Player Watch: Fernando Llorente

[ShaunL84]

Llorente is a fucking class player, people think he's a donkey which surprises me.

I remember him from his Bilbao days, an absolute machine.

 

[Timberwolf]

He's looked better with each game IMO. Still missing sitters and misjudging passes but a couple of his clever flicks and moves were coming off today. He clearly needs a run of games to find form and his recent goals will have done his confidence the world of good.

 

[SpursD22]

I’m very happy that he scored and won us the game but let’s be honest that papers over cracks, that was another poor performance from him

Yes the crossing today was atrocious but he’s so immobile he needs the ball exactly in front of him to do anything

I wouldn’t start him vs Newcastle but Poch probably will

 

[Shadydan]

The comments in here, wonder what they would have said if he didn't score the winner lol

 

[OPModric]

So happy for him. Would like Sissoko to score a match winner too.

 

[NinjaTuna]

I’m very happy that he scored and won us the game but let’s be honest that papers over cracks, that was another poor performance from him

Yes the crossing today was atrocious but he’s so immobile he needs the ball exactly in front of him to do anything

I wouldn’t start him vs Newcastle but Poch probably will

Just get crosses into him then. Get the lads out on the training ground and practice pinging crosses into his general direction under some pressure

 

[yido_number1]

Generally better today shame about the miss on the line but he's getting goals.

 

[Japhet]

Yes, he should have done much better when he missed an open goal, but I think he gets too much hate. Look at the crosses from Eriksen and Rose, they got stuck on the first defender all the time. More quality on the crosses and he will score more goals and create more chances for his team mates. He got one decent cross during the whole game, and he scored from it.

The only thing he could do with that chance was get his knee to it and hope for the best. Another day it could have gone in but he's down on his luck at the moment. Showed proper quality to stay at it and bag a lovely winner though.

 

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

Considering he's had virtually no match time in recent months, for him to come into the team and score 2 goals in 4 starts (not including Tranmere which doesn't really count) is pretty impressive. No he's not Harry Kane, he won't create goals out of nothing but if the team adapts to his strengths he'll do just fine as he regains his sharpness.

 

[waresy]

So, that 'miss' from under the bar, was it really a sitter or was it harder than it maybe has been made out because the spotlight has been on him?

My first look from behind the goal it looked like it came back at him really quickly and just trying to get something on it in the hope that it would go in. Difficult to get over it.

Am I being generous?

 

[spids]

Llorente is a fucking class player, people think he's a donkey which surprises me.

I remember him from his Bilbao days, an absolute machine.

He's 33 year old who hadn't started a premiership game for 18 months before Fulham. And yet he still has 10 goals in 16 starts for us. The sad thing (for him) is that buy the time he plays himself into some form (usually takes 5 or 6 games for a striker to be really sharp) and is ready to do himself justice Dele and Kane will be fit again.

 

[spids]

So, that 'miss' from under the bar, was it really a sitter or was it harder than it maybe has been made out because the spotlight has been on him?

My first look from behind the goal it looked like it came back at him really quickly and just trying to get something on it in the hope that it would go in. Difficult to get over it.

Am I being generous?

It was a shocking miss, but requierd an instant decision / reaction and was indicative of a player who is very, very rusty. He could have let the ball hit him and dribble in, or taken it down and side footed it in. When he sees the ball coming with time to set himself he is pretty clinical (as his finish last night, his goal against Chelsea, and his goals against Tranmere have all shown recently)

 

[rsmith]

Just needs to show a bit more bravery for the finish. His goal Vs Chelsea was magnificent because of the commitment. That would have got him 2 yesterday.

 

[Nebby]

Watching him play makes you realise just how freakin good Kane is, and that it's a little unfair to knock Llorente for not being able to do the same things. Nobody holds up the ball like Kane.

Pleased he scored, but slightly amazed as the delivery into the box last night was dreadful. Rose and Eriksen seemed to be playing a game of Watford billiards, as their players were just about the only thing either of them hit all night.

 

[mpickard2087]

The only thing he could do with that chance was get his knee to it and hope for the best. Another day it could have gone in but he's down on his luck at the moment. Showed proper quality to stay at it and bag a lovely winner though.

I think that's too kind tbh. It happened right in front of me, he actually did well initially considering it came back at him quickly - he saw it, readjusted, improvised, but he just needed to cushion it home off the knee. He snatched at it (if that's possible, kneeing a ball ) and put far too much into it and so it ended up over the bar.

Overall though he didn't play half as badly as some in the stadium (or online, by all accounts) were trying to claim. Yes there are moments where you want him to have a bit more fire in his belly and go at something, but his touch and link up play were much better last night. I also don't think a lot of fans understand his role/the role of someone whose primary abilities are in the air - there were a few comments around me last night like "why's he hiding there? Make a fucking run" when what he was doing is what all target men do - positioning themselves towards the back post so if a ball is stood up they can attack it. Hopefully these same fans paid attention for the goal, and understand why now, somehow I doubt it.......

 

[Spurger King]

It was a shocking miss, but requierd an instant decision / reaction and was indicative of a player who is very, very rusty. He could have let the ball hit him and dribble in, or taken it down and side footed it in. When he sees the ball coming with time to set himself he is pretty clinical (as his finish last night, his goal against Chelsea, and his goals against Tranmere have all shown recently)

Watching the replay I’d imagine instinctively diving to head it, but that’s very easy to say from the comfort of my sofa.

I agree though. It was still a shocking miss however you look at it.

Anyway, he showed great character to take his chance at the end after the earlier misses.

 

[Kiedis]

He got into decent positions and actually got shots off. That's the hard part for a striker. Good on him for not sinking into the ground after the big miss.

 

[dudu]

Actually think he had a decent game last night - started to link up with others well and appears to be getting into a good rhythm.

 

[Nebby]

Loved that pass to Jan, which so nearly came off.

 

[thelak]

Llorente is a fucking class player, people think he's a donkey which surprises me.

I remember him from his Bilbao days, an absolute machine.

They were a long time ago though

Would be happy if gets close to his Swansea form tbh

I have no judgment on him - as a team we are not set up to play to his strengths in general, he is 33 and not match sharp, and is rebuilding both confidence and touch

That said if Pochs training sessions are as intense as we are led to believe would have thought he might have been a bit less rusty than he has seemed

Think last night out of all the goals he has scored will give him the biggest follow through boost given its importance and the timing and the quality of the header