Darwin Núñez

[Mark79]

Not sure why people think you can just suddenly become a good finisher through the right coach. Maybe he just isnt that good at shooting. I mean he is one of the worst in Europe statistically last season. It may just be a bad couple of seasons, but Im just not seeing it. Its a shame as he gets into great positions. I just think he is a luxury we cannot afford. Our season will hinge on him coming good. Problem is Salah and Diaz wont be hitting the numbers either.

Saying that, if we can massively tighten our defence, then we would need fewer goals, but then would Nunez get the same number if chances?

He wouldn’t be the first player to perform differently under different coaches.

I don’t think Nunez is an outright bad finisher, I think he’s erratic. He’s shown he’s perfectly capable of finding the corners or slotting past the keeper, but too often he seems to get a rush of blood and just try to blast the ball into the net.

It may be that he just is what he is, but it’s also possible that a different message from a different coach could eventually change the way he thinks and reacts to certain chances.

[Mark79]

Lewa played as a 10 and Klopp made him a central striker. Equally he has been able to build structures to suit “forwards” - the fact that Nunez is missing chances isn’t on Klopp for me, the process is working if he is getting the chances. Nunez just needs to keep practicing and it would be great if he could stay onside more….

I’m not saying it’s a failure of Klopp or his system (or Lijnders, since he effectively became the head coach over the past couple of seasons), I’m just saying that different coaches can have different effects on different players.

I feel like it’s a physiological thing with Nunez and it may be that a different coach with a different way of thinking or communicating could unlock him.

Just because Klopp was the best coach for Lewa or other forwards doesn’t mean that no one else could be capable of getting more out of Nunez than he was able to.

[Paul12]

He wouldn’t be the first player to perform differently under different coaches.

I don’t think Nunez is an outright bad finisher, I think he’s erratic. He’s shown he’s perfectly capable of finding the corners or slotting past the keeper, but too often he seems to get a rush of blood and just try to blast the ball into the net.

It may be that he just is what he is, but it’s also possible that a different message from a different coach could eventually change the way he thinks and reacts to certain chances.

2 of the goals he scored for Benfica against LFC were masterly finishes.

[rudedog]

2 of the goals he scored for Benfica against LFC were masterly finishes.

Yeah, he has shown he can be capable - however, he’s just completely inconsistent and therefore unreliable as our main goal threat.

[BG1973]

Not sure why people think you can just suddenly become a good finisher through the right coach. Maybe he just isnt that good at shooting. I mean he is one of the worst in Europe statistically last season. It may just be a bad couple of seasons, but Im just not seeing it. Its a shame as he gets into great positions. I just think he is a luxury we cannot afford. Our season will hinge on him coming good. Problem is Salah and Diaz wont be hitting the numbers either.

Saying that, if we can massively tighten our defence, then we would need fewer goals, but then would Nunez get the same number if chances?

I just think what a Torres or Van Nistelroy would look like in our forward line burying those chances.

Instead we keep making excuses for Nunez and hoping a different coach will somehow improve basic shooting skills. Comes a point when it's daft.

[Paul12]

I just think what a .... Van Nistelroy would look like in our forward line burying those chances. ...

Still very punchable I expect.

[DerKrampus]

Players like Suarez and Crouch were abysmal finishers when they joined us. I think they turned out rather well!

Nunez issue could be a psychological one so that would need addressing.

[Paul12]

Players like Suarez and Crouch were abysmal finishers when they joined us. ...

Were they? (Suarez I note got 81 goals in 110 games at his previous club, Ajax.)

[Charly]

Players like Suarez and Crouch were abysmal finishers when they joined us. I think they turned out rather well!

Nunez issue could be a psychological one so that would need addressing.

Both were quite neat in possesion.

When you look at Nunez all round game, he doesnt have a good touch. Im not saying he doesnt bring anything to the team. The number of chances he gets suggest he is AAA in terms of getting into positions. I dont have a problem with the number of offsides becuase of this. I think he must read the game reasonably well too. He can pick out other players while moving forward.

But to me he is just a less useful player than Diaz...You can forgive Diaz being wasteful because he is so good at moving the ball up the pitch and his close control is sublime at times. Id argue he has a higher ceiling for coaching better finishing than Nunez, but he just doesnt have that sharp instinct for finishing in him either.

I think the new manager will give him the season to show he can step up, but I dont think Nunez will be happy sitting on the bench. It may come down to Jotas fitness too, as if he goes on a run, finds form and fitness, he will be hard to dislodge.

Ultimately I think the forward line needs a complete rebuild. The Mane-Bobby-Salah line had a great understanding and fluidity that seems to be totally missing from the current forwards. I think that came from Bobby linking play. Nunez cant do the same. He is all about pace, but once he gets going he cant stop and put his foot on the ball, or change direction.

[DerKrampus]

Were they? (Suarez I note got 81 goals in 110 games at his previous club, Ajax.)

For us they were - Suarez and Nunez had a similar trajectory. Both did ok at the beginning, both hit the post a lot, one went on to great things, let's see if Nunez can follow!

[Charly]

For us they were - Suarez and Nunez had a similar trajectory. Both did ok at the beginning, both hit the post a lot, one went on to great things, let's see if Nunez can follow!

I think their control of the ball are on different planets though.

[Kenneth]

It didn’t take over two years.

[frank the tank]

The amount of one-on-ones that he ****ed up cant bebput down to coaching.

The amount of really poor offsides that he got caught out with was pretty ****e as well.

You can talk about coaching all you like but any 60m + player should have been slotting the chances Nunez had away with ease.

It all depends on how much we'd get for him but of there was a suitable offer then I'd be tempted to cut my losses and reinvest to be honest. Take a chance on someone like Sesko.

If no suitable offer is made, then give him another year. It will be interesting to see how all of our players do under Slot. Including him.

[red g]

I like Nunez, But I honestly don't think he can be succesful with him in the team. He creates chaos, but not sure we will ever be able ot depend oh him.

And the comparisons with Crouch and Suarez don't hold up with me. They both looked like class players from the off, Just unlucky in front of goal.

[BG1973]

Players like Suarez and Crouch were abysmal finishers when they joined us. I think they turned out rather well!

Nunez issue could be a psychological one so that would need addressing.

Why on earth did we buy them?

Answer, because they were not abysmal finishers at all. Suarez hit the post a lot in his first year and crouch took time to really believe in himself. They were both excellent though within weeks/months.