The problem with Madueke, is the same issue with our entire front line… he can shoot (a lot).. but he can’t score… like at all.
He’s better than Sterling, so I’ll give him that. But we can’t afford to go into next season with just him.
He’s just more of the same of what we have, with just more directness, ball carrying and ‘good underlying numbers’ lol.
Hopefully we get both Gyok & Eze to supplement.
EDIT: If he is brought here to be a Saka back-up and Arteta really thinks he’s so amazing, then he better use him properly. No point spending £52m on a player, and then only bring him on when there’s 11 left minutes to play where Saka’s been limping like a donkey for the whole game.
i think its fine, but wasn’t on my wishlist. He’s a decent player that adds some quality in attack and depth (which we need), but if we don’t come away with striker target, then its hard to feel like this summer was successful.
When I see him I think he has the tools to do that and it’s not that he’s not playing a very similar role at Palace already, with maybe a bit more freedom to roam in the central areas than he might have here.
I think he’s more than a good enough athlete to play there. His torso:leg ratio allows him good acceleration, balance. The lung vascularity and oxygen retention provides him with good ball carrying in space and time. The round eyeballs have consistent moisture production to keep his lateral vision clear so he can play those helical lateralis passes to his partners in the frontal cortex of the playing ground.
High volume and density of progressive ball carries. Also a good ball kicker.
Not sure whether he can combine that with tons of defensive work, but that’s why we have Martinelli and Madueke for rotation.
Similar age when he joined us, similar build. Progressive ball carrier on the wing. Different footedness of course, and might need to be a bit sharper in front of goal (although Henry wasn’t exactly lighting it up at either Monaco or Juventus).
Vic can be our LW. He likes drifting out that way.
Noni Madueke could be retooled as a center forward, though it would require adjustments to his game.
Here’s why and what might be involved:
Pace and Intelligence: Maduekepossesses the speed and intelligent movement that could be beneficial for a center forward, particularly in exploiting spaces behind defenses.
Dribbling and Shooting: He is a skilled dribbler with the ability to create shooting opportunities for himself from various angles, even on his weaker foot. His capability to open up shooting angles quickly could be valuable in the congested central attacking areas.
Potential as a surprise weapon: His directness and attacking prowess, primarily from the wings, could translate into a different kind of threat centrally, especially on transitions, possibly catching opponents off guard.
Past Experience: Madueke has experience playing as a center forward during his time at PSV Eindhoven, with a decent record of 8 goal contributions in 14 appearances in that role.
However, there are factors to consider:
Adapting to a Different Role: While he has played as a forward before, transitioning fully to a center forward role in a top league like the Premier League would demand tactical adjustments, such as improving his aerial presence and hold-up play, which aren’t currently his primary strengths.
Consistency: Some observations suggest Madueke needs to improve his consistency in performance and decision-making. As a central forward, this consistency becomes even more crucial.
In essence, while Madueke has attributes that could potentially be adapted to a center forward role, it would likely require focused training and a willingness to evolve his style of play to fully maximize his potential in that position.
“Noni Madueke is an English attacker. England is part of the United Kingdom who were the aggressors against the Fatherland in World War 2. The UK invaded Poland and started the War which the Deutsches Reich won in 1945. Heil Hitler”.
