Thank god we signed Gyok instead of that donkey Sesko Gyok may well hit 15 league goals and 20 for the season which is ok as a squaddie IMO especially given how bad he was looking.
Considering last year we had no one score double digit goals in the league for the first time in a loooooooong time, he is currently on 11 in the EPL and I expect him to hit 15 in the league but even if he doesn't as long as he scores goals in the games that matter thats all I care about. If he scores 4 goals for the rest of the season but they are the 4 goals that seal the league, the UCL, the FA Cup and the League Cup then I definitely won't care about not hitting 20 in all comps. But I think for next season they will aim to have him slim down a bit. His strengths are direct runs centrally and smashing the ball and this year and he doesn't seem quite quick enough but its something that can be corrected. We also haven't played to his strengths, namely Saka who seems allergic to passing to him through middle channels but then Saka has been well off the pace this season. I don't think he expected the defenders to be as quick or strong in the EPL every week (unless its Spurs ). So the aim will be to help his pace and his running channels. And I think the lack of preseason and training with the team due to a delayed transfer really hurt us and him.
I am partly serious His output is nowhere enough for 'main man' status or the new contract we gave him - he's gone from 25 goal involvements 2 seasons ago to 9 so far this season. Piled on top of the understandable decline of Trossard, and lack of goals from Odegaard, and Havertz's injury woes it goes a long way to explaining why we can't score in open play. Maybe he isn't done, and its all tactics and triple teaming etc, but it's not crazy to think he is already past peak
I think Saka is worth keeping. Obviously. A bad patch doesn't take away his class and he seems mentally strong to make a comeback. The guy I think is goners is MØ. His decline is worse and I suspect he is carrying an injury which Mikel will try and hide to sell.
this is a controversial statement to make given that saka is our very own and is a model of human being but for the past two years- he has not performed fitting of the starboy status bestowed. He has really struggled and his lack of dynamism this calendar year worries me He might have peaked dowman - if he continues this trajectory - will take his spot sooner than we think Nwanieri there too
Thats how I see it, players who do bad injuries to hamstrings, or have ACL injuries etc that have a long lay off usually take a year to get back into form. Wouldn't shock me if next year Saka is elite.
We gave him that new contract less than a month ago. Saka isn’t going anywhere soon even if his production drops to zero.
I agree injuries is a big part, along with tactics - but he might well be post peak? his production per 90 is way down
He has more career minutes than Zubimendi and Eze who are both 3 years older. We seriously overplayed him as a teenager. A good case study in how not to handle Dowman.
I asked on Cannon stats and predictably got a nuanced answer Apparently he likely is post peak for a wide player based on age. But also recovery from major injury, lack of form etc So wait and see
Age is less important than usage, broadly speaking. Wide players also peak way younger than you’d think. Gavi is 21 but has been effectively washed since he was 19.
Saka is the focus of opposing defenses and consistently draws double teams. That opens up space for others. Like Timber, who gets tons of touches in dangerous areas because the opposition isn't afraid of him doing anything with the ball. I'll worry more about Saka when teams decide they can contain him with a single defender.
The donkey scored today, bringing his league total to 9, 2 behind Gyokeres in approximately 600 fewer minutes. Gyokeres was the right choice for this season, but long term the donkey might have been the better choice.
Oof, first full season back after a significant surgery is usually rough. I'll worry if his form (which is only bad in comparison to his normal self) is still mediocre next season. Edit: I see you noted the injury in a follow up.