First off I don’t think he really wanted to be here. He was a young PL club player and came to the club that was humiliated the previous season in that league. I’d liken it to Brewster, he didn’t want to leave Liverpool to come to little old Sheffield United.
Next watching those four goals (3 of which were top drawer) says there’s a player in there. However, watch those highlights again and Stoke were pushing players up. Passes were forwards and quick, no slow/slow, slow/slow/slow (to the waltz beat
) build up.
How many outfield goals have we scored like that this season, 1 springs to mind from Campbell.
He’s isolated, think it was 11 touches in 70mins yesterday. Wilders obviously playing him up front alone but the supports not there, there’s very few crosses, no one running at defences or through the channels (Hamers job but he’s not left doing BBD’s job). There was a shot of Wilder yesterday screaming “too narrow, too narrow” and gesturing to get it out wide. Fine if a) you then cross it in b) there are players in the middle to pass it to.
Cannon looks terrified like a new kid in class with no mates and as Wilder put it “the shirt is heavy”. Wilder created this situation, he wanted Cannon like he stubbornly wanted Brewster.
Think about it from Cannon’s point of view
1. He cost £10 million pounds
2. He is playing second fiddle to a player on a run
3. The player he is playing second fiddle to (Campbell) was rejected by the same club Cannon was on loan with, Stoke. Not sure of exact dates but Cannon coming in might coincide with Campbell being rejected.
4. Campbell came from a club on a free with his career in tatters after being replaced by a loan player from the PL, none other than Tom Cannon.
No wonder the shirt weighs a feckin tonne! It’s like turning up for a new top job and walking through the door only to realise you are working for your secretary Ho was fired by your old firm (ok poor analogy but you know what I mean).
Lads in a difficult situation unless he outshines Campbell who’s been on a roll but frankly, has looked well off the pace last 3 games. Unless Cannon can get game time, Wilder starts playing attacking football and Cannon starts getting service and banging them in we’ll never know.
So in conclusion I’m not going to call Cannon out based on the above. However, he’s in a no win situation based on circumstances outside his doing with almost zero chance of winning over very angry fans looking for scape goats and not culprits.
Conclusion, we’ll sell him at a massive loss and he’ll go to a club with an attack minded philosophy and slowly build a career then get sold up the leagues for good money and become a decent if not good striker.
It’s like me, I’m reyt good at DIY (no ladder jokes please). I can knock stuff out, stick stuff up, paint it neutral and present a very nice space. Now ask me to pick curtains, coordinated decor, matching furnature nah. In their own right the green settees are top quality but with a red carpet and yellow curtains it does not work.
So please let’s not all blame Cannon, I’m starting to see him more of a victim in this sh!t show of a crumbling season.
. Totally uncultured by the way, but it still worked better than threading the eye of the needle most of the time. There was one opportunity to slip Cannon one on one with the goalkeeper yesterday. Unfortunately O'Hare didn't pick his head up and play it. If United want him to drop in, link it and arrive late (ala Kane/Firminho) he doesn't look that type. If we want to play him like Moore or Campbell we're barking up the wrong tree. He's a shoulder player that needs through balls and cutbacks.
