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I’m absolutely begging for his finishing to improve. I really like him as a player - his link up is often excellent, works hard, makes the right runs and has quite a knack of being in the right place at the right time but his composure in front of goal is dreadful. I find it such a shame because it’s going to hold him back and limit his career.
He's got so much going for him but as a striker when you're finishing is that ropey you're going to struggle to make it at a high level. It's such a shame as there's loads to like about him. He works incredibly hard, brings others into play well, has good movement and a very decent touch, and he keeps defenders occupied. He gets a lot of good chances through the good work he does. But then he turns into a Sunday league player when presented with a chance. It's very odd as some of his goals have been really lovely finishes but you look at some of the misses and they're the kind you might expect to see two or three of from your centre forward over the course of the season and he must have racked up a dozen or so.
It’s not going to hold him back. He’s studying to be a civil engineer.
He’s the worst finisher at the club possibly ever, and I don’t mean worst striker. He’s not even a league two striker, he be 10 goals at best at that level. He hates getting in the box and in the end of things. Because it’s not his game.
He is good dropping in, linking up, and no lack of effort, it that’s not the MO.
If we go up, then guess it Lakers over the issue, but if not there be serious questions. Because this isn’t on him…., how on earth did we talent ID him for a striker role?? Like many others too, it’s not that they aren’t up to the job, they’re two or three levels below the job required.
We need to improve about ten fold in talent id, it’s year 5 now, and if anything it’s got worse.
The revenue hides the failures in the EFL, but not at the sharp end.
Azon, he could comfortably play in the premier league and not score a single goal…, ever. Again, not his fault, but lord that’s a really poor process.
The guy seems very likeable, but the main reason I find his finishing a shame is because of what it might do to Town, rather than what it might do to his career!
I agree with all of the positives that you cite. But it's really hard to get promoted without a top six striker, and that necessarily involves scoring a decent number of goals. We had goals all over the park last time round, and although we didn't have a runaway goalscorer, we had a better number 9 roster, at least post-January.
I appreciate all of the other qualities that are necessary for a number 9, especially in our system. I also appreciate that the disappointments of a number of our 10s (clearly SS and Akpom, and then even Nunez and Mehmeti have taken a bit of a dip) have exacerbated goal creation and scoring issues in certain matches, and that's not Azon's fault, or Hirst's.
But you've just got to stick it away a reasonable percentage of times when presented with a chance. It's true that overall we've scored a decent number of goals, all told. But we don't score enough when on top, and there are a decent number of matches you could reel off where that's come back to bite us and we've lost points. So many teams have more clinical strikers than ours. I seriously doubt that we would be fairly ranked inside the top 6 if clubs were ranked by their number 9 roster. And at the end of the day, scoring a goal is the one pre-requisite of winning games. And winning matters - the arithmetic of 3 times as many points for wins as draws is just so powerful. This is stating the obvious.
When you're confronted with data showing how many big chances we miss, both in absolute terms, and as a percentage of goals actually scored, it's really obvious that we perform really poorly, especially when compared with our promotion rivals. If we go up regardless, wow, job well done. But if we don't, you're left wondering why we were unwilling or unable to sign a reasonably prolific striker for the division, or for the budget we have.
We've got 2 of the 'top' 4 strikers for big chances missed, and Azon is at the top of the pile. 21 big chances missed. The guy has scored 5 goals. Haji Wright is second with 20 big chances missed, but he's scored 17. Azon's shot conversion rate of a plainly inadequate 6.6%. He scores 0.27 goals per 90, compared with an xG figure of 0.6. He not only scores fewer goals than the statistical average player would stick away, but he scores fewer than HALF of those which the statistical average player would stick away.
These stats are 'leap off the page' bad.
Norwich seem to pick up effective goalscorers in flea markets, and we have a budget for transfers that is many times bigger. I'm not demanding a bargain like Makama (although why not?), and I'm not demanding a bargain like Toure (although why not?). But even signing a Kieffer Moore (or the actual Kieffer Moore) would surely have seen more goals. For a club with our budget, Hirst should be seen as a decent deputy. If we couldn't have done better in the summer, we should have in January, and I really hope that doesn't cost us.
But hey, no reason to think we can't battle or scrape our way through these last two games, and I'd be delighted for Azon if he helps get us there.
He's got so much going for him but as a striker when you're finishing is that ropey you're going to struggle to make it at a high level. It's such a shame as there's loads to like about him. He works incredibly hard, brings others into play well, has good movement and a very decent touch, and he keeps defenders occupied. He gets a lot of good chances through the good work he does. But then he turns into a Sunday league player when presented with a chance. It's very odd as some of his goals have been really lovely finishes but you look at some of the misses and they're the kind you might expect to see two or three of from your centre forward over the course of the season and he must have racked up a dozen or so.
Agree, his history shows he's not a finisher, if he was he wouldn't be playing at this level as he'd be some player.
The guy seems very likeable, but the main reason I find his finishing a shame is because of what it might do to Town, rather than what it might do to his career!
I agree with all of the positives that you cite. But it's really hard to get promoted without a top six striker, and that necessarily involves scoring a decent number of goals. We had goals all over the park last time round, and although we didn't have a runaway goalscorer, we had a better number 9 roster, at least post-January.
I appreciate all of the other qualities that are necessary for a number 9, especially in our system. I also appreciate that the disappointments of a number of our 10s (clearly SS and Akpom, and then even Nunez and Mehmeti have taken a bit of a dip) have exacerbated goal creation and scoring issues in certain matches, and that's not Azon's fault, or Hirst's.
But you've just got to stick it away a reasonable percentage of times when presented with a chance. It's true that overall we've scored a decent number of goals, all told. But we don't score enough when on top, and there are a decent number of matches you could reel off where that's come back to bite us and we've lost points. So many teams have more clinical strikers than ours. I seriously doubt that we would be fairly ranked inside the top 6 if clubs were ranked by their number 9 roster. And at the end of the day, scoring a goal is the one pre-requisite of winning games. And winning matters - the arithmetic of 3 times as many points for wins as draws is just so powerful. This is stating the obvious.
When you're confronted with data showing how many big chances we miss, both in absolute terms, and as a percentage of goals actually scored, it's really obvious that we perform really poorly, especially when compared with our promotion rivals. If we go up regardless, wow, job well done. But if we don't, you're left wondering why we were unwilling or unable to sign a reasonably prolific striker for the division, or for the budget we have.
We've got 2 of the 'top' 4 strikers for big chances missed, and Azon is at the top of the pile. 21 big chances missed. The guy has scored 5 goals. Haji Wright is second with 20 big chances missed, but he's scored 17. Azon's shot conversion rate of a plainly inadequate 6.6%. He scores 0.27 goals per 90, compared with an xG figure of 0.6. He not only scores fewer goals than the statistical average player would stick away, but he scores fewer than HALF of those which the statistical average player would stick away.
These stats are 'leap off the page' bad.
Norwich seem to pick up effective goalscorers in flea markets, and we have a budget for transfers that is many times bigger. I'm not demanding a bargain like Makama (although why not?), and I'm not demanding a bargain like Toure (although why not?). But even signing a Kieffer Moore (or the actual Kieffer Moore) would surely have seen more goals. For a club with our budget, Hirst should be seen as a decent deputy. If we couldn't have done better in the summer, we should have in January, and I really hope that doesn't cost us.
But hey, no reason to think we can't battle or scrape our way through these last two games, and I'd be delighted for Azon if he helps get us there.
"I agree with all of the positives that you cite. But it's really hard to get promoted without a top six striker..."
This is patently not true for us, as we don't rely on a prolific No.9.
We have conceded the least number of goals, have the 2nd best goal difference and 3rd highest scored.
Sure, Azon taking more of his chances would have improved those stats even more, but the metrics that do matter are clearly enough to be successful and on the cusp of promotion.
"I agree with all of the positives that you cite. But it's really hard to get promoted without a top six striker..."
This is patently not true for us, as we don't rely on a prolific No.9.
We have conceded the least number of goals, have the 2nd best goal difference and 3rd highest scored.
Sure, Azon taking more of his chances would have improved those stats even more, but the metrics that do matter are clearly enough to be successful and on the cusp of promotion.
If we did have a prolific no 9 (or even a half decent finisher) we’d have been up weeks ago.
He frustrated me for some time with his persistent throwing himself over looking for free kicks. He improved on that. I hope he can improve on his finishing too. I think that is a bigger challenge for players but I am sure some do.
As you say, there is so much good about his game and he works very hard.
I'd take the opposite view and say that he is only 23, this is basically his first club at a good level and his movement is insane and really important. Clearly his finishing has been woeful, combined with some world-class saves keeping a few out, but given his age and his ability in the other areas, i'd like us to keep him and develop him.
Lee Grant might be available for some private sessions...
If we did have a prolific no 9 (or even a half decent finisher) we’d have been up weeks ago.
Impossible to say that with certainty, unless you have a way to enter a parallel universe,
Azon has been instrumental in the build up for many goals - an alternative 'prolific' finisher may not have given that, and we may have failed to score some that we did. Basically, we'll never know, but the only thing that is fact is that we've not been short of goals, nor conceded loads.
Looks like a bang average league 2 striker to me, simply not clinical enough, he gets in great positions where most would bury it, he then morphs into a cross between Frank Spencer and Mr Bean.
Looks like a bang average league 2 striker to me, simply not clinical enough, he gets in great positions where most would bury it, he then morphs into a cross between Frank Spencer and Mr Bean.
Is the 'hype' in your username short for hyperbole?
Looks like a bang average league 2 striker to me, simply not clinical enough, he gets in great positions where most would bury it, he then morphs into a cross between Frank Spencer and Mr Bean.
The first ever 'panic buy' to have been tracked for weeks
Really strange player so much to like, has an engine, can hold it up has the odd trick, positional play seems good,strong as an ox.seems very likeable but just can't put the ball in the net.
The club must work everyday on his finishing. He generally seems to hit the target but his shoot selection seems all wrong. He just seems to place when he should welle and welle when he should place.
The guy seems very likeable, but the main reason I find his finishing a shame is because of what it might do to Town, rather than what it might do to his career!
I agree with all of the positives that you cite. But it's really hard to get promoted without a top six striker, and that necessarily involves scoring a decent number of goals. We had goals all over the park last time round, and although we didn't have a runaway goalscorer, we had a better number 9 roster, at least post-January.
I appreciate all of the other qualities that are necessary for a number 9, especially in our system. I also appreciate that the disappointments of a number of our 10s (clearly SS and Akpom, and then even Nunez and Mehmeti have taken a bit of a dip) have exacerbated goal creation and scoring issues in certain matches, and that's not Azon's fault, or Hirst's.
But you've just got to stick it away a reasonable percentage of times when presented with a chance. It's true that overall we've scored a decent number of goals, all told. But we don't score enough when on top, and there are a decent number of matches you could reel off where that's come back to bite us and we've lost points. So many teams have more clinical strikers than ours. I seriously doubt that we would be fairly ranked inside the top 6 if clubs were ranked by their number 9 roster. And at the end of the day, scoring a goal is the one pre-requisite of winning games. And winning matters - the arithmetic of 3 times as many points for wins as draws is just so powerful. This is stating the obvious.
When you're confronted with data showing how many big chances we miss, both in absolute terms, and as a percentage of goals actually scored, it's really obvious that we perform really poorly, especially when compared with our promotion rivals. If we go up regardless, wow, job well done. But if we don't, you're left wondering why we were unwilling or unable to sign a reasonably prolific striker for the division, or for the budget we have.
We've got 2 of the 'top' 4 strikers for big chances missed, and Azon is at the top of the pile. 21 big chances missed. The guy has scored 5 goals. Haji Wright is second with 20 big chances missed, but he's scored 17. Azon's shot conversion rate of a plainly inadequate 6.6%. He scores 0.27 goals per 90, compared with an xG figure of 0.6. He not only scores fewer goals than the statistical average player would stick away, but he scores fewer than HALF of those which the statistical average player would stick away.
These stats are 'leap off the page' bad.
Norwich seem to pick up effective goalscorers in flea markets, and we have a budget for transfers that is many times bigger. I'm not demanding a bargain like Makama (although why not?), and I'm not demanding a bargain like Toure (although why not?). But even signing a Kieffer Moore (or the actual Kieffer Moore) would surely have seen more goals. For a club with our budget, Hirst should be seen as a decent deputy. If we couldn't have done better in the summer, we should have in January, and I really hope that doesn't cost us.
But hey, no reason to think we can't battle or scrape our way through these last two games, and I'd be delighted for Azon if he helps get us there.
There's a YouTube video of a match between Como and Lille where Azon scores a brace which is interesting viewing as it shows all his touches during the game.
Two or three things stand out: his willingness to track back and defend deep, his good positional and link-up play and the ease with which he falls over.
He was probably far more effective at earning free kicks around the half way line at Como and Zaragoza than he has been in the Championship which makes him a bit of a liability in terms of conceding possession. Most bizarre though is his tendency to collapse as he strikes for goal in the box. Perhaps it's a habit that he's picked up in order to win penalties, but the downside is that he must be off balance every time he shoots from close range.
In the YT video when he taps in from close range he falls over and there seems absolutely no reason to do so.
Stay on your feet Ivan, I think that's all you need to do.
FREE PALASTINE FROM ZIONIST BOMBS. FREE LEBANON FROM ZIONIST BOMBS. FREE IRAN FROM ZIONIST BOMBS.
There's a YouTube video of a match between Como and Lille where Azon scores a brace which is interesting viewing as it shows all his touches during the game.
Two or three things stand out: his willingness to track back and defend deep, his good positional and link-up play and the ease with which he falls over.
He was probably far more effective at earning free kicks around the half way line at Como and Zaragoza than he has been in the Championship which makes him a bit of a liability in terms of conceding possession. Most bizarre though is his tendency to collapse as he strikes for goal in the box. Perhaps it's a habit that he's picked up in order to win penalties, but the downside is that he must be off balance every time he shoots from close range.
In the YT video when he taps in from close range he falls over and there seems absolutely no reason to do so.
Stay on your feet Ivan, I think that's all you need to do.
Here's the video:
Why does he dive at 3:25?
FREE PALASTINE FROM ZIONIST BOMBS. FREE LEBANON FROM ZIONIST BOMBS. FREE IRAN FROM ZIONIST BOMBS.
He's got all of those good things about him as you say; skills, work-rate, intelligence and also athleticism and the courage to keep playing the same way without moaning or dropping his head at all.
The finishing thing - given his touch skills in his lay-offs and turns - is I think purely a state of mind thing. Whether that was the same before he came here, or whether the different game pace and/or the bad luck he had with woodwork and superhuman goalkeeping efforts at the start triggered the snatching at chances, I don't know. I think it can be ironed out outside the pressure of a competitive season though, and I really hope we keep him on for next year.
He has an excellent attitude to carrying on in that lone furrow even when things are not going well, which is something we really need in our lone strikers.
Good work by Philogene...... GREAT WORK BY PHILOGENE!!!
I know he gets accused of diving all the time, is it possible he just has a really poor balance? He even slips over taking shots when there's no reason to do so.
I know he gets accused of diving all the time, is it possible he just has a really poor balance? He even slips over taking shots when there's no reason to do so.
It's 100% his balance. He panics and almost tries to slide tackle every shot on goal. It's rather weird actually. The times he's passed/caressed the ball towards goal, he's either scored or it's led to a save and an eventual goal.
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