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He’s got me stumped. He puts in so much effort and runs all day and makes us a lot better off the ball as well as trying hard when we have it, harasses defenders and tires the opposition out to give a good opportunity for Wilson to come on. I like him. We are better when he’s playing…

BUT he seems like an utter donkey. Giraffe on roller skates. Woeful touch under any sort of pressure and off the speed of the game in any sort of tight situation and looks less likely to score than Areola. Like the absolute opposite of Wilson who has none of th physical tools but all the brain and composure. 

So what do we make of him? 

Alfs wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 17:55

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 10:01

He's 21... He looked better last night than he has before his touch unlike before was excellent so I'm not so sure about that. 

We will see, but how long can you justify a grafter for in that position who has no goal threat?

That's what COYI used to say about Summerville. It takes rime to get used to the Prem, as you well know.

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 10:01

He's 21... He looked better last night than he has before his touch unlike before was excellent so I'm not so sure about that. 

We will see, but how long can you justify a grafter for in that position who has no goal threat?

John Drake" wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:01 We don't have any free-scoring striker on the books and Nuno can only work with what he's got. The upturn in form has coincided with playing Taty and Pablo together upfront. It has allowed Bowen and Summerville to exploit the space left. Difficult to argue against that.

Is Pablo a saviour? No, but he has made a significant difference.

Let's face it, in an ideal world we would have better players in many different positions. But that's not where we are. In the meantime, I'm hoping we can stick with the Pablo/ Taty combination because it appears to make best use of what we have. 

I'm content for the moment with players that put in a shift even if they are less talented than cunts like Paqueta. Players you can actually, dare I say it, start to like. I think if everyone is fit Pablo starts with Taty up top due to his effectiveness as the bringer of effort and chaos. 

John Drake" wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:01 We don't have any free-scoring striker on the books and Nuno can only work with what he's got. The upturn in form has coincided with playing Taty and Pablo together upfront. It has allowed Bowen and Summerville to exploit the space left. Difficult to argue against that.

Is Pablo a saviour? No, but he has made a significant difference.

Let's face it, in an ideal world we would have better players in many different positions. But that's not where we are. In the meantime, I'm hoping we can stick with the Pablo/ Taty combination because it appears to make best use of what we have. 

We don't have any free-scoring striker on the books and Nuno can only work with what he's got. The upturn in form has coincided with playing Taty and Pablo together upfront. It has allowed Bowen and Summerville to exploit the space left. Difficult to argue against that.

Is Pablo a saviour? No, but he has made a significant difference.

Let's face it, in an ideal world we would have better players in many different positions. But that's not where we are. In the meantime, I'm hoping we can stick with the Pablo/ Taty combination because it appears to make best use of what we have. 

I'd be more worried if he was missing easy chances.  His job is for the team and he's doing that pretty well.  I think he will get goals but for now he's an asset and we need him in the team. 

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 10:08

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 10:01

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:59

He's 21... He looked better last night than he has before his touch unlike before was excellent so I'm not so sure about that. 

We will see, but how long can you justify a grafter for in that position who has no goal threat?

 

Hopefully they will come, but it depends if he keeps playing and when he does we seem to score more goals... We have won every minute he has been on the pitch for us apart from Burnley when we were 2 up and he was a sub. 

If he isn't scoring goals and that continues does it matter? 

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 10:01

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:59

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:56 He is what he is, a limited footballer but one who has clearly brought some value to the side in Nuno's preferred system. If we stay up I suspect Nuno will be looking for an upgrade on him while demoting him to the bench.

Let's all cheer for Pablo 1, 2, 3...

He's 21... He looked better last night than he has before his touch unlike before was excellent so I'm not so sure about that. 

We will see, but how long can you justify a grafter for in that position who has no goal threat?

 

If he can start scoring it would be great.

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:59

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:56 He is what he is, a limited footballer but one who has clearly brought some value to the side in Nuno's preferred system. If we stay up I suspect Nuno will be looking for an upgrade on him while demoting him to the bench.

Let's all cheer for Pablo 1, 2, 3...

He's 21... He looked better last night than he has before his touch unlike before was excellent so I'm not so sure about that. 

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 09:56 He is what he is, a limited footballer but one who has clearly brought some value to the side in Nuno's preferred system. If we stay up I suspect Nuno will be looking for an upgrade on him while demoting him to the bench.

Let's all cheer for Pablo 1, 2, 3...

He is what he is, a limited footballer but one who has clearly brought some value to the side in Nuno's preferred system. If we stay up I suspect Nuno will be looking for an upgrade on him while demoting him to the bench.

If we go down he will be useful in that league.

Let's all cheer for Pablo 1, 2, 3...

He had a really good game last night, good to have him back in the side.

Manuel wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 08:15

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 08:10 Really surprised to see him start last night and I thought he was very good and actually up front rather than behind Taty... Thought we got worse when he went off. 

Haha! Let it go man.

fraser wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 08:10 Really surprised to see him start last night and I thought he was very good and actually up front rather than behind Taty... Thought we got worse when he went off. 

Really surprised to see him start last night and I thought he was very good and actually up front rather than behind Taty... Thought we got worse when he went off. 

There is a suggestion that he really needed an op, but we've gambled on regular rehab in the hope he'll get through until the end of the season.

So when he's back, don't be surprised if he breaks down again. 

Council Scum" wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 10:49

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 10:44 Any updates on our “Roller Skated Giraffe” ?

We need him available rather than having to play Wilson or the unfit Traore. 

Last update was that he was improving but still working apart from the squad which points to him still being maybe a month away from a return? I guess the FA cup tie in this sense is very helpful as it eats up 10 days? 

He's expected to be back for next weekend. 

Sir Alf" wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 10:44 Any updates on our “Roller Skated Giraffe” ?

We need him available rather than having to play Wilson or the unfit Traore. 

Last update was that he was improving but still working apart from the squad which points to him still being maybe a month away from a return? I guess the FA cup tie in this sense is very helpful as it eats up 10 days? 

Any updates on our “Roller Skated Giraffe” ?

We need him available rather than having to play Wilson or the unfit Traore. 

Last update was that he was improving but still working apart from the squad which points to him still being maybe a month away from a return? I guess the FA cup tie in this sense is very helpful as it eats up 10 days? 

twoleftfeet wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 10:16

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 09:58 Speaks volumes that we are so desperate for this "giraffe on roller skates" with a "woeful touch" to return to the side.

It then will allow us to put Wilson back on the bench, where he'll be of the most value to us coming on and trying to nick a goal.

I thought you were describing Solanke then.

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 09:58 Speaks volumes that we are so desperate for this "giraffe on roller skates" with a "woeful touch" to return to the side.

It then will allow us to put Wilson back on the bench, where he'll be of the most value to us coming on and trying to nick a goal.

Go and worry about tonight and how your absolute car crash of a club that  (even makes our shambles of a mess seem functional) are going to do against Palace.

Speaks volumes that we are so desperate for this "giraffe on roller skates" with a "woeful touch" to return to the side.

It then will allow us to put Wilson back on the bench, where he'll be of the most value to us coming on and trying to nick a goal.

Manuel wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 06:26

fraser wrote: ↑05 Mar 2026, 05:54 Hope he's back soon as looks vital to the way we want to play surely others can see we don't have a viable alternative. 

Certainly better than the old man up front, but I'm still not having it that he's the second coming as some make him out to be. Suspect he'll be back for Brentford or City. And don't worry too much about being proven correct, it's just an internet forum populated by cunts.