lake district canary 4,689 Posted June 16, 2023 Two assists tonight in a 2-0 win for Finland on left of midfield. Just proves what some of us said in the last year or two - that Pukki might be better playing behind a striker as he gets older. Why we persisted with him up front and Idah and Sargent on the wings is mystifying, both under Smith then Wagner. Pukki is such a clever skilful player that he can play that withdrawn position well....he was just never played there for us. A wasted opportunity imo. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midlands Yellow 4,449 Posted June 16, 2023 1 minute ago, lake district canary said: Two assists tonight in a 2-0 win for Finland on left of midfield. Just proves what some of us said in the last year or two - that Pukki might be better playing behind a striker as he gets older. Why we persisted with him up front and Idah and Sargent on the wings is mystifying, both under Smith then Wagner. Pukki is such a clever skilful player that he can play that withdrawn position well....he was just never played there for us. A wasted opportunity imo. Fair points Lakey but try the ongoing 1st test instead. Far more interesting and it’s summertime. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yobocop 1,316 Posted June 16, 2023 your post is a bit of an oxymoron a striker who scored so many goals was wasted upfront? Don’t get it sorry He’s gone, we’ve moved on and as Midland has said enjoy the summer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christoph Stiepermann 1,211 Posted June 16, 2023 (edited) Nope, not for me. It was against Slovenia. Pukki is an off the shoulder striker, he doesn't have the technique, pace, dribbling skills or passing range to play behind the striker at Championship level. He'd score a few goals and look okay but it doesn't play to his strengths. Sticking a typical no.9 like Sargent out wide wasn't using him correctly either but if I was the manager and had limited attacking midfield options I'd go with Pukki up top and Sargent wide as well if I was hellbent on playing both but wanted a certain midfield shape. The problem has taken care of itself now though and we'll get a season of Sargent leading the line and I expect him at another year older and more experienced in hopefully a more cohesive team to get at least 20 goals. Edited June 16, 2023 by Christoph Stiepermann Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,689 Posted June 16, 2023 9 minutes ago, Yobocop said: your post is a bit of an oxymoron a striker who scored so many goals was wasted upfront? Don’t get it sorry He’s gone, we’ve moved on and as Midland has said enjoy the summer Thanks, I will enjoy the summer, playing and watching tennis, certainly not watching cricket. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yobocop 1,316 Posted June 16, 2023 1 minute ago, lake district canary said: Thanks, I will enjoy the summer, playing and watching tennis, certainly not watching cricket. Each to their own, watching tennis is like watching paint dry played by people who all talk the same (have you noticed that?) don’t mind a bit of cricket but couldn’t sit there all day and watch it roll on august lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,689 Posted June 16, 2023 5 minutes ago, Yobocop said: Each to their own, watching tennis is like watching paint dry played by people who all talk the same (have you noticed that?) don’t mind a bit of cricket but couldn’t sit there all day and watch it roll on august lol Roll on August indeed, though I don't watch tennis for the talking, unlike cricket, where talking is such an important component of the experience. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Hairy 4,132 Posted June 17, 2023 Look we all love Pukki, but it was very clear his legs had gone and not up to playing this level anymore, watching him being miles off it vs Blackpool was sad to watch. He'll no doubt go and score a hatful in the MLS, its all about levels and Finland vs Slovenia is what equivalent, League 1? 2? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
canarybubbles 2,107 Posted June 17, 2023 IMO his enthusiasm had gone far more than his legs. Fourteen months of being under a manager who had no idea how to utilise his talents, endlessly having to pointlessly chase balls flying over his head, he just stopped caring under Smith and then started snatching at chances over the last dozen games as his confidence fell. Strange how we can get excited about signing 30+ year-olds for next season while deciding that a 30+ year-old who has done a fantastic job for us over several seasons is past it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,689 Posted June 17, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, Ken Hairy said: Look we all love Pukki, but it was very clear his legs had gone and not up to playing this level anymore, watching him being miles off it vs Blackpool was sad to watch. He'll no doubt go and score a hatful in the MLS, its all about levels and Finland vs Slovenia is what equivalent, League 1? 2? Sorry, that "legs have gone" is nothing more than a put down. He'd lost his mojo a bit, that's all, with months of playing in a Smith team then chasing lost causes in a Wagner team. If we still had Buendia, or Vrancic or even Stiepermann, we would have seen more from Pukki this last 18 months. Tactically and personel wise he's had a difficult time recently, but legs? Not imo. Edited June 17, 2023 by lake district canary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nexus_Canary 1,108 Posted June 17, 2023 16 hours ago, lake district canary said: Two assists tonight in a 2-0 win for Finland on left of midfield. Just proves what some of us said in the last year or two - that Pukki might be better playing behind a striker as he gets older. Why we persisted with him up front and Idah and Sargent on the wings is mystifying, both under Smith then Wagner. Pukki is such a clever skilful player that he can play that withdrawn position well....he was just never played there for us. A wasted opportunity imo. Meanwhile we stuck sarg on the left then complained that he was crap despite him finishing top goalscorer. The one part of the Smith regime that was good was when pulki was injured and sarg was scoring for fun... In the centre Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Hairy 4,132 Posted June 17, 2023 7 hours ago, lake district canary said: Sorry, that "legs have gone" is nothing more than a put down. He'd lost his mojo a bit, that's all, with months of playing in a Smith team then chasing lost causes in a Wagner team. If we still had Buendia, or Vrancic or even Stiepermann, we would have seen more from Pukki this last 18 months. Tactically and personel wise he's had a difficult time recently, but legs? Not imo. Then you clearly didn't actually watch him in the flesh since the world cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cornish sam 1,012 Posted June 17, 2023 On 16/06/2023 at 16:54, lake district canary said: Two assists tonight in a 2-0 win for Finland on left of midfield. Just proves what some of us said in the last year or two - that Pukki might be better playing behind a striker as he gets older. Why we persisted with him up front and Idah and Sargent on the wings is mystifying, both under Smith then Wagner. Pukki is such a clever skilful player that he can play that withdrawn position well....he was just never played there for us. A wasted opportunity imo. Don't forget we actually got him to play behind a striker. The original intent was pukki behind Rhodes, but he did so well up top that stuck... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt. Pants 4,685 Posted June 18, 2023 At the end of the day Pukki felt his time here had come to and end. There's a big difference having the odd run out against League 2 opposition than a 46 game season at Championship level. Good luck to him, but we really need to move on now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hepphep 175 Posted June 18, 2023 On 17/06/2023 at 07:46, Ken Hairy said: Look we all love Pukki, but it was very clear his legs had gone and not up to playing this level anymore, watching him being miles off it vs Blackpool was sad to watch. He'll no doubt go and score a hatful in the MLS, its all about levels and Finland vs Slovenia is what equivalent, League 1? 2? I'd bet for their promotion from league 2 for sure, with 3 Serie A players and 3 Bundesliga players in their team 😉 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midlands Yellow 4,449 Posted June 18, 2023 Pukki was a mercenary and most players of any club are just the same. Exceptions to this rule are few and far between. Maybe Farke, Forbes and Huckerby are exceptions to the rule Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,689 Posted June 18, 2023 1 hour ago, Midlands Yellow said: Pukki was a mercenary and most players of any club are just the same. Exceptions to this rule are few and far between. Maybe Farke, Forbes and Huckerby are exceptions to the rule "Mercenary" implies he only moved for money, yet he was said to have received better deals before choosing us. Professional would be a better way to describe him! Loyal, gave his best, fulfilled his contract, never tried to force his way out to get more money elsewhere. Yeah, consumate professional, definitely. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
