Pablo- is he absolute gash?

[El Scorchio]

He’s got me stumped. He puts in so much effort and runs all day and makes us a lot better off the ball as well as trying hard when we have it, harasses defenders and tires the opposition out to give a good opportunity for Wilson to come on. I like him. We are better when he’s playing…

BUT he seems like an utter donkey. Giraffe on roller skates. Woeful touch under any sort of pressure and off the speed of the game in any sort of tight situation and looks less likely to score than Areola. Like the absolute opposite of Wilson who has none of th physical tools but all the brain and composure. 

So what do we make of him? 

[Massive Attack]

Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

He doesn't just add goals he worries defences whenever he gets on the ball in their half. Like the commentators rightly point out it's his intelligence to go with his play that sticks out just as much as his goals and efforts towards goal. How he still gets overlooked starting games with his wealth of Prem experience and goal threat instead given token run outs at the arse end of games is bonkers.

[Vexed]

Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

Yes, that is correct 

[Keep dreaming]

He’s got me stumped. He puts in so much effort and runs all day and makes us a lot better off the ball as well as trying hard when we have it, harasses defenders and tires the opposition out to give a good opportunity for Wilson to come on. I like him. We are better when he’s playing…

 

I think you said it all;

Lots of effort, makes us better, but a donkey with the ball.
As long as he makes us better, I'm ok with him playing 

[southbankbornnbred]

He’s been poor so far, as a goal threat. Does work hard off the ball, granted. Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t have signed him.

We’d have been better off signing one proven £40m striker than two unproven £20+m types (and keeping Wilson, of course).

But he’s one of us now - it’s a big step up for him and we do need to give him some time. As always, I hope he becomes a good player for us. Because he’s West Ham now.




 

I don’t know that I agree with the £40m point. For one we’ve tried that with zero success, but more importantly, both of these two are comfortable dropping deeper with one always playing as the extra midfielder at alternative times to the other, and both have excellent work rate. Dropping in opens up the space that both Summerville and Bowen are benefitting from. Without them occupying the defenders no chance the smallest player on the pitch drifts in unmarked to score a header yesterday! They are both honest types, not trying flicks that give the ball away like Paqueta, for all his good qualities. 

There is more to playing up front than scoring loads of goals. Have they made us a better team, and have our results improved with them in the team? Undoubtedly. 

Grafters is exactly what we needed in our predicament. In this position, it’s nearly always the team that runs the most that gives themselves the best chance. 

Ultimately, any striker will always be judged by the amount of goals they score. You won’t survive at a club if you play as a #9 and even a classic #10 and barely score.

No point being Ade Akinbiye: “the best defensive forward in the league.”

He won’t thrive unless he learns how to become a bigger goal threat. But he’s new and we need to give him time.

[Ron Eff]

He’s been poor so far, as a goal threat. Does work hard off the ball, granted. Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t have signed him.

We’d have been better off signing one proven £40m striker than two unproven £20+m types (and keeping Wilson, of course).

But he’s one of us now - it’s a big step up for him and we do need to give him some time. As always, I hope he becomes a good player for us. Because he’s West Ham now.


 

I don’t know that I agree with the £40m point. For one we’ve tried that with zero success, but more importantly, both of these two are comfortable dropping deeper with one always playing as the extra midfielder at alternative times to the other, and both have excellent work rate. Dropping in opens up the space that both Summerville and Bowen are benefitting from. Without them occupying the defenders no chance the smallest player on the pitch drifts in unmarked to score a header yesterday! They are both honest types, not trying flicks that give the ball away like Paqueta, for all his good qualities. 

There is more to playing up front than scoring loads of goals. Have they made us a better team, and have our results improved with them in the team? Undoubtedly. 

Grafters is exactly what we needed in our predicament. In this position, it’s nearly always the team that runs the most that gives themselves the best chance. 

[southbankbornnbred]

One thing Pablo has to learn about the Premier League is how quickly he needs to get into the box. Because he’s new, and seems to like to drop deep when we don’t have the ball, he meanders towards the box when we break (Seb Haller-style). Nuno has got to drill it into him that he’s got to get in and around the box quickly.

You don’t get meandering time in the Premier League. Seen Summerville (who is very quick, granted) and Bowen break fast on sides, and look up to find no #9 outlet if Spud is not there. Pablo has to learn to break his back and hit the box faster. Then he’ll get goals. It’s what Wilson does instinctively, even at 34.

[BoleynGone]

I'm not sure he hasn't given the ball away. He has several times, but then tries his hardest to get it back. He is a nuisnance but over the course of the remaining games which the vast majority we have to win it's not going to be enough. Wilson shows what is required in the PL but Nuno would rather use his preferred agents players. Wilson should start and Pablo come on after 60 minutes to use his energy,desire etc. When defenders are tiring then he might get that goal. Hopefully Paco will address this as Nuno can't see much beyond his blow pipe.

[threesixty]

One thing I will say is that none of the players, especially the new signings are losing the ball cheaply in the way Paq and Kudus used to. I think we lost countless goals for that one reason. 

Even if Pablo isn’t prolific in front of goal, not losing the ball and doing basic shit up front is a game changer for us. 
 

[southbankbornnbred]

He’s been poor so far, as a goal threat. Does work hard off the ball, granted. Let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t have signed him.

We’d have been better off signing one proven £40m striker than two unproven £20+m types (and keeping Wilson, of course).

But he’s one of us now - it’s a big step up for him and we do need to give him some time. As always, I hope he becomes a good player for us. Because he’s West Ham now.

 

[Massive Attack]

Can't fault Oddbod and temu Tevez for their work rate being also fresh in to the Premier League. Their commitment puts Paqueta to shame. Hopefully Flamengo stump up £40M odd and his stench around the Club finally lifts just as it did when Payet finally fucked off.

[zebthecat]

As others have observed judging by what we've seen so far he looks like a grafter who is a bit unorthodox and difficult for opposition defenders to second guess what he is going to do.

Similar to what Antonio was for us really - At his best, nobody was really able to predict his intentions least of all him! He was very effective at being that loose cannon that baffled the opposition






 

True. One NBC commentator described Antonios' dribbling as "ricochet" dribbling 

The best analogy I read was that Antonio on the run was like an overoaded shopping trolley with a wonky wheel careering downhill.
A nightmare for defenders.
Havng two up front lets Bowen and Summerville go one to one with the full backs. If the defenders pick up a yellow cards they are stuffed. Reinaldo was lucky to be still on the pitch at half time yesterday.  

[threesixty]

I would have liked to have seen Wilson and Pablo together as a front 2 during the latter stages of the game. Was a bit disappointed pablo came off, I assume he was knackered. 
. 

 

[Tomshardware]

I like how Pablo links up the play allowing Taty, Bowen and Summerville to get forward and in dangerous positions.  Sunderland couldn't handle it much like Spurs.   Long may it continue.

[9898]

The couple of games he has played so far have probably been as bad as any player who has joined West Ham in the last 15 years. 

[Westham67]

As others have observed judging by what we've seen so far he looks like a grafter who is a bit unorthodox and difficult for opposition defenders to second guess what he is going to do.

Similar to what Antonio was for us really - At his best, nobody was really able to predict his intentions least of all him! He was very effective at being that loose cannon that baffled the opposition





 

True. One NBC commentator described Antonios' dribbling as "ricochet" dribbling 

[eusebiovic]

As others have observed judging by what we've seen so far he looks like a grafter who is a bit unorthodox and difficult for opposition defenders to second guess what he is going to do.

Similar to what Antonio was for us really - At his best, nobody was really able to predict his intentions least of all him! He was very effective at being that loose cannon that baffled the opposition




 

[BerlingtonBertie]

He’s raw but I like him and reckon he will be more of a success than Tatty. Credit to both lads, they put a shift in and want to be here. Now just rid of that minge Paqueta mi

[Matt Holmes]

We’ve been getting results since he’s been in the team (along with Taty)

Nuno made a great decision getting these two in
just what we needed and look at the difference in the players since things have started to turn round.

massive IN from me

Will love it  - LOVE IT - when he eventually scores 

[Gary Strodders shank]

He is a grafter 

The harder you work the luckier you should get someone once said.

If he scores the winner against Chelsea next week this thread will be history.
 

[El Scorchio]

Gotta agree with vexed here
I thought we looked much better before the subs.  Wilson worked hard and put himself about but they changed the formation when wilson came on and then left him up top on his own.

Wonder how we'd have looked if he'd swapped taty for wilson?

Wilson definitely needs to stay though

Pablo and Taty wearing down the defenders for Wilson to come on and take advantage seems pretty smart to me as a tactic going forward. 

[dealcanvey]

Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is. 

Wilson, a striker, whose job is scoring goals, has a goals to minutes ratio twice as good as the next player in the squad. Does very little as fucking usual?

[Mad Dog]

Gotta agree with vexed here
I thought we looked much better before the subs.  Wilson worked hard and put himself about but they changed the formation when wilson came on and then left him up top on his own.

Wonder how we'd have looked if he'd swapped taty for wilson?

Wilson definitely needs to stay though

[gpike]

I like him, he's been thrown in at a much higher level of football than he's ever played, works his absolute nuts off, can hold it up, is physical and brings a strange level of chaos that I'm fucking enjoying. So we probably paid too much but it's early doors. Summerville got away with being shit for ages and had now come good, this lad has made a difference in his two starts and is getting slated. You're a bunch of weird cunts. 

Agree with Vexed there, he is working like a dog disrupting teams back line and we have won the last three games he has been involved in . 

[Tomshardware]

He has a big impact on the game, we are a much better attacking side when he's in the team.  He works hard and gets involved.  He's only going to improve. 

[Vexed]

Thought Wilson came on and once again offered more than both the new signings. Should be Wilson and one of the two new lads.

Interesting because the Wilson I saw did very little, as fucking usual. Without a goal his performances look somewhat different to the superhero the idiot majority seem to have decided he is.