By Hughie Southon
Credit where it’s due Danny Ings is a top January signing.
First and foremost thank you board for stumping up a few bob for a 30 year old who – as far as I can see – is as good a signing as we have ever attracted in the winter window.
And well done Moyes for clinching a deal which may well now begin to give us the goals we need over the next few weeks.
It’s a notorious market at this time of the year and Moyes has done well to get a striker who is right up there in terms of goals with Vardy, Salah and Kane.
He has managed six so far from the bench this term and 21 over the last two seasons from 60 odd games.
It is of course interesting that he has spent the best part of his career under Sean Dyche – currently being linked with the Hammers where – over four Burnley seasons – he managed 38 goals in 99 games.
Let’s not read too much into that at this stage and leave it where it is – a very good signing in a difficult window.
Whilst it’s great to get a striker, have our strikers really been the problem?
If you look at their xG (expected goal tally to this point based on the quality of chances they’ve had the opportunity to score) Antonio’s is 2.5 (he has 2 goals in 18, so marginally below expectations, but you can’t score half-goals) and Scammaca’s is 2.54 (he has 3 in 16).
On that basis our strikers aren’t underperforming in the goals scored tally…the team aren’t creating high calibre chances for them to score. I don’t see how Ings remedies that underlying issue (but would love to know, unless we’re blaming our strikers for not being in positions for the rest of the team to find them to create chances?
The supply is the problem. It’s why we’ve always needed an Arnautovic or Antonio who could craft chances where none existed, as opposed to a Hernandez who needs chances laid on to finish.
I doubt even peak Aguero would score goals for this side….we simply don’t create chances worthy of the name. Even Moyes admitted this last game, where he said ‘we didn’t take our opportunities to create chances’. Not opportunities to score goals, opportunities to create chances!
It is a good signing, well said, but we have got to create something for him or anyone in that position to get goals. Lets hope we go for it for the remainder of the season. I’d love to see Scamacca and Ings playing together. COYI
Another part of Moyes’s strategy to build a young, energetic team. We could have Haaland up front but he won’t score a goal if we’re not creating chances. If the club is optimistic that Moyes will turn things around they need their heads examined. Isn’t a year of terrible football enough of an indication. I agree with Gonzo – exactly how bad does it have to get. Or do we have to wait until Westr Ham are in the National League before they realise that Moyes needs to go.
Best winter signing? Not even close – it has to be Hartson and Kitson. They were awesome. Could Ings be a good one, too? Very likely. But can’t beat the dynamic duo.
Wow! Did you just write something positive about David Moyes on your website? Unbelievable.
We attempt to be balanced unlike yourself Clive
Lol. Balanced or hypocritical?
Do u wanna be blocked.
How dare you? He still needs to go. I wouldn’t respond if you wanna stay even then don’t be sure/ How the f… you can decide on balance given the patronising **** you post is beyond me