O'Neil Confirmed

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I think Fabio does get into goalscoring positions, (not yesterday though obviously) he just isn't very good at finishing them.

The two against Brighton, a couple of snap shots against United and the 2 chances at Everton.

Even against Blackpool he got into a couple, but his goal was very fortunate and he passed the other opportunity!

He was dire yesterday, the only thing he did of note was a nice return pass to Neto in the first half. Other than that he was a hindrance, not helped by him and Cunha seeming to have swapped roles for some unknown reason.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Fabio needs Sasa not Cunha. Fabio can't lead the line on his own it's ludicrous. I think if you could shoehorn all three then that's Fabio sorted, sadly you can't shoehorn the three into this team, so sadly again Fabio is losing this fight for me.

 

[Carrotdude]

He had one nice lay off for Cunha who then immediately miscontrolled it a metre in front of himself and lost the ball - that’s about the only good thing I can remember. They were both pretty bad yesterday

 

[Lycan]

him and Cunha seeming to have swapped roles for some unknown reason.

It's weird, out of possession he dropped Fábio next to Gomes and Lemina deeper in a 4-1-4-1 mid block. It didn't suit any of them and meant that when we regained possession Fábio had Doucouré & Lerma up his arse. I'm not a Fábio fan at all but if you're going to play him play to his strengths, don't negate every good quality he has by hiding him in amongst the oppositions double pivot. He's not a Harry Kane that can drop in and dominate a CDM pairing or pick a pass, get him into the box.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

Fabio is neither strong enough, or cute enough to lead the line, he just gets bullied or out-thought by experienced defenders and ends up behind cunha.

 

[The Bear]

Fabio should be a support striker off the bench at this stage in his career and at his age. In the PL at least any way. Most players his age are still out on loan getting their game developed.

Patience is a must with him, and he should be an impact sub with the occasional start.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Fabio should be a support striker off the bench at this stage in his career and at his age. In the PL at least any way. Most players his age are still out on loan getting their game developed.

Patience is a must with him, and he should be an impact sub with the occasional start.

And only a lucky few come away from those loans being successful. The majority fall down the pyramid.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's just so fundamentally weak. Still plays like an U16 thrown into a men's game. No one gets away with that these days. Just to pick an example, Agüero wasn't big but he was bloody tough.

Fabio is ridiculously easy to play against, same as Captain Shite at the other end.

 

[The Bear]

Being weak is why he probably needs a season long loan in the Championship to toughen him up against big British CBs.

He puts himself about and tries to be physical but needs a bit more experience at it, and maybe some bulking up in the gym.

 

[prawnking]

Fabio should be a support striker off the bench at this stage in his career and at his age. In the PL at least any way

Like Evan Ferguson?

Fabio is 21, not a baby anymore

 

[The Bear]

Like Evan Ferguson?

Fabio is 21, not a baby anymore

There'll always be exceptions and players like Rooney who can perform at a very young age. Players develop at different rates. Kane was almost the opposite.

 

[prawnking]

Sure, but I think 21 is plenty old enough to be expected to hold your own, even if it's not as a constant starter?

I'm sure we didn't buy him and expect to wait 6-7 years to get some meaningful return

 

[Tony Towner]

There'll always be exceptions and players like Rooney who can perform at a very young age. Players develop at different rates. Kane was almost the opposite.

Kane is the one which has always been trotted out on here, but time has caught up with that analogy. He broke into the Spurs side in the second half of the 2013/4 season aged nearly 21. He was prolific the year after

 

[The Bear]

I think having experience in the English leagues is a big factor. The pace and physicality is much difference to playing in Portugal or Holland.

 

[Johnny75]

I think having experience in the English leagues is a big factor. The pace and physicality is much difference to playing in Portugal or Holland.

Erling Haaland says hi.

 

[Johnny75]

Fabio should be a support striker off the bench at this stage in his career and at his age. In the PL at least any way. Most players his age are still out on loan getting their game developed.

Patience is a must with him, and he should be an impact sub with the occasional start.

Rooney, Haaland, Rashford, Owen, Fowler, Shearer, there's a huge list of players that dispute your first paragraph.

With your second paragraph Fabio doesn't want to be an impact sub he wants to start and has said so on multiple occasions.

 

[Tredman]

Regardless of the reason he in no way deserves to be starting for a Premier League team. He offers less than nothing.

 

[slink]

Regardless of the reason he in no way deserves to be starting for a Premier League team. He offers less than nothing.

Not just this comment but several others are why it becomes pointless talking about Fabio in particular. Everything negative gets magnified and the hyperbole is just silly. Everyone knows we want more from him and he needs to show more but offered less than nothing is bullshit isn’t it and stuff like he doesn’t get in to goal scoring positions when he’s missed 2 1 on 1s this season already is just factually incorrect.

There’s loads to look at with him and whether he’s ever gonna have the impact we want/need and i think there’s plenty of negatives but imo most of the posts regarding Fabio aren’t impartial and that’s frustrating as it is for most other things like GO, Sa etc…

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Interesting point slink. I was very much on the Fabio fanboi bus and willing him to succeed but I just don’t think we can wait much beyond Sasa being fully match fit to swap them around. The risks are just too great.

 

[sycophantia]

The point is, Silva has to start atm, we have no-one else till Sasa is properly fit. We could of course start with no striker (don't say Cunha). I am losing patience with him but he does have attributes, maybe play to those. I have doubts he will ever be good enough for us in time but I'd rather start him than no-one, unless people think Fraser is worth a punt.