Darwin Núñez

[Scratch]

I thought he did his best to miss the second one tbh it looked like it hit him in the face

I think he chested it in, I did see a reverse angle but it was on my phone so couldn't really see the detail.

[BigChief]

I think the "conversation" in this thread has subconsciously made me Darwin-hesitant. My first thought when I saw that first goal was "That could have gone anywhere" ffs.

I think subconsciously you prefer him to make great assists. You're a Creationist. Boo.

[Irishnev]

I think he chested it in, I did see a reverse angle but it was on my phone so couldn't really see the detail.

Aha - I was wondering why he just didn’t head it in. He is what he is - he’ll do daft things and follow it up with amazing things. I just want him to be more clinical - he’s only scored 3 of 15 big chances for us this season, a 20% conversion rate…….

He has the tools and Klopp has shown he can get output from front players, still v early days for him

[danperkins]

That first goal was class, he's flying.

[John Barnes]

[Venton]

I thought he did his best to miss the second one tbh it looked like it hit him in the face

Omg you're right, it just bounced off his chest! ****ing hell.

[RedReet]

Does it matter how it went in (rhetorical-before I'm accused of arguing because someone has a different opinion ) ? Last year when he was being written off as a flop, people kept pointing out that it's better that he's getting into good positions and missing, than not getting into those positions at all, that if he keeps doing that, goals will come. That's the perfect example.

Likewise it's frustrating that he's missed so many big chances again this year, but it's also encouraging that he's still getting in those positions. (My stats show him and Haaland have both missed sane amount of big chances this year BTW-10).

I regularly hear people scoff at the 'agent if chaos' type quips (which are a bit cringy tbf) , saying that they would prefer he was more clinical and reliable, but that's not really true either imo. We have two players like that already in Mo and Jota and all we keep hearing is how useless Mo is out wide, how he can't beat players any more and how Jota is apparently terrible at everything, bar finishing. Nunez is terrorising defences, he's creating chances and he's scoring goals, he's the complete package. It's scary to think that he's only going to get better.

[Venton]

Well, there is that. How many of them went in off Rush's knee after all?

[Mark79]

Darwin's 2nd didn't hit his chest anyway!

It's a header. Possibly slightly scuffed between his forehead and upper face, but still a header.

[Buzzo]

Yep, they all count the same, love to see a no 9 getting those types of goals - Halaand is the master of that type of scruffy finish.

It is all encouraging signs from Darwin. He has it all really, and it is going to be amazing to see if he can fulfill the potential, not of just being a decent centre forward, but of being a great. Thats the rub really here isnt it. Nobody is saying he is crap, he has some mad moments where you wonder 'how the ****', but we all see the potential.

[Irishnev]

Does it matter how it went in (rhetorical-before I'm accused of arguing because someone has a different opinion ) ? Last year when he was being written off as a flop, people kept pointing out that it's better that he's getting into good positions and missing, than not getting into those positions at all, that if he keeps doing that, goals will come. That's the perfect example.

Likewise it's frustrating that he's missed so many big chances again this year, but it's also encouraging that he's still getting in those positions. (My stats show him and Haaland have both missed sane amount of big chances this year BTW-10).

I regularly hear people scoff at the 'agent if chaos' type quips (which are a bit cringy tbf) , saying that they would prefer he was more clinical and reliable, but that's not really true either imo. We have two players like that already in Mo and Jota and all we keep hearing is how useless Mo is out wide, how he can't beat players any more and how Jota is apparently terrible at everything, bar finishing. Nunez is terrorising defences, he's creating chances and he's scoring goals, he's the complete package. It's scary to think that he's only going to get better.

I’m delighted we have him and I still think he’ll click and go on to be what we hope. I saw someone say his ceiling is probably Gabriel Batistuta which is a nice thought if they go in off his arse or face I don’t care tbh

Strikers who get a lot of chances will miss some of them, he’s probably missed the same amount as Haaland but Haaland has scored more because he’s had more. His conversion rate needs to improve, even to break even on his xG would be good. Haaland always out performs his xG metrics but he’s a freak. Darwin also gives us much more off the ball than Haaland do that helps.

One of the biggest things he has to deal with is that he will be compared to Haaland all the time - both big target strikers, both signed for similar prices (Haaland’s contract is 4x Nunez though) and for the current two biggest clubs. Haaland will feck off to Madrid soon and then Darwin can dominate the league

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’m delighted we have him and I still think he’ll click and go on to be what we hope. I saw someone say his ceiling is probably Gabriel Batistuta which is a nice thought if they go in off his arse or face I don’t care tbh

Strikers who get a lot of chances will miss some of them, he’s probably missed the same amount as Haaland but Haaland has scored more because he’s had more. His conversion rate needs to improve, even to break even on his xG would be good. Haaland always out performs his xG metrics but he’s a freak. Darwin also gives us much more off the ball than Haaland do that helps.

One of the biggest things he has to deal with is that he will be compared to Haaland all the time - both big target strikers, both signed for similar prices (Haaland’s contract is 4x Nunez though) and for the current two biggest clubs. Haaland will feck off to Madrid soon and then Darwin can dominate the league

Funny how the same pundits that keep trying to make that comparison do not do likewise with the poundland Haaland playing for the red Mancs.

[Charly]

Arguably until he does breakeven on XG, he by definition isnt good at finishing?

He stands at

2022-23 9 goals 14.4 xg
2023-24 4 goals 6.8 xg

His ratio has actually dropped from .625 to .6, so he has not improved just in terms of accuracy.

His xg per 90 has gone up from 0.76 to 1.03, so he is making more chances for himself. Obviously doesnt take into account his assists. He has the same xA per game as last season (.3) but has massively overperformed on the numbers 4 assists 2.1 xa. Be difficult to keep that up, but it shows that he is adapting and very much a team player.

Stats never tell the whole story, but equally they do show that he is not a top class finisher, yet.

Im not his biggest fan, but I do think he is doing enough to stay in the team on his current form, and he is combining well with Mo. Certainly if he smashes City then we will all be very happy, and will give him a moratorium until after Christmas.

[BG1973]

The difference with him seems to be that hes got a lot more finishing homework to do than the other top strikers we've had, who it came more naturally too.

So the question for me is can you really teach that..and so far the answer seems to be...maybe

[RedReet]

The difference with him seems to be that hes got a lot more finishing homework to do than the other top strikers we've had, who it came more naturally too.

So the question for me is can you really teach that..and so far the answer seems to be...maybe

Suarez was also ridiculed for being a **** finisher during his first 18 months and we all know what happened there. Likewise, despite his ridiculous numbers, people still complained about the number of easy chances Mo missed in his first season and how frustrating he was.

And regardless of stats, you have to be completely blind if you don't see the progress already between last year and this year. Not only are numbers much improved, the types of finish are more varied and he's showing improvement in areas he was previously considered poor.

Plus he's also been very unlucky with disallowed goals and hitting the woodwork. His goal involvement per 90 is already elite, but with a bit of good fortune we could have been talking ridiculous numbers.