He was in absolute miles of space. He’s the team’s No. 9. He needs to score it. “Really poor” is a correct description.
I just want to take a moment to comment on how weird soccer cliches are, at least to someone like me who absorbed a couple decades of commentary on Our Sports before soccer got big here. Like, in our sports, “needs to score” would mean the team needed it, but in soccer, it means “should have scored.” Further, the XGs for your typical shot that a striker “needs to score” is usually like .3.
Really poor is a tap in or hitting the keeper in legs - if you think that Meslier made a good save which the announcers did, your description can't be correct. And Sargent did well to get past the defender in the first instance. Could have, should have done better but that wasn't a tap in.
Look on the bright side: there's a much greater chance he's in a superior situation next season because he didn't get promoted w/ Norwich where he'd get little service & relapse on doubt. Now he likely gets sold; hopefully to a club who creates a different dynamic.
Did well to get past the defender? It was a ball over the top the defender lunged for and missed leaving Sargent in acres of space. Give me a break. Anyway quibbling over the definition and application of words like bad/poor/really poor/shambolic/dreadful isn't a very productive activity.
I would think Norwich would feel confident in their promotion odds next year with a full year of Sargent. You think he would get transferred to a PL side?
i absolutely think he should have done better once he was clear, but while the defender sold out for the ball sarges touch dragged it along. everything doesnt have to be so extreme.
He did nothing to "get past the defender" though... the defender went to ground and missed the ball allowing Sarge through on goal with acres of space.
if he does it will likely be a promoted team or relegation candidate, which honestly does nothing for his development. he can go to a tottenham as a second choice/rotation player or stick with norwich (if they remain intact)- his entire career has been in that nether-region of different teams, players, certainly managers every single season.
I said hopefully he doesn't end up in a similar situation as Norwich a couple seasons ago, whether that be at the same club or a different one in the EPL. I think he gets transferred since he's had back-to-back seasons of success there. He's grown beyond them. Would likely agitate to leave & they can get a good sum for him to build their squad. The ideal landing spot for him would probably be one of the clubs in France that are in the UCL or typically vie for those places, provided they have a near future need at the position.
Watch it again - The ball didn't pop out after the defender slid in - he got a foot in and brought the ball into his control. And Meslier closed him down really quickly - how did you want him to finish it there? Not saying he couldn't have done better and whatever words you use, I'm disagreeing with the general characterization of a failure when he was composed and attempted a chip that forced a save. As superdave said - what was the xg there? I hadn't seen the play so when I rewound and watched it I was expecting something worse - like a tame shot right at the goalie.
This. I think he could try a good club in the Eredivisie, but at this point he's likely above their pay grade. From the Championship, with four years of contract left, he'd have to go to a Top 5 league. So it's basically that: relegation fodder in Top 5. According to Capology he's on about $1.65m/year USD. He's valued $13m. Mönchengladbach hits the sweet spot (I'm using it as example, not that I think he's going there): a bottom-half-of-the-table club in a Top 5 that had a bad season but it's expected to recover, with an aging forward in Alassane Plea (7G/4A), and an under-performing Pefok (5/3). Their average salary is reported at around $1.75m/year, and they could afford the transfer rate so far Norwich doesn't go crazy. The basic problem is that, for all his success this season in the Championship, I don't think Sarge is up to Top 5 level.
I think getting out of the Championship and England in general would be ideal for his health. He keeps picking up nagging injuries.
Yikes. Ended up losing 2-0 to Oxford. very early goings but those are the type of clubs you need to beat if you’re a serious promotion contender.
Watching the match vs. Blackburn. Please note I’m a Rovers fan. Sargeant wins the ball pressing, has a low grade chance, just misses wide right.
I started the match late and am catching up. At 30:00, Rovers seem very comfortable. Still 1-0. Sarge hasn’t been involved much.
Great run by Sarge, fine pass, poor angle shot, right at the keeper, penalty shout for a shirt pull. Based on how English refs are, good no call. Might have been a PK with Central American refs. Sarge seems to be really the point of the spear; he isn’t dropping deep to facilitate.
Almost a WPIOOTBGW. Norwich steals the ball, feeds Sarge, poor finish. Went for power. He’s had I think 4 chances. IMO, collectively an XG of between .5 and say .8. He needs to score the next chance of that quality.
On the replay, I take it back. That last one by itself was probably an XG of .5. If he had chipped it, and kept it on frame, a sure goal.
Halftime. here’s how I would sum up Sarge’s half. He did a lot of good things. If he had a goal, he’d be the clubhouse leader for MOTM. But he doesn’t. Rovers look pretty good…just in control of things. If they could play through the press better, I’d feel great about their chances. First 10-15, Norwich was the better side. Since then it’s been Rovers, albeit punctuated by giveaways leading to chances for Sarge. One last thing…it seems like Norwich isn’t getting players around Sarge, he doesn’t have passing options too often. Like they’re playing a “pure” 4-5-1 rather than a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.