Post by GasMacc1 on Jan 8, 2018 11:42:05 GMT
Jan 8, 2018 10:49:17 GMT @bambergasgroin said:
blah blah
Neither. Just trying to dig up some facts about a time in Tom's career when he was more effective (scoring 2 goals in 7 game-equivalents, rather than 1 in 15 with us), and trying to facilitate a discussion on why there's a drought now. (By the way, that word "drought" appeared in Posh match reports in September 2016 with respect to Tom Nichols, after he had gone 13 games without scoring for them in all competitions!).
All I know is that he's not doing anything for us right now, that needs to change.
I agree. That's why I wanted to look into the matter and to explore whether the answer is (a) he just needs to get his finger out (b) by tweaking the way we play, we can get him scoring or (c) something else.
A good starting point would be getting his attitude right. He's just not trying.
I fear you might be correct. He might just be one of those players (Özil, Anderton, Waddle) who look a bit bored and lazy. Unlike them, however, he hasn't got the stats to back up the questionable body-language. I did have to shout at him from the West Stand v Portsmouth that he could chase back to harry a Pompey defender who was starting to cross the half-way line!
As you like video evidence, find some of recent matches where he's chasing down opposition keepers who have the ball at their feet, then compare to Ellis. Ellis does it with, as Mike Tyson would say, 'Bad intentions', Nichols looks like he's trying to run wearing a Chewitsaurus costume by comparison.
Ellis is my hero, and one day a keeper's clearance will rebound off him into the net. No video evidence required, your point is well made (and amusing!). But if my digging reveals anything, it is that Tom Nichols' goals (before he joined us) have been opportunistic, very close-range conversions of dangerous approach play by his colleagues and/or mistakes by opponents.