My middle school self would propose something like this... WBA Grabbed Dike When the Barnsley Door Was Left Open
My contribution to the thread title challenge…….. Daryl and The Hawthorns - Daryl Dike @ WBA. Sounds like a proper English 1960’s boy band from the West Midlands. Or A big Baggie Worth $9.5 Million - Daryl Dike @ WBA Or He’s No Wet Paper Baggie. He’s The Teflon Baggie. - Daryl Dike @ WBA
Doing fare to Midlands: Dike to WBA A Thrush in the hand is worth two in the bush: Dike to WBA Stick a finger in it, it's over: Dike to WBA
Sometimes your verbosity pays off. I think this is a pretty fair and accurate (if slightly pessimistic) reading of his game. One thing about Dike that nobody else brings -- and that could be quite helpful -- is muscle and hustle and a thunder strike mindset as the striker in whatever setup the US wants to use behind him. And the same is true with his club team; he's a plug and play classical striker that can score in a variety of ways and also play defensive when needed. That said as you pointed out sometimes he's sorta slow of foot (either in mind or body) to get to where he needs to be and isn't by any stretch a very technical finisher. We'll see what happens I wouldn't bet against him given his talent and mindset.
You guys are right of course, but how great would it be to have 2 diametrically opposed strikers stylistically. Have Pepi work for 60 minutes then bring on Dike to drop the hammer.
Sounds like the US needs to bring in a finishing expert to work with bot Sargent and Dike on how to get shots off quicker. Did Klinsmann ever work with the strikers on this type of stuff?
Want to give that lock screen a new Albion feel? 📲It's time for a @DarylDike themed #WallpaperWednesday 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cKUmcqh8JX— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 5, 2022
National team coaches do not work on things like shooting technique. They quite simply don’t have the time to even fully organize the squad, let alone work on technique as you suggest.
Weah got extra film work and worked on his positioning and defense. With the ability to do zoom stuff it doesn't all have to be in person.
Doubtful. Highly doubtful. Like @Jazzy Altidore says, MNT coaches get so little time with their squads that working on stuff like that is pointless except, perhaps, in pre-tournament camp where specific scenarios dependent on immediately getting a shot off are worked on. Then again, even if it is something that MNT coaches generally do then you can be sure that Klinsmann wouldn't have done it.
Damn, he looks good in that kit! I have very good feeling about Dike. Not just based on past games and displayed skills. From the interviews I've seen, he seems to have the right, calm disposition to make progress (not too high or low) and a lot of confidence & maturity. I also always love players who have other pro players in their families. It's a material advantage, IMO. I'm sure his brother has prepped his well and will keep him focused with head on straight. He has shown a lot of hunger to win some of the balls he wins and physically, he's a beast. He has demonstrated that electric quality at times that all good goal scorers possess. Coach is 100% behind him and has already had success with him- so he'll get every chance (no hard bench time if he has a couple bad games). Barring injury (God please no!), I expect we will see nice progress again in his game between now and May....that is if the freakin' cross-the-world USMNT trips don't wear him out. He needs to make progress on his reads and pick up the pace of his game a little (+ bit better touch), But he is hungry + hard working enough that I think he will conquer this....and I expect he'll see results similar to last year's output, and possibly even mentioned as one of the best strikers in the Championship by May. Hopefully that will be enough to get WBA promoted. I would love to see what he can do against Premiership defenders.
Altidore scored two in 70 games: one with Hull, one with Sunderland. So he'll need 3 to outscore him in the EPL. One will be enough to outscore Sargent though.