TwoSheds
More sheds (and tiles) than you, probably
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
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Toastertoes Jackson.
DCL had 2 good seasons and went back to scoring less than 10 goals a season. That's his level, Watkins was hitting 15 to 20 goals quute regularly before Emery went anywhere near him.You have just described Olie Watkins of a season ago. Before Emery worked on his weaknesses. Under the right coaching a Nunez can vastly improve his shot selection with hard work. Jackson too can be polished.
I remember how in less than 6 months under Ancelotti DCL of Everton (pre injury woes) went from a blunt as Cameron Jerome to a reliable box threat and finisher
I'm sure he scored half of them goals in a couple of games .He's very raw, but there's a good player in there. This is only his second season of top flight football after a breakthrough season at Villarreal last season.
His movement, pace and powerful running are an asset. He's got to learn to compose himself better in the final 3rd.
13 goals and 5 assists has been a decent return during a tough season for Chelsea. He's still only 22.
Rasmus hasn’t even been that bad, the team is just bad and hasn’t created for him. If we created chances for him everybody will be hailing him as great signing.Who has been worse, him or Rasmus? Ignore the vast difference in cost, just their performances.
I said earlier that i haven’t seen Hojlund run a defender ragged in the way Jackson did to Stones, I know people say we don’t create chances for Hojlund but he could still contribute by bullying defenders and making their life difficult. I’ve seen small CBs out jump him. I don’t think defenders are worried about having to defend against him, Jackson will give any defender a difficult time because if his tenacity and pace.Who has been worse, him or Rasmus? Ignore the vast difference in cost, just their performances.
And Jackson is a good dribbler tooI said earlier that i haven’t seen Hojlund run a defender ragged in the way Jackson did to Stones, I know people say we don’t create chances for Hojlund but he could still contribute by bullying defenders and making their life difficult. I’ve seen small CBs out jump him. I don’t think defenders are worried about having to defend against him, Jackson will give any defender a difficult time because if his tenacity and pace.
Its because rather he can't stay fit to save his life. Nothing to do with levelsDCL had 2 good seasons and went back to scoring less than 10 goals a season. Thats his ldv
because he used to miss bucket loads! Even Ian Wright famously heavily critiized his finishing approach EVEN witg those nunbers.Watkins was hitting 15 to 20 goals quute regularly before Emery went anywhere near him.
The natutal finisher thing is overrated when it comes to being prolific. One doesn't have to be a natural finisher to be prolific. One instead has to have good technique and habits whilst finishing. Especially if the said player is regularly on the end of good chances like Nunez is. Because a look at his career shows his numbers fluctuate wildly as a result of that one weakness, which is curable.Jackson and Nunez will likely never be prolific scorers, they are too erratic and are not natural finishers, they are strikers because of their physical attributes more than their technical ones.
Pretty clear that his first season has ended up better than Rasmus'.17 goals and 6 assists in all competitions now. 14 PL goals. It's been a decent debut season. Finishing strong.
His pace, powerful running and movement off the ball make him a real handful.
When you look at some of the fees Chelsea have paid for players, €35 million was good value.
As chaotic and dysfunctional as both sides have been, I think it's easier for a CF in Chelsea's team this season.Pretty clear that his first season has ended up better than Rasmus'.
Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:Pretty clear that his first season has ended up better than Rasmus'.
Shots fired!Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Yikes.Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Uh oh don’t post that in the Hojlund thread or they’ll all come for you.Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Even an oppo fan can see how badly the team is failing to provide a platform for Hojlund ffsAs chaotic and dysfunctional as both sides have been, I think it's easier for a CF in Chelsea's team this season.
He's definitely got to improve but considering how little he gets to see the ball, I'm honestly not that worried. If and that's a big one, we see some semblance of a functional midfield and progressive football next season, I think we'll be having a completely different conversation about Hojlund. He barely gets to take two shots a game or receive the ball back from his midfielders/wingers. Will be interesting to revisit this in December.Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Literally one of the worst I've seen. Bloody hellYeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Look at touches per 90 that explains things quite a bit.Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Hojlund is getting the typical young player/new signing veneer from much of the fanbase at the moment, his issues are hand-waved away or blamed on others. The problem with this is that at some point if he stays at the same level you tend to get a perception over correction and a new scapegoat established.Yeah the underlying metrics for Hojlund are pretty concerning. Obviously he shouldn't be written off but it's obvious he's struggled to get involved - hard to blame him exclusively as the midfield is so dysfunctional but he clearly has to improve:
Agreed. It's also worthwhile remembering that he's a bit unusual (as far as PL players go) in that at 22 he's had very little professional football experience. His talent is clear to see but I think he'll be somewhat of a late bloomer like Drogba.I have seen a bit of Chelsea this season, and Jackson's all round game has improved massively since the start of the season. I watched the City semi, Utd game and Spurs games in recent months and what impressed me most was his hold up play and ability to turn with the ball under pressure from defenders.
He biggest problem at the moment is his finishing and decision making. If he gets that right then he will be a very usable PL CF.
He has has so many chances to score or pass for an easy goal, if we had a striker that could convert half of the goals he misses we would easily be in the top 4..As chaotic and dysfunctional as both sides have been, I think it's easier for a CF in Chelsea's team this season.
He is simply a better footballer, technically also better. He is able to give every defender in the league a game because of ability not just physicality.He shows just how important athleticism and pace is in this league, if you have it then you’ll always have some level of success, a bit like Darwin. Hjolund doesn’t have that so will have to make it up by being a strong finisher with great movement.
Hojlund is strong and rapid, that's not the problem at all. I'd wait to judge him once we are capable of playing like a football team.He shows just how important athleticism and pace is in this league, if you have it then you’ll always have some level of success, a bit like Darwin. Hjolund doesn’t have that so will have to make it up by being a strong finisher with great movement.
Yeah I don't disagree with you necessarily. It'd certainly be hugely premature to write him off & I think you could argue that Hojlund has actually done a decent job with the scraps he's had to live off of - but I also think it's fair to say that he hasn't done enough himself to get involved.Look at touches per 90 that explains things quite a bit.
Chelsea are currently a better unit than us. Multiple other pieces of data that prove it (open play xG, pitch control, PPDA, xGD/90 etc.). We're basically playing like a bottom half side this year so with Hojlund I rely on my eye test more. (https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/08/premier-league-stats-2023-24/ and https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/Premier-League-Stats).
But yeah I agree that it can't all be written off saying our attackers don't give him the ball. He needs to do more.
Think this is all spot on. Hard to argue against Jackson being a bargain and very worthwhile lottery ticket given how much these other young gambles cost.Jackson is a very interesting player. His pace and athletic ability are a big plus and he can combine well at times and has the ability to run at defenders and the strength to hold them off.
I think clubs are being a bit more analytical in how they are scouting/looking at players now. For strikers, a big athletic guy with a burst of pace is a great target for crosses, through balls etc. A player like Jackson, who isn't currently a polished finisher is going to get on the end of far more chances and at least get a shot away or get his head to something then a guy like Broja for example, who isn't as mobile, even if he's a better finisher.
Clubs like City, United and Liverpool have spent big on very athletic no. 9s, so I think clubs are looking at things like XG and saying if we get a player who can get to balls other players can't, even if they miss chances, over the course of a season they will still score a lot. Looking at the top scorers in the league, you have Haaland, Palmer, Isak, Solanke and Watkins. Four of those 5 are big, but very athletic no. 9s. I think Jackson, physically is in the same boat.
Sorting by XG on Understat, Haaland, Solanke, Salah, Isak, Nunez and Jackson have the most XG. They have all underperformed as finishers. Even Haaland is on 25 goals from 29 XG, but again, being such a good athletes mean they'll keep getting on the end of things. 5 of the 6 of those players being athletic no. 9s. Solanke is a guy who didn't look the part for years, but is performing now.
Obviously Haaland is a great finisher, but as a player, he seems to be the antithesis of what Pep would like in a player, as he has built teams around small, skillful interchangable players, but an out and out no. 9 and finisher has really helped them in Europe. Liverpool spent big on Nunez who's a similar XG monster, but he has frustrated. If he ever sorts out his finishing, he can score 20+ in the league every year. Jackson has improved as the season has gone on and I think he's worth sticking with upfront. I think he'll come good.
I think the trend of the big, imposing no. 9 is back and a lot of the big teams have gone down that road. I think the number crunching shows that those types of players will score a lot, even if their finishing isn't very polished, with presumably the idea that if they ever turn the corner with that aspect, you've a great player on your hands.
He’s a less injury prone Danny WelbeckIs he the new Morata
Not very strong based on every time he gets bullied by a defender, his pace isn’t particularly useful given he can’t control the ball.Hojlund is strong and rapid, that's not the problem at all. I'd wait to judge him once we are capable of playing like a football team.