[Archived] Yakubu

[bennyboyt11]

Your medals in the post, don't worry.

[den]

Pretty funny reading through some of these comments.

I suppose he could still get injured but he's definitely still got the talent.

He knows what playing centre forward is all about. Gets his body between the defender and the ball and has the strength and ability to hold the ball up. While so many people blamed Sam for Kalinic's failings, it's obvious that he couldn't do the basics well enough.

Still not convinced that he'll be a good signing yet. Time will tell on this one. It's a long, hard season.

[LeChuck]

5 goals in 7 league games so far this season, 6 in 9 overall.

He should comfortably make double figures this season if he keeps fit, so he'll probably be the best striker since Roque's debut season.

Despite his size he still seems to have decent pace as well, so I guess this would support what Mick Rathbone said on the VR podcast about him just being big but not overweight. If keeps scoring at this rate I'm sure nobody will have any complaints - might turn out to be one of the best pieces of business in a long time, it's not easy to find regular goal scorers on a budget.

He's shown more finishing ability in 7 games than Roberts has in nearly 5 years. A good mix of different kinds of goals using various techniques. I don't think Saturday's was quite as good as first against Arsenal, but it was still a top finish.

[Gav]

5 goals in 7 league games so far this season, 6 in 9 overall.

He should comfortably make double figures this season if he keeps fit, so he'll probably be the best striker since Roque's debut season.

Despite his size he still seems to have decent pace as well, so I guess this would support what Mick Rathbone said on the VR podcast about him just being big but not overweight. If keeps scoring at this rate I'm sure nobody will have any complaints - might turn out to be one of the best pieces of business in a long time, it's not easy to find regular goal scorers on a budget.

Couldn't agree more, very good bit of business by Kean, his composure for the penalty on Saturday was wonderful.

[den]

I wouldn't have put pace and Yakubu in the same sentence LeChuck. He's certainly got the requirements for a front man and he's done as much as we could have expected from him, possibly more, but the sad thing for us, is that he's not able to play 90 mins regularly - but he's our best striker by far.

[alexanders]

I wouldn't have put pace and Yakubu in the same sentence LeChuck. He's certainly got the requirements for a front man and he's done as much as we could have expected from him, possibly more, but the sad thing for us, is that he's not able to play 90 mins regularly - but he's our best striker by far.

Hasnt he showed that ?

Was put up to the penalty spot in the 96th minute to take the penalty and slotted it home.

[LeChuck]

I wouldn't have put pace and Yakubu in the same sentence LeChuck.

It's probably helped by his positional sense and excellent timing of his runs, but seems to get in behind defences quite often and at least has enough pace to keep away from defenders once he's through. I know the Wigan defender turned like a tank but he still had to show a decent speed to get the ball.

[thenodrog]

Couldn't agree more, very good bit of business by Kean, his composure for the penalty on Saturday was wonderful.

Obviously a handful and our best strinking option by a country mile but his pens do make me nervous. Saturdays was better but the last two have been put to the keepers right with no real pace. Any keeper studying the vids and going that way must have a decent chance of saving them.

[den]

Hasnt he showed that ?

Was put up to the penalty spot in the 96th minute to take the penalty and slotted it home.

I know he did. I said regularly. Let's not get carried away here because he is a quality player. Technically the best we currently have and miles better than the last fans favourite Kalinic. His fitness isn't what it used to be. I think most people would accept that.

[DE.]

Fair play to the Yak, he's done FAR better than I imagined he would so far. If he keeps this kind of goalscoring form up and gets into double-figures we will have got a bargain. Shame that despite his ability to score goals, our great leader's lack of tactical ability means just as many are likely to go in at the wrong end.

[rog of the rovers]

Obviously a handful and our best strinking option by a country mile but his pens do make me nervous. Saturdays was better but the last two have been put to the keepers right with no real pace. Any keeper studying the vids and going that way must have a decent chance of saving them.

To be fair, I remember a piece on Sky talking about his penalty technique (during his Boro days) and his record is pretty good.

Nerves on steel on Saturday, not only with it being the last kick of the game, but also with the 2/3 minute delay because of Robbo's head injury and some Wigan protestations.

If only he had been a Rovers player when we played Everton!

[Amo]

Handy player but should never have been signed as our main striker.

[FourLaneBlue]

Im sure I am in the minority but I always thought Yakubu was an excellent target man until his injury problems at Everton. It may well be that he has lost out on some pace, but he remains a big bruiser of a forward.

I'd have played him today. One thing is, he will offer an outlet and can head the ball. Something that Roberts can't and, on today's evidence, neither can Goodwillie.

I stand by my original post.

He may be no world-beater, but he knows where the back of the net is. He is the only out-and-out target man that we have in the squad*.

* - Well, other than Roberts, who lets himself down with his innate rubbishness.

Handy player but should never have been signed as our main striker.

He's become our ONLY striker by default, never mind main striker.

Surely the intent was for Goodwillie to be the main striker. That hasn't worked out so well...

[Majiball]

When did Yakubu become a target man?

Yes Yakubu has scored goals for us but that's all he does, Goodwillie was never good enough from day one and that was obvious to the layman.

Out of what we have and given our lack of a CM, I'd be tempted to play Roberts N Yak in a Yin N Yang type strike force.

[Amo]

He's become our ONLY striker by default, never mind main striker.

Surely the intent was for Goodwillie to be the main striker. That hasn't worked out so well...

Holy hot sauce, Batman! I genuinely forgot about Goodie. Can't really blame me.

[forumquizmaster]

Obviously a handful and our best strinking option by a country mile but his pens do make me nervous. Saturdays was better but the last two have been put to the keepers right with no real pace. Any keeper studying the vids and going that way must have a decent chance of saving them.

That's because he waited until he saw which way the keeper was going and stuck it to the opposite side - once the keeper has shifted his weight to the left he has no chance of reaching anything placed in the right hand side, even at slowish pace. Eric Cantona was another excellent exponent of this type of penalty - apart from when Tim Flowers double-bluffed him at Ewood. For all I detest Kean, £1 million for The Yak is a good bit of business in today's market.

[wakinho]

When did Yakubu become a target man?

Yes Yakubu has scored goals for us but that's all he does, Goodwillie was never good enough from day one and that was obvious to the layman.

Out of what we have and given our lack of a CM, I'd be tempted to play Roberts N Yak in a Yin N Yang type strike force.

What else do you want him to do?

[Tom]

It's a false statement anyway against arsenal he was outstanding as well as scoring goals he brought the wingers into play and held up the ball brilliant a perfect example being the fourth goal.

To say all he does is score goals just isnt true.

Great player shame he's probably 48.

[ABBEY]

Handy player but should never have been signed as our main striker.

He's scored more than Andy Carroll and suarez ... Don't think I spelt that right ha.

[Brfcrule1]

To be fair he has done all he possibly could have IMO he is a million times better striker but with finishing ability at least he knows how to put them away for the Pen. I know who I would trust to put the ball away and it certainly isn't roberts IMO now we should at least look to offload Roberts/Goodie & bring in a big name striker to share the workload who knows where the back of the net is then we will be going places & if he gets injured for a long space of time we will be totally screwed.

[DanLad]

When did Yakubu become a target man?

Yes Yakubu has scored goals for us but that's all he does, Goodwillie was never good enough from day one and that was obvious to the layman.

Out of what we have and given our lack of a CM, I'd be tempted to play Roberts N Yak in a Yin N Yang type strike force.

Your post loses credibility when you advocate playing Roberts.

Playing Yak and Jase isn't yin and yang, it's more good cop/bad cop. Even then it isn't right, though, it's good player/bad player.

[bennyboyt11]

I'd like to see Goodwillie and Yakubu play together, we need goals and seeing as we're shipping them in regardless we may as well play with another striker.

[Majiball]

Your post loses credibility when you advocate playing Roberts.

Playing Yak and Jase isn't yin and yang, it's more good cop/bad cop. Even then it isn't right, though, it's good player/bad player.

Aren't good and bad two contrary forces? Even by your own description I'd say Yin and Yang was apt.

To quote someone rather popular on here 'strikers aren't just about scoring goals', for me the Yak just doesn't bring enough to the table as I like to defend from the front. He just doesn't do that, Roberts on the other hand chases and harries like no bodies business and our midfield's as weak as butter no matter how we set-up. He maybe technically lacking and unable to hit a cows ass but he's a good foil for a poacher like Yakubu as he'll do the dirty work.

[Kelbo]

Aren't good and bad two contrary forces? Even by your own description I'd say Yin and Yang was apt.

To quote someone rather popular on here 'strikers aren't just about scoring goals', for me the Yak just doesn't bring enough to the table as I like to defend from the front. He just doesn't do that, Roberts on the other hand chases and harries like no bodies business and our midfield's as weak as butter no matter how we set-up. He maybe technically lacking and unable to hit a cows ass but he's a good foil for a poacher like Yakubu as he'll do the dirty work.

Would agree with that Maji, as a team, we are not defending as a unit!

Aren't good and bad two contrary forces? Even by your own description I'd say Yin and Yang was apt.

To quote someone rather popular on here 'strikers aren't just about scoring goals', for me the Yak just doesn't bring enough to the table as I like to defend from the front. He just doesn't do that, Roberts on the other hand chases and harries like no bodies business and our midfield's as weak as butter no matter how we set-up. He maybe technically lacking and unable to hit a cows ass but he's a good foil for a poacher like Yakubu as he'll do the dirty work.

As an afterthought, regarding Ying and Yang, maybe we should sign the other Chinese player, Win Won Soon!!

[Majiball]

As an afterthought, regarding Ying and Yang, maybe we should sign the other Chinese player, Win Won Soon!!

Win Won Soon, Sounds more like a Kean quote than a football player.