David N'Gog

[aka Dus]

I looked through the forum and couldn't find a N'Gog thread, since I don't like starting new ones.

 

Some persistent weaknesses showed yesterday and v Rabotniki. However, the one thing that stood out for me was that he seems to have developed physically, as if he's been eating raw steak every meal and been on the weights in between. I thought he had a physical presence, developing perhaps, that he hadn't shown last season.

 

He's scored his goals and he worked hard. He got a great reception. I think he is a keeper.

 

And in addition, if Torres is widely regarded as the best striker in the world, and N'Gog starts ahead of him, logically isn't N'Gog currently "the best striker in the world right now"?

[Flight]

Nearly started a thread on him today to say I've been wrong about him as I've never thought he was good enough for us and didn't think he had yesterdays goal in his locker.

 

Keep proving me wrong, lad.

[Hassony]

4 goals already this season, the hottest striker in europe

[aka Dus]

I never categorised him in the Babel bin but I was waiting for him to do something that would make me think he deserved to be at a club of our ambition level.

 

Though one (or four) swallows does not a summer make.

[goose island]

very difficult job leading the line by yourself, especially when we were down to 10. one criticism was an opportunity we had second half when we broke down the right and he kept it in on the touchline. kuyt was in acres if he could have just pulled it back to him, but he held on to the ball too long and the chance was gone. he's still young though so hopefully he'll start to learn when and how to use the ball better. he looked wiped after about 60mins too, can't knock the lad's effort.

[sean]

Got him at 7's yesterday for first goalscorer. Inflated odds, knowing Torres wasn't starting. Thank you david Ngog.

[stressederic]

I've been defending N'gog for ages but I'll restate the crucial point about him again. He scores goals. Yes his choices sometimes aren't great, he can make runs at the wrong time, stuff like that. But he's young and he scores goals. We can fix all of that other stuff on the training ground. We can teach him to make the right runs and do the right things on and off the ball in the secure knowledge that he's already scoring goals.

 

Being a young striker is probably one of the toughest gigs around. Chances don't usually come along all that often and if you score great, but if you miss, you have to try and learn from that very quickly in time for the next one. It's a constant learning curve, where you have to work out if you missed the chance, because you place the ball wrong, put too much or too little power in the shot, maybe it was just a great save by the keeper and you should do the same thing again next time. It's not easy.

[jimmylibel]

I'm happy that his build up play seems to have improved. Last season if he was given the ball outside the box it was pretty much guaranteed he'd lose it. Early days this season but he does seem to have the ability to control it, look up and find his man this season.

 

Needs to work a bit more on shielding the ball though.

[carrafan]

'Twas nice to see him get a standing ovation when he went off. Must have done wonders to his confidence. Will be interesting to see how he fares against the boo boys of Birmingham a couple of games from now.

[richwilks]

The main thing to bear in mind about N'gog is that we signed him when he'd only played something like 20 first team games. He's massively inexperienced and he is rapidly improving all the time.

 

He's bulked up a bit and he'll get better with more games and more experience.

[Tones]

Seems to be inproving ever since he joined us. Which is what you want. Needs to improve on a lot more if hes to be a regular starter for us. Well worth the money spent on him though.

[carrafan]

Is the loan deal to West Brom still on?

[jimmylibel]

Is the loan deal to West Brom still on?

 

Sky were suggesting yesterday that it will be if we sign another striker. If not he'll stay put.

[_00_deathscar]

The main thing to bear in mind about N'gog is that we signed him when he'd only played something like 20 first team games. He's massively inexperienced and he is rapidly improving all the time.

 

He's bulked up a bit and he'll get better with more games and more experience.

 

Another 5 lbs of muscle on him and he'd already be twice as good as he is at the moment I reckon.

[goose island]

I'm happy that his build up play seems to have improved. Last season if he was given the ball outside the box it was pretty much guaranteed he'd lose it. Early days this season but he does seem to have the ability to control it, look up and find his man this season.

 

Needs to work a bit more on shielding the ball though.

 

 

i think last season he started pretty well, but when he was playing a lot more after Xmas his poor form was down to fitness rather than ability.

[Sion]

Took his goal well but apart from that I thought he was pretty ineffective. Deffo not a lone striker by any means. Especially not against the top clubs anyway.

[Tones]

Another 5 lbs of muscle on him and he'd already be twice as good as he is at the moment I reckon.

 

Needs to bulk up a bit more and needs to become more aggressive. Chasing down the ball like Nando does. Ive seen him do that at times though. He just needs a bit more nastiness about him, a bit more of a killer instinct. Cant see us loaning him out though, even if we sign another striker.

[Davvo]

Poor in the first half yesterday, but like the rest of the team, much improved second half. His control and use of the ball in the 2nd half really helped us alleviate the numerical disadvantage I thought. Still not convinced on him at all though, and if we get better in before the deadline, then a loan to another Prem club could be great experience for him.

[KIDORIGINAL]

He was used poorly last season. He's a big lad and we'd often lump it into his feet but that doesn't suit his game at all. He's best with the ball at his feet, surrounded by players running off him. Hopefully we'll see him used better this year, helped by the likes of Cole, Maxi and Aquilani.

 

It was a cracking goal he scored yesterday as well. I couldn't quite believe he managed to get it in from where he did.

[KD07]

Our French Pele.

[Knox_Harrington]

Poor in the first half yesterday, but like the rest of the team, much improved second half. His control and use of the ball in the 2nd half really helped us alleviate the numerical disadvantage I thought. Still not convinced on him at all though, and if we get better in before the deadline, then a loan to another Prem club could be great experience for him.

In an ideal world we have two other experienced options in attack (as well as Tog) and he goes on loan for twelve months to a club in this league where he plays most weeks. We sell one of those two next summer and he becomes option three and we go from there.

 

As ever, not an ideal world.

[goose island]

Poor in the first half yesterday, but like the rest of the team, much improved second half. His control and use of the ball in the 2nd half really helped us alleviate the numerical disadvantage I thought. Still not convinced on him at all though, and if we get better in before the deadline, then a loan to another Prem club could be great experience for him.

 

 

i think his first half performance reflected the team performance as a whole (and partly the way that we'd set up). he only really received the ball from deep, either ending up being called offside (a couple looked close to me) or having an impossible job of controlling a ball from carragher, with only cole as an option within 10 yards to play the ball to.

[Red Kent]

Don't rate him and don't think I ever will. His goal yesterday was a cracker but far to many times we lose good possession and position when he gets the ball.

[The Hitman]

Not helped by a distinct lack of options sometimes.

[Davvo]

In an ideal world we have two other experienced options in attack (as well as Tog) and he goes on loan for twelve months to a club in this league where he plays most weeks. We sell one of those two next summer and he becomes option three and we go from there.

 

As ever, not an ideal world.

 

Aye, that would be a sensible approach to his and our development, which makes it all pretty unlikely.