We need to talk about Placheta...

[Petriix 3,219]

Let's be honest, he's really not got the footballing brain for professional football. How many times can someone get caught offside while in acres of space? He's got so much pace that he can afford to start 5 yards further back yet he keeps doing the same thing and going too early. It's just brainless.

You could forgive the odd offside if he had some redeeming features but he's so lacking in end product that it's really only his pace that he's got going for him. It's really indicative of our poor recruitment that he is seen as the better option than Tzolis. Someone of Placheta's limited ability shouldn't be anywhere near a Premier League squad. 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,620]

Agreed, unfortunately. He didn't really have much of a footballing brain, technical skill or end product when he arrived and whilst I cut him some slack for a while, he just hasn't developed in any of those areas. He works hard, but he just isn't anywhere good enough for this level and I wouldn't fancy him at Championship level next year either. 

Yes, I know he still gets in the Poland squad but either their options must be as limited as ours or they're still being as patient as we have been.

[TeemuVanBasten 3,328]

Looking forward to seeing what replies this thread gets. 

It was always really obvious that he wasn't very good, looks like Jamar Loza level to me, Conference National. 

Onel is clearly a better player.

Edited March 2, 2022 by TeemuVanBasten

[Ian 1,212]

6 minutes ago, TeemuVanBasten said:

Looking forward to seeing what replies this thread gets. 

It was always really obvious that he wasn't very good, looks like Jamar Loza level to me, Conference National. 

Onel is clearly a better player.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day bud.

[TeemuVanBasten 3,328]

2 minutes ago, Ian said:

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day bud.

Yes, and I'm a watch with a 100 year battery.

[Capt. Pants 5,013]

Hopefully his agent will be looking to move him on during the summer.

We need better quality. Just not good enough.

[Coneys Knee 1,050]

I finally agree with teemuvanbasten, Onel is streets ahead of placheta 

[Ian 1,212]

2 minutes ago, TeemuVanBasten said:

Yes, and I'm a watch with a 100 year battery.

Oh dear. Cambridge beware.

[Ian 1,212]

3 minutes ago, Coneys Knee said:

I finally agree with teemuvanbasten, Onel is streets ahead of placheta 

I actually thought Onel did alright at this level the last time we were in the Prem. Definitely a very odd decision on the face of it.

[TheGunnShow 7,377]

I think he'd look far better if we had a more traditional target man to aim at, and for him to float balls at. He's not going to hit many through balls, and fizzing low crosses isn't quite his thing either. What Smith and co. should tell him is "work yourself half-a-yard and then just float it" - put the onus on the strikers to chase it hard, with a little time to go for it.

Putting him up with two smaller speedsters in Pukki and Rashica looks all wrong for him, to me. Hugill's a no-go now, but him and Sargent, or him and Idah - could work. 

Even then, Rashica's on the left and no-one's getting past him.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

He is abysmal. 

[Ian 1,212]

3 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

I think he'd look far better if we had a more traditional target man to aim at, and for him to float balls at. He's not going to hit many through balls, and fizzing low crosses isn't quite his thing either. What Smith and co. should tell him is "work yourself half-a-yard and then just float it" - put the onus on the strikers to chase it hard, with a little time to go for it.

Putting him up with two smaller speedsters in Pukki and Rashica looks all wrong for him, to me. Hugill's a no-go now, but him and Sargent, or him and Idah - could work. 

Even then, Rashica's on the left and no-one's getting past him.

Weird how some people fall over themselves to make excuses for a player who has been very poor in pretty much every performance for the club, whilst players like McLean get dogs abuse despite having contributed more to the club.

[Hank shoots Skyler 2,094]

21 minutes ago, TeemuVanBasten said:

Looking forward to seeing what replies this thread gets. 

It was always really obvious that he wasn't very good, looks like Jamar Loza level to me, Conference National. 

Onel is clearly a better player.

Looks like you called it right. You probably got slated more because you suggested Placheta try a career in retail though… 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,620]

10 minutes ago, Ian said:

I actually thought Onel did alright at this level the last time we were in the Prem. Definitely a very odd decision on the face of it.

I think it was probably fitness as much as anything. He struggled with injuries last season and didn't look up to speed in his limited appearances. 

But then again, Placheta was suffering from long covid and is crap when fully fit, so maybe not.

[sgncfc 1,330]

Placheta is a Polish International. He has 7 caps and has represented Poland at every age group. He really isn't a bad footballer, he just plays badly for Norwich City.

[Monty13 2,736]

That one neat turn he did and ran at their defence before slotting Rashica in was great, only issue was it was the only thing I remember him doing all half other than getting caught offside for no reason multiple times.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

Of course one of the players recruited on the basis of our new focus on analytics and his “running stats”. I think it shows as he has zero end product or footballing brain.

[Sooty57 414]

2 minutes ago, sgncfc said:

He really isn't a bad footballer, he just plays badly for Norwich City.

That doesn't make him a member of an exclusive club 😉

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 2,035]

If he's considered worth being around the squad ahead of Cantwell Hernandez and Tzolis, the other 3 should hand their boots up

[sgncfc 1,330]

3 minutes ago, Sooty57 said:

That doesn't make him a member of an exclusive club 😉

Maybe not, but maybe it's not all his fault either.

[Canary dwarf 221]

10 minutes ago, sgncfc said:

Placheta is a Polish International. He has 7 caps and has represented Poland at every age group. He really isn't a bad footballer, he just plays badly for Norwich City.

Have you watched him play for Poland i haven't , but I imagine his performances are no better.😁

[damn that Ralph Coates! 74]

How badly must Tzolis train if Placheta and Rowe are ahead of him....

[Ian 1,212]

13 minutes ago, sgncfc said:

Placheta is a Polish International. He has 7 caps and has represented Poland at every age group. He really isn't a bad footballer, he just plays badly for Norwich City.

I feel like our focus on signing players with good stats has lead to a squad with a general lack of quality decision making.

Clearly Placheta's raw pace isn't much of a weapon at this level if there isn't the clarity of thought to go with it.

I get that these guys are under immense pressure and against elite opposition every week, and I would love to see him succeed, but it is incredibly difficult to see Placheta making more of an impact at this level when his decision making seems so poor.

[shefcanary 2,955]

"Strangely", he has a couple of assists at International level.  It suggests managers can get something out of him, Farke and Smith haven't found out how yet.  Smith is quoted as saying he likes what he sees in training.  His job is to get that into matches.

[Ian 1,212]

6 minutes ago, shefcanary said:

"Strangely", he has a couple of assists at International level.  It suggests managers can get something out of him, Farke and Smith haven't found out how yet.  Smith is quoted as saying he likes what he sees in training.  His job is to get that into matches.

Have you seen how many caps McLean has for Scotland, along with some great passing and penalty stats too? 

Weird how you don't use the same justifications for McLean that you do for Placheta.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,620]

13 minutes ago, shefcanary said:

"Strangely", he has a couple of assists at International level.  It suggests managers can get something out of him, Farke and Smith haven't found out how yet.  Smith is quoted as saying he likes what he sees in training.  His job is to get that into matches.

He has one assist and that was against San Marino.

[Sooty57 414]

21 minutes ago, sgncfc said:

Maybe not, but maybe it's not all his fault either.

Exactly my point

[shefcanary 2,955]

1 minute ago, Ian said:

Have you seen how many caps McLean has for Scotland, along with some great passing and penalty stats too? 

Weird how you don't use the same justifications for McLean that you do for Placheta.

I get you.  You are a fan of McLean. 

I am not, I think he really drags Norwich down, he does nothing that brings a cohesiveness, confidence or solidity to Norwich's game.  Every now and again I accept his headless chicken running about does result in a goal but it's not often enough to justify his place in the team (squad, okay, maybe).  I also think his on pitch presence is why some of the younger players do not perform.  I've been in teams where a "loud" player like McLean confuse or winds up young players, where a quiet word would have worked better.  Perhaps that is why I have such a " personal" issue with him.  I would rather he wasn't in the team.  You will not disavow me of this opinion.

I also think there is scope for some of the younger players to still make it.  

My question to you is why do you think McLean deserves an easier ride, as he is a senior player and rarely performs well?

[TeemuVanBasten 3,328]

37 minutes ago, sgncfc said:

Placheta is a Polish International. He has 7 caps and has represented Poland at every age group. He really isn't a bad footballer, he just plays badly for Norwich City.

Adrian Coote and Jamar Loza were internationals but didn't make the grade.

[TeemuVanBasten 3,328]

5 minutes ago, shefcanary said:

I get you.  You are a fan of McLean. 

I am not, I think he really drags Norwich down, he does nothing that brings a cohesiveness, confidence or solidity to Norwich's game.  Every now and again I accept his headless chicken running about does result in a goal but it's not often enough to justify his place in the team (squad, okay, maybe).  I also think his on pitch presence is why some of the younger players do not perform.  I've been in teams where a "loud" player like McLean confuse or winds up young players, where a quiet word would have worked better.  Perhaps that is why I have such a " personal" issue with him.  I would rather he wasn't in the team.  You will not disavow me of this opinion.

I also think there is scope for some of the younger players to still make it.  

My question to you is why do you think McLean deserves an easier ride, as he is a senior player and rarely performs well?

Really good at pointing though.