Solanke Link 4-4-2 Magazine

He stays in the box AND helps defensively!
Sounds like some player!

comment by U Two Three Nought Eight Eight (U23088)
posted 32 minutes ago
He stays in the box AND helps defensively!
Sounds like some player!
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Yes, very clever. If you don't know what is meant by this, you were either not watching last year or follow netball.

He doesn't go wandering like our forwards for the last 8 years and is a focal point. Having another big man to help defend set pieces definitely helps. For all the goals we lost in Kane, he got the first header in on defensive set plays more than you realise.

This is the point i have been constantly making, defensive set pieces he will be a massive help. It will not help the woeful Ange/Jedinak set up but he will help us aerially.

Also he will hold the ball up. the ball comes back far too much with Son up top. Our schoolboy tactics constantly having the players out of position and we give up chances.

Absoloutely the right signing really like him. Question mark on why now not at the start of the summer, he clearly was not a target.

comment by Not So Bored As Fudge (U21998)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by U Two Three Nought Eight Eight (U23088)
posted 32 minutes ago
He stays in the box AND helps defensively!
Sounds like some player!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, very clever. If you don't know what is meant by this, you were either not watching last year or follow netball.

He doesn't go wandering like our forwards for the last 8 years and is a focal point. Having another big man to help defend set pieces definitely helps. For all the goals we lost in Kane, he got the first header in on defensive set plays more than you realise.
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Netball

A mate of mine sent me that clip the other day. It definitely made the signing a little more positive in my head.

I don't expect him to improve his numbers drastically from where they were with Bournemouth because, despite what the media might tell you, we don't actually create that many chances. His numbers improved at Bournemouth because Bournemouth improved. His goals are secondary to his ability to drag players with him in the press. I can see his addition changing the numbers for others around him rather than himself. I think Madders will see the benefit too because he'll now have a striker willing to run in behind which will leave more space for him to do his creative thing.

I think he'll get between 15-20 goals but the numbers of others will increase. That's the hope anyway because 65m is a hell of a lot of money.

It's worth laying a little caution down because Johnson was also the one Ange wanted and frankly I've not seen anything that justifies his 50m valuation so there's no guarantees it'll work, whether Ange wants him or not.

comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 11 minutes ago
A mate of mine sent me that clip the other day. It definitely made the signing a little more positive in my head.

I don't expect him to improve his numbers drastically from where they were with Bournemouth because, despite what the media might tell you, we don't actually create that many chances. His numbers improved at Bournemouth because Bournemouth improved. His goals are secondary to his ability to drag players with him in the press. I can see his addition changing the numbers for others around him rather than himself. I think Madders will see the benefit too because he'll now have a striker willing to run in behind which will leave more space for him to do his creative thing.

I think he'll get between 15-20 goals but the numbers of others will increase. That's the hope anyway because 65m is a hell of a lot of money.

It's worth laying a little caution down because Johnson was also the one Ange wanted and frankly I've not seen anything that justifies his 50m valuation so there's no guarantees it'll work, whether Ange wants him or not.
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You are right to ignore the media but the stats speak for themselves:

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/big_chance_created?se=578

Spurs 4th highest big chances created according to the PL/OPTA.

We were 6th highest in big chances missed and players like Johnson were high up in that table.

We were also 3rd highest in hitting the woodwork.

The other factor is, IMO, is that he is a true striker, scored a lot of goals in and around the pen spot and 6 yard box and therefore has that instinctive striker movement to find space. Kane had it. Richi does to a degree but Solanke is a natural striker so i think a greater proportion of our chances will be finished off, not just because he's a better finisher but because his movement will put him in better positions to score.

In addition, he also adds an aerial threat which will give us that option and i think Deki may prosper a bit from this as his inswinging left foot crosses from the corner of the box to the back stick have been effective. (Maddison too). We were 17th in goals from headers (8) compared to Arsenal who were top (17). I think this will improve now.

I also think that Richi is a bit underrated and that the ability to manage him, his time and his fitness will also see him be a very useful squad player as he shares a lot of the same attributes, although less good with his back to goal and less clinical, but is effective when he gets on a roll.

So many of our problems came last season when we had Son up front, Richi injured. We were very ineffective, the ball didnt stick, lost possession more in these areas trying to squeeze through a low block, of Son trying to hold it up (not is game) and now we have different options.

Its just the recovery of the ball when we lose it that needs to be on point and that dropped off a lot as the season dragged on.

comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 29 minutes ago
A mate of mine sent me that clip the other day. It definitely made the signing a little more positive in my head.

I don't expect him to improve his numbers drastically from where they were with Bournemouth because, despite what the media might tell you, we don't actually create that many chances. His numbers improved at Bournemouth because Bournemouth improved. His goals are secondary to his ability to drag players with him in the press. I can see his addition changing the numbers for others around him rather than himself. I think Madders will see the benefit too because he'll now have a striker willing to run in behind which will leave more space for him to do his creative thing.

I think he'll get between 15-20 goals but the numbers of others will increase. That's the hope anyway because 65m is a hell of a lot of money.

It's worth laying a little caution down because Johnson was also the one Ange wanted and frankly I've not seen anything that justifies his 50m valuation so there's no guarantees it'll work, whether Ange wants him or not.
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Thing with BJ is that he is reliant on getting good ball. He will skin defenders with pace but isnt going to dribble through a low block.

That said, 10 assists is pretty good. Just needs to up his goal output.

In my mind i see us starting with Madders @ 10 and Deki wide left and then going to Deki @ 10 and BJ wide in latter stages of games.

comment by look like modric (U7431)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
This is the point i have been constantly making, defensive set pieces he will be a massive help. It will not help the woeful Ange/Jedinak set up but he will help us aerially.

Also he will hold the ball up. the ball comes back far too much with Son up top. Our schoolboy tactics constantly having the players out of position and we give up chances.

Absoloutely the right signing really like him. Question mark on why now not at the start of the summer, he clearly was not a target.
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Most fan knows by now that we wouldn’t have been spending that much on a player without players leaving first. He will be on big wages. And now with all the outgoings our wage bill has been slashed and allowed for him to complete.

it's also just been a slow window for everyone who isn't trading academy players like panini stickers

we've basically done as much business as everybody but villa and chelsea

I wasn't 100% sold by Solanke - not opposed to it, but somewhat on the fence.

But having watched that 442 thing and this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtAKMZ1J0I

It's clear. He's the greatest striker in the history of the world.

Title charge is on.