Player Topic: Kelechi Iheanacho (2015/16)

[lancs blue]

I think maybe he's trying to take the pressure off Iheanacho by not setting him up as our only striker/saviour.

I can understand that to an extent, but I'm not convinced that the policy should be pursued at the expense of 2pts dropped away to the bottom of the table side. Now obviously we don't know whether the result would have been different if Iheanacho had been brought on for the injured Bony but I do think playing with a natural finisher would have given us better options, particularly in the 2nd half when we were getting behind their back four more often.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

I can understand that to an extent, but I'm not convinced that the policy should be pursued at the expense of 2pts dropped away to the bottom of the table side. Now obviously we don't know whether the result would have been different if Iheanacho had been brought on for the injured Bony but I do think playing with a natural finisher would have given us better options, particularly in the 2nd half when we were getting behind their back four more often.

I don't disagree with that, my post was more to do with Pellegrini apparently not viewing (or labelling, I suppose) Iheanacho as a striker. I wanted Kelechi to be introduced on about 60 minutes yesterday, as like you I think we were really starting to make inroads into their area at that point.

 

[kunaguero10]

How on earth could such a statement like this be regarded as a 'fact'?

(And for the record, I agree with Pellegrini. He's much more suited to the second striker role. Though he should have gone on for Bony on Sunday.)

So you disagree with me calling him a striker, then call him a striker yourself in the next paragraph?

 

[ono]

which one

Hahaha true

 

[Naija]

Iheanacho is a striker. That is a fact. If Pellegrini doesn't realise this he's even more cuckoo than we thought.

How exactly is that a fact? You do realize he won the MVP at the U17's playing just behind the striker (something I've been saying for quite a while now) and even a good coach like Pellegrini noticed that he's more of a creator than a Goalscorer.

 

[br88]

Iheanacho is a striker. That is a fact. If Pellegrini doesn't realise this he's even more cuckoo than we thought.

Stop commenting on here as though you speak for everyone haha!!!!.

He's even more cuckoo than YOU thought....not WE.

 

[kunaguero10]

How exactly is that a fact? You do realize he won the MVP at the U17's playing just behind the striker (something I've been saying for quite a while now) and even a good coach like Pellegrini noticed that he's more of a creator than a Goalscorer.

Playing behind the striker as a second striker I agree.. but that's a still a type of striker.

Pellegrini actually played KDB as a second striker/false 9.... isn't this supposedly Iheanacho's "favoured" position? If he wanted to pack the midfield (for whatever reason, I don't believe he had any game plan to), surely Iheanacho being a second striker is ideal then?

No way can he be described as a midfielder, and there is absolutely no justification for only giving him 6 mins on Sunday.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Ah, I see that the '2nd striker' position has correctly been raised here regarding Kelechi.

I don't think it will take him long to learn the cf role as well though.

 

[allblues09]

He looked pretty solid on the nexen tire challenge. Very accurate

 

[lasereyes]

I don't disagree with that, my post was more to do with Pellegrini apparently not viewing (or labelling, I suppose) Iheanacho as a striker. I wanted Kelechi to be introduced on about 60 minutes yesterday, as like you I think we were really starting to make inroads into their area at that point.

On the other hand, we were all over them at that point and it was a fair bet to continue with the same attack anticipating that the breakthrough would eventually come.

I am not saying Kelechi couldn't have come on earlier - more that you could argue it both ways, and if Sterling or KDB had buried either of those chances, everyone would have lauded MP for a creative approach.

Most of the arguments against MP seem to be that "Kelechi is the specialist". Well yes, that's the label on the tin (whether primary or secondary striker), but that doesn't mean that at 18 years old with 1 PL goal, he is a better finisher than 2 attacking midfielders with 12 goals at almost 1 every 2 games this year. Secondly, Sterling and KDB are among our best movers off the ball. Who is to say Kelechi would have been as adept at getting into those goal scoing positions if he had been on?

A whole load of ifs, buts and random assumptions from some who either think we should win every game by divine right, or just want any excuse to lambaste our Manager