Player Watch: Nacer Chadli

[nicdic]

Would be top scorer in the league for the following clubs...

Burnley
Crystal Palace
Everton
Hull
Leicester
Liverpool
Newcastle (level with Cisse)
Stoke
Sunderland
Swansea
West Ham

Just a little bit of perspective on the contribution from Chadli this season.

 

[Spurger King]

If Wikipedia is correct, he's scored 18 goals in 55 games for us over the last two seasons. That's a great ratio for a midfielder. He also had to deal with the death of his father, which obviously affected his form.

I think the only issue some fans have is whether he offers enough with the rest of his game.

 

[nicdic]

If Wikipedia is correct, he's scored 18 goals in 55 games for us over the last two seasons. That's a great ratio for a midfielder. He also had to deal with the death of his father, which obviously affected his form.

I think the only issue some fans have is whether he offers enough with the rest of his game.

It's a great return full stop, but as you say when you consider the passing of his father, and the upheaval the squad has gone through it's very impressive.

Agree though, that very often he's on the periphery of a game, but then pops up with a goal. Let's hope that he can start to impose himself on games a bit more regularly. If he keeps up his scoring rate though I'll be very happy.

 

[thekneaf]

He's done brilliantly, if Lamela can match those stats next season we'll be scoring enough for the top 4. Chadli has also done it in big games. Scored against Arsenal and Chelsea. His improvement this season has been huge! One of the reasons I'm impressed with Poch. Lets hope he keeps improving. He could realistically get 20 PL goals next year.

 

[CJMurray]

If Wikipedia is correct, he's scored 18 goals in 55 games for us over the last two seasons. That's a great ratio for a midfielder. He also had to deal with the death of his father, which obviously affected his form.

I think the only issue some fans have is whether he offers enough with the rest of his game.

12 in 55 in the league. 18 in 75 in all comps.

 

[Ribble]

It's a great return full stop, but as you say when you consider the passing of his father, and the upheaval the squad has gone through it's very impressive.

Agree though, that very often he's on the periphery of a game, but then pops up with a goal. Let's hope that he can start to impose himself on games a bit more regularly. If he keeps up his scoring rate though I'll be very happy.

I don't think he's the type to impose himself really, nor does he necessarily need to be. I think he'd benefit more from better movement in the team as a whole as it'd make more opportunities for him to pop up in spaces and score.

 

[hughy]

I really like him, and think he's only going to get better. I'd like to see more of him attacking from set-pieces though. He's a mountain of a man, he should use his physical presence to his advantage.

Very good goal return in the League though. Can't complain.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

12 in 55 in the league. 18 in 75 in all comps.

Wikepidia was not right then?

To be fair i think a 1 in 4 goal ratio should be a pre-requisite for any wide forward.... but he has improved and hope this continues, his talent level isnt an issue.

 

[The Scarecrow]

I think the only issue some fans have is whether he offers enough with the rest of his game.

IMO that's mainly an issue because we get so little from the right wing. Ideally Chadli both wings would contribute with goals and general creative play, but some realism is needed. If Lamela continues to improve, we'll get goals from the left and assists from the right, and that's a pretty good solution. Think of it as a lopsided 4-4-2. If we had two strikers who scored 31 league goals (and counting) between them, that would be a very solid return.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think he should be converted to a No.9

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

We love you Chadders. Even though, occasionally you can be a lazy git

 

[chinaman]

I don't think he's the type to impose himself really, nor does he necessarily need to be. I think he'd benefit more from better movement in the team as a whole as it'd make more opportunities for him to pop up in spaces and score.

It makes you shudder at what he can achieve if he really tries to throw his weight about.

 

[mattie g]

He got a ridiculous amount of stick after the first few months he was here - typical overreaction and overanalysis from fans, really. He did some things in that time that convinced me that he was well worth the money we paid - deceptively quick, two good feet, ability to get to the endline when the situation called for it, and an eye to get into the area when needed. Each of these things has borne out since then in bigger ways, and his stats show that.

Can he defend a little better? Yes. Can he come off as being a little lazy from time to time? Yes. But his ability to affect the result of a game is well worth it. Now that he's settled in, he's showing his quality more regularly, and if he can keep that going, I think he can be an even bigger asset for us next year.

 

[prawnsandwich]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=55981

12 EPL goals in 42 starts/16 sub.

11 EPL goals this season.

He is neither fish nor fowl.
Would love him as a player to come off the bench.

 

[DCSPUR]

13 goals in 36 games (EPL, FA Cup, LC) this season
11 in 31 in the league this season
fantastic

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think he should be converted to a No.9

I do wonder why we haven't tried this considering the ineptitude of Soldado and the craziness of Adebayor.

He doesn't seem to have the workrate to operate successfully as a wider forward all the time, and he doesn't often beat a man and deliver a cross, but his knack of getting goals is invaluable and I can't see why that wouldn't be the same if given the no.9 role.

Either way he's a very valuable member of the squad.

 

[Krafty]

Ihe's scored 18 goals in 55 games for us over the last two seasons. That's a great ratio for a midfielder.

I think the issue is do you classify him as a midfielder or an "attacker"? I'm not sure if I blame him or Pochettino's system, but in that wide attacking midfielder role, he sort of gets away with not being expected to score massively, nor really work hard defensively.

Strikes me as a bit of a better Jenas sort of player, in terms of overall skill. A 7.5 out of ten player. Fine if he is the eighth or ninth name on the team sheet, but if you have to rely on him then you could be in for a struggle.

Much better when he doesn't have time to think about what he should be doing. Has great pace off the ball, bit slower when dribbling with it. Fine squad player, good back up for the 3 AMs in the side, but I feel ultimately we want a better player as fist choice. Perhaps someone a lot more direct, bit more physical, and/or a bit more of an orthodox winger

 

[mpickard2087]

I do wonder why we haven't tried this considering the ineptitude of Soldado and the craziness of Adebayor.

He doesn't seem to have the workrate to operate successfully as a wider forward all the time, and he doesn't often beat a man and deliver a cross, but his knack of getting goals is invaluable and I can't see why that wouldn't be the same if given the no.9 role.

Either way he's a very valuable member of the squad.

These are the small examples where you can criticise Poch for things, in my opinion. We've had countless cup games this season, and for the past month or so had not much to play for and our one striker has understandably run out of steam and is on the comedown after the hottest of hot streaks. Chadli can use either foot, he can head a ball, he can hold it up, he makes runs in behind, and he can finish... If we'd actually used some of the time/games wisely then we would have a better idea of whether he could play in the centre forward role and so maybe that's one less player you would have to buy then and maybe saved us £x million. But no, we've ploughed on with the same players, in the same shape, with little imagination or thought.

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

Hard to watch at times but he has proven me wrong with his contribution this season, he knows where the back of the net is, Clint Dempsey springs to mind.
Read somewhere that we are the only club to have three players on double digit prem goals.
Now if we could only defend!

 

[thekneaf]

These are the small examples where you can criticise Poch for things, in my opinion. We've had countless cup games this season, and for the past month or so had not much to play for and our one striker has understandably run out of steam and is on the comedown after the hottest of hot streaks. Chadli can use either foot, he can head a ball, he can hold it up, he makes runs in behind, and he can finish... If we'd actually used some of the time/games wisely then we would have a better idea of whether he could play in the centre forward role and so maybe that's one less player you would have to buy then and maybe saved us £x million. But no, we've ploughed on with the same players, in the same shape, with little imagination or thought.

Or we could do what Rodgers does and decend into rotational and systemic madness.