There's plenty of people who don't rate him.
Simply because they think misses a few one on ones he must be shit player. Yet, no one ever seems to point out that none of our strikers even get into these one on one situations whereas Fryatt regularly gets into one or two a game.
There are very few players in the country with as good a scoring ratio as him over the the past 2 years. but it is this which has hindered his reputation imo, some people seem to have him down as a "poacher" and so think he should be more clinical, which is far from the truth.
He is probably the most creative player in our squad, got our most assists last season despite missing over a third of the season, was one of the top assisters in League One when we went up. Honestly, he creates as many chances for the team as Howard, Wellens, Dyer or anyone else, but no one seems to give him credit for it. Yet everyone goes on about great Howard is at creating space and setting up goals, when Fryatt does just as much as him at both. It's just not as obvious as Howard as he doesn't "run after everything" it's far more subtle and about his intelligence and positional sense rather than because he gets other players off the ball.
The fact you mention pace says it all. He is not a player that needs pace, because he gets into those positions through thought, not being faster than anyone else.
For pretty much the entire first half of last season, we were almost single handedly relying on him as an attacking outlet. Almost every single goal we scored he had a hand in one way or another.
As a goalscorer he misses a few chances and perhaps should be more clinical, yes, but as a creative player I really don't think we have anyone better. The goals on top of that are just a bonus.
Yet Waghorn chases the ball and CRIES WHEN WE LOSE so he must be better!
