JFH: "Polter could become a top striker, but we need to be patient"

[MattyRangers]

Nasser, sorry mate but Polter is NOT fast.

[Olly]

What we've all noticed is that he doesn't get anywhere high midfield balls, either by not jumping, or when he does, missing the ball completely.

[dave58]

The comment wasn't in reference to the goal you've highlighted. It's in reference to the amount of balls knocked up to him where he does NOT jump and is easily out-jumped by his marker, and once again possession is lost. I recall that happening plenty of times, which for a player of his height is poor. Therefore he DOES need to improve his hold-up play. I'm not saying he can't be coached in that area and improve, but there's no doubt he does need to work on it.

Finally ! Someone can see my point, let's see as I've said I've not seen anything in Polter to convince me he can be atop striker even at this level,

[dave58]

So Nas you can show me one occasion when he jumps I'm sure if you've been to games or watch any of the games on TV OR I player you will see countless time he doesn't get off the ground during the game, no doubt you'll produce a stat that he jumped at least an inch every time as for pace if you think he's got pace I'd hate to see what you think is slow,as for the management do you think they tell the truth all the time?

[nasser95]

The comment wasn't in reference to the goal you've highlighted. It's in reference to the amount of balls knocked up to him where he does NOT jump and is easily out-jumped by his marker, and once again possession is lost. I recall that happening plenty of times, which for a player of his height is poor. Therefore he DOES need to improve his hold-up play. I'm not saying he can't be coached in that area and improve, but there's no doubt he does need to work on it.

He can be coached to hold up the ball up as you said, but in terms of physical capability, he is both rather deceptively fast and he is capable of good leaps. Coaching the actual understanding is a different story but having the ability is definitely a good start and just as it took Austin time to do anything other than finish really, it may take time to develop that all round play in Polter.

[jmelanie]

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't care what he does as long as he keeps getting (as in the penalty) or scoring goals for us.

[nasser95]

So Nas you can show me one occasion when he jumps I'm sure if you've been to games or watch any of the games on TV OR I player you will see countless time he doesn't get off the ground during the game, no doubt you'll produce a stat that he jumped at least an inch every time as for pace if you think he's got pace I'd hate to see what you think is slow,as for the management do you think they tell the truth all the time?

Actually I showed you two occasions in the same match. I've been to every home game and I've watched every away one on player and I know that he doesn't always make the leap when a long ball is played up to him but that can be the case with a lot of players. Perhaps we are looking at a different brand of player to what you are expecting. From what I've seen from him, his strengths are his chasing down, his offensive aerial ability in the box and his pace. Which leads me on to the fact that some people actually think he isn't fast. Size can be deceptive and general build has the same effect. People will show prejudice towards someone taller regarding their pace. Polter is deceptive in this sense because of his frame but he has strength and good pace to combine well with the strength. No doubt he is not the finished product by any stretch and his overall sense of the game needs to improve, but he certainly has the physical traits that you seem to believe he lacks.

[nasser95]

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't care what he does as long as he keeps getting (as in the penalty) or scoring goals for us.

It's not naivety, its logical. Not looking for a reason to complain. Far too many are quite the opposite.

[Shepherds Mush]

So Nas you can show me one occasion when he jumps I'm sure if you've been to games or watch any of the games on TV OR I player you will see countless time he doesn't get off the ground during the game, no doubt you'll produce a stat that he jumped at least an inch every time as for pace if you think he's got pace I'd hate to see what you think is slow,as for the management do you think they tell the truth all the time?

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/footb...pr-3-1-7679537

looks off the ground to me there...

[nasser95]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/footb...pr-3-1-7679537

looks off the ground to me there...

Careful, you're displaying far too many facts for some here. Beware of a retaliation.

[Shania]

To me it looks like he believes that his hight is enough to win a challenge in the the air. Well, it doesn´t always work that way...

[Stanley]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/footb...pr-3-1-7679537

looks off the ground to me there...

If it's a cross into the box he can jump, no problems (just like in that picture).

The point being made is that for whatever reason he barely gets off the ground when it's a high ball played up to him from the back or MF. That is the area he needs coaching and practise i.e. his hold up play.

[Macca]

You can't make a racehorse out of a donkey.

[Olly]

Not sure Austin was a high ball hold up player, every player has their own specialist traits, and maybe it's not fair to compare BFG with BZ who was definitely one, and not much else. We don't even know if JFH wants that from him?

[nasser95]

Not sure Austin was a high ball hold up player, every player has their own specialist traits, and maybe it's not fair to compare BFG with BZ who was definitely one, and not much else. We don't even know if JFH wants that from him?

Exactly, this is the point. Players make suggestions on how a player should play based on their body type. Polter appears to have a similar physical build to BZ so they assume that he should play like him.