He certainly needs that too. But physically (aside from endurance) he’s nothing special. And his technical skills are average. So I just don’t see where the growth comes from. Hearing he impacted the game with his “pressing” is nothing new and doesn’t show growth.
Yep. And there is a vast range between "best USMNT striker ever" and "worst striker ever." If you want to make a safe bet, we call all put our money on "neither." The fun, to me, is guessing/predicting where he tops out. A strong, useful wing/outside AM/second striker looks like it might be his best short term hope. Certainly as long as he's at Norwich and Pukki is not injured. Will he ever be a top CF? That remains to be seen, but he needs to get a real shot at that spot for a time and needs to put the ball in the net from there (to state the obvious.)
Very true. And many, many of the world's free-scoring U17s and U19s are playing RL or USL ball at 22. Sarge is playing in the Prem after a few seasons at automatic starter in BL1. He looked like a natural goalscorer at 17-19, but the standard's waaay higher at adult level and the game is rather different compared to even 5 seasons ago. And, in any case, strikers depend on service. Put him on the pitch with some decent service and evaluate him then
So do I. So does everyone. Not many people appreciate red-headed step children and this is the red-headed step child of analysis.
Average for the EPL is still pretty good. Not expecting Josh to be a star but beyond a few big misses he looks like he belongs. Which is good for his age. With a little polish and average finishing he could have a good bottom to mid table EPL career. See Shane Long for example, you don't have to bang in 15 goals a year to stay in the league. Especially when you can offer more than just goal scoring like Josh. This is a big reason he is not another Jozy. Just chill out and give him some time. I don't think anyone is saying he's on Pulisic's level.
Yeah, given how so much of his skill set are the very skills Gregg seems to value, it feels weird that he wasn’t called. He is a better wing that Arriola and a better 9 than Ferreira.
Yeah he’s not special physically but he’s definitely above average enough IMO that if he can become a more intelligent player he can be a real contributor in a top league. You won’t see me talking about him being best blah blah ever BUT he has enough above average skills to be, well, above average. Right now he also doesn’t have any nuance to his game so without nuance/intelligence/spatial recognition I don’t think he can get nearly as far because he doesn’t have many or any great skills.
The niggling concern is that he has looked like an effective striker versus lower division sides during cups. Even in his two Bremen pre seasons he was a regular scorer. When the speed got faster things just didn’t fall the same way. May be service, may be speed as u pointed out, but I can’t help but feel that it is a bit of both. Let’s face it, if folks weren’t so desperate for a free scoring striker for the Nats there would be a lot less scrutiny here. Nothing worse for a player when they don’t live up to the needs of the fan.
Well, the obvious is usually the right answer 99% of the time, but it makes for a boring message board. Especially when proving how smart I am, dissing and winning arguments at any cost are what are clearly the most important thing. Team is playing good for them, he had a strong half, let’s see what happens.
Wow, a year ago, you called me crazy for suggesting Sargent should be a winger. Re: USMNT. He has no business being anywhere close to the oppennt's goal. The denial here is biger than the river 1458267993046241285 is not a valid tweet id
Having lauded his flexibility and ability to play wing for a long time I find that hard to believe. Did you save the post?
Yep. Which is why I try a little bit to drill down on more specific predictions - like Antonio's career level, but probably not as a "true" CF is my current "generalized prediction." And if I'm right, I get all the pie!
"Putting Sarge on (Josh Sargent) gave us more legs on the pitch. We could go and engage a lot higher up the pitch. I didn't think our eights got to their sixes anywhere near enough in that first half. But when we changed it we were the much better team." Dean Smith on Sarge's contribution yesterday. I think it's his opinion that counts. And, since he's actually had a little bit of success at this coaching thing, maybe we all should take a pill and re-watch a game or two to see what Sarge is doing that a pro team's coach would appreciate. It'd be a pleasant change from everyone slitting their (metaphorical) wrists because he's not the second coming of either Ronaldo.
That sounds very rude of me. If all you did was say Sarge should play the wing, that was out of line and I am sorry. I must have been in a snit. Sorry.
“Worst striker ever” and “Best striker ever” are closer than you might think. At least in our evaluations.
I sure do. I really wish more people would read what he actually writes. Go back to page 250ish and take a re-read. He is spot on and its saddening how much abuse he gets.
Josh got 45' yesterday at left wing and Norwich won! Josh receives the ball in the box with two defenders in front of him. He has a player to his right who is onside and unmarked. His first instinct is to blast the ball. This is the wrong choice. He should fake with the inside of his right foot and then hit it forward with the outside of his right foot to his teammate. The teammate can give him a return pass as Josh runs between the defenders. He has to play smarter instead of harder. #soccerIQ