Jonathan Kodjia - SOLD

[Tugby Villain]

In the system we want to play - with McGinn and Grealish providing through balls - we need a striker with pace who makes runs.  Kodjia doesn't do that, so he needs dropping.  Hepburn-Murphy would be a much better fit.

[Tony Erdington]

In the system we want to play - with McGinn and Grealish providing through balls - we need a striker with pace who makes runs.  Kodjia doesn't do that, so he needs dropping.  Hepburn-Murphy would be a much better fit.

and a certain Scot Hogan.

[ChicagoLion]

In the system we want to play - with McGinn and Grealish providing through balls - we need a striker with pace who makes runs.  Kodjia doesn't do that, so he needs dropping.  Hepburn-Murphy would be a much better fit.

and a certain Scot Hogan.

Pace?

[Risso]

I'd give him a bit longer than two games into a new season, especially now he's had a pre-season behind him.

That's the worry though for me.  He had the back end of last season, about a dozen games from the end of March onwards, has had a full pre-season, but looks absolutely no better than he did on his first match back.  He's contributed next to nothing in either of the first two matches, and doesn't even look particularly interested in my opinion.  Big worry, as sooner or later the goals from defence and midfield will dry up when we play somebody decent.

[Matt Collins]

From the highlights I thought he actually looked more involved than at hull

Could have had a hat trick but for some poor finishing and a bit of bad luck - and one thing we know he can do is finish so that should come

[LeeB]

I'd give him a bit longer than two games into a new season, especially now he's had a pre-season behind him.

That's the worry though for me.  He had the back end of last season, about a dozen games from the end of March onwards, has had a full pre-season, but looks absolutely no better than he did on his first match back.  He's contributed next to nothing in either of the first two matches, and doesn't even look particularly interested in my opinion.  Big worry, as sooner or later the goals from defence and midfield will dry up when we play somebody decent.

You give him as long as he needs if the alternative is Scott Hogan.

[cdbearsfan]

He looked a bit more like it, yesterday. Still a way off his best and we need another forward to compete. The thought of having to rely on Hogan if Kodjia fails to rediscover his form or gets injured doesn't fill me with confidence.

[nigel]

Given the right service Hogan will score the goals we need and I think we've the players to deliver this season

I think we can all agree that the service he was getting last season was pretty poor, to say the least

[Risso]

Given the right service Hogan will score the goals we need and I think we've the players to deliver this season

I think we can all agree that the service he was getting last season was pretty poor, to say the least

Nope, I don't agree at all.  In Adomah, Snoddgrass and Grealish we had three very creative players.  He's just a poor player who thinks it's OK to stand in the penalty area and wait for the ball on a plate for him.  As it is, the goals he did score came from crosses from either Adomah or Snodgrass.  A player who averages the appalling number of touches he did last year just isn't very good.

[nigel]

Given the right service Hogan will score the goals we need and I think we've the players to deliver this season

I think we can all agree that the service he was getting last season was pretty poor, to say the least

Nope, I don't agree at all.  In Adomah, Snoddgrass and Grealish we had three very creative players.  He's just a poor player who thinks it's OK to stand in the penalty area and wait for the ball on a plate for him.  As it is, the goals he did score came from crosses from either Adomah or Snodgrass.  A player who averages the appalling number of touches he did last year just isn't very good.

We'll have to agree to disagree on Hogan.
I think he needs a proper run of games, 28 appearances (22 as a sub) is hardly game time. Bruce's hoofball (at times) wouldn't have helped either.

[Risso]

Lewis Grabban seemed to manage OK.

[Nastylee]

I think we need to give JK a bit longer before retiring him.

[paul_e]

If the main alternative to Kodjia is crossing our fingers that Hogan will suddenly start to click despite there being no evidence that we've changed the way we play then I'll back JK all the way.  Change the manager and focus on getting players higher up the pitch and taking less touches to move the ball on and Hogan might be worth another look but whilst we have all our creative players slowing things down (and cutting inside) we're not going to create enough chances for him.

[brontebilly]

Sadly I agree. The old Kodjia would have scored twice yesterday.

At least he got into the position to score. Butchered both chances mind. The header was a sitter. Bit unlucky with the one he turned on with his left.

Given that Davis and Hogan are injured, he will get another chance v Yeovil. 1 goal in his last 21 appearances isn't quite Shane Long territory but..

[adrenachrome]

In the system we want to play - with McGinn and Grealish providing through balls - we need a striker with pace who makes runs.  Kodjia doesn't do that, so he needs dropping.  Hepburn-Murphy would be a much better fit.

and a certain Scot Hogan.

Pace?

He has an effective burst of pace over short distances. Not a lot of use if you pumping long balls up him.

On the general question of pace, I remember a TV interview a few years ago with Alan Hutton which suggested that he was the fastest player at the club over 100 yards according to whatever metrics they we were using at the time, and he laughed it off saying "Nah, that's Gabby".