Made some good runs and almost got on a couple of crosses but maybe wasn't the game for him physically.
He's clearly got bags of quality but he had little to no service today. The crossing into him was terrible today.
Not true, he did get the ball in a good position to score from but then fired a pass in to Sarr instead. He also just doesn't seem to have the pace to get on to crosses anyway.
Intelligent player, good movement, good touch, clearly desperate to score goals but think he looked quite naive. Almost shell-shocked at the pace and physicality. Joao tried to find him twice and it nearly got there but then he faded. Don’t think we helped though, by playing like it was Davis upfront.
Yes, I agree. He’s a very good player but not someone who is ready to lead the line. He needs to play alongside someone. But I like him. Technically sharp, quick and is finding good positions. Maybe once he’s come to terms with the physicality we’ll see a more effective player.
He makes the runs that Vydra made, but our buildup is too slow so he never gets the ball when he makes those runs. Chauds is a very good ballwinner but can't pass, so he takes the safe sideways option. By the time the ball gets forward the chance has gone. It would be nice to see an attacking move that doesn't end up with Sarr or Kamara putting in a bad cross, but we seem unable to play through the middle.
Except he's not "quick" - Cameron Archer last week was quick. "Once he's come to terms with the physicality" would also take him longer than the few months we have him on loan for; and that would even be assuming he has it in him, which I'm not sure he does.
Great that we finally have a player that makes near post runs, close to getting on a couple it looked like too.
I agree. Perhaps alongside Davis would be better fir him. I'd rather value Benfica's youth coaches who regard him highly than a supposed scouting sage. It often takes players from overseas a while to find their feet but yet again he's being trashed. Good thing those trashing him are not involved in youth coaching.
The thing is we've only got him for a few months anyway - if he's not ready to help get us promoted this season then it was a pointless loan signing.
Looked decent to me but supply has been the issue. Get Pedro and Louza back in the side and I think he will score goals
As I say he made some good runs but the Blackburn keeper actually caught and held onto the ball from crosses generally unlike ours on on occasion.
It’s on Bilic to make this work . It should have been obvious to the recruitment team that a young lad , of slight build brought up in Portugese football isn’t going to be a Troy Deeney type so let’s play to his strengths .
We need to stop being so negative and get behind the lad. All these minutes in the tank are going to be invaluable for next season after he’s acclimatised to the Champo.
Probably not, but certainly not suited to the Championship as a lone striker whose game is clearly not back-to-goal. To get anything out of his loan he has to play in a front two with Davis, who is our best hold-up player, otherwise we might as well send him home. That arrangement would also have the benefit of Davis not thinking he has to do so much on the ball. He often holds on to it too long and an available partner making runs would give him the opportunity to create chances.
I reckon he'd be excellent when we're 3-0 up and can bring him on to bag an ultimately meaningless fourth. But just not so sure we'll get in that position.
Now, he's ultimately someone who's not going to be here past the summer, so it's not as if we're ruining a player who is going to be the future of the club or anything, but it is so odd how he's hardly getting a sniff and how Britt seems to be above him in the pecking order... Bilic has made some odd selection decisions here, often it seems like he's trying to make a point, is this one of those situations, or is this geezer genuinely bobbins?
I think this guy could still come good, but he is not a lone striker he would be better in a front two partnership.
Correct. A pointless signing unless he plays alongside probably Davis. If Bilic wants to persist with the current sort of formation, it’s another example of the wrong type of player being recruited.
I cant see us triggering the £100m release clause based on his performances so far Sorry Macquarie Bank shareholders
It made much more sense to bring on Britt yesterday - we were ahead and needed to try and keep the ball and hold on to the lead. Araujo's hold-up play is basically non-existent, while Assombalonga can put himself about a bit and was alright in helping to keep the ball down by the corner flag.
I'm not so sure. Could be another shrewd investment like Sarr. Buy for £100m today and sell for £200m in 2 years. Like printing money.
I don't think there's a feasible formation around which could accommodate both Araujo and Davis, while also keeping JP and Sarr on the pitch - and when they're all available JP and Sarr both seem to offer more than Araujo.
Yes. We can't play 3-5-2 with Gaspar & Morris as the FBs. Not sure how we can play 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 with Sarr & JP in the 4 or the 5.
