Darwin Nunez

[Insidious]

11 games without a goal.

I think any critique of him over the last number of games is largely fair enough, but I thought he was smashing tonight.

Firmino had so many games where he didn't score but bossed it and Darwin (for me) had a similar scenario tonight, albeit from a different position.

[Insidious]

Our last No9 was hardly prolific

A good springboard upon which to add some numbers, which show how well Núñez is doing this season in certain areas. Has room to improve of course - mainly in terms of scoring.

Firmino -

22/23 season - got 5 assists in 1710 minutes - an assist every 342 mins
21/22 season - got 5 assists in 1764 minutes - an assist every 352 mins
20/21 season - got 9 assists in 3372 minutes - an assist every 375 mins
19/20 season - got 12 assists in 3666 minutes an assist every 306 mins
18/19 season - got 7 assists in 3395 minutes an assist every 485 mins
17/18 season - got 16 assists in 4048 minutes an assist every 253 mins

Núñez -

23/24 season - got 8 assists in 1373 minutes- an assist every 172 mins (so far)

[ianlfc]

Probably better comparing him with Emile Heskey than Bobby.
If he had half the footballing brain Bobby has he'd be twice the player he is now.

[teesred]

Probably better comparing him with Emile Heskey than Bobby.
If he had half the footballing brain Bobby has he'd be twice the player he is now.

I sense that a fair few fans are losing or have lost patience with him.
If we miss out by a few or a lot of points or maybe even a trophy that could be the difference - him kissing so many chances what look like sitters.
If he gets played out left from here on our and it pays dividends then fair enough, that could be the key. We might not in the end view him as an out and goalscorer we want him to be. Only issue there will be basically three players all vying for left forward spot. Unless we can play Jota in the middle?

[Insidious]

Probably better comparing him with Emile Heskey than Bobby.
If he had half the footballing brain Bobby has he'd be twice the player he is now.

It's not intended as a direct comparison, hence the "in certain areas" comment - but he is definitely making progress.

Still very excited about when it all clicks for him, which I still think it will. As it is, he is still a very useful player.

[justme]

I think he offers more physicality than Firmino., if he can get 15 league goals a season. rather the 30 you'd expect then its acceptable.because we seem to have found some goal scoring midfielders...we tend to play long a lot of time. due to Nunez strength. The second ball becomes important then . thats where the midfielders breaking off him comes into it..
we do seem to have changed style. i have noticed we do play long to wide areas a lot more than we ever did.
It annoys the shit out of me at times. because we give up possession so easily. an happy balance is the key.

[Kev0909]

I sense that a fair few fans are losing or have lost patience with him.
If we miss out by a few or a lot of points or maybe even a trophy that could be the difference - him kissing so many chances what look like sitters.
If he gets played out left from here on our and it pays dividends then fair enough, that could be the key. We might not in the end view him as an out and goalscorer we want him to be. Only issue there will be basically three players all vying for left forward spot. Unless we can play Jota in the middle?

Jota can play in the middle...... if not Gakpo but he's never fit anyway.

Diaz has gone right off it.

[teesred]

Jota can play in the middle...... if not Gakpo but he's never fit anyway.

Diaz has gone right off it.

Agree on Diaz. Maybe the thing with his folks has affected him. Understandable if so.

[JockStrap]

A good springboard upon which to add some numbers, which show how well Núñez is doing this season in certain areas. Has room to improve of course - mainly in terms of scoring.

Firmino -

22/23 season - got 5 assists in 1710 minutes - an assist every 342 mins
21/22 season - got 5 assists in 1764 minutes - an assist every 352 mins
20/21 season - got 9 assists in 3372 minutes - an assist every 375 mins
19/20 season - got 12 assists in 3666 minutes an assist every 306 mins
18/19 season - got 7 assists in 3395 minutes an assist every 485 mins
17/18 season - got 16 assists in 4048 minutes an assist every 253 mins

Núñez -

23/24 season - got 8 assists in 1373 minutes- an assist every 172 mins (so far)

Yi''ll need tae compare goals and assists.

[ianlfc]

I sense that a fair few fans are losing or have lost patience with him.
If we miss out by a few or a lot of points or maybe even a trophy that could be the difference - him kissing so many chances what look like sitters.
If he gets played out left from here on our and it pays dividends then fair enough, that could be the key. We might not in the end view him as an out and goalscorer we want him to be. Only issue there will be basically three players all vying for left forward spot. Unless we can play Jota in the middle?

It's definitely a worry. You buy someone like Harry Kane and you know what you're getting. Haalands the same, a proper number 9 ,though there's not many about. Would Ivan Toney be a better option?
Happy to be proved wrong obviously, starting with Saturday night.