Player Watch: Fernando Llorente

[muppetman]

Surely he will play the whole 90 against Apoel, might be best to judge him after that.

 

[Clark28]

Like Son?

yup, we need another Son.

Kane, Son and a new Son would be nice.

 

[dagraham]

by another striker who will only play <10 minutes a week when Kane is fit.

Then people will be calling for the replacement to be replaced.

imo we need a backup ST who can also play another role, that way they can get game time even when Kane is in the team.

I’ve never really been a fan of this type of player, but I think in the context of Kane being so clearly first choice it is a very good point.

Something in the press the other day that we were looking at this Richarlison of Watford. Not seen much of him, but can play all across the front line apparently.

The other alternative is to rest Kane more often for so called “lesser” games to give the back up striker more chance to get in a groove.

 

[JayB]

by another striker who will only play <10 minutes a week when Kane is fit.

Then people will be calling for the replacement to be replaced.

imo we need a backup ST who can also play another role, that way they can get game time even when Kane is in the team.

I think this is the solution to the problem. Son deputised well for Kane last season because he was getting regular playing time outside of when Kane was unavailable and was in form when we needed him to slot in up top, and would probably make for a better second choice than Llorente right now for the same reason.

If we do sell Rose to United we really ought to demand Martial or Rashford in return, or otherwise tell them to f*** off and go find a different left back.

 

[WiganSpur]

I don't buy the lack of games thing so much. You have to be ready when given your opportunity. Did you ever see Jermain Defoe use that as an excuse when he was benched most games? OK, so you might not be at your best, but he has contributed virtually nothing in the time he's been on the pitch. His best game for us was the Madrid game, and even in there he looked bereft of confidence.

I'm not so bothered about his lack of goals, that's probably to be expected. But he isn't even competing for the ball or using his size, he's losing headers all the time lazily drifting around. The least he can do is hold the ball up, win some headers and press more.

 

[Charly***]

I don't buy the lack of games thing so much. You have to be ready when given your opportunity. Did you ever see Jermain Defoe use that as an excuse when he was benched most games? OK, so you might not be at your best, but he has contributed virtually nothing in the time he's been on the pitch. His best game for us was the Madrid game, and even in there he looked bereft of confidence.

I'm not so bothered about his lack of goals, that's probably to be expected. But he isn't even competing for the ball or using his size, he's losing headers all the time lazily drifting around. The least he can do is hold the ball up, win some headers and press more.

Defoe always had self belief whatever his circumstances. Not every player has that, Llorente certainly doesn't look like he does at the moment. Janssen was lacking in that way last season as well. We need to find a backup with that kind of mentality.

 

[coys200]

As said a martial or Rashford is perfect solution. Someone who can play wide if needed. Tbh that’s why janssen was a better option at least he could play with Kane and ran around a bit. Personally I’d get shot in January,cut our losses take £8m from some Spanish club. And bring janssen back till end of season then think again. No point buying in January we aren’t desperate and would be waste of money. In regard to Richarlison think he’s being a bit over hyped. Watched him closely against West Ham, was ok but not great imo. Zaha would have a much greater impact for us.

 

[chinaman]

I think the bigger question is who is willing to come and play second fiddle to Kane?

 

[Ossie85]

I thought he'd be a solid signing but he's looked like a plodder so far.

You've got to hope at some point our scouting team will eventually hit the jackpot.

Bring back Janssen until we can find someone better.

Janssen is awful and he already had a full season with us and failed miserably. No thanks
Llorente has been with us only a couple of months. Have a little patience

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

So funny people writing off Llorente as 'not good enough'. This is a guy who has scored goals at every level. In 3 of the Europe's major leagues. It's absolutely bollocks that he's 'not good enough'.

Struggling to get match fitness after virtually no pre-season maybe. Struggling to get any rhythm or confidence due to fleeting appearances, maybe. Still acclimatising to his new surroundings, maybe.

But this guy is still a good player. Some of you are just too ignorant to understand why he hasn't performed for us so far.

 

[Locotoro]

So funny people writing off Llorente as 'not good enough'. This is a guy who has scored goals at every level. In 3 of the Europe's major leagues. It's absolutely bollocks that he's 'not good enough'.

Struggling to get match fitness after virtually no pre-season maybe. Struggling to get any rhythm or confidence due to fleeting appearances, maybe. Still acclimatising to his new surroundings, maybe.

But no way is this guy is still a good player. Some of you are just too ignorant to understand why he hasn't performed for us so far.

This.

I find it very odd that we have a player that is potentially one of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League, has 15 years of experience playing in Europe's top leagues and European competition, the physical capability to play a target man in the English league and not once have we created a headed chance in the box for him during his playing time.
It beggars belief that people are expecting more of him.

 

[lol]

I’ve never really been a fan of this type of player, but I think in the context of Kane being so clearly first choice it is a very good point.

Something in the press the other day that we were looking at this Richarlison of Watford. Not seen much of him, but can play all across the front line apparently.

The other alternative is to rest Kane more often for so called “lesser” games to give the back up striker more chance to get in a groove.

martial, lacazette. etc preferably a first choice WF that can be played as a 9 without issue

 

[Chris Flynn]

I'll bet hes excellent around training with the younger players as well. Hes won an awful lot and i bet thats part of the reason we signed him. Saying that, im not againt Stirling getting a run out here and there aswell, would stretch the defences more. Just a case of who we are playing

 

[cozzo]

He needs to cut his hair.

 

[thinktank]

He needs to cut his hair.

Not sure that will improve his speed tbh. Like the thinking, though.

Poch should rub a fresh chilli on his ring before he sends him on for us. That might do it.

 

[ljinko888]

Josh King looks to have been a player who had a real purple patch and reverted to norm this season. But reports and resident ITK did say there was interest on our side in signing him and it probably confirms we did want a wide forward who can deputise for Kane.

A wide forward can play number 9 when needed but has quality in other areas to offer namely the ability to stretch the play. Son does this and last season he did it very well.

I don't like the idea of "back up for Kane". I don't want a back up. For me it makes no sense to have a back up who will only play 10 minutes here and there with the odd start.

I want another option for our attack. We can't upgrade on Harry Kane but we can improve the level and depth of those around him

 

[JayB]

Defoe always had self belief whatever his circumstances. Not every player has that, Llorente certainly doesn't look like he does at the moment. Janssen was lacking in that way last season as well. We need to find a backup with that kind of mentality.

I'd tend to agree, but how do you account for that? Any striker we would scout as a potential backup is almost by definition going to be playing regularly, so there's no telling how they'd respond to being permanently stuck behind Kane. "Would back himself to score even if he only played ten minutes on average every fortnight" is just not a scouting report you can really rely on IMO.

Strikers are a fickle bunch -- Soldado was one of the most clinical finishers in Europe for years before we bought him and he's never truly recovered from the trauma he endured with us. Aubameyang, undoubtedly one of the most lethal footballers on the planet, missed an absolute sitter last night and you could tell he was low on confidence because of what what he's been going through over the past month or so. Falcao has one of the best scoring records of the past decade but looked awful when struggling to adapt to life at Chelsea and United. When it comes to strikers, you just never know.

Personally I still think the answer is to find a another wide forward who can also play up top, who has a better touch and can hold the ball up more effectively than Son. Strikers need to be playing and scoring regularly to be at their best, and there's just no way an out-and-out No. 9 is ever going to get that opportunity behind Kane.

 

[WiganSpur]

I'd tend to agree, but how do you account for that? Any striker we would scout as a potential backup is almost by definition going to be playing regularly, so there's no telling how they'd respond to being permanently stuck behind Kane. "Would back himself to score even if he only played ten minutes on average every fortnight" is just not a scouting report you can really rely on IMO.

Strikers are a fickle bunch -- Soldado was one of the most clinical finishers in Europe for years before we bought him and he's never truly recovered from the trauma he endured with us. Aubameyang, undoubtedly one of the most lethal footballers on the planet, missed an absolute sitter last night and you could tell he was low on confidence because of what what he's been going through over the past month or so. Falcao has one of the best scoring records of the past decade but looked awful when struggling to adapt to life at Chelsea and United. When it comes to strikers, you just never know.

Personally I still think the answer is to find a another wide forward who can also play up top, who has a better touch and can hold the ball up more effectively than Son. Strikers need to be playing and scoring regularly to be at their best, and there's just no way an out-and-out No. 9 is ever going to get that opportunity behind Kane.

You're probably right if i'm honest. It's not completely ideal considering we may lack some presence in absence of Kane but if not we get the likes of Janssen and Llorente.

I think Richarlison would be a good option then. Could potentially replace both Llorente and Nkoudou in the matchday squad and you could see him featuring a fair bit if he signed for us.

 

[RichieS]

This.

I find it very odd that we have a player that is potentially one of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League, has 15 years of experience playing in Europe's top leagues and European competition, the physical capability to play a target man in the English league and not once have we created a headed chance in the box for him during his playing time.
It beggars belief that people are expecting more of him.

I completely agree with the positive feeling towards Llorente espoused by you, @Locotoro and others, but the absolutely ridiculous headed miss against Barnsley begs to differ with the bold part...

 

[BringBack_leGin]

But of a myth that Defoe gave particularly more as a player off the bench. I loved him, but his decent goal returns came in 03/04, where he played half a season and scored regularly, 04/05, where he played regularly all season, and the first half of 05/06 before being dropped halfway through for Keane. His return after that was mediocre to poor until sold in January 08.

He then scored 21 in 42 during his first season and a half back, including 18 as we qualified for the Champions League, A’s first choice striker. After that he scored 23 in 95 across 4.5 season’s (from when we signed VDV). Why? Because he was only ever a back up,

I loved Defoe, he was a great striker for us, but my point is that even a striker who spent his who career in this league, during his prime years, who has over 100 premier league goals and is in the top 10 all time scorers, delivered worse than 1 in 4 when he wasn’t first choice over a pretty large sample size over his two spells.

We will only see the best of Llorente or any other striker playing Kane backup if they get an extended run in the side, which only happens if Kane gets injured or suspended. Even then Son, because of his experience in our system with our players, not to mention better match fitness from having played out wide a lot anyway, is more likely to play. Llorente is in essence our third choice striker.