I just have never rated him and this season for me, has proved that we're a lot more effective up front without him. He hinders the team if anything and always has and with Roy apparently looking for new strikers, i'm pretty sure it's not to replace Bobby.
He always ran into the corner when collecting passes and was hardly ever in the box - we need a poacher and I've never really rated AJ.
Do we need him?
This seasons proven we don't. Another expensive flop, yes, but i'd rather we take a loss and leave it!
I cant see too many takers for AJ, high wages and a history of being a sicknote. Also i dont think Roy would sell too cheaply and admit he made a balls up paying well over the odds for him.
I dont think that you can judge AJ on this season as he has been out injured for most of it.
I think he brings something different to the team and although gera has done very well up front, away from home I think we would have looked more dangerous with him in the team.
Another striker should come in this summer, but AJ should stay, I think he may feel he has something to prove. We should judge him when he has had a whole season under his belt, especially since last season he helped the club to its highest ever final league position, not something to be sniffed at.
Met AJ at a kids football game last week his, Morg's and Ben Thatchers sons play for a local team, kids really impressed having AJ do a warm up with them! really amazed standing close to him how small in height and build he is, no wonder he gets knocked off the ball so easily, he seems tio be on the mend but I think he has lost his one real talent, his pace
He's a good player, the only reason he ran into the corners was because of the bollocks passes played to him in the first place, if the ball gets put out to the wing then that's all he can do. He'll stay, his intelligence of play is underrated in my opinion.
I'm with you Tktd as far as Aj's positoning,he always seemd to be out in the corners instead of in the box poaching - arguably the role he was employed to do.
He was a marquee signing at the time and signalled Roy's intent at the time. He did play a role in getting us to 7th but last seasons points came from more so from our defence as opposed to our attack. Neither AJ or BZ were prolific.
As Fred says we would not be able to re-coup anything near what we paid for him so I can imagine being with us until his contract runs out.
I don't think this is a bad thing. AJ will always scores, much in the same way that Nevland has kept going. He's got an eye for goal but just won't be a first choice striker.
If we get into Europe again then we will be using players like AJ to cover the group games/qualifiers. If not then I would expect he will be handy to cover the league cup and generally give the reserves a helping hand as an experienced player.
Wheres Mr Finn? This is one of his favourites
Quote from: AlFayedsChequebook on April 16, 2010, 01:45:48 PM
...away from home I think we would have looked more dangerous with him in the team.
The way we play away from home we could have Torres up front and we still wouldn't look dangerous
AJ played the way Roy wanted or he wouldn't have played.
Owen,
I have mellowed a bit on AJ. I just don't think he has it anymore, never did after he left Palace actually
I have moved on and I don't even think of him as a starting option for the team. It would be nice to try trade and at least get some tracksuits for him, but I reckon not even Nike would allow him to wear their gear.
With respect Tony, I disagree in the sense that if Roy didn't play his £12 million signing questions would surely be asked by the board. Not saying that AJ played especially badly for us but Roy wouldn't have dreamed of using the BZ/ZG combo if it meant the clubs record signing warming the bench.
I must say it hurts how much he has failed to get fit and perform for the mighty Fulham, Duff, Zamora, Kelly, Konch, Paintsil restarted their careers here I fear Aj may not recover his reputation and be regarded as a big flop
Quote from: Jimpav on April 16, 2010, 03:14:36 PM
With respect Tony, I disagree in the sense that if Roy didn't play his £12 million signing questions would surely be asked by the board. Not saying that AJ played especially badly for us but Roy wouldn't have dreamed of using the BZ/ZG combo if it meant the clubs record signing warming the bench.
I doubt Roy thinks that way but who knows.
He spent money on Stoor but doesn't play him. If your big money signing is failing and dragging your team down then it's daft to persevere.
As it is AJ played throughout last season and we finished 7th. It suggests he did OK in Roy's eyes.
What I really meant though was not how well he played but his role in the team, the positions he took up, the kind of runs he made etc.
Roy's players follow orders.
We need to sell him and get whatever we can for him and bring in someone who can actually contribute to the team. He is a china doll and something is always wrong with him. He is the highest paid transfer we have and has done nothing all year.
But Tony G how many goals did he score as striker, I think Dempsy scored more than him in the league. I am sure someone will have the stats
I've seen him against Liverpool for Birmingham City and Palace and thought he was pretty impressive (particularly when the latter won 1-0 at Selhurst Park 5 years ago when he ran the Liverpool defenders ragged) and he had a decent first season at Everton (scoring a couple of times in the Derby always helps) but with his fitness issues in the 2nd season, I don't think Evertonians were too upset to see him leave for the amount of money they got for him. Don't think he did a bad job for Fulham last season and was particularly unfortunate to get taken out by that Amkar defender early this season to pretty much put paid to it.
He scored 7 in the league and 3 in the cups. BZ got something like 2 in the league.
In retrospect maybe the partnership between AJ and BZ was the problem and not the individual strikers. This could be down to teething problems in forming a new partnership or just a lack of understanding full stop.
Someone on Tiff pointed out that the big difference this year could be Duff. I would be inclined to agree as he has just added something different to the team.
When AJ has been given the same excellent service that Zamora has been receiving from Duff then maybe we can judge.
Fulham certainly don't need to 'see him asap for whatever they can get for him'
Am I mistaken in the belief that AJ's injury has allowed a switch in position for Gera and a massive improvement in his performances?
AJ is surplus to the requirements, and unless MAF likes to pay silly wages for fun and runs a charity called FFC, AJ should be chopped.
Simple business.
Quote from: Lork on April 16, 2010, 02:54:42 PM
He's a good player, the only reason he ran into the corners was because of the bollocks passes played to him in the first place, if the ball gets put out to the wing then that's all he can do. He'll stay, his intelligence of play is underrated in my opinion.
Also the fact is he doesn't have the height or physique to pick the ball out of the area. He can't win headers to save his life and therefore normally resorts to running after it into the corners and doesn't have a big enough frame and legs to get the relative stray passes so he either needs to run onto them (with his blistering pace :56: ) Or have them played into his feet which most top defenders in this league can play against, especially as he's not physically imposing enough!
Quote from: Tktd on April 16, 2010, 04:57:34 PM
Quote from: Lork on April 16, 2010, 02:54:42 PM
He's a good player, the only reason he ran into the corners was because of the bollocks passes played to him in the first place, if the ball gets put out to the wing then that's all he can do. He'll stay, his intelligence of play is underrated in my opinion.
Also the fact is he doesn't have the height or physique to pick the ball out of the area. He can't win headers to save his life and therefore normally resorts to running after it into the corners and doesn't have a big enough frame and legs to get the relative stray passes so he either needs to run onto them (with his blistering pace :56: ) Or have them played into his feet which most top defenders in this league can play against, especially as he's not physically imposing enough!
No, he doesn't take the ball and then run into corners with it, he usually latches on to balls over the top. Not to mention his work rate is higher than Geras (although he works hard too) which means alot in a team based around defending from the front, he IS quicker than any of our forwards especially over the first 10 or 20 yards and his running off the ball is . His touch is underrated too I think - he was our most accurate passer of the ball last season, or one of our most accurate, which is impressive considering that the final third is the most congested area of the pitch.
