Kelechi Iheanacho - 2016/17 Performances

[Deleted member 77198]

This is a very unfair comment to the kid. He is young and improving. Also he is a very decent player from the start. If he wasn't he wouldn't be starting, assisting and scoring in the biggest game in the Premiere League season this year.

The fact that he wasn't getting service contributed to him not contributing more. He will learn more and improve as he plays but coming on here and talking about him like he's a terrible player doesn't do him any service.


Also the goal was the fault of Bravo having a really bad game and failing to do his #1 job as a goalkeeper, not a misplaced pass from Iheanacho on the other side of the field. If that was the case we could talk about misplaced passes from Nolito and Sterling yesterday as well.

I'm not sure you read my post properly. It wasn't an unfair review of his game yesterday and I think Guardiola would say the same thing (look at his reaction when Silva brought down Valencia for their free kick and goal, he goes mad at Kelichi).

I never said he didn't contribute much in the game, in fact I said he was involved in the most important parts of the game. My post did not imply he was a terrible player, just a raw one who needs to improve his decision making. I never said the goal was Kelichi's fault, but I said he contributed to their goal by giving the ball away stupidly though a poor voice of pass (this is the Iheanacho thread so thought it was a point to be made about him in this thread). No point talking about the contributions of anyone else in one individuals thread (plus Nolito and Sterling didn't give the ball away in the lead up to their goal anyway).

Then finished with a positive about him finding the right places at the right time to be being a good part of his game. No way was I implying he was a terrible player, he just didn't have a good game despite contributing to the two most important things that happened on the day.

 

[Gordyola]

One goal and an assist yesterday, imagine the media storm if rashford had achieved the same? Mixed bag from our boy, he still makes the wrong decision for a pass more than right but that will come as he's an intelligent lad / player and Pep will work with him that's for sure.

 

[the blue panther]

Well, whatever - Shawcross is still wandering around the Brittania Stadium car park, wondering where Kelechi is, after he sold him THAT dummy for the 4th goal at Stoke.

 

[Alex B]

The goat has come back, love it!!!

 

[leighton]

A goal and assit in any game is a good performance from a young stiker in my view. If you don't do much and they are the only 2 things you do and contribute in that way its all good while Kun is out. I think with a run of 3 starts for Kelechi he will get more game time and more goals. Him under Pep and learning from Kuns movement too he will only get better and better.

 

[jon stakes]

My rundown on Iheanacho.

First Iheanacho's record:
CLUB RECORD: 15 goal 7 assists 1344 min of game time (actually 16 goals as he had one wrongly dissallowed).
NATIONAL TEAM RECORD: 3 goals, 2 assists in 5 games (total of 282 minutes) for Nigeria.
He had a so called poor game, yet scored 1 goal and had 1 assist, stole a record and became the youngest ever Manchester derby goalscorer.
I don't always know how he does it, but 18 goals and 9 assists rounds up to one assist every 180 minutes and one goal per 90 minutes.
He is equally prolific for club as well as country, does suggest this isn't pure luck.

My perception:
Iheanacho seems to be more confident or less overawed when he doesn't start, but when comes on as a sub. We know his passing and vision is very good, but what struck me vs ManUtd is how quickly he tried to get rid of the ball, make something happen, almost never giving himself a moment to breathe. It's as if the pressure to perform got the better of him. He tried to much, looked unsure of himself and his positioning, but still managed an assist and a goal in 54 minutes of play. It may also be that Iheanacho never was a sole striker, doesn't know how to play with his back to goal. He seemed a bit lost at times as he is more used to the second striker / attacking midfield role. When he received the ball with his back towards the goal he didn't know what to do with it. Why doesn't he try moves like he did in the U21 league (that maginificent turn vs Man Utd I believe).

Another thing I noticed and maybe I'm wrong on this: A lot of players don't seem to pass to him, even when he's in a good position. He's often screaming for the ball, but players like Nolito, Aguero, even de Bruyne won't pass it to him. Yesterday at times it almost seemed like he was surprised they passed him the ball. He's supposed to be the target man, but it seems like people are avoiding to pass to him and he ends up going deeper and deeper in search of a ball.

One thing I think we can all agree is that the one aspect he definitely something needs to improve on is his first touch. That is in my opinion his biggest flaw.

His biggest strength and the thing people don't talk about is his remarkable on-field intelligence, which is probably key to being in the right place and the right time, more often than not making the right decision. That was on show vs Stoke City, when in 7 minutes he effectively created 2 goals (one via the dummy that gave Nolito a free run on goal).

 

[lightning Rodri]

He is young boy trying to play a complex system. He has all the tool- passing, finishing, physicality- and the right coach, he will succeed.

 

[Mike N]

He's doing pretty well for a young lad learning the game. Pep didn't have to pick him yesterday but he did and that will give Nacho a great amount of encouragement.

I also agree that players don't pass to him enough but that will come when they learn to trust him with the ball.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[BlueAnorak]

Needs to practice with his right foot till it bleeds. When he has done this for 4 or 5 years he will be the best striker in the world.

 

[avoidconfusion]

Proves time and time again what a dickhead Pellegrini was for not playing him more