Gary Neville on Chris Wood

[HughieG]

“I like the signing of Wood. He had a big impact on that game today, the little flick-ons that he wins in the last 10 minutes that just keep the ball alive in that corner, means that it’s not coming back at you all the time.

For me, I think that fixed presence, I don’t think Newcastle have had that for a few years whereby they’ve got someone to be able to play up too.

Yes, he’s not going to score a great amount of goals. I don’t really care about that to be honest with you. It’s not his job in the team to score goals. I know he’s a centre forward and people might find that really strange for me to say.

I think Wood’s a really good signing, it’s reliable. It’s what was needed.”

Some interesting points here. I quite agree on what he's saying, but at the same time I don't think it's unfair to ask of a striker to contribute with goals as well as decent hold-up play. We are going to need some goals from Wood if we are to stay up.

[Alberts__Lob]

He looks bereft of confidence to me. One goal could change that straight however

[ex_pat_magpie]

He looks bereft of confidence to me. One goal could change that straight however

I think he'll end up as a Wyn Davies type of player. Scores goals but not prolifically but very unselfish and you find the team as a whole getting more goals because of his presence. That's as good as getting goals yourself, making them for others.

[HughieG]

That's as good as getting goals yourself, making them for others.

Absolutely, if there are others ready to convert those chances into goals. At the moment, however, we don't have a lot of goals in this team with Wilson (and I guess Trippier) out.

Joe obviously doesn't score goals and it's rare for Shelvey. Sir Maximum is probably our best bet, unless Bruno G. starts banging them in.

Now, Wood used to smash them in, 1 goal per 2 games in average, in the Fizzy. But the Premier League is different and requires more. I like him and I hope he gets off the mark soon, for everyone's sake.

[MidsMagpie]

If we do stay up he will probably be sold next season anyway when the big gun strikers arrive.

[toptoon]

I’m sure Chris Wood doesn’t think it’s alright for him not to score and neither do I. If he’s contributing elsewhere then he doesn’t need to be prolific but we all know what a striker’s main job is.

[HughieG]

I’m sure Chris Wood doesn’t think it’s alright for him not to score and neither do I. If he’s contributing elsewhere then he doesn’t need to be prolific but we all know what a striker’s main job is.

Exactly this.

[Cannylad]

Maybe he's got a touch of what Joelinton had when he came here, hope not we need goals to keep us up. Get the feeling he will come good though.

[Zippity]

I like the points he makes about the other aspects of Woods' game but he's talking absolute horsesh!te about his job not being to score goals.

It really is.

[HughieG]

I think we agree, Zip. But the fact that he's not scoring goals doesn't mean he's not contributing more than, say, Gayle would.

So goal-scoring from a striker is not everything, but IMO it does mean a whole lot. Essentially, scoring goals is his job.