| Ivan Azon 15:26 - May 25 with 6467 views | Radlett_blue |
Como have qualified for the CL next season so hard to see him getting much of a look-in there. He's 23 & has played over 140 senior games now so I doubt he's going to become a huge predator so although he'll be on offer, I hope we steer clear. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 22:20 - May 25 with 1105 views | Radlett_blue |
| Ivan Azon on 21:20 - May 25 by djgooder |
So I’ve had a long day and might be crystal balling a bit but……..
What if Azon is our third this year. Gets maybe 10 - 20 mins every other prem game . A full season coaching of McKenna and a shooting coach and sports psychologist that someone mentioned above.
It feels pessimistic to say. But after a good show we end up relegated. Could he then be the striker that gets us 20+ goals in Champions League 27/28 almost single handedly gettting us promoted. Which a further years McKenna coaching, confidence of bagging goals for fun in champ he is he the central striker we have in 28/29 that keeps us up and we sell for £100M.
Likely all pie in the sky but I could see Azon doing that. Not Hirst sadly. He has a lot of attributes we need. £10M for a project feels steep but I’d be happy with it.
Also. Apologies for no question marks to all my own questions. Too much sun in Sheringham park! |
Azon is 23 and has played 140+ senior games. He can't finish & I find it hard to believe McKenna or anyone else can teach him how to become markedly better at finishing. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 22:37 - May 25 with 1046 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Ivan Azon on 16:51 - May 25 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
13 of which were sub appearances. He’s had a total of 234 minutes in the season and a goal after lighting up the Championship last year. |
If he's hardly played, how do you know he's not good enough? |  |
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| We had Ali as a second striker last time round!! on 03:10 - May 26 with 939 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| We had Ali as a second striker last time round!! on 19:04 - May 25 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I think Delap was signed to be third choice behind Hirst. It just turned out he was better than Hirst.
Of course, I may be wrong and the club may have expected what we got out of Delap. |
Nah, Southampton were heavy in for Delap as well and it apparently it took Ed to get him over the line! Cost was 15M plus add on’s he was not brought into be behind George Hirst.
I’d still have him back, I saw enough from August - January 2024. The rest of that season was a write off and he was getting frustrated. Depends if the new latest Chelsea gaffer wants him and if they will subsidize his wages, don’t see why not really. [Post edited 26 May 3:11]
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| Ivan Azon on 07:09 - May 26 with 908 views | Rimsy |
He's better than Hirst, so get Azon and move Hirst on. Still obviously need a top goalscorer. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 07:38 - May 26 with 884 views | itfcjoe |
| Ivan Azon on 16:15 - May 25 by jayessess |
Suppose it comes down to whether you take his finishing performance this season as definitive. His finishing numbers for Zaragoza last season were respectable enough - 7 goals from 48 shots. If he'd managed that this season, he'd have hit 11 for us in the equivalent of 19 full games. Could be that LaLiga2 to the Championship was a jump, could be just a bit of random variation.
Personally don't think his all-round game was *so* brilliant that you'd take a risk to find out this particular season, as a promoted club in the Premier League. Could see the case for it though. |
Wyscout data
24/25 - 7 from 7.71
23/24 - 5 from 6.98
22/23 - 3 from 4.65
Hirst is being severely underrated in this thread, he did well for us in the PL last time and his game suits what we will be there more than what it was in this league (running in behind and bringing others in vs dropping into congested areas and playing back to goal). It’s going to be massively difficult to sign the 2-3 strikers better than him than people want. He had a ropey spell post injury in January but on the whole was decent enough
Azon is young, and came here and learned system very well in first season abroad - I think he has a long way to go - if he is one of 3 with another more proven in prime striker I’d be totally fine with that. Striker in our system is a tough role to play and he did it well |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 09:18 - May 26 with 824 views | TIB |
Great character and great work ethic but his finishing wasn’t good enough in Champ as we all know. If we were playing two up top, I’d take him, but leading the line, we need someone who is clinical if we want to stay up. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 09:45 - May 26 with 802 views | SWLondonBlue93 |
No doubt Azon improved as the season went on, the main concern has to be his finishing, especially as we won't create as many chances next season and being clinical in front of goal is going to be really important. I wouldn't be focusing on signing him up right now, if we get a nailed-on number one option up front then maybe consider it later but I'd like us to set our sights higher. |  | | |
| Ivan Azon on 09:57 - May 26 with 789 views | Vaughan8 |
Are we still barking on about this guy?
Unfortunately he's not good enough. The only plausible "option" would be to get him cheap, loan him out to a championship side and see how he does.
He should be nowhere near our squad int he PL. Suggesting he gets 10-20 mins a game, is suggesting he's second choice. No thanks. | | | |
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| Ivan Azon on 10:01 - May 26 with 773 views | RobTheMonk |
| Ivan Azon on 07:38 - May 26 by itfcjoe |
Wyscout data
24/25 - 7 from 7.71
23/24 - 5 from 6.98
22/23 - 3 from 4.65
Hirst is being severely underrated in this thread, he did well for us in the PL last time and his game suits what we will be there more than what it was in this league (running in behind and bringing others in vs dropping into congested areas and playing back to goal). It’s going to be massively difficult to sign the 2-3 strikers better than him than people want. He had a ropey spell post injury in January but on the whole was decent enough
Azon is young, and came here and learned system very well in first season abroad - I think he has a long way to go - if he is one of 3 with another more proven in prime striker I’d be totally fine with that. Striker in our system is a tough role to play and he did it well |
There were many time though, Joe, where Hirst's holdup play was quite frankly atrocious. Couldn't shoot, couldn't pass, couldn't control the ball.
Although as you say, that's post injury and a pre-season may do wonders.
It's going to be an interesting windows, that's for sure! |  | | |
| Ivan Azon on 12:08 - May 26 with 677 views | NthQldITFC |
| Ivan Azon on 10:01 - May 26 by RobTheMonk |
There were many time though, Joe, where Hirst's holdup play was quite frankly atrocious. Couldn't shoot, couldn't pass, couldn't control the ball.
Although as you say, that's post injury and a pre-season may do wonders.
It's going to be an interesting windows, that's for sure! |
I like Hirst and what he's done for us, and I think he's worthy of another go at PL level with the radically different requirements we're going to have for our 9, but what you say is painfully true.
It's a risk, but I think the pressure's off him a bit if we make one or two good signings ahead of him, and he can do a job again. Personally, I think Azon would be a better bet, because I think we can iron out his wrinkles. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 13:29 - May 26 with 630 views | Radlett_blue |
| Ivan Azon on 12:08 - May 26 by NthQldITFC |
I like Hirst and what he's done for us, and I think he's worthy of another go at PL level with the radically different requirements we're going to have for our 9, but what you say is painfully true.
It's a risk, but I think the pressure's off him a bit if we make one or two good signings ahead of him, and he can do a job again. Personally, I think Azon would be a better bet, because I think we can iron out his wrinkles. |
Hirst was back-up to Delap for most of our last season in the PL. I've seen nothing to suggest he's more than a good Championship #9 & he should be no more than our 3rd striker next season if we want to stay up. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 13:40 - May 26 with 623 views | JakeITFC |
I really like Azon and actually would prefer us to buy him than not however:
- I think similar to the Burns decision to be made, we have to upgrade that position and every player we keep leaves one less slot for a signing to be made
- Therefore I think we can only keep one of Hirst/Azon in a squad with two or three out and out central forwards
- Given Hirst is a) a bit more proven at the level b) already ours and c) unlikely to be sold for a number that makes it worth our while, he keeps that berth.
I wouldn't be against signing Azon and loaning him somewhere though as I think there is a really good striker in there. |  | | |
| Ivan Azon on 13:55 - May 26 with 596 views | jayessess |
| Ivan Azon on 07:38 - May 26 by itfcjoe |
Wyscout data
24/25 - 7 from 7.71
23/24 - 5 from 6.98
22/23 - 3 from 4.65
Hirst is being severely underrated in this thread, he did well for us in the PL last time and his game suits what we will be there more than what it was in this league (running in behind and bringing others in vs dropping into congested areas and playing back to goal). It’s going to be massively difficult to sign the 2-3 strikers better than him than people want. He had a ropey spell post injury in January but on the whole was decent enough
Azon is young, and came here and learned system very well in first season abroad - I think he has a long way to go - if he is one of 3 with another more proven in prime striker I’d be totally fine with that. Striker in our system is a tough role to play and he did it well |
Hard to emphasise enough how much more rests on that prime striker than the other two, whoever they may be. If we recruit a main guy and he's either (a) not good enough or (b) not fit most of the time, we're probably toast anyway and no-one we recruit as 2nd or 3rd option is going to make much difference to that equation. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 14:41 - May 26 with 553 views | dirtyboy |
| Ivan Azon on 09:57 - May 26 by Vaughan8 |
Are we still barking on about this guy?
Unfortunately he's not good enough. The only plausible "option" would be to get him cheap, loan him out to a championship side and see how he does.
He should be nowhere near our squad int he PL. Suggesting he gets 10-20 mins a game, is suggesting he's second choice. No thanks. |
Kane is being talked about in another thread, he was pants at Norwich and Leicester.
Scored 4 in 19 in his first PL season..
The rest is history.
When will people learn not to write players off so early?
(for clarity, i'm not suggesting he'll be as good as Kane....but who'd have ever thought he'd go on to be as good as he is after his early career) |  | | |
| Ivan Azon on 16:28 - May 26 with 488 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Ivan Azon on 07:38 - May 26 by itfcjoe |
Wyscout data
24/25 - 7 from 7.71
23/24 - 5 from 6.98
22/23 - 3 from 4.65
Hirst is being severely underrated in this thread, he did well for us in the PL last time and his game suits what we will be there more than what it was in this league (running in behind and bringing others in vs dropping into congested areas and playing back to goal). It’s going to be massively difficult to sign the 2-3 strikers better than him than people want. He had a ropey spell post injury in January but on the whole was decent enough
Azon is young, and came here and learned system very well in first season abroad - I think he has a long way to go - if he is one of 3 with another more proven in prime striker I’d be totally fine with that. Striker in our system is a tough role to play and he did it well |
Really don’t think we can go into the PL with those two as your second and third strikers. Frankly neither were top Championship strikers this year. Hirst wasn’t very good to start the season either. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 16:32 - May 26 with 482 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Ivan Azon on 14:41 - May 26 by dirtyboy |
Kane is being talked about in another thread, he was pants at Norwich and Leicester.
Scored 4 in 19 in his first PL season..
The rest is history.
When will people learn not to write players off so early?
(for clarity, i'm not suggesting he'll be as good as Kane....but who'd have ever thought he'd go on to be as good as he is after his early career) |
lol, Kane was basically a youth team player. He was scoring 30 goals in the PL at Azon’s age. What a bizarre example to use. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 16:32 - May 26 with 491 views | southnorfolkblue |
| Ivan Azon on 16:20 - May 25 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I think Azon is far better already than Al Hamadi was. I also think we have far more goals in us from other areas than we had last time Hirst played. However, we do need someone of at least the level of Delap in as first choice. There is little between Hirst and Azon for me (as shown by the fact Azon was playing ahead of Hirst at the end of the season).
In an ideal world we sign two strikers significantly better than Hirst and Azon. However, considering how difficult we have found it to sign one over multiple windows now, I wouldn't hold my breath that we will. I fear that we may set our sights too high and end up with Azon being this time's version of Keiffer Moore. He would have made us far better than Al Hamadi did. |
Al Hamadi would have scored more goals for us than Azon did imho.
Azon would be a massive no from me. Simply nowhere near the level we need. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 16:35 - May 26 with 476 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Ivan Azon on 16:32 - May 26 by southnorfolkblue |
Al Hamadi would have scored more goals for us than Azon did imho.
Azon would be a massive no from me. Simply nowhere near the level we need. |
A grafter with some nice moments that improved, missed guilt edge chances, would get eaten alive in the PL. Surprised this is any kind of discussion. Unless we want to sell Hirst but even he’d be signing a contract as a third choice striker, can’t see it. | |
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| Ivan Azon on 17:26 - May 26 with 442 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Ivan Azon on 15:58 - May 25 by burnbudgiesburn |
I like him, but what was his fee supposed to be before we renegotiated it into a non-obligation loan? £10m wasn't it? Not for me at that price.
£2-3m as a project/3rd striker, sure. |
You don't get much for £2-3m anymore. Lets not forget we were going to sell AAH to Luton for £3m
'Projects' with the experience he already has tend to be in the £7-8m bracket now. |  |
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| We had Ali as a second striker last time round!! on 19:35 - May 26 with 388 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| We had Ali as a second striker last time round!! on 21:47 - May 25 by unstableblue |
We spent £15m on Delap (with appearance bonuses it was £20m) he was definitely ahead of Hirst
But that goes to show how much you have to spend for striker quality. We’ll need to pay £30m on one player this summer to get the quality we need, unless we can do something clever in the foreign market. |
I'm not sure it works like that. We spent a lot more on Egeli than Burns but I don't think we intended to play Egeli as much as we did and he wasn't ahead of Burns once the latter was fit. Broja was definitely going to be first choice. Hirst missed the start of the season through injury and then broke down again once he did get fit so we will never know.
I don't think £15M is an unreasonable fee for a promising 3rd choice striker in the Premier League. It worked out as a bargain price for us because he turned into our best striker. |  |
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| Ivan Azon on 19:42 - May 26 with 372 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Ivan Azon on 13:29 - May 26 by Radlett_blue |
Hirst was back-up to Delap for most of our last season in the PL. I've seen nothing to suggest he's more than a good Championship #9 & he should be no more than our 3rd striker next season if we want to stay up. |
Hirst was out injured most of that season. Once fit he was always going to come back by being on the bench. Once he was fit enough to start Delap had earned his place (but Hirst still ended the season starting ahead of him). | |
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| Ivan Azon on 20:54 - May 26 with 336 views | Clutch |
I’d have Azon as third choice over Hirst personally, I think he will suit the premier league more.
Obviously needs to work on finishing! |  | | |
| Ivan Azon on 23:40 - May 26 with 254 views | southnorfolkblue |
| Ivan Azon on 20:54 - May 26 by Clutch |
I’d have Azon as third choice over Hirst personally, I think he will suit the premier league more.
Obviously needs to work on finishing! |
Azon couldnt score goals in the Championship. He’ll be even worse in the PL. Hirst may have had a comparatively poor season but he’s still far more likely to weigh in with a few goals. He actually looked ok in the PL last time around | |
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| Ivan Azon on 00:11 - May 27 with 238 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Ivan Azon on 16:32 - May 26 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
lol, Kane was basically a youth team player. He was scoring 30 goals in the PL at Azon’s age. What a bizarre example to use. |
You make it sound as if Kane was a kid. His breakout season was 14/15, when he was 21. Prior to that he’d not been knocking them in anywhere. Azon was 23 a few months ago - there’s no more than about 18 months between them in that comparison.
I’m in the camp of liking a lot of what Azon does, and feel he was a whisker away from a tally of 10 goals for the season. His minutes were also very limited first half of the season. I was calling for him to start way before he did, because I thought he needed game time. He improved a lot after he became the starting no 9, and if we’d given him time sooner I think it would have been interesting to see where he was by the end of the season.
Is he a first choice no 9 for the PL? Hell no, but I’d have him ahead of Hirst. He’s also no Harry Kane, but might turn out a lot better than many think. He’ll end up doing well at a top club in Europe imo. | | | |
| Ivan Azon on 07:07 - May 27 with 183 views | hype313 |
| Ivan Azon on 16:35 - May 25 by NthQldITFC |
I think you're bang on with that last paragraph. Working with a sports psychologist specifically on the moment of shooting and the stance at that point could turn Ivan into a very decent PL forward. |
Surely as a striker the natural instinct to finish should be a pre requisite, if you're a professional at 23 needing a sports psychologist to get you thinking in that moment of shooting, then you're not going to be a clinical finisher.
I'm not downplaying the role of sports psychology btw, but would you use one for a goalkeeper to help them in shot stopping? Surely by the time they hit professional level that would be the first thing they would be doing in order to climb the ladder.
Fwiw he'd be an adequate 3rd choice in the PL, but it would have to be either or with him and Hirst, not both. |  |
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