Strelec

uncle_rico said:
Hoping a good preseason and some support around him and we’ll see a better version.
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I think we need some more pace / power / athleticism around our weaker forwards as much as anything else.

I'm positive Strelac and Whittaker would look a lot better with some genuine size and pace around them, occupying defenders and creating space.

A lot of our troubles come from not having an out ball as Conway, Strelec, Whittaker, McGree, Sarmiento or whoever else we try don't really have the pace or strength to trouble a packed defence.
 
I can't see us being in a financial position to write him off so quickly given he's on a 5 year contract with us and a substantial transfer fee.

He will be in and around the first team next season but hopefully with some better competition and players that may help to bring a better version of him out.
 
This is the important season for him, he has struggled to adapt, as of Sene and Hansen. See enough of them in flashes despite being bench warmers to know that they can do it.
For me it's not if the players can improve, it's if the manager can improve?
 
He didn’t get much service in the playoffs and in general I don’t think we play to his strengths. I don’t remember him fluffing loads of chances or smashing the ball into the defenders shins like Del does I just don’t think he gets into the positions this team needs and vice versa
 
I reckon he is 6 months behind where he should be, didn't have a pre-season with us and then had an injury lay off.
Having said that, I think for the price we paid it's not unreasonable to have expected more.

But - we know players from abroad, particularly strikers need time to settle (have a look at what Swansea fans were saying about Vipotnik 12 months ago).
And he has looked quality in flashes. If his shot on the stroke of half time in the PO final is inches to the left he is a hero.

Only Hellberg knows if he thinks he can kick on next season - he has talked highly of him. Either way, we need more options up front.
 
We have a lot of money tied up in him and it’s a shame he’s not in the shop window in the World Cup . I think we have to keep starting him and make last seasons settling in period found for just that and hope he hits the ground running next season .
If we sign the players we want in the summer you’d think he wouldn’t start but I’m not convinced hed do well off the bench . Would signing a wide player from his county be useful ?
 
I do think the went missing in the playoffs narrative is harsh. First leg of the semi, he set up Conway who could/should have scored, 2nd leg should have won us a penalty, final linked well with Whittaker to nearly score. Fine margins.

I'm not saying he was incredible but I think went missing, offered nothing etc. is over the top.
 
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No doubt the faith and funds we poured into him and his inability to live up those expectations were one of the big reasons why we didn't go up automatically.

We're stuck with him. He'll improve next season but to what extent depends entirely on him.
 
Saw the odd glimpse of what he can do.

The disappointing thing for me he didn't seem to adjust or improve whilst getting more used to the league. Willing to see what Kim can do with him over the summer and if any improvement can be made but my gut is that the English leagues just are not for him.
 
as borophil said, if you factor up his goals per minutes played to the full season, he'd be on 18 goals. needs a decent training regime over summer to get him up to speed, as seems like his fitness holds him back and he needs to get involved more

he hasn't set the world on fire but the game is full of people that haven't done that at first and then kicked on.
 
Cant play the full 90 mins.

8 league goals is less than we probably expected.

Still better than Sene.

We need another striker even if he stays. I would prefer Conway up front instead of on left wing, but we need quality reinforcements.
 
BoroPhil said:
I do think the went missing in the playoffs narrative is harsh. First leg of the semi, he set up Conway who could/should have scored, 2nd leg should have won us a penalty, final linked well with Whittaker to nearly score. Fine margins.

I'm not saying he was incredible but I think went missing, offered nothing etc. is over the top.
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I think you're being overly kind, they're kind of minor events. The ball to Conway was routine, the penalty shout he was literally stood still. As a striker you've got to offer more, work the channel, hold the ball up, bring others in to play etc. Very little of that was evident. There's long spells of the games where he was anonymous. You can't just expect to be handed chances on a plate, you've got to do your bit to stretch teams.
 
I am really unsure.

There were moments when his touch, passing and awareness looked really good. There were other times when whole games passed him by.

We created less big chances for our strikers than the other top teams - but.. I am unsure if that is related to tactics or due to poor pace/movement by the strikers.

Would not be sad if he left, but would also not be surprised if with a full pre-season he is a top player at this level.
 
Pick any team at random in League one and I would swap our strikers for theirs (except for Conway). Our strikers are the reason we are still in the championship. If they couldn't be bothered in the play off final, when will they be bothered.
 
wilkos_perm said:
I think you're being overly kind, they're kind of minor events. The ball to Conway was routine, the penalty shout he was literally stood still. As a striker you've got to offer more, work the channel, hold the ball up, bring others in to play etc. Very little of that was evident. There's long spells of the games where he was anonymous. You can't just expect to be handed chances on a plate, you've got to do your bit to stretch teams.
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Yeah, maybe - but like I said I'm not saying he was amazing in the 3 games - but I think to say he went missing is unfair as well.

McBurnie is the hero in the final but he did as much as Strelec in the game before our keeper presented him with a chance it was hard to miss.
 
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