on June 10, 2025, 5:23 pm, in reply to "possibly, but his stats suggest he's a 1 in 4 striker"
I don’t think he’s really had a chance here. 
Previous Message
who's broken double figures twice in his career.
I just don't see him becoming prolific as I don't think any top club will play him enough to ever show it now. He's basically too old now. Previous Message
concentrating on finding the net rather than playing a more team-focused role. Instead it proved to be a turning point in the other direction. I don't think his struggles since are his fault, by and large. Plagued by injury for the majority of two seasons - both Benitez and Lampard either by choice or necessity waiting for him to return and perhaps rushing him back rather than signing a replacement (Maupay doesn't count).
Then when he did properly return under Dyche, he was essentially asked to go back to playing the pre-Ancelotti role. Fewer chances and missed a lot of the ones that did come along. This tends to happen when strikers have endured long droughts, a fully fit and confident DCL tucks a lot of those one-on-ones away. And Beto going on a mini scoring spree when given his chance didn't help his cause.
I certainly wouldn't discount a revival with a fresh start at the right club. Previous Message
take away the pruple patch season under Ancelotti and it ain't great. Previous Message
he might not have the all rounnd game DLC has, but he's certainly more potent in front of goal. And Beto is nightmare for defenders. I wonder who VVD would rather play against?
Previous Message
but the idea that Beto is better or even more effective is nonsense. There has been a lot of talk about us moving on, and changing things, I hope one of them is ditching our fans fascination with work horse forwards.......we embrace yard dogs like, Straq and Niasse and keep real talent like Lukaku and DCL at arms length. We have an odd fanbase. Previous Message
Personally thought it was a very good interview and though it is conducted by JH shouldn't really put you off listening to it.
DCL comes across very genuine, his personal battle with fitness his continued belief in himself and of course his battles with mental health. The latter 2 of which the village idiots have jumped on to and castigated him.
One thing that did annoy me slightly was his belief that he kept us up. In my mind there were 2 key moments to keeping us up in the CP game no1. the introduction of Dele and no2. Keane's goal. I'm not, in anyway, saying that DCL's winner was not important (that would be just stupid).
Anyway I wish he'd stay,. but he isn't so let's move on and I hope he goes on to fulfil his potential. Previous Message
Jake Humphrey gives my ears AIDs.
And not the good kind.
Responses