Pablo- is he absolute gash?

[El Scorchio]

He’s got me stumped. He puts in so much effort and runs all day and makes us a lot better off the ball as well as trying hard when we have it, harasses defenders and tires the opposition out to give a good opportunity for Wilson to come on. I like him. We are better when he’s playing…

BUT he seems like an utter donkey. Giraffe on roller skates. Woeful touch under any sort of pressure and off the speed of the game in any sort of tight situation and looks less likely to score than Areola. Like the absolute opposite of Wilson who has none of th physical tools but all the brain and composure. 

So what do we make of him? 

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Pablo put a shift in ...again.
I like him and taty..the pressing is only going to last for a half though....which is clearly playing out 
 this season just has that rank smell about it, 

89 
03.
same shit ...all too little too fuckin late
 

[dealcanvey]

Getting a pass from some because he tries really hard. That doesn’t warrant a start. 

Our defence can’t defend and our strikers can’t score goals. Recipe for relegation. 

Only a matter of time until we see Traore starting on the wing and Bowen back upfront. 

[twoleftfeet]

Areola is an anomaly, 3 good games then a shocker. I like hi. But he is no Phil Parkes or Ludek Miklosko.

 

[gpike]

Thought they both played well. Trouble is we can't hold onto leads as the keeper is weak and we need a dominat CB. And a new keeper If we get them we stay up 

[Sir Alf]

He seemed more effective for the team than Taty today.  

[zico]

Said on the match thread he is a nuisance in the nicest possible way. Yes he lacks certain attributes but works his socks off and he and Taty work well together. Problem is once they get tired that's when we get deeper. Should have put Taty behind Wilson he Pablo was knackered instead of trying to hold on bringing on Kilman.

[twoleftfeet]

Eerie 
thing is we need a world beater and not an egg beater or banjo player.
Under this current Crackhead unfortunately we're stuck with him

Should have gone with Wilfred Nancy

[BoleynGone]

Eerie 
thing is we need a world beater and not an egg beater or banjo player.
Under this current Crackhead unfortunately we're stuck with him

[Sir Alf]

Yes he looks, in the limited tome we’ve seen him, to have decent technique. This should also help him compensate for no pace but imo he first needs to work on physicality and improving his ability to get and hold the ball in duels.  Something that can be improved more easily than technique so hopefully we see him develop at West Ham into a good PL level forward eventually even if that includes a stint in the championship which, at this moment in time, looks likely. 

[Eerie Decent]

I think there are some seriously harsh assessments of this lad.

Not gonna be a world beater, but I reckon he'll end up being a very good striker for us.

[stubbo-admin]

A cow was seen being dragged into Rush Green this morning followed by Nuno painting a target on its arse before handing Pablo a banjo.  Just saying

Being a tad more serious, for the PL he is slow and unfortunately not currently compensating for it enough with physicality / strength. He’s young though and can develop.  If he can build strength and ability to hold off CBs he could become a very useful player because hus running, attitude and work ethic are first class.

He also has good close control/dribbling skills, and looked like with time and space a decent shot (and takes a good penalty)..some of that will get better as he adjust to the pace of the game.

[Sir Alf]

A cow was seen being dragged into Rush Green this morning followed by Nuno painting a target on its arse before handing Pablo a banjo.  Just saying

Being a tad more serious, for the PL he is slow and unfortunately not currently compensating for it enough with physicality / strength. He’s young though and can develop.  If he can build strength and ability to hold off CBs he could become a very useful player because hus running, attitude and work ethic are first class.

[southbankbornnbred]

The poor cսnt's started what, 3 games?
He may well turn out to be another Sully special but far too early to judge, in my humble.
Reckon the Arse were going balistic over Henry when he didn't hit the onion bag after 8 games or so.
Think we'll have more of an idea come the end of season.

Exactly. He looks limited. But let's give him some time. Other recent players have started slowly and turned out to be top class. We're West Ham fans - surely we want this fella to do well?

[MaryMillingtonsGhost]

The poor cսnt's started what, 3 games?
He may well turn out to be another Sully special but far too early to judge, in my humble.
Reckon the Arse were going balistic over Henry when he didn't hit the onion bag after 8 games or so.
Think we'll have more of an idea come the end of season.

[Sanacs on tour]

regardless of his goalscoring instincts, he physical presence does create a lot more space and opportunities for us

Can fault his work rate, and lets hope things only get better as he finds his feet in the team / league 

 

[onsideman]

Still only just turned 22, not playing in his exact position, I think he's done OK. He went toe to toe with Ballard at times, I think we've got someone who is going to get much better, because he's clearly got the inner spirit.

 

That's true actually. Ballard bullied us at both ends of the pitch at their place but he didn't trouble us at all offensively and looked like a bit of a clogger, defensively, on Saturday - and the reason Summerivlle was able to steal a march on Mukiele was because Alderete and Ballard were otherwise occupied

[Eerie Decent]

Still only just turned 22, not playing in his exact position, I think he's done OK. He went toe to toe with Ballard at times, I think we've got someone who is going to get much better, because he's clearly got the inner spirit.

I'd adjust the roles of him and Taty if I'm honest, think we'd get more out of both of them.

[Chip Shop Charlie]

Raw talent and full of running....I guess that is what 23 mil. gets you nowadays. Let's hope he improves with someone decent showing him the ropes. 

[El Scorchio]

If we put the fee aside, which is not the lads fault, and is actually a function of our desire to spread payments over a long time (instead of just paying his 13m release fee now), and then look at his record.  And it was 23m EUR not GBP just so we're all clear on that.

He is clearly doing more than just 'running around'.

Here's a reminder of what he was doing in the league he was up to speed with and used to before joining us:



He needs time to adapt, btu no one can fault his effort.  And he's contribution to us being a better side. Winning headers, holding the ball up, turning with the ball and combining with players around him.

Seems like if a striker isn't prime Zlatan the moment he sets foot on the pitch for us, he's "absolute gash".

No wonder we struggle so much!

I didn't say he was absolute gash. I asked the question IS HE absolute gash because i am finding it quite difficult to assess his actual ability. Seems a lot of people have basically misread the title/original post. I absolutely can't fault everything he does when he doesn't have the ball or lays it off to someone else and he's clearly been an asset. But based on what I've seen IN THIS LEAGUE I cannot foe the life of me work out how good (or not) he actually is.

Apologues, I wasn't aiming it at you (maybe more those who said 'yes' in response to your somewhat leading question).

Bottom line...it's too early to tell how good he is (or isn't). 

It's something of a miracle he's hit the ground running and is making a meaningful contribution at all, given he's come from a small team in Portugal where he's played a season and a half and is younger than Freddie Potts.  But right now, it's something we badly needed in the team (and that seemingly a succession of more 'sure things'...Fullkrug, Haller, Scamacca, Ings, Wilson) have been unable to offer the team.

Do wish we could just give young players like this a bit more time to settle and show their talents before they get written off because they're not the finished article or the next Fat Ronaldo in the making.

No worries! I know the thread title in hindsight was a bit flippant and tongue in cheek but I'm not getting at him which is what a lot of people seemed to think. I just can't evaluate him. I agree he's done a super job with effort and energy and is definitely helping along with Taty to make us a better side but in terms of the quality needed to be a striker and goalscorer in the PL given the quality of defenders with the speed of the game and space and time available with that Wilson like movement and the ball at his feet, I've no idea if he's- at least now- anywhere near it. Gladly he doesn't have to be our source of goals right now. 

As you say he's young so plenty of room to develop. If we go down he could rip it up in the Championship. If we don't, he could come back in August in the premier league looking like a real threat.

'Raw' is the word right now. But as to how good he ends up, no clue.

[Massive Attack]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

You're laughing with Ferret?

Nah, that's Jorge Mendes laughing all the way to the bank. 

[Tomshardware]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

You're laughing with Ferret?

[Massive Attack]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

[stubbo-admin]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

If we put the fee aside, which is not the lads fault, and is actually a function of our desire to spread payments over a long time (instead of just paying his 13m release fee now), and then look at his record.  And it was 23m EUR not GBP just so we're all clear on that.

He is clearly doing more than just 'running around'.

Here's a reminder of what he was doing in the league he was up to speed with and used to before joining us:



He needs time to adapt, btu no one can fault his effort.  And he's contribution to us being a better side. Winning headers, holding the ball up, turning with the ball and combining with players around him.

Seems like if a striker isn't prime Zlatan the moment he sets foot on the pitch for us, he's "absolute gash".

No wonder we struggle so much!

I didn't say he was absolute gash. I asked the question IS HE absolute gash because i am finding it quite difficult to assess his actual ability. Seems a lot of people have basically misread the title/original post. I absolutely can't fault everything he does when he doesn't have the ball or lays it off to someone else and he's clearly been an asset. But based on what I've seen IN THIS LEAGUE I cannot foe the life of me work out how good (or not) he actually is.

Apologues, I wasn't aiming it at you (maybe more those who said 'yes' in response to your somewhat leading question).

Bottom line...it's too early to tell how good he is (or isn't). 

It's something of a miracle he's hit the ground running and is making a meaningful contribution at all, given he's come from a small team in Portugal where he's played a season and a half and is younger than Freddie Potts.  But right now, it's something we badly needed in the team (and that seemingly a succession of more 'sure things'...Fullkrug, Haller, Scamacca, Ings, Wilson) have been unable to offer the team.

Do wish we could just give young players like this a bit more time to settle and show their talents before they get written off because they're not the finished article or the next Fat Ronaldo in the making.

[El Scorchio]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

If we put the fee aside, which is not the lads fault, and is actually a function of our desire to spread payments over a long time (instead of just paying his 13m release fee now), and then look at his record.  And it was 23m EUR not GBP just so we're all clear on that.

He is clearly doing more than just 'running around'.

Here's a reminder of what he was doing in the league he was up to speed with and used to before joining us:



He needs time to adapt, btu no one can fault his effort.  And he's contribution to us being a better side. Winning headers, holding the ball up, turning with the ball and combining with players around him.

Seems like if a striker isn't prime Zlatan the moment he sets foot on the pitch for us, he's "absolute gash".

No wonder we struggle so much!

I didn't say he was absolute gash. I asked the question IS HE absolute gash because i am finding it quite difficult to assess his actual ability. Seems a lot of people have basically misread the title/original post. I absolutely can't fault everything he does when he doesn't have the ball or lays it off to someone else and he's clearly been an asset. But based on what I've seen IN THIS LEAGUE I cannot foe the life of me work out how good (or not) he actually is.

[stubbo-admin]

We've signed some absolute gash over the years, but I think this lad could well turn out to be Peak Gashness.

I know it's only three games in, and he may well prove me wrong, but my assessment of him is he's got no pace, no technique and no heading ability. People are lauding him for running around a lot and troubling defenders, my dog can do that. There's a reason he cost his Portuguese side £250k in the summer, cos he's utter gash. Putting aside his alarming lack of ability, of more concern is who actually sanctioned a £23m outlay for someone signed for £250k six months ago? Utter madness

If we put the fee aside, which is not the lads fault, and is actually a function of our desire to spread payments over a long time (instead of just paying his 13m release fee now), and then look at his record.  And it was 23m EUR not GBP just so we're all clear on that.

He is clearly doing more than just 'running around'.

Here's a reminder of what he was doing in the league he was up to speed with and used to before joining us:



He needs time to adapt, btu no one can fault his effort.  And he's contribution to us being a better side. Winning headers, holding the ball up, turning with the ball and combining with players around him.

Seems like if a striker isn't prime Zlatan the moment he sets foot on the pitch for us, he's "absolute gash".

No wonder we struggle so much!