05 Dec 2024 12:35:47
Ed001, I’ve always backed Nunez because I believed he would eradicate the rashness and rawness from his finishing and we would have a world class player on our hands. He’s in his 3rd season now and he is just as rash now as the day we signed him. What would you do with him in the summer? Would you cut our losses and let him go? Or stick with him and hope slot can coach the rashness out of him?
If we were to let him go, who would be your ideal realistic replacement?
{Ed001's Note - I don't think I would worry about him in the summer, it would be Jota that would concern me. At least Nunez is available most of the time.}
05 Dec 2024 13:10:19
I like Nunez and I like Jota. But if I’m being honest and taking away my red tinted glasses then:
Jota’s availability is a huge concern and his hold up and link up play is not to the required standard.
Nunez has improved in his hold / link up play but for me he’s still below the standard.
He’s got good attributes but I’ve never ever seen what others do when they say he could be world class (that’s some level) or that he offers what Bobby does.
But I suppose we all see the game differently.
Both players get my full support when playing and will continue to do so.
But it seems like Darwin could get caught with his hand in the cookie jar and posters would argue it’s not his fault.
05 Dec 2024 13:22:15
Last night was Nunez's first bad performance of the season. He, along with 8-9 other players, was completely abysmal. There's been plenty of criticism about his finishing, however, he's scored 2 goals from an expected xG of 2.01 in the Premier League this season, he's scoring what's expected to be scored from him based on the chances presented to him. He's also not getting into those positions where he'd have those glaring misses anymore because he's dropping way deeper and getting involved in the build-up more and more, his role in the team has changed.
Realistically I don't think he'll be sold because I don't think the right/ best market exists for a sale. Ed001 is right, Jota is most likely the next player out the door and he certainly has the right agent (Jorge Mendes) to get him a good move to a top European team (I'd put money on PSG, especially if Kolo-Muani leaves)
05 Dec 2024 13:32:40
I've got to the point where I don't want the other players to pass to Nunez and I hope that the chances and loose balls in the box don't drop to him. Can't think of many players I've ever felt like that about at this level.
I get the frustrations with Jota's injury record but to suggest you rate a player (Nunez) higher than another player (Jota) simply because one is available more than the other is a crazy take at this level of football. If all we want from our players is availability and a good injury record, we should have kept Milner. Or alternatively just stick a fit and strong 18 year old up front. When you pay £70m for a striker, it's pretty desperate if the only positive comment is that he is always available. Nunez loses possession or hits his passes astray so often. And his finishing is abysmal. I feel sorry for him. The look on his face when he misses another chance; it's obvious he's really feeling it.
I really did believe that Nunez would set alight at some point and be a sensational player but I no longer have confidence. If we expect that the gap between us and the chasers will close and it could become another very tight title race, I just don't think we can afford to have a centre forward like this.
Right now, if Danns was fit I would play him down the middle rather than Nunez. I think the best chance Nunez has now is to have a run of matches as an impact sub and hope that he can come off the bench a few times, maybe under less pressure, and do something that re-ignites the player that was obviously in there previously.
05 Dec 2024 13:37:23
He should have scored 2 last night or at the very least hit the target. He’s rash, a headless chicken. He is also a forward so he should be contributing goals . I don’t need XG nonsense to see what’s in front of me.
05 Dec 2024 13:39:10
Most rational assessment of Darwin's season and the game I have ever read so far, @Tinker. Bravo sir.
Darwin had a bad performance overall BUT with the way some people are acting you would think, he made the mistake Kellerher made and he is not even getting the amount of crap Darwin's getting. Also, there were other players who were well average to poor in the game like Darwin was BUT hey, I guess we protect those we like and descend on those we don't like. The agendas are getting cringe at this point with the OTT stuff.
As for Jota, Ed01 is correct. The guy can't stay fit and this goes back years now with his muscle injuries especially. I thought availability was the best ability BUT I guess that does not apply to Darwin who is a fit as horse now, does it? Whether both are sold or not is another issue BUT I agree that there ain't no market for CF's to replace Darwin with these days and sorry, I'd rather keep him than signing a Boniface or Osihmen cos they are just wasteful as well.
05 Dec 2024 13:52:55
Get rid of both Nunez and Jota.
I've always liked Jota as an impact player but he can't do that if he isn't available.
And I'm with JK on Nunez. I think people are seeing things that are not there because of his transfer fee. We all have our opinions but there's no getting away from Klopp and Slot both dropping him and 22 goals in well over 2 seasons.
I like the lad but we need to cut our losses. We have a chance of giving the League title a real go this season and hoping that our number 9 develops some football intelligence is not going to help.
05 Dec 2024 14:03:43
If you look at Jota's availability, he always seems to miss the two most intensive and busy periods of the season - Nov-Jan and Mar-May. It's incredibly frustrating and I expect the club will look to move him on in the summer. He's a great finisher but how can you be missing for that long every season?
Re Darwin - he was horrible last night, along with Joey G. It was the first time this season it looked like he couldn't control a ball or find a team mate. Can't argue with that.
However, I think it harsh to say he missed two easy chances. The one where he was stretching and couldn't quite connect would have eluded most players. The left foot swipe later in the game was not good and summed up his game.
Bottom line is, until Mo and Lucho's futures are sorted, we can't really have any clarity on what we will do in the forward areas in the summer.
05 Dec 2024 14:53:58
Irish Rover tbf xG does tell you quite a lot about a player, using that in conjunction with shot volume and conversion rate you can get a sense of how a player is playing. Núñez has taken 21 shots, scored 2 goals, has a roughly 10% conversion rate and an xG of roughly 2. That should indicate that Núñez is taking shots from areas where he's not expected to score or is not getting into positions where he'd get high quality chances. Like it's been said his role in the team has changed. For that first chance that people are crucifying Núñez for, honestly I'm surprised nobody is hanging Gakpo out to dry, the man missed an open goal with that header and no pressure on him, yet there's nothing being said about it at all.
I know we've been linked with Marmoush but it'd take a chance on getting Jonathan David from Lille on a cut-price deal to freshen up the forward options.
05 Dec 2024 15:11:07
I haven't been on much last night and today and I come on to see people saying we need to cut our losses with x player (s) . We drew a game lol 2 draws 1 loss all season, we can't win them all -it happens. This doesn't warrant calling individuals out on a single performance and wishing they were out of the club. As the team have shown all season, it's a team effort. No point in throwing players under the bus. Some have good games others don't it happens to every player. Nunez usually has a great game, last night just wasn't his night.
What we do know about Nunez is finishing isn't his forte yet but when you have a player putting in everything he has got for your team all season I don't quite understand the negativity. It's not all about goals scored.
Who will it be after the next game? Support the team who have put us into first position in the country and in Europe. Nunez has mostly been part of that.
05 Dec 2024 15:26:33
Xg?
What happened to actually watching a player or a game of football.
You wonder how all these professional football clubs and coaches managed over the years before this scientific data sh##e came about.
We might not win the league or CL but we can have an open top bus of best Expected goals over a season.
05 Dec 2024 16:07:31
Give Danns some games, he’s a good finisher.
Not sure if he’s fit.
If Slot wants to cut losses on Nunez and Jota I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
We can do a lot better.
{Ed001's Note - I would love to see Danns get a shot.}
05 Dec 2024 16:51:04
Danns would be very interesting, last week he made his first appearance (since injury) as a sub for an U21's game.
05 Dec 2024 17:04:57
XG? Good grief.
06 Dec 2024 13:49:10
I'd like to see Danns given some minutes too Ron - def a good finisher from what I have seen of him.