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And we say that about Washington, but he is now doing really well for Charlton. Could be that step up was too much for him and he is genuinely just a League 1 Striker, or we didn't play to his strengths, coach him the right way or that his confidence was shot. Probably the truth is somewhere between all of them.
I think the difference is now that there is a clear plan with Dykes, coaching staff are much more focused on bringing the best out of players within Warball's preferred style of play. I feel much more confident that he is going to be a real asset for us as he settles down and gets back to full fitness than I did with Washington. Equally I think having a credible Plan B in Bonne takes the pressure off somewhat.
He probably didn't quite have the skills to cope at Championship level, but we didn't give him much of a chance to develop them up front on his own having the ball punted at him
He probably didn't quite have the skills to cope at Championship level, but we didn't give him much of a chance to develop them up front on his own having the ball punted at him
100% Washington did'nt have the skills to play in the Championship - he did'nt have the pace (over 5 or 15+ yards), the technique, the aerial presence, ability to beat his man or finish (as confirmed to me very early on from another players family member based on initial weeks on training ground when they realised he was a poor finisher and not what they at least thought they had bought - a finisher). Washington was a modern day Stuart Wardley (who I actually liked).
Many fans gave him the full 90 games and are still looking for positives, fair play, but Dykes plays less than 10 games, has played too many games in a short period of time, still runs back to his goal over 50 yards for the team, and some draw comparisons with Washington.
100% Washington did'nt have the skills to play in the Championship - he did'nt have the pace (over 5 or 15+ yards), the technique, the aerial presence, ability to beat his man or finish (as confirmed to me very early on from another players family member based on initial weeks on training ground when they realised he was a poor finisher and not what they at least thought they had bought - a finisher). Washington was a modern day Stuart Wardley (who I actually liked).
Many fans gave him the full 90 games and are still looking for positives, fair play, but Dykes plays less than 10 games, has played too many games in a short period of time, still runs back to his goal over 50 yards for the team, and some draw comparisons with Washington.
Unfortunately, Washington never got going and started missing more and more chances and his confidence nosedived. Scored three in his last two for Charlton, they even trusted him with a penalty. If they get promoted will he do better in the Champ next season?
With regard to Hugill and Wells, some people seem to only remember their better play and goals. Hugill missed several sitters and Wells had some really poor games, selfish moments and was a serial penalty misser.
Dykes a work in progress as he adapts to the increased demands of the Championship and international football.
I could not make it out at first but after watching it a few times the Cardiff defender heads it off his shoulder to Ball so, this counts as an assist however accidental.
Should have scored against Derby, but jumped too early and then could not get the power on it. Our tactics before Derby did not suit him now with two wingers he looks more dangerous.
He needs a run with two wingers and Chair in and around him, then I think you will see the goals come.
I like his ‘threat’ to the oppo. Works hard, no problem tracking back but, he is paid to score, if not, then to at least assist, so my juries still out.
Like his work rate and the fact he always wants the ball. Looks a bit raw at the minute but there is some talent there not sure he will ever be prolific kind of reminds me a bit of The Italian Stallion Danny Dichio
Overplayed by Scotland and the knocks took their toll. He is now working his way back to fitness/form, as he also learns to step up to the much more physically demanding week in week out Championship football schedule.
Think he will be fine as he continues to work with the coaches and starts translating that potential in weaker leagues into some consistent form for us. Will take time though, and we perhaps expect too much too soon from what is largely a brand new team this year. Patience is a rare thing amongst some of our fan base though.
Think that Warball's is looking to slowly work him back up to full fitness and share the load between him and Bonne. That looks to be the right way to help them both develop.
Think we'll have to be patient with him a while longer. He's got 5 days rest after the Blackburn game, then 7 games in 19 days for club and country to get to next month. Obviously he's not the only one it'll apply to but he's doing okay so far all things considered.
I like his ‘threat’ to the oppo. Works hard, no problem tracking back but, he is paid to score, if not, then to at least assist, so my juries still out.
He’s done both.
I genuinely don’t understand why he’s being questioned.
We need to give the lad a chance, for sure.......I have no issues with his work rate and his attitude appears to be good......but I do expect a bit more.
He has done very little thus far ...... he has tucked away 2 penalties and i would expect to score them as well.
[Post edited 5 Nov 2020 18:32]
At this current rate, he is scoring (penalties or otherwise) 1 goal every 3.5 games and arguably 1 assist. I can’t wait to see him score more from open play, but that’s football.
2 goals and 1 assist for a team that has only scored 10 goals isn’t terrible.
What’s the alternative? All very well and good criticising but Alfa is the only other solution. I don’t think it wise possibly wasting 8 games seeing if he’ll be as productive.
At this current rate, he is scoring (penalties or otherwise) 1 goal every 3.5 games and arguably 1 assist. I can’t wait to see him score more from open play, but that’s football.
2 goals and 1 assist for a team that has only scored 10 goals isn’t terrible.
What’s the alternative? All very well and good criticising but Alfa is the only other solution. I don’t think it wise possibly wasting 8 games seeing if he’ll be as productive.
[Post edited 5 Nov 2020 19:11]
Just because the alternatives aren’t very good doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to criticise a player. I think the views have been quite balanced and fair. Nobody can fault his effort or work rate, I think he will improve and will be a decent player for us. That said, I want a bit more from him both in terms of link up play and goals. Definite potential.
I think the intensity and schedule of games is taking the edge off him slightly, not quite as good as he was in first couple of games would be fair assessment? However coming from Queen of the South and Livingston where you do basically play one game a week and then odd breaks when they're out of the cup or internationals to suddenly playing every game for Scotland and then the relentless 2 games a week in the Championship. A lot of you think the difference between Scotland leagues and English Championship is crap footballers v great footballers, my opinion is its physicality and the ability to stand up to the rigours of the Championship, he's doing fine but it is definitely a hard shift as he doesn't try and pace himself. If I'm right the only cure you would think will be a rest so will he get that, he's suspended for the middle Scotland game but otherwise I think he'll get to start both the other games, unless we blow away Slovakia without him I suppose? I think he's good enough and will improve, I think what will help him physically is to get a partnership working up front to lessen the load, he was excellent with Stephen Dobbie at QoS, Ryan Fraser and him were working well recently. Chair suits those player types perfectly but if MW can coach him and Bonne to work it could be best solution
Just because the alternatives aren’t very good doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to criticise a player. I think the views have been quite balanced and fair. Nobody can fault his effort or work rate, I think he will improve and will be a decent player for us. That said, I want a bit more from him both in terms of link up play and goals. Definite potential.
Yeah of course, criticise away as is your right.
Just don't think its justified as he's been ok, and I think if you are expecting more than a 1 goal in 3 striker who links up play like Didier Drogba (or even Jordan Hugill) you will probably always be disappointed on our budget.
I fully expect him to do better, but I think he's played 10 games in a month including Scotland or something so he might be a bit jaded.
Criticism hasn't been over the top (except for someone calling him Connor Washington of course), but last week people were calling for Warburton and Les to go so it's a slippery slope on this forum. I'd say book mark this thread and see how you feel in January.
I think the intensity and schedule of games is taking the edge off him slightly, not quite as good as he was in first couple of games would be fair assessment? However coming from Queen of the South and Livingston where you do basically play one game a week and then odd breaks when they're out of the cup or internationals to suddenly playing every game for Scotland and then the relentless 2 games a week in the Championship. A lot of you think the difference between Scotland leagues and English Championship is crap footballers v great footballers, my opinion is its physicality and the ability to stand up to the rigours of the Championship, he's doing fine but it is definitely a hard shift as he doesn't try and pace himself. If I'm right the only cure you would think will be a rest so will he get that, he's suspended for the middle Scotland game but otherwise I think he'll get to start both the other games, unless we blow away Slovakia without him I suppose? I think he's good enough and will improve, I think what will help him physically is to get a partnership working up front to lessen the load, he was excellent with Stephen Dobbie at QoS, Ryan Fraser and him were working well recently. Chair suits those player types perfectly but if MW can coach him and Bonne to work it could be best solution
I agree with the vast majority of that, Karl. Wise comments.
I'm not hoping for a front two. Both players have played better on their own, and the bigger problem is that we would need two excellent centre-mids if we played two up top. With the greatest of respect to our centre mids I'm not sure they'd cope as most teams play three in midfield.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
I agree with the vast majority of that, Karl. Wise comments.
I'm not hoping for a front two. Both players have played better on their own, and the bigger problem is that we would need two excellent centre-mids if we played two up top. With the greatest of respect to our centre mids I'm not sure they'd cope as most teams play three in midfield.
Yes, I think you're right Brian, maybe the shared workload will be reduced minutes on the pitch replacing each other? I have said a couple of times that supporting players coming from deep would suit how he's played before and recently for Scotland. Will be interesting to watch the development ahead, there's a whole team being pieced together and most on long contracts, really hope we're in a good run of results and it gives everyone a cool head to let it gel
Yes, I think you're right Brian, maybe the shared workload will be reduced minutes on the pitch replacing each other? I have said a couple of times that supporting players coming from deep would suit how he's played before and recently for Scotland. Will be interesting to watch the development ahead, there's a whole team being pieced together and most on long contracts, really hope we're in a good run of results and it gives everyone a cool head to let it gel
Good points. Agreed.
I can't help thinking that Hugill and Wells improved during their stay with us and I think Dykes and Bonne will too. I believe that the forwards get quite a bit of one-on-one coaching including sometimes from Ferdinand himself.
Ferdinand, of course, was raw as hell when he landed with us. I used to watch training and reserve games and you could see him improve month on month, putting into games what he was learning in training. Of course, Ferdinand was stitching training onto an extraordinary talent, but there's no reason why all of our strikers can't improve at the same rate even if they never reach the same heights.
One drill that Ferdinand used to do with the coaches was simple - dummy run to shake the contact, attack the ball, lay it off, spin and turn and then either get it over the top or two passes later from the wings - crucially facing the goal.
At the moment what I'm seeing is Dykes getting the ball with a man on his back so being bumped while trying to lay off which makes the contact unclean. Also he's not yet spinning to break the line and get us in behind with an OTT pass or a wing pass.
It'll come.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
I like him, i like his attitude and work rate, he had lousy service, its improving now and I think the goals will come, he was inches away from a good goal at Derby, he did the right thing, heading it back across the goal, it was on target and away from the keeper heading in, Goalie made a decent save, it happens, 6 inches to the right and it goes in.
He has the ability to arrive at the right time and stick it in the net, hes done it at international level and he will do it for us. and the joy of watching his improvement is that he is our player and not a loanee who could disappear without trace like wells and Hughil.
Sometimes it's being flexible enough to adapt to different systems. Washington never could for us, but at the same time he was doing fine for NI. Karl would know better, I've only seen a couple of games Dykes has played for Scotland and he's done well running fast and hard on to balls played in front of him. We haven't given him those, mostly he's had crosses into the box that he hasn't got under. Maybe that's him just getting used to the pace and style of our game, maybe – unlike Washington – he'll adapt. I hope so, but as of right now it hasn't happened.
Sometimes it's being flexible enough to adapt to different systems. Washington never could for us, but at the same time he was doing fine for NI. Karl would know better, I've only seen a couple of games Dykes has played for Scotland and he's done well running fast and hard on to balls played in front of him. We haven't given him those, mostly he's had crosses into the box that he hasn't got under. Maybe that's him just getting used to the pace and style of our game, maybe – unlike Washington – he'll adapt. I hope so, but as of right now it hasn't happened.
Zamora scored 12 in 83 Heiðar Helguson scored 24 in 68
Both were far more mature players when they came here.
Dykes is not going to be a 1 in 2 striker. He needs to work harder in two areas... Getting into the 6 yard box for crosses and holding up / bringing others into play.
Early days. Happy enough with what I've seen so far.
Just don't think its justified as he's been ok, and I think if you are expecting more than a 1 goal in 3 striker who links up play like Didier Drogba (or even Jordan Hugill) you will probably always be disappointed on our budget.
I fully expect him to do better, but I think he's played 10 games in a month including Scotland or something so he might be a bit jaded.
Criticism hasn't been over the top (except for someone calling him Connor Washington of course), but last week people were calling for Warburton and Les to go so it's a slippery slope on this forum. I'd say book mark this thread and see how you feel in January.
[Post edited 5 Nov 2020 23:00]
Your expectations are very low.......he has played below average. Work rate and attitude are 'givens' as far as i am concerned - 100% every match, all the time.
He needs to be playing a lot better and scoring goals in open play before January!!
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