat him with I would keep on about his execution; he's good or excellent at most other facets of centre-forward play. You could try bringing the Conference League into it but I don't think anyone bothered tracking the numbers for it (and I don't think anybody would be convinced). He's not really even getting booked any more.

Putting it in the net, showign composure, finishing, and technique? No

He was putting in some excellent goalscoring performances until about a month ago, when the entire team's form fell off a cliff. Note that this was almost certainly exacerbated by being forced to play him regardless of this because, again, there is no viable alternative.

....so apart from all these things detailed above - please enlighten us as to "everything else he usually does"

 

If we did have someone like Rémy (or maybe a Ferguson or a Durán...) I'd be quite happy to put Jackson on the bench for a couple of games. Let him come on in the second half and make mincemeat of all the knackered defenders. Failing that, or Guiu overnight turning into a player who doesn't look out of his depth against Morecambe, Jackson is really our best (and only) bet.

48 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

A little striker comparison of Jackson/Guiu vs other players that we have been linked to ... career-to-date data from Transfermarkt.

Benjamin Sesko would seem to tick a lot of boxes age/productivity wise ... big unit as well

Gyokeres has quite a lot of mileage for his age ... 

Anyone else you'd like me to add in ?

Would be interested to see this with penalties excluded as any striker we sign isn't taking them over Palmer and Toney for example was always the penalty taker, wasn't he?

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Would be interested to see this with penalties excluded as any striker we sign isn't taking them over Palmer and Toney for example was always the penalty taker, wasn't he?

Here you go:

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Here you go:

Assume for the likes of Delap it takes into account PL2 games too? 

18 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Assume for the likes of Delap it takes into account PL2 games too? 

Yes it is all the data shown on Transfermarkt. I didn't strip any out, as plenty of weak leagues across the board. 

All the data is on Transfermarkt if you want to dig in any further. Did think about using PL or "First Tier" league only, but some of these guys would have very little data, and you've still got all the PL vs Bundesliga type arguments of course even if you do that. It is a shame you don't get a tick option on that site for what you want to include/exclude (i.e. an easy way to strip out junior teams), but it's free ... so you get what you pay for 🙂

 

Jackson isn’t the answer and I think fundamentally it comes down to the fact he didn’t grow up as a footballer, it’s an issue with a lot of Africans unfortunately, whereas the South Americans/Europeans are largely in some form of set up ie an academy and are being taught the thinking side of the game alongside their physical attributes from ridiculously young ages (4/5 in some cases) the likes of Jackson just aren’t. It’s the reason I wouldn’t go near Osimhen, watch him and when it doesn’t come down to pure athleticism, he’s not a good footballer. Unfortunately the Drogba’s of the world tend to be the outliers.
 

It’s not his fault at all but it’s glaringly obvious watching him in the PL that the game is simply too fast, his brain isn’t keeping up with his body. It leads to silly offsides, tripping over his own feet or other laughable attempts at backheels etc. 

Compare that to when he doesn’t have to think and just ‘react’ and it’s night and day.

Gyokeres is the ideal target but we aren’t getting him. 
Sesko would be a high upside player but could quite easily turn out to be Morata 2.0

Delap is the SD’s Blueprint of a signing.

Duran is the most intriguing, as in his limited time on the pitch he’s had some special moments, but it looks like he’s off to Saudi. 
Tel largely appears to be a Winger as opposed to a Striker and doesn’t fancy us at all by the sounds of it. 
Toney wouldn’t be even considered due to wage/age.

 

The options out there aren’t exactly sure fire things but we have to try something. 
 

If we come into February with Jackson as our only real option (Nkunku isn’t fancied and his overall gameplay is a detriment to how Maresca envisions us playing) then I’m afraid even the Europa League is beyond us for next year. 

https://x.com/currentiyke/status/1884564824790540368?s=46

Enjoy/try not to cry 

36 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

https://x.com/currentiyke/status/1884564824790540368?s=46

Enjoy/try not to cry 

Absolutely painful. A steaming hot turd of a player. And not even a nicely formed turd that wraps around like a soft serve ice cream - but a stunning, putrid, pebbledash of a turd that is difficult to scrub .

My goodness I hate this guy. 

Did anyone see Chelsea's video over the last day or two of Jackson, Tosin and Caicedo cooking?

Tosin and Caicedo both doing it properly, whilst the turd just gets everything wrong. Half reading instructions, not understanding what the ingredients were ("what is coriander?", and just generally being a hinderance. Reflects his contributions on the pitch I suppose!

7 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

 

If we did have someone like Rémy (or maybe a Ferguson or a Durán...) I'd be quite happy to put Jackson on the bench for a couple of games. Let him come on in the second half and make mincemeat of all the knackered defenders. Failing that, or Guiu overnight turning into a player who doesn't look out of his depth against Morecambe, Jackson is really our best (and only) bet.

Fair play for sticking to your guns. Unsurprisingly I don't agree.  

Yes - there are fleeting moments when he does the things you say moderately well (although certainly not elite). The game against west ham. A bit against Leicester. A 10min spell against Newcastle. These are all examples of when he has done ok. 

But in generally he doesn't do any of those things well - and certainly not consistently. He is generally a stupid hinderance to the team.

The assists stat is also an anomaly. Yes he has 5 - but let's not kid ourself that this is due to some amazing ball playing skill. And for context, it is the same number of assists as Ait Nouri (defender at wolves) and elliot anderson (dm at forest). So let's not kid ourselves that he is some amazing assist machine. 

Really is a shame Dujon "Whisper" Richards got injured and had surgery in the summer, and is just about to make his return.

Had a good record last season overall for us, and I would have been happily championing him to replace Nico as frequently as Jim's Nico love ins are going.

Matter of fact I would be doing the same with Kellyman replacing Neto/Sancho, but he got injured right away and is still out. Must be something about the player I think highly of.

 

Hmm....

 

 

Well you know that Robert Sanchez, always thought he was a phenomenal keeper, what a ball player he is. And that Enzo Fernandez, must be a love child of Essien and Lampard!

 

I jest I jest, would not wish such fate on any player, ours or rivals.

 

Jim for Nico though....

 

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Jim for Nico though....

You just ruined my day and made me have a little cry.

7 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

You just ruined my day and made me have a little cry.