AJ's Goal drought

[Namdrater]

I definitely agree with the point made in the topic but I think its so many other things that all occured at once.

1) I cant remember when last he got through into a position where he could have possibly been fouled in the box. Remember he did get fouled 8-10 times in the box and thats why the diving claims came about. The claims didnt just disappear, he stopped getting into those positions altogether.

2) He probably stopped getting into those positions, is Cahills absence. Cahill playing behind AJ proved an excellent tactic.

3) He stopped scoring, low confidence.

4) Other teams start countering what they didnt know about AJ before.

I bet he'll score at the derby if Cahill is back and when he does score again, he will get back to his best. I miss the classy AJ that scored 90% of his goals in the first half of the season and got fouled numerous times by opposing defenses. But he will be back!!!

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Couldn't care less how many assists he makes I want him to score goals.

 

[Maverick]

once he scores, the floodgates will open

 

[Maverick]

Couldn't care less how many assists he makes I want him to score goals.

an assist is as good as a goal, no?

 

[Namdrater]

Well its alarming that he seems to go long periods of a season without scoring.

And I for one am not impressed with his contributions recently. I don't want to see him on the wing winning throw-ins, I want to see him showing for the ball off the defenders shoulders, that is what he should be doing, ain't gonna score from the wing.

But don't expect any severe criticism because he scored against Liverpool.

Shame, because he's not meeting his hefty price tag.

Dont be ridiculous saying he isnt critisized just because he scored against Liverpool. He got a last minute goal against Arsenal as well
But seriously, you cant honestly believe that. Last season he was scoring game after game. Liverpool as you said, Tottenham, Watford, etc. He and Cahill were romping every goal they stood towards. He has the talent, but somethings been missing lately - maybe confidence, maybe not enough through balls, maybe Moyes` tactics, who knows. But lets no kid ourselves, he is a great striker and serves us excellently.

He has got 2 assists this season, works his ass off and is a major part in the type of game we play.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

an assist is as good as a goal, no?

When his Everton career is over, and he has a very low goal return that is what he will be judged upon.

His job is to score goals, Arteta's job is to provide, Howard's job is to stop the goals.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Dont be ridiculous saying he isnt critisized just because he scored against Liverpool. He got a last minute goal against Arsenal as well
But seriously, you cant honestly believe that. Last season he was scoring game after game. Liverpool as you said, Tottenham, Watford, etc. He and Cahill were romping every goal they stood towards. He has the talent, but somethings been missing lately - maybe confidence, maybe not enough through balls, maybe Moyes` tactics, who knows. But lets no kid ourselves, he is a great striker and serves us excellently.

He has got 2 assists this season, works his ass off and is a major part in the type of game we play.

Well its a factor, you score against Liverpool and you are an instant hero, and then you become immune.

You say he is working his ass off, well he is missing chances to score, and I'm sorry but that is a problem. Its the difference in qualifying for Europe. You could also say that his poor finishing is the reason we are going to Russia under pressure.

 

[chicoazul]

Ghost: You back Yakubu but not Johnson, come on mate. Johnson makes the effort and causes problems. He was the tits last season when he was netting.

Yakubu is downright lazy, Johnson will always put the effort in and make a contriubution by scoring, assisting or creating space for others.

And he scored in the derby which is uber ace.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Ghost: You back Yakubu but not Johnson, come on mate. Johnson makes the effort and causes problems. He was the tits last season when he was netting.

Yakubu is downright lazy, Johnson will always put the effort in and make a contriubution by scoring, assisting or creating space for others.

And he scored in the derby which is uber ace.

I'm giving Yakubu more than 5 minutes to prove himself, and he has a better record than AJ.

I also remember last season that AJ went a fair few games without scoring too.

 

[chicoazul]

The difference is: Johnson puts effort in, Yakubu doesnt.

Its clear, like a Glacier mint.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

The difference is: Johnson puts effort in, Yakubu doesnt.

Its clear, like a Glacier mint.

Or the difference is Yakubu has scored more goals per game then Johnson.

Look I'm not going to start slagging off Yakubu because he has only been here for two minutes, and if you are then you should be ashamed. AJ has been here long enough to be settled in the side, and I'm not going to **** him off either, but he needs to show more in terms of finishing the ball in the back of the net.

That is why we spent 8million quid on him, not so he can run up and down the wing and win throw-ins.

If at the end of the season and Yakubu has not scored the goals then I will question him. But I reckon that most here will still criticise Yakubu even if he outscored AJ, which to me is a [Poor language removed] joke.

 

[SuitsBlue]

AJ was suffering with his feet last season, he played on when he should have had surgery, but dont let that little fact bother anyone from pointing out that he hasnt scored, i was ever so pissed off with him netting at the death versus arsenal ( :limpwristed: )

if i recall correctly he got the assist for vic versus wigan
if i recall correctly he got the assist for yak versus bolton

the fact he is still in and around the danger area whilst in a low spell of form suggests to me that hes still trying is still a threat and hes still productive. ive said it before that im not sure he has found his feet since surgery, he seems fit but remember he has had pieces of bone removed from both feet (i think) and could be settling into how the affected areas feel. could be worse, he could have rushed back like cahill and be shining the bench with his backside.

as for yakubu, i dont believe he is anyway near fit, hopefully the moyes patented fitness regime will see him trim and stocky and right on the edge.

 

[SuitsBlue]

If at the end of the season and Yakubu has not scored the goals then I will question him. But I reckon that most here will still criticise Yakubu even if he outscored AJ, which to me is a [Poor language removed] joke.

6 numbers for saturdays lottery please meg

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Sure thing 1 2 3 4 5 6 Meg.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

AJ was suffering with his feet last season, he played on when he should have had surgery, but dont let that little fact bother anyone from pointing out that he hasnt scored, i was ever so pissed off with him netting at the death versus arsenal ( :limpwristed: )

if i recall correctly he got the assist for vic versus wigan
if i recall correctly he got the assist for yak versus bolton

the fact he is still in and around the danger area whilst in a low spell of form suggests to me that hes still trying is still a threat and hes still productive. ive said it before that im not sure he has found his feet since surgery, he seems fit but remember he has had pieces of bone removed from both feet (i think) and could be settling into how the affected areas feel. could be worse, he could have rushed back like cahill and be shining the bench with his backside.

as for yakubu, i dont believe he is anyway near fit, hopefully the moyes patented fitness regime will see him trim and stocky and right on the edge.

Yeah I agree with that to an extent.

That goal against Arsenal was his last goal, and it seems ages ago.

AJ may be getting the odd assist, but that still doesn't disguise the fact that he isn't scoring himself, which as a striker is worrying, no matter which way you slice it.

Yakubu is finding the net, as is McFadden, so its difficult to not want to go with that partnership when it is working.

I want this thread sealed in a gold box, because I think Yakubu will outscore AJ, yet I still think he will get criticised. Of course if he scores against Liverpool (Yak), then I'm sure all problems will slowly drift away.