Reading v Newcastle United 07/03/2017

[Rayvin 5295]

It doesn't look like it'll happen but it's a shame to see one of the few players who genuinely gives a shit not being able to make the grade.

[Alex 35572]

I think he's young and still developing but he's definitely the 4th choice centre-forward at present and we only play one up top. We'll look to strengthen there in the summer and I think he'll be away. When I saw him against Bristol City he offered very little.

[The Fish 10963]

Finished, I expect him to move to the Bundesliga or some shit in the summer.

 

Finished.

 

I've not written him off yet. He's scored in the Premier League, he's scored in the Championship and while he hasn't set the division alight he's nowhere near as shit as some people are making out.

 

He's just a victim of failing to meet the exaggerated expectations and is now the scape goat du jour. Soon enough it'll be back to Perez, or Diame, or Gouffran.

 

People forget he's just a kid (22). He's younger than Atsu(25), Perez(23) or Sammy (24), but because of his size and reputation people seem to expect him to be the finished article.

[Alex 35572]

Leaving him out for Murphy is lunacy, there's only one if the two of them who has a chance to develop into a better striker, and ropey atm or not he's done alright in his time here, missed chances and had a bad run of it but Murphy is a career also ran not a 22yr old international with a chance

Murphy's a far better option atm so it's hardly lunacy.

[The Fish 10963]

Leaving him out for Murphy is lunacy, there's only one if the two of them who has a chance to develop into a better striker, and ropey atm or not he's done alright in his time here, missed chances and had a bad run of it but Murphy is a career also ran not a 22yr old international with a chance

 

If it was a team lower down the division, I'd agree. Reading aren't Rotherham, so I'm happy enough Rafa's using the squad to deal with the rigours of the season. After Reading we've 4 very winnable games and I'd not be surprised to see Mitrovic and Murphy swapping the spot on the bench across them.

[Dr Gloom 22147]

People are disappointed because he looked promising last season. He's been poor for large spells this season and hasn't taken the chance to impress on several occasions. I thought he'd get 15 goals easy in this division. Even shola managed a decent haul of goals last time. Wouldn't surprise me at all if we let him go and held on to Murphy as the big man off the bench option. He has looked a nuisance when called upon a his season, more so than mitro, it pains me to say.

[Alex 35572]

If he's going to leave because he can't accept not getting into the squad when he doesn't warrant a place then he lacks the required temperament anyway imo*. His age in relevant in the sense of his potential development but not in terms of him starting (or getting a place on the bench) ahead of those more worthy at present.

 

* Not saying he will, just responding to you arguing that's a possibility.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Alex

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

People are disappointed because he looked promising last season. He's been poor for large spells this season and hasn't taken the chance to impress on several occasions. I thought he'd get 15 goals easy in this division. Even shola managed a decent haul of goals last time. Wouldn't surprise me at all if we let him go and held on to Murphy as the big man off the bench option. He has looked a nuisance when called upon a his season, more so than mitro, it pains me to say.

In a nutshell

[NJS 4411]

I presumed that if we go up we'll sell Murphy back to Ipswich or another similar club.

 

Doesn't mean he doesn't have an important part to play for the rest of this season and he's doing better than Mitrovic at the moment.

[Alex 35572]

If it was a team lower down the division, I'd agree. Reading aren't Rotherham, so I'm happy enough Rafa's using the squad to deal with the rigours of the season. After Reading we've 4 very winnable games and I'd not be surprised to see Mitrovic and Murphy swapping the spot on the bench across them.

Agreed, because it's a big match and a massive opportunity to more or less seal promotion.

People are disappointed because he looked promising last season. He's been poor for large spells this season and hasn't taken the chance to impress on several occasions. I thought he'd get 15 goals easy in this division. Even shola managed a decent haul of goals last time. Wouldn't surprise me at all if we let him go and held on to Murphy as the big man off the bench option. He has looked a nuisance when called upon a his season, more so than mitro, it pains me to say.

Aye, I really want him to succeed but he's not performing at present.

[Tom 14013]

Murphy is clearly the better option right now, we have a job to do.

[Happy Face 29]

 

Hoyed this up after the game on Saturday.  He's miles off where he needs to be once we're promoted.

[Lackie92 1]

Finished.

 

I've not written him off yet. He's scored in the Premier League, he's scored in the Championship and while he hasn't set the division alight he's nowhere near as shit as some people are making out.

 

He's just a victim of failing to meet the exaggerated expectations and is now the scape goat du jour. Soon enough it'll be back to Perez, or Diame, or Gouffran.

 

People forget he's just a kid (22). He's younger than Atsu(25), Perez(23) or Sammy (24), but because of his size and reputation people seem to expect him to be the finished article.

He's finished with us if Rafa thinks Murphy is a better option than Mitro at the moment...........

 

Murphy's a far better option atm so it's hardly lunacy.

Agree with this, he's a better option at the moment and we need to think about now.

[Dr Gloom 22147]

Shocking shot accuracy from Mitro

[Dr Gloom 22147]

And not surprising given what we've seen from him. You've got to be hitting the target with at least half your chances. I'd be interested to know what his conversion rate is.

[Happy Face 29]

Shocking shot accuracy from Mitro

 

Or to put it another way...

 

[Park Life 71]

He has no pace, he can't shoot, he has no brain, no stamina, no positional sense, silly grin, neck tattoo, skirts with a red every challenge. Complete and total waste of space. Can head a bit sometimes if all the stars are alligned.

 

Edited March 7, 2017 by Park Life

[trooper 940]

And not surprising given what we've seen from him. You've got to be hitting the target with at least half your chances. I'd be interested to know what his conversion rate is.

I could only find this..

 

April 7th 20161/11

 

Aleksandar Mitrovic

 

Since moving to Newcastle at the start of the season for a whopping £13m, Mitrovic has failed to galvanise his stuttering side, who face the real threat of relegation from the Premier League.

 

 

The Serbian international has scored eight goals in his first season in England over 27 games. Not the worst return, but when you consider that the 21-year-old was playing as as lone striker for much of the campaign, eight goals are far too few, especially when Mitrovic has taken 54 shots this year, with a disappointing conversion rate of 14.81%.

 

 

​Stats:

 

Games: 27

 

Goals: 8

 

Total Shots: 54

Conversion Rate: 14.81%

[Alex 35572]

I just can't fathom anyone having a pop at the manager for picking a player in form and performing ahead of the one who isn't. Lunacy tbh

[Park Life 71]

I could only find this..

 

April 7th 20161/11

 

Aleksandar Mitrovic

 

Since moving to Newcastle at the start of the season for a whopping £13m, Mitrovic has failed to galvanise his stuttering side, who face the real threat of relegation from the Premier League.

 

 

The Serbian international has scored eight goals in his first season in England over 27 games. Not the worst return, but when you consider that the 21-year-old was playing as as lone striker for much of the campaign, eight goals are far too few, especially when Mitrovic has taken 54 shots this year, with a disappointing conversion rate of 14.81%.

 

 

​Stats:

 

Games: 27

 

Goals: 8

 

Total Shots: 54

Conversion Rate: 14.81%

20 to 30% is what good strikers are at and over 30% is world class.

 

Giroud, Saurez and Tevez and the like are around 25%.

 

Messi, Greizmann, Costa, Lacazette are around 35%.

 

 

http://www.squawka.com/news/the-top-20-players-in-europe-ranked-by-conversion-rate/386017

Edited March 7, 2017 by Park Life

[The Fish 10963]

People are disappointed because he looked promising last season. He's been poor for large spells this season and hasn't taken the chance to impress on several occasions. I thought he'd get 15 goals easy in this division. Even shola managed a decent haul of goals last time. Wouldn't surprise me at all if we let him go and held on to Murphy as the big man off the bench option. He has looked a nuisance when called upon a his season, more so than mitro, it pains me to say.

He's played 808 minutes  but 41% of his 22 appearances have been for less than 12 minutes.

 

 

Shola was an experienced pro (29) who'd played pretty much his entire career in the top flight of English football. Bit harsh to grade Mitro against him, no?

[Tom 14013]

Putting aside Mitro's failings for a second that's a canny strike rate for Murphy

[acrossthepond 878]

I think part of the problem is that Mitro is a "big man" striker who doesn't play like one. In his mind "being a nuisance to defenders" means all you have to do is foul them constantly. He doesn't have the work rate IMO to play the mostly thankless job of being a lone striker. Most of your time in that role should be spent making pointless runs to open space for players behind you, dragging defenders out of position, blocking them off on set plays, etc. On the relatively rare occasion where he gets the ball at his feet, back to goal, and can set up other players, he's shown some good touches. But he seems to think that should be happening on every play, and he takes the huff when he isn't constantly receiving the ball. He's immature and a hothead and to be brutally honest he's unreliable. Which is why Rafa isn't relying on him.

 

On the other hand, Murphy is an extremely experienced pro who has been playing this role for a long time and he looks the part. When Rafa sent him on for 20 minutes against Brighton he knew exactly what the drill was and he stuck to it. Done exactly what we bought him for if you ask me, chipped in with a few goals, and he's got my appreciation. 

[The Fish 10963]

I just can't fathom anyone having a pop at the manager for picking a player in form and performing ahead of the one who isn't. Lunacy tbh

 

I totally agree that in this fixture, Murphy is a the better option. However, it's mental that people are writing off a 22yr old striker, despite evidence that he can finish (4 goals), he can provide (3 assists) and he can keep his head. He has 3 yellows in the league, which is the same as Gayle and Gouffran, and no red cards.

[Park Life 71]

I totally agree that in this fixture, Murphy is a the better option. However, it's mental that people are writing off a 22yr old striker, despite evidence that he can finish (4 goals), he can provide (3 assists) and he can keep his head. He has 3 yellows in the league, which is the same as Gayle and Gouffran, and no red cards.

He completely rubbish. 1 in 6 isn't finishing. Age has nothing to do with it. Strikers have to have one or two of the skill sets or they don't. He's not going to develop pace as he gets older or become more mobile or magically gain close control. A striker has to have some of these assets as a given. If he had pace or football intelligence or good close control or perhaps stamina (always looks tired) then you can argue over time he can bring on the other parts of his game. He doesn't have much core ability, almost nothing to build on. He'll be the same as he is now at 28. He is sort of Shola level.

 

Even at Arsenal Wenger has had young strikers with pace and close control miles ahead of Mitro but still never made it under the best possible environment.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Park Life