In European football, how many times have we seen balls zipped across the box like that? We see different results - a goal, an own goal, no contact, a small contact from attacker, pace and/or position of ball meaning attacker trying to score with 'other foot', ball hitting defender first, defender scooping the ball over the bar. Seen it all the time over the years. I seen better players than Gray not score those.
He had two unbelievable chances to score yesterday. The header could of gone anywhere but somehow goes straight in the keepers arms. Kikos cross was begging to be put away, it did seem to kick up badly after the bounce but in my eyes his body shape was all wrong and never looked like he was going to finish it unfortunately. I personally don't want him in the squad let alone start but he's involved at the moment. Pedro is the way forward in that position at the moment but I want him there on merit not just because Gray is hopeless. I so wanted him to make me eat my words again by scoring again but the overall performance was not a good watch.
Absolutely. But he never looked confident in even getting a touch on it. Strange considering he got two the game before. Whether it be confidence, lack of ability or something else I couldn't answer.
An in form fox in the box striker is like a coiled spring just waiting for that 1 chance in front of goal . The anticipation and awareness is what gives that type of player those vital few milliseconds in front of goal which makes goal scoring look easy . Nothing worse than a ball bobbling along the 6 yard area with either no one anywhere near the ball or a striker on his heels or taking an air shot . It is the equivalent of the GK letting a ball squirm under his body . That was AGs big chance. A chance to start a scoring run . His chance to stake his place in the next team . 3 in 2 makes it hard for the boss to leave you out . AG fluffed his lines. Again.
He may have been on his heels for that split second as the ball came in so had to go with other foot, and/or ball too quick to use his normal foot or a combination of both. As stated, seen a lot of them balls go in over the years and it don't always work out for the attacker. Hungbo hit a dangerous ball in the box second half but no player in our side gambled to get into the box. Sometimes a split second decision of anticipation needs to be made, it ain't so easy at that level of the game and it is easier to just criticise instead. I seen 'top flight' games where the co-commentattor has said "So-and-so didn't gamble".
This comes down to confidence, belief and desire. At various stages in his career, he would have slotted that chance away without a second thought. For a long period of time he has lost that mindset, which is a shame for him and a gigantic loss for the club. He has to be aware of the negativity and that doesn’t help. The nature of being a well paid professional footballer is that you will be the subject of adulation when things are going well and heavy criticism when you are not performing to expectations. Some can deal with the attention better than others. His off field behaviour has not helped him build a link with the supporters. A good man manager might get some more from him, but it would need some major buy in from Gray. His opportunities are running out.
Gray isn't one of them. He is a backup striker. He has had his chance earlier in the season to claim no 1 spot and blew it. Lacks consistency these days. But he is a willing runner willing to try and get on the end of things, I will give him that. And as I have already said I seen balls go in like that where attackers stretch and they don't always score.
So what do you want him to do, go to the chairman and say "by the way, i'm not that good these days can you knock 70% of my wages off". Isn't gonna happen. He just needs to be sold for an upgrade.
I certainly don't blame AG for signing his contract , whoever thought the AG deal was value for money needs to take the can for that one.
Disagree. Edge of the 6 yard box just off a central position. See the ball all the way from Kikos foot. Should bury that chance.
In fairness, criticise Gray's technique all you like, but he's not the tallest, hard for him to get proper purchase on it. The chance from that other cross was a sitter unfortunately
Well as a former forward I'd of preferred the headed chance to the one on my left foot. Let's be honest he didn't even need to jump for the header and as for height he is exactly the same as a certain Heidar Helguson. He would do buried that header.
Header was a decent chance but the chance at the start of the second half he needs to be scoring from. He had got there, the ball wasn’t travelling at the speed of light and the cross was at a good height. I did think he played quite well overall but his job is to score goals and he should have got at least one yesterday
It would have helped if he’d actually headed the ball, rather than let it smack off his face. In the replay, you can clearly see him rubbing his face afterwards, as though his eyes are watery. Typical lack of technique.
That could explain a lot, AG obviously has an evil spirit working against him who blocks all his shots, I mean what else could explain his wayward shooting
Well he has been called up by Jamaica.. Must be desperate! https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19169465.andre-gray-included-jamaica-international-squad/
Happy for him to go on international duty, as it would keep him away from our 1st team for a while at least.
Also in the Reggae Boyz squad of interest to us is Mapps, who's on 49 caps at the moment, and Brentford's Pinnock. Would love to see Mapps make his half century although he's got a lot of competition up against a few others in the top 2 divisions of English football, would love to see Pinnock exhausted
Would actually be a massive piss take if he jets off around the world after finally deciding he wants to play for Jamaica at 29 years old, whilst we are in the midst of a promotion battle and a pandemic where he's twice very publicly broken the rules.