flobaba I'm well aware that none of the options are a sure thing. That comment was specifically aimed at how you were representing the data.
flobaba The defending and goal keeping may not be the same standard in Portugal, but the goal size is.
Defending and goalkeeping are pretty important. That's precisely one of my concerns.
flobaba If he somehow flops badly, it would be unfortunate, but no one would be able to say we didn't give ourselves the best chance. Plus as many have observed, his mentality is elite - let's not discount that attribute.
This I can agree with you on. As I've said a few times, a lot of my concern in him is really a reflection of the dearth of elite tier strikers in the modern game. My hope was that Sesko would be the next at that level. And even then, it's (a) gambling on potential and (b) not exactly Thierry Henry.
Qwiss I don't understand how people aren't excited
The most reassuring thing I've read is that he just needs to be in the box to put away the chances. And that's probably true and he'll likely be fine at that.
But I worry about what he contributes when the system breaks down (which it did plenty last season) because I don't think he has much (as Wenger put it) 'individual potential' (beyond just forcing his way past flat-footed defenders). I want a player that can create his own chances and I don't see much of that with Gyokeres. Early Wenger benefited from a loose system with plenty of players with that 'individual potential'; but that was also his downfall when we no longer were able to source talented enough players. Arteta has put a system in place that makes us less reliant on individual ability (this is a good thing by and large!) but struggles when teams neutralise our tactics because we don't have enough players who can create something out of nothing.
Aside from the uncertainty in his pedigree it's then his aesthetic/stylistic qualities that leave me cold. And yes, that's a snobbery of sorts but it leans into a concern that quite a few have voiced in that we prize players who stick to a system (not by itself a problem). There's plenty of good things about that (I do think some of the criticism of our style is overblown) but I was really expecting us to sign more players who could break the system. Jesus for all his flaws was central to the best football we've seen under Arteta (and arguably the most effective), helped by his willingness to work hard in the system coupled with his ability to create something out of nothing (which amongst things, made it harder for teams to set up against us). I really hoped this summer would be focused on recruiting equivalent attacking players who have that inventive streak. Gyokeres isn't that guy from everything I've seen; he plays like a superb athlete with a mere modicum of technical ability and inventiveness. I just find that fundamentally boring to watch.
Sesko is far from perfect but I'd back him to score all the goals in Gyokeres' repertoire; I'm not convinced the reverse is true.
If we win the league, I'll get over it but the comparisons to Mitrovic kinda land that point pretty well. No one would pay good money just to watch him play.
Burnwinter not about him being physically weak, it's about his numbers (which are central to his hype) being inflated. But you know all that.
Clrnc in your Mitrovic summary, you've conveniently left out the other three full season in the PL where his best tally was 11. 😉
No one was fighting to prize him away from the Saudi clubs when he left, he'd peaked at Fulham.
flobaba I hope this isn't directed at me because you couldn't be more wrong. I can't remember a player I've researched so hard to understand the hype on. Despite watching all his highlights, I can't unsee the things I that concern me about his game.
HomeSteak I really hope that's either not true or that I'm wrong again about a player we've recruited. Wouldn't be the first time.
