1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

This. I can defend Jackson overall game easily. Pressing, Link up, channel run, bringing the ball up all top notch.

Now finishing that is whole another story. 🤭🤭

Absolute nonsense.

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

This. I can defend Jackson overall game easily. Pressing, Link up, channel run, bringing the ball up all top notch.

Now finishing that is whole another story. 🤭🤭

Funny you leave out all the other stuff Jackson is sh*t at.

Finishing. Heading. Winning physical duels. Decision making. Footballing IQ. Temperament. Getting assists regularly. Ability to stay onside.

He is awful at most things - including everything I list above. The only thing he is good at, is running around and pressing. That's it.

Delap will be judged on goals as all strikers should be. He wasnt too expensive relatively, his destructive, wrecking ball style is likeable, unless you are playing against him. Hes young with a bit to learn, its early days.

I think he will become a solid second choice striker.

22 minutes ago, OneTommyLangley said:

Delap will be judged on goals as all strikers should be. He wasnt too expensive relatively, his destructive, wrecking ball style is likeable, unless you are playing against him. Hes young with a bit to learn, its early days.

I think he will become a solid second choice striker.

Drogba hardly scored his first season yet context will show how involved he was.

I hate to be that person but I’ve seen a lot of it on social media since last night, if you can’t see how that was a good centre forward performance - you’re probably not very good at judging football games.

He led the line brilliantly, physically matched their defenders, held the ball up and brought others into play, stretched them in behind as well. It was the small touches when holding the ball up that I didn’t expect him to have. I think he’s going to be a very good striker from us.

Strikers are judged on goals but if they’re bringing others into play, getting assists and creating chances for others it doesn’t matter who puts it in the net. I don’t think it would be lack of goals that would be the problem for him if he plays like last night as his all round game was very good. It will be if similar to other strikers we’ve had he misses big chances that he should score.

8 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Btw if you want player who can pin cb behind just play Jackson, jackson channel run is very good. Furthermore Jackson linkup and drop game is also very good. He just can't score.

Last two games, our st score exactly 0 goals. I think Jackson can do that easily 🤭🤭🤭.

Jackson is decent at holding up play on the half way line and spinning the defender, but it's the only thing he is good at. Holding off a defender much higher in the oppositions half is something that Delap looks better at after one game, especially seeing as he can do it with two defenders around him. Ask Jackson to do that job and he is losing the ball, or even worse, he won't try it at all because he can't do it.

Recent Strikers Goals by Season in the Premier League

Tammy 15ish

Lukaku 8ish

Havertz 8ish

Nico 12ish

All contributed but not enough to make a sizeable difference or to maintain their place in the squad/club.

Delap should be able to achieve better than most on here. He could certainly achieve less than Drogba and still be a legend.

Sir Alf once said "we want goals" i assume he meant from the striker(s)

I think its a mistake to compare Delap to any of the above as they didnt achieve the minimum standard. We need higher/better and are likely to keep looking if we dont get it.

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by OneTommyLangley

I thought Delap did fine yesterday I'm not sure what people expect after two games. We know Jackson can't do it, let's give Liam some time before we turn on him .

Very good performances last night only thing missing was a goal that’s it’s. This is second league game for us I don’t know why some are losing their mainds already.

6 minutes ago, OneTommyLangley said:

Recent Strikers Goals by Season in the Premier League

Tammy 15ish

Lukaku 8ish

Havertz 8ish

Nico 12ish

All contributed but not enough to make a sizeable difference or to maintain their place in the squad/club.

Delap should be achieve better than most on here. He could certainly achieve less than Drogba and still be a legend.

Sir Alf once said "we want goals" i assume he meant from the striker(s)

Just shows how goals are only a bit of the story....

Jackson is a far worse footballer than all of those others on the list. I was very critical of Tammy (bambi on ice and not good enough for a team looking to win the EPL) but even he is a significantly better footballer than Jackson.

We played 2 teams that had 6 defenders on the pitch with a goal of keeping their backline deep.

Let’s revisit this in 6 months, but I’ve been happy with Delap so far.

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

We played 2 teams that had 6 defenders on the pitch with a goal of keeping their backline deep.

Let’s revisit this in 6 months, but I’ve been happy with Delap so far.

I think Delap will be given at least two seasons, my belief is that he will score 10-15 per season and be our second highest goalscorer each year and that will probably do nicely.

Too many people just look at the scoreboard at the end and not the performance. Sacrificed himself for the team chasing down opposition and winning loose balls. Goals will come, but he offers so much up top that he allows Pedro and the likes to flourish.

1 hour ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I hate to be that person but I’ve seen a lot of it on social media since last night, if you can’t see how that was a good centre forward performance - you’re probably not very good at judging football games.

He led the line brilliantly, physically matched their defenders, held the ball up and brought others into play, stretched them in behind as well. It was the small touches when holding the ball up that I didn’t expect him to have. I think he’s going to be a very good striker from us.

Strikers are judged on goals but if they’re bringing others into play, getting assists and creating chances for others it doesn’t matter who puts it in the net. I don’t think it would be lack of goals that would be the problem for him if he plays like last night as his all round game was very good. It will be if similar to other strikers we’ve had he misses big chances that he should score.

Yes, this thread is the litmus test to see whether someone understands football imo.

Liam is a good footballer. He is giving me Kerry Dixon vibes.

2 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I hate to be that person but I’ve seen a lot of it on social media since last night, if you can’t see how that was a good centre forward performance - you’re probably not very good at judging football games.

He led the line brilliantly, physically matched their defenders, held the ball up and brought others into play, stretched them in behind as well. It was the small touches when holding the ball up that I didn’t expect him to have. I think he’s going to be a very good striker from us.

Strikers are judged on goals but if they’re bringing others into play, getting assists and creating chances for others it doesn’t matter who puts it in the net. I don’t think it would be lack of goals that would be the problem for him if he plays like last night as his all round game was very good. It will be if similar to other strikers we’ve had he misses big chances that he should score.

Careful you’ll get bashed on here because it sounds like you are describing Jackson 💀

1 minute ago, Clown Lake said:

Careful you’ll get bashed on here because it sounds like you are describing Jackson 💀

Jackson has missed some sitters for us, I also don’t think he has the close control that Delap. Jackson isn’t a terrible player either IMO. I just don’t think he’s a starter for a league challenger as his all round game isn’t of the level to hide his lack of clinical finishing.

1 hour ago, Clown Lake said:

Careful you’ll get bashed on here because it sounds like you are describing Jackson 💀

How is he describing Jackson when he says "Led the line brilliantly".

That is not and never has been Jackson!

I’m genuinely shocked Delap has been criticised, I thought he had a really good game for us. Like a lot of you have said already, love how he disrupts the back line and bring others into play. Hes quality.

It actually scares me a little how some people can’t see that.

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

I’m genuinely shocked Delap has been criticised, I thought he had a really good game for us. Like a lot of you have said already, love how he disrupts the back line and bring others into play. Hes quality.

It actually scares me a little how some people can’t see that.

I'm convinced that Drogba would have gotten a lot of stick if he was around these days. There were a lot of games where he didn't score or get an assist but was just a massive headache for defenders by bullying them and linking up with our other players which is what we saw with Delap yesterday. Yes there are still parts of his game to improve on I think if we give him the time he'll prove to be worth it.

13 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

I'm convinced that Drogba would have gotten a lot of stick if he was around these days. There were a lot of games where he didn't score or get an assist but was just a massive headache for defenders by bullying them and linking up with our other players which is what we saw with Delap yesterday. Yes there are still parts of his game to improve on I think if we give him the time he'll prove to be worth it.

Wonder if Delap will become so incensed over a referee's decision making in a game, he rants, "its a F-ing disgrace..."

Was Just good to see a striker compete in the air and thrown to the floor. Occupied the defenders who tried to rough him up and that freed up some space. Not sure it was an intentional lay off to Estevo but... left the ball there for a quick thinker to exploit. Was actually shocked he came off. hopefully being protected as he gets up to full fitness.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNx7h1M2OeR/?igsh=MWpiZXhuNHk5amMzOQ==

On 23/08/2025 at 14:34, Sconnie Blue said:

We played 2 teams that had 6 defenders on the pitch with a goal of keeping their backline deep.

Let’s revisit this in 6 months, but I’ve been happy with Delap so far.

Delap looks good to me but i think Maresca will be revisiting this on a weekly basis. In 6 months time we could top of the pile or languishing in mid table ( i doubt the later tbh ).

More than half the Prem will defend against us, thats life.

Just now, OneTommyLangley said:

Delap looks good to me but i think Maresca will be revisiting this on a weekly basis. In 6 months time we could top of the pile or languishing in mid table ( i doubt the later tbh ).

More than half the Prem will defend against us, thats life.

Let me rephrase. Teams doing what worked last season against us. Clog the middle. Don’t press the CB’s. Force us wide.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CD3FVVmfc