Sunday, July 12
The return of Modibo Maiga!
Slightly shocked to look at the team sheet for yesterday's 3-3 draw at Peterborough and discover that Modibo Maiga was playing up front. Like most fans, I'd forgotten he was at the club, though he was actually only on loan at Metz in France last season, where he scored a respectable nine goals in 25 appearances. A bit like finding that missing sock at the bottom of your drawer or that old Cranberries CD behind the hi-fi. Felt a bit sorry for Maiga at times being played alone up front as a target man by Big Sam. He clearly has some skill as we saw with fine goals against Southampton in a 4-1 win, and against West Brom in a 3-3 draw. Modibo was a similar price and gamble to Diafra Sakho, but with vastly differing results. He's behind Sakho, Valencia and Carroll but might he yet get some chances as a second striker? With a new manager anything is possible.
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7 comments:
Not up to prem standard for me he's had too many chances as it is get shot and bring in austin if possible if not jordan rhodes
More than likely he'll be off, but he does seem to score in France. Never really got a chance as a support striker but he was indeed very poor when Carroll was out. Though confidence can do strange things to strikers. Agree about Austin Andy, looks like a natural scorer to me and learned his trade the hard way.
I'm surprised we haven't heard more about Jordan Rhodes in our search for a striker, after all he got injured last night! He cost Blackburn £8m and has just signed to 2019, so they'd want £10m+. He's a natural in front of goal - 73 in 127 appearances for Blackburn at a rate of 0.53. The only question mark would be about his ability to deliver in the top flight. in second string games he's great, but the step up seems a little to much for him - for Scotland he scored 8 in 8 at U21, but only 3 in 13 at full senior level. If that translated into Championship vs Premier League, he'd be no better than anyone else (except Can't Control).
As for Maiga, if he's not on top dollar, I'd keep him as the spare No.10. Sam played him as a lone striker, which given his physique is a bit daft. We tried to hit him with the long ball against big centre backs, a crazy - but under Sam, somehow expected) tactic. He's always worked hard and made space for the 'other' striker, of which there usually wasn't one.
But then I probably would have kept Nicky Maynard for a longer too....
Yeah because Maynards gone on to be hugely successful...? Last I heard he was on trial at Forrest. Blackburn have priced Rhodes out of the market, no ones going to pay 10 million plus for him. Shame really.
Agree about Jordan Rhodes Shane, he's always scored at Championship level and surely deserves a chance in the PL, though Austin a better bet as he's already done it. Nicky Maynard only had half a season though did get injured as soon as we sold him. Hope to see you on a mission in Ken's Cafe sometime!
When he was playing for West ham, he always struck me as a grafter.however, he couldn't score for love nor money. Maybe he was playing in the wrong position, or maybe he just wasn't up to it.
Guess we might get another look at him in the Europa League games…
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