Darwin Núñez

[RedReet]

Hmm, not sure the Suarez comparison is valid from a numbers perspective. Suarez (as spud_gun points out) was prolific before he came to Liverpool. The biggest difference though is that Suarez was starting from a lower base in a team that was growing together, he arrived as a second striker to Andy Carrol (lol), and had players around him like Stuart Downing, Charlie Adam and some other ****e I can't remember. Although we could say this team is growing too, we still have the main nucleus of a team that won the lot. He has Salah turned provider, a dynamic midfield and Virgil to play diagonals quickly out of defence. I think it's fair to say that Liverpool 23/24 would wipe the floor with Liverpool 11/12.

Plus the chances Suarez had back then were often self created and he would mess up the end, Darwin isn't creating for himself as much as Luis did (I don't have stats to back this up, it's a hunch )

I think it is before the time, but it would be interesting to see how Suarez and Darwin's XG compare. I remember Suarez hitting the woodwork a mental amount of times one season, but quite often they were ludicrous shots or after taking on half a team.

Suarez and Nunez both had one extremely prolific season, averaging a goal a game in an inferior league (could argue Suarez played for better team). Their output first 18 months at Liverpool is quite similar, as Jaco has pointed out.

When discussing Darwin's finishing ability, it doesn't matter who is providing the chances, a chance is a chance and both him and Suarez are guilty of missing more than they should. It's a fair point that Suarez created a lot of his own opportunities, but so too does Nunez with the runs he makes, using his pace and power. Again, like Suarez, he misses so many opportunities because of his ability to be there in the first place, it's not fluke. Lat night being further demonstration of this.

I don't understand that because two players have different styles, we can't compare their numbers, which are clearly very similar.

[Venton]

That just shows you how rubbish stats are. Darwin is nowhere near the player Suarez was, even at the start, different styles notwithstanding.

[RedReet]

Not sure if the comparisons with Suarez are helpful as they are very different players.

The question for me is if he is doing much better in terms of converting his good chances what effect would that have on the team and the complexion of games? I feel we have struggled in many games where, if we had been a couple up, we might not be panicking so much.

I'm not comparing him overall to Heskey but you could see that, over time, Emile was draining confidence in the team where he was missing chances he could have scored. As a striker his performance changed games.

A goal lifts a team no doubt, but so does a crunching tackle, so does seeing a team mate working their balls off, so does seeing a player constantly make good runs for you to pass to. Most importantly, the crowd lifts the team and right now nobody gets the supporters going better than Nunez.

[RedReet]

That just shows you how rubbish stats are. Darwin is nowhere near the player Suarez was, even at the start, different styles notwithstanding.

[Venton]

just saying! I've had three coffees today

[RedReet]

just saying! I've had three coffees today

And so is everybody else, instead of reading the replies explaining that we aren't comparing Suarez and Nunez like for like.

[Venton]

And so is everybody else, instead of reading the replies explaining that we aren't comparing Suarez and Nunez like for like.

True, but the numbers were being compared and I'm always suspicious of those

[Buzzo]

If Darwin wasn’t skying chances (hitting the post) we’d be winning every game about 5 nil.

He is basically keeping this forum alive.

[danperkins]

Don't know if it has been said on this thread before, CBA checking, but the striker comparison is less valid with Suarez than it is with Djibril Cisse. Cisse was a striker with physical gifts, the ability to disrupt, lacked composure in front of goal and was massively inconsistent. I remember a finish where Cisse placed it into the corner cutting in from wide once (I think it was a Xmas game against Newcastle) and the world erupted with Thierry Henry comparisons.

The thing with Darwin is he is almost as mad as Cisse was and he matches a lot of the above stylistically as well. The blasting when a placement would work better in particular, and similarly they both can surprise you with a lovely finish, like the FA Cup Final goal in 2006, read the second Newcastle goal this season for Darwin.

The only things Darwin has in common with Suarez are nationality and having a bit of a screw loose

he is clearly nothing like Suarez whatsoever although I don't think the initial poster was alluding to that, but yeah the trajectory comment is pie in the sky, **** knows. Stylistically he is identical to Cisse, said this is the player he reminds me of the most previously. He is all action, quick and hammer of a shot. He also has that lack of composure and his technical ability and passing aren't great.

Really and truly it could go either way with Darwin. Hopefully he smashes it but personally I do think people will have to take him as he is. He can improve in front of goal and be more ruthless but the helter skelter thing is just in him. It's 100 or nothing.

[Venton]

If Darwin wasn’t skying chances (hitting the post) we’d be winning every game about 5 nil.

He is basically keeping this forum alive.

mind you we'd all be paying homage!

[Buzzo]

mind you we'd all be paying homage!

[Daniel 7]

he is clearly nothing like Suarez whatsoever although I don't think the initial poster was alluding to that, but yeah the trajectory comment is pie in the sky, **** knows. Stylistically he is identical to Cisse, said this is the player he reminds me of the most previously. He is all action, quick and hammer of a shot. He also has that lack of composure and his technical ability and passing aren't great.

Really and truly it could go either way with Darwin. Hopefully he smashes it but personally I do think people will have to take him as he is. He can improve in front of goal and be more ruthless but the helter skelter thing is just in him. It's 100 or nothing.

Yeah 100% - I'm not hopping on a bandwagon either way with him - when he's hot he's a phenomenal fella to watch, when he's not it's right up there with the most frustrating of times I have had watching Liverpool play.

Point is, I'd like him to be great. He just isn't just now, and there are no stats or previous players we can look to that will give us the answer.

[RedReet]

https://www.squawka.com/en/features/premier-league-hit-woodwork-most-stats/

Not in bad company for hitting the woodwork.

[danperkins]

Yeah 100% - I'm not hopping on a bandwagon either way with him - when he's hot he's a phenomenal fella to watch, when he's not it's right up there with the most frustrating of times I have had watching Liverpool play.

Point is, I'd like him to be great. He just isn't just now, and there are no stats or previous players we can look to that will give us the answer.

[rudedog]

Just remembered the kissy/cry baby face he made at the Sheffield fans after the 2nd goal VAR review