Has Darius Vassell fulfilled your expectations?

[East Anglia Fox]

This post made me think.

http://talkingballs.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1020716&postcount=8

When Darius Vassell signed, I was quite excited, and thought there was a real chance he would be absolutely lethal at this level and would have scored about 10 to 15 goals by the end of the season.

It doesn't look like this is going to happen. However, there are lots of moments when it's clear that he has considerable skill, and I noticed this from the outset. What I don't think is very clear is what his contribution to the team is supposed to be. Is he a right-winger? Is he he part of a three-man attacking line and therefore should be expected to score more goals considering his playing time?

Another point to consider is, had Vassell scored prolifically following on the Doncaster game, would we still have signed Yakubu?

 

[Mawsley]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

To be quite frank, the pointing work he did on the extension was shocking.

 

[spionfox]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

there are lots of moments when it's clear that he has considerable skill, and I noticed this from the outset.

I agree. However, when he came there was much discussion about his lack of a proper pre-season and his lack of match fitness. To be fair, I would have expected by now that he would have performed a little better than he has.

 

[glyn]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

Another point to consider is, had Vassell scored prolifically following on the Doncaster game, would we still have signed Yakubu?

Vassell has never been a prolific goalscorer and I didn't expect him to be in this division either.

However his goals return is bordering on the abysmal, even taking into account the role he's played.

 

[Miles Away]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

I think it's hard to evaluate him due to his time in the footballing wilderness. We will have a much better idea next season what he is still capable of (or not capable of).

And yes, he's not been a real goal threat for a number of years, so evaluating him on goals might be a bit misleading.

 

[Graz]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

This post made me think.

http://talkingballs.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1020716&postcount=8

Another point to consider is, had Vassell scored prolifically following on the Doncaster game, would we still have signed Yakubu?

Didn't Yakubu sign just a couple of games after that?

Vassell hadn't really done anything until from he signed up until he got moved up front in the Doncaster game, and then he looked awesome in that central role.

For me, he just doesn't fit into that wing role, and I've not been particularly impressed with him this season when I've seen him. Glimpses and flashes that have shown he has real quality, but they've not been nearly frequent enough. If he's a winger, then his supply to the front hasn't been good enough, and as a striker he's not scored enough.

His contract runs through next season though, right? I think that the lack of pre-season is excuse is a bit generous, as he's had quite a while with us now. BUT, we'll see what difference that makes next season.

I think he'd have been better for us in a more traditional 4-4-2 though, where he can play with a strike partner rather than in the wingforward role he's been doing this season.

He's not been terrible, just not as good as I'd have hoped. Jury is still out a bit for me.

Something I was thinking yesterday though... who would've believed a year or two ago... or even in August... that by the end of the season we'd have a front three of Yakubu, Kamara and Vassell? It looks great on paper.

 

[RHYDAL]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

Vassell is fast. That is all.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

He holds the ball up better than I've seen any other Leicester play do for years. A very underrated player who plays a great, unselfish role in the team and who has been played largely out of position for us (as Graz said, he looked awesome when played as a loan striker).

 

[Blue Maniac]

He holds the ball up better than I've seen any other Leicester play do for years. A very underrated player who plays a great, unselfish role in the team and who has been played largely out of position for us (as Graz said, he looked awesome when played as a loan striker).

:icon_conf

 

[Han]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

I've been happy with him. The fact that he cannot usually last much longer than 60 mins makes me think he's still struggling for fitness.

When he's on the ball he's probably one of, if not the most skillful player we have. In the matches that I saw him playing centrally he was far and away the best player on the pitch. The only time he's put in that sort of performance on the wing was against Cov.

 

[Hazzman]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

A fit Vassell runs about, puts defenders under pressure, wins headers but there's stages of this season he's looked unfit or injured and his performance showed this.

 

[drummindefender]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

He's clearly a favourite of Svens as despite some poor performances, I can't remember him ever being dropped.

 

[Kingy_85]

Re: Has Darius Vassell fulfiled your expectations?

A fairly good player on his day, very good with the ball at his feet against lesser opposition. I never had huge expectations for Vass.



I still dont.

 

[Cate Fox]

:icon_conf

He knows what he means :icon_lol:

 

[olip6]

don't think he's THAT effective on the wing/out right.....up front i think he would be deadly.

 

[homer]

He's ever so slightly a bit shite really, though, isn't he ?

 

[RHYDAL]

He's ever so slightly a bit shite really, though, isn't he ?

With the greatest respect, if he was any good you wouldn't have him.

 

[olip6]

With the greatest respect, if he was any good you wouldn't have him.

and we wouldn't have players like Yakubu, Kamara, King, etc..

cheers Rhydal.

 

[RHYDAL]

and we wouldn't have players like Yakubu, Kamara, King, etc..

Did they play against us down here, I forget?

And you're welcome.

 

[fox58]

With the greatest respect, if he was any good you wouldn't have him.

:icon_lol: