Liam Delap

[Monkman]

That's a harsh assessment of Wood's time at Forest (yes I read all that). He was short of match fitness then injured for most of that first season. He was then behind a fully firing Taiwo for a couple of months, then started to show some form under Cooper (until the whole team seemed to give up the ghost). Then when Nuno took over he was pretty great for the rest of last season, similar to this season in terms of goals per game (11 in 16).

 

[Lady Penelope]

Not even slightly disappointed with us not getting him. I want better.

Agree. I saw him play against us three times last season and I don’t remember him getting a shot off, he was completely in our pocket.

 

[Rzar]

He's from Derby so anywhere would look good, even Scallypool

I am not sure that Chris Wood is significantly better than Delap.

Delap is 22 and is an up and coming player who looked ok in a relegated side. Wood is 34 and played most of his career in the CH before a couple of good years in a Burnley side who usually stayed up before getting a move to Newcastle where he was useful for half a season before not playing much and being sold to us. The first season he was injured and the 2nd he wasn't amazing then Nuno came in and he got a bit better in terms of his output. Then this season we found a way to play to his strengths and he had a massive uptick in his goals compared with any other point in his career. But it's difficult to see how long Wood will be able to play at this level or will register a season like this again. In a better side there is a chance Delap would have a better return.

Wood is a good finisher when the ball is put into him. He is not slow and moves well but is not quick like a lot of forwards and isn't really a hold up striker, compare with someone like Mateta who is quicker and holds up better but has similar finishing ability to Wood. Delap is probably not as good a finisher as Wood but is more mobile and a better hold up option. He is very strong for a young player. Tactically he needs to use the option of falling to the floor when challenged less as he won't get the free kicks unless playing for a VAR team. But he has potential to improve and be a regular PL striker which is why clubs are sniffing around him.

If he came here (which isn't going to happen) he would probably be backup/cover for Wood but bearing in mind he would likely replace him in the next couple of years.

Sorry, Wood is miles better than Delap. And you agree yourself considering the last sentence of your post saying he would be backup to Wood.

Delap offers mobility, that is literally it. There is very little else to his game.

 

[Berkshire Red]

Delap offers mobility, that is literally it. There is very little else to his game.

If he was that limited I don't think he'd have so many teams after him!

 

[Rzar]

If he was that limited I don't think he'd have so many teams after him!

Yes, well I find that rather puzzling to be perfectly honest. Only time will prove me right or wrong.

 

[Don Pablo]

Anyone claiming Delap is shit is actually talking shit themselves.

Would have been perfect in our set up, Another player to be ruined by Chelsea no doubt.

 

[Don Pablo]

Yes, well I find that rather puzzling to be perfectly honest. Only time will prove me right or wrong.

A player not succeeding at Chelsea is usually because they are good though so I doubt it will prove anything to be honest.

Its a classic "sign him so nobody else can" to me.

 

[Gyros Peter]

Anyone claiming Delap is shit is actually talking shit themselves.

Would have been perfect in our set up, Another player to be ruined by Chelsea no doubt.

You can't be shit and score the goals he has in a poor side. I just don't like his throwing himself about.

 

[Master Yates]

Chelsea actually makes sense to me. I’m sure his agents have ascertained that they are only signing one striker this summer (him) so he only has to take Jackson’s place in the team.

Champions League football, he’ll be straight in the England squad as a sky 6 player and a long contract to secure his future.

If he’s shit, he’s got a long contract and if he’s good, they’ll give him a new, bigger contract.


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[Statto]

That's a harsh assessment of Wood's time at Forest (yes I read all that). He was short of match fitness then injured for most of that first season. He was then behind a fully firing Taiwo for a couple of months, then started to show some form under Cooper (until the whole team seemed to give up the ghost). Then when Nuno took over he was pretty great for the rest of last season, similar to this season in terms of goals per game (11 in 16).

It's sticking to the facts, but yes as you say the first season was unfortunate as he was injured. That's not his fault or a reflection on his ability no more than it is on Taiwo or Richards or anyone else when they're out.

Second season Taiwo's purple patch ended a few games in and then he got injured about the time our season went off the rails, Greek flapper messed up everything, etc. Nuno got some form out of him but I think of those 11, 3 came vs Newcastle and 2 vs Man Utd so from the rest that's 6 in 14, which is still not too bad. Plus his form tailed off a bit this season too but then we did have plenty of others in the same situation and he maybe was not quite 100% from the injury he got with NZ.

He's done well but he's getting towards the end of his time at the top level and I doubt he would be hitting 20 next season.

Sorry, Wood is miles better than Delap. And you agree yourself considering the last sentence of your post saying he would be backup to Wood.

Delap offers mobility, that is literally it. There is very little else to his game.

Wood's record this season is miles better than Delap, in a side which was top 3 for much of the year and ended up in Europe compared to a relegated one.

He is a better player at the moment but doesn't have much more than a year or two in all likelihood at this level and then Delap will probably be better.

We won't get a replacement in who will get Wood's goals return without spending a lot of money, so a replacement has to be a work in progress or someone who we can punt on and maybe do some extra development to make the finished article.

What I would do with a player like Delap is bring him in as cover to Wood initially but with the goal of learning from him and replacing him. There would be others who can do this too.

 

[Monkman]

Nuno got some form out of him but I think of those 11, 3 came vs Newcastle and 2 vs Man Utd so from the rest that's 6 in 14, which is still not too bad.

Oh ok, they don't count then

Honestly, it's not just you but I'm a bit sick of Forest fans disrespecting Wood - 'oh the goals are great but he doesn't do x, y, z'. It's bollocks, 20 goals should speak for themselves but he does loads besides that, defensively as well as offensively.

 

[Rubics]

I don’t think forest fans disrespect Wood - but I do think the 20 goals haven’t got as much coverage / credit they deserve. I voted him player of the season, if he or another player gets 20+ again for us we’ll be having another great season.

 

[andover red]

That cockrocket Rory Jennings was on Talksport yesterday arguing that he'd rather sign Liam Delap than Ollie Watkins. Chelsea muppet will change his tune if Delap ends up somewhere else. Why are these idiots allowed in the mainstream media?

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[Monkman]

Not so much on here but around the internet I've seen plenty along the lines of 'all he does is stick the ball in the net, take that away and he's invisible' - which is both ridiculous when he's scored 20 goals (31 in Nuno's 1.5 seasons!) and completely untrue.

 

[Chairman Mo]

While it's true that Delap did nothing in three matches against us (I think he said Murillo was his most difficult opponent this season), he has done well in an doomed Ipswich team (and in his first season with them and in the Premier League). He looks strong, holds the ball up well, has good movement and makes intelligent runs for a lad who is learning his trade. He's definitely not 'shit'. If the stars had aligned I'd be excited to see what Nuno could do with him.

However, with any player his age it's impossible to predict whether he'll fulfil his potential, plateau or even go backwards. Connor Wickham had similar attributes at a similar age, but it just didn't happen for him.

 

[Munich and Madrid]

He is an overrated numpty.

 

[Statto]

Oh ok, they don't count then

Honestly, it's not just you but I'm a bit sick of Forest fans disrespecting Wood - 'oh the goals are great but he doesn't do x, y, z'. It's bollocks, 20 goals should speak for themselves but he does loads besides that, defensively as well as offensively.

I'm not disrespecting him, what he has done this season is amazing and is the main reason we got into Europe.

But, he is 34, and hasn't produced anything like this before this season, although last season he did well 2nd half, and whilst he wasn't a regular at Newcastle he was at Burnley when Howe did know how to use him but still it didn't happen like we got this season.

He won't last for ever, it is even possible that we won't get much out of him next season, and the club needs to look at a longer term replacement with either a similar type of player or one who offers more hold up ability. That's just being realistic.

As a finisher he is one of the best but he still needs to physically be able to get into these positions and be sharp enough to put them in.

 

[andyd]

But, he is 34, and hasn't produced anything like this before this season, although last season he did well 2nd half, and whilst he wasn't a regular at Newcastle he was at Burnley when Howe did know how to use him but still it didn't happen like we got this season.

I agree he can’t go on forever Stato but I don’t think that’s fair to Woody. He’s scored 11+ goals in six different Premier League seasons. He’s only failed to hit double figures when playing 20+ games once in his entire career in any league. The bloke has been a consistently solid Premier League striker for most of his career.

 

[Rzar]

He’s approaching 100 PL goals!