[M666EYS]

Or that it's a bad one.......Although i'd argue several good performances means that he has contributed this season.

hes paid to score goals.

[skyclad99]

He is clearly a talented lad and I am hoping he comes good. Service to him at the moment is poor, but on Saturday he had a couple of balls put through to him the he either failed to control or just got plain muscled out of it. For all his running around, what does it achieve?

 

[Morany]

our ball retention is quite frankly a joke and when we do have the ball our passing is atrocious

I can only agree.
Fletcher and Olsson are the biggest culprits.
Olsson can only hoof.
Fletcher talks (shouts) a good game, but most times that is it.

Disagree, Dawson has by far the worst distribution in the squad, useless. Couldn't pick his nose let alone a pass. Crossfield ball 15 yards infront of Evans was laughable the weekend

[OldburyWBA]

Disagree, Dawson has by far the worst distribution in the squad, useless. Couldn't pick his nose let alone a pass. Crossfield ball 15 yards infront of Evans was laughable the weekend

Not quite as bad a s Vic mistaking a claret and blue shirt for a blue and white striped one towards the end.

I think Olsson and McAuley would be the two most guilty at this club for poor distribution, its been the same since we signed them. Dawson puts decent balls across the area for a full back that doesn't get past the half way line.



To try and get back to Rondon, give the bloke a chance and time to see whether he can do it, who knows ?? there is talent there and a bit more than just running round.

[smethwickw]

Not quite as bad a s Vic mistaking a claret and blue shirt for a blue and white striped one towards the end.

I think Olsson and McAuley would be the two most guilty at this club for poor distribution, its been the same since we signed them. Dawson puts decent balls across the area for a full back that doesn't get past the half way line.



To try and get back to Rondon, give the bloke a chance and time to see whether he can do it, who knows ?? there is talent there and a bit more than just running round.

I struggle to see anything more than hustle and bustle from him. He's slow, first touch is poor, doesn't hold it up well enough and not that great in the air. The less said about his finishing the better. Granted he does need time but most said the same about Ideye. I can see Rondon moving on at the end of the season.

[OldburyWBA]

I struggle to see anything more than hustle and bustle from him. He's slow, first touch is poor, doesn't hold it up well enough and not that great in the air. The less said about his finishing the better. Granted he does need time but most said the same about Ideye. I can see Rondon moving on at the end of the season.

So lets right him off then as we tend to do on here.

[OldburyWBA]

How a Russian football expert sees it:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-salomon-rondon-striker-10784234

Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Andre Villas Boas felt he was forced to sell Salomon Rondon to West Bromwich Albion last summer due to the introduction of tighter restrictions on foreign players in Russia.

However, with the arrival of the in-form Artem Dzyuba and £12m in the bank for the now misfiring Rondon, it seems Zenit got a great deal.

The 26-year-old finished as the second highest goalscorer in the Russian Premier League last season with 13 goals in just 25 hours of playing time. However, unfortunately for West Brom manager Tony Pulis, his record signing has notched just four goals in 22 league and cup appearances and Baggies fans are starting to bemoan the purchase of the Venezuelan international.

So why has Rondon’s form declined since his move?

Part of the problem could be the system that West Bromwich Albion play. At Zenit, Rondon was the focal point of the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation which allows midfielders to get up the pitch and support the forward. Having Oleg Shatov and Hulk play out wide as inside forwards meant that they could cut inside and create chances, using Rondon as a pivot. However, West Brom play a 4-5-1 formation with natural wingers which means that, instead of neat interchange around the penalty area, crosses are fed into the striker and he is expected to fashion chances out of them.

Additionally, the two central midfielders rarely break into the box which leaves Rondon very isolated, putting extra pressure on him to take chances when they come.

That is not to say that West Brom play unattractive or the wrong style of football but it will take time for former Rubin Kazan striker Rondon to adjust to something totally alien to him.

A further problem for the Venezuelan is his team’s possession and chances created. West Brom have the lowest average ball possession in the Premier League at just 40.5 per cent.

Compare this to Zenit’s average possession statistic of 55.4 per cent last season. This lack of possession for Albion has resulted in Rondon having to concentrate more on the defensive side of his game, something he rarely had to do at Zenit. This means that when West Brom do get the ball, Rondon has to switch his focus to the attack and make sure he retains the ball. This is once again something that he is not used to and it puts further pressure on the Venezuelan.

Due to the amount of chances Zenit created last season, it was not so important if Rondon did not find the back of the net. However, at West Brom, chances are few and far between which puts even more pressure on Rondon to score when the chances do come. It will take the Venezuelan a while to get used to this pressure.

West Brom fans have complained that Rondon is not built for the rough nature of the English Premier League saying that he backs out of challenges and is scared to get hurt. This goes back to the previous point. The Russian Premier League, as well as La Liga where he used to play with Malaga, is nowhere near as physical as the English Premier League and many foreign players take time to adapt, Rondon is not unique in this.

It is important to remember that Rondon signed a four year contract and to judge him just a few months into his first season is incredibly harsh. This is an international player who has scored goals in the Europa League and Champions League on a regular basis. I would urge West Brom fans to remain patient, they will soon see the best of Rondon as he adjusts to a completely new style of football.

[Astle1968]

How a Russian football expert sees it:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-salomon-rondon-striker-10784234

Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Andre Villas Boas felt he was forced to sell Salomon Rondon to West Bromwich Albion last summer due to the introduction of tighter restrictions on foreign players in Russia.

However, with the arrival of the in-form Artem Dzyuba and £12m in the bank for the now misfiring Rondon, it seems Zenit got a great deal.

The 26-year-old finished as the second highest goalscorer in the Russian Premier League last season with 13 goals in just 25 hours of playing time. However, unfortunately for West Brom manager Tony Pulis, his record signing has notched just four goals in 22 league and cup appearances and Baggies fans are starting to bemoan the purchase of the Venezuelan international.

So why has Rondon’s form declined since his move?

Part of the problem could be the system that West Bromwich Albion play. At Zenit, Rondon was the focal point of the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation which allows midfielders to get up the pitch and support the forward. Having Oleg Shatov and Hulk play out wide as inside forwards meant that they could cut inside and create chances, using Rondon as a pivot. However, West Brom play a 4-5-1 formation with natural wingers which means that, instead of neat interchange around the penalty area, crosses are fed into the striker and he is expected to fashion chances out of them.

Additionally, the two central midfielders rarely break into the box which leaves Rondon very isolated, putting extra pressure on him to take chances when they come.

That is not to say that West Brom play unattractive or the wrong style of football but it will take time for former Rubin Kazan striker Rondon to adjust to something totally alien to him.

A further problem for the Venezuelan is his team’s possession and chances created. West Brom have the lowest average ball possession in the Premier League at just 40.5 per cent.

Compare this to Zenit’s average possession statistic of 55.4 per cent last season. This lack of possession for Albion has resulted in Rondon having to concentrate more on the defensive side of his game, something he rarely had to do at Zenit. This means that when West Brom do get the ball, Rondon has to switch his focus to the attack and make sure he retains the ball. This is once again something that he is not used to and it puts further pressure on the Venezuelan.

Due to the amount of chances Zenit created last season, it was not so important if Rondon did not find the back of the net. However, at West Brom, chances are few and far between which puts even more pressure on Rondon to score when the chances do come. It will take the Venezuelan a while to get used to this pressure.

West Brom fans have complained that Rondon is not built for the rough nature of the English Premier League saying that he backs out of challenges and is scared to get hurt. This goes back to the previous point. The Russian Premier League, as well as La Liga where he used to play with Malaga, is nowhere near as physical as the English Premier League and many foreign players take time to adapt, Rondon is not unique in this.

It is important to remember that Rondon signed a four year contract and to judge him just a few months into his first season is incredibly harsh. This is an international player who has scored goals in the Europa League and Champions League on a regular basis. I would urge West Brom fans to remain patient, they will soon see the best of Rondon as he adjusts to a completely new style of football.

Can't really argue with that. Ultimately a team that isn't designed or set up to score many goals isn't going to have a CF who scores a lot of goals.

Personally I really rate Rondon and think in another team/system he played to something near his strengths he would be a real asset. For example I'd back him to get 12 to 15 goals plying for someone like Stoke this season.

[M666EYS]

How a Russian football expert sees it:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-salomon-rondon-striker-10784234

Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Andre Villas Boas felt he was forced to sell Salomon Rondon to West Bromwich Albion last summer due to the introduction of tighter restrictions on foreign players in Russia.

However, with the arrival of the in-form Artem Dzyuba and £12m in the bank for the now misfiring Rondon, it seems Zenit got a great deal.

The 26-year-old finished as the second highest goalscorer in the Russian Premier League last season with 13 goals in just 25 hours of playing time. However, unfortunately for West Brom manager Tony Pulis, his record signing has notched just four goals in 22 league and cup appearances and Baggies fans are starting to bemoan the purchase of the Venezuelan international.

So why has Rondon’s form declined since his move?

Part of the problem could be the system that West Bromwich Albion play. At Zenit, Rondon was the focal point of the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation which allows midfielders to get up the pitch and support the forward. Having Oleg Shatov and Hulk play out wide as inside forwards meant that they could cut inside and create chances, using Rondon as a pivot. However, West Brom play a 4-5-1 formation with natural wingers which means that, instead of neat interchange around the penalty area, crosses are fed into the striker and he is expected to fashion chances out of them.

Additionally, the two central midfielders rarely break into the box which leaves Rondon very isolated, putting extra pressure on him to take chances when they come.

That is not to say that West Brom play unattractive or the wrong style of football but it will take time for former Rubin Kazan striker Rondon to adjust to something totally alien to him.

A further problem for the Venezuelan is his team’s possession and chances created. West Brom have the lowest average ball possession in the Premier League at just 40.5 per cent.

Compare this to Zenit’s average possession statistic of 55.4 per cent last season. This lack of possession for Albion has resulted in Rondon having to concentrate more on the defensive side of his game, something he rarely had to do at Zenit. This means that when West Brom do get the ball, Rondon has to switch his focus to the attack and make sure he retains the ball. This is once again something that he is not used to and it puts further pressure on the Venezuelan.

Due to the amount of chances Zenit created last season, it was not so important if Rondon did not find the back of the net. However, at West Brom, chances are few and far between which puts even more pressure on Rondon to score when the chances do come. It will take the Venezuelan a while to get used to this pressure.

West Brom fans have complained that Rondon is not built for the rough nature of the English Premier League saying that he backs out of challenges and is scared to get hurt. This goes back to the previous point. The Russian Premier League, as well as La Liga where he used to play with Malaga, is nowhere near as physical as the English Premier League and many foreign players take time to adapt, Rondon is not unique in this.

It is important to remember that Rondon signed a four year contract and to judge him just a few months into his first season is incredibly harsh. This is an international player who has scored goals in the Europa League and Champions League on a regular basis. I would urge West Brom fans to remain patient, they will soon see the best of Rondon as he adjusts to a completely new style of football.

So begs the question who bought a centre forward for 12m and not play to his strengths? Or am i missing something? We set up not to score many goals. Says it all really dont it.

[Adder]

Have to say this bit seems very questionable 'West Brom fans have complained that Rondon is not built for the rough nature of the English Premier League saying that he backs out of challenges and is scared to get hurt'

Surely he's got a great build for a mobile physical centre forward in the prem ? I personally haven't noticed any 'backs out of challenges and scared to get hurt' either.

[OldburyWBA]

Or maybe we have to build slowly and fit it together piece by piece as we don't have the finance to do it wholesale and have no-one queuing up for our players ?

I thought he backed out of one with the keeper on Saturday, needs to develope the sort of ruthless streak someone like Goodman had and stop being so nice.

[Astle1968]

Or maybe we have to build slowly and fit it together piece by piece as we don't have the finance to do it wholesale and have no-one queuing up for our players ?

I thought he backed out of one with the keeper on Saturday, needs to develope the sort of ruthless streak someone like Goodman had and stop being so nice.

Got sent off for a headbutt a couple of weeks ago and now he's to nice 

[boult]

Playing for the team up front bye himself with a defensive team around him what chance TP only needs Peter Crouch to lump it up top. Football this season abysmal feel sorry for him any other premiership team and Salomon would be in double figures bye now

[M666EYS]

Or maybe we have to build slowly and fit it together piece by piece as we don't have the finance to do it wholesale and have no-one queuing up for our players ?

I thought he backed out of one with the keeper on Saturday, needs to develope the sort of ruthless streak someone like Goodman had and stop being so nice.

The 12m could have been spent elsewhere with brown ideye up front or even lambert? If pulis knows we aint going to score goals why spend so much money on a centre forward instead of people who could supply? Bet then again he loaned Gnabry and bought Mcmanaman who supply the forward and they sit on the bench.

For the record i think in the right formation and players supplying i think we could have a 10-15 goal man here.

Brown Ideye scores goals in champs league so that is a good example.

[OldburyWBA]

Got sent off for a headbutt a couple of weeks ago and now he's to nice 

Call that a headbutt 

 He only had to blow the bloke a kiss and he would be going down

I thought it had already been discussed how easily Bournemouth players were going down ?

[baggie96]

Rondon is a proven top quality striker who should be playing for a much bigger club than us. Give him proper players around him and watch the goals start flying in. At the moment he has got mcclean, a poor attacking winger, sessegnon who can't cross to save his life and gardner behind him who is woeful. Messi wouldn't score many in this team.

[OldburyWBA]

The 12m could have been spent elsewhere with brown ideye up front or even lambert? If pulis knows we aint going to score goals why spend so much money on a centre forward instead of people who could supply? Bet then again he loaned Gnabry and bought Mcmanaman who supply the forward and they sit on the bench.

For the record i think in the right formation and players supplying i think we could have a 10-15 goal man here.

Brown Ideye scores goals in champs league so that is a good example.

I have no idea mate, thats not for me to answer about Ideye, I would have kept him and given him another chance this season, he has like so many others including Rosenberg gone elsewhere to score goals, happened too often at this club over the years.

For me Rondon has to be given time otherwise we go back to the same scenario next season and have the same discussions about another striker as we have about Rondon, Ideye, Rosenberg etc etc

[M666EYS]

I have no idea mate, thats not for me to answer about Ideye, I would have kept him and given him another chance this season, he has like so many others including Rosenberg gone elsewhere to score goals, happened too often at this club over the years.

For me Rondon has to be given time otherwise we go back to the same scenario next season and have the same discussions about another striker as we have about Rondon, Ideye, Rosenberg etc etc

Totally agree.

Put 3 players behind him supplying him he will be a force. But will we? 

[Astle1968]

I have no idea mate, thats not for me to answer about Ideye, I would have kept him and given him another chance this season, he has like so many others including Rosenberg gone elsewhere to score goals, happened too often at this club over the years.

For me Rondon has to be given time otherwise we go back to the same scenario next season and have the same discussions about another striker as we have about Rondon, Ideye, Rosenberg etc etc

I agree but I think it's a change in style rather than time he needs. Just have a look at a few of the other midfields out there compared to ours (these are also teams I think we can be competing with although others will no doubt disagree)

Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Bolasie (Sako)
Arnautovic, Bojan, Shaqiri (Affelay)
Tadic, Mane, Ward Prowse
Siggurdson, Ki, Ayew (Montero)
Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Shelvey, Perez

Even Norwich can boat players like Naismith & Hoolahan. I'd take any Bournemouths creativity over our midfields any day. Ultimately if I was a striker and from an attacking point of view got to pick which midfield played behind me ours would be the last one in the league I'd pick. So it's all very well giving him time but if we don't change our approach or the service he gets Rondon will never improve and will most likely start to regress further.

[M666EYS]

I agree but I think it's a change in style rather than time he needs. Just have a look at a few of the other midfields out there compared to ours (these are also teams I think we can be competing with although others will no doubt disagree)

Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Bolasie (Sako)
Arnautovic, Bojan, Shaqiri (Affelay)
Tadic, Mane, Ward Prowse
Siggurdson, Ki, Ayew (Montero)
Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Shelvey, Perez

Even Norwich can boat players like Naismith & Hoolahan. I'd take any Bournemouths creativity over our midfields any day. Ultimately if I was a striker and from an attacking point of view got to pick which midfield played behind me ours would be the last one in the league I'd pick. So it's all very well giving him time but if we don't change our approach or the service he gets Rondon will never improve and will most likely start to regress further.

So your saying morrison gardner and mcclean dont float the boat 

[OldburyWBA]

We do need a change in style at times but that also takes time for the reasons i've previously, we don't have the finance for wholesale changes, we don't have clubs queuing up to take our players so we have to do it bit by bit. Pulis has stated he wants more creativity and our pursuit of Matty Phillips was well publicised but to be honest with the fees quoted not sure how many would have gone for him and us being reliant on money for Saido makes it difficult as well.

Time will tell whether its empty words from Pulis but thats for another topic.

As for Rondon he needs time to adjust to this country and football, some take to it like a duck to water but not all.

[Astle1968]

So your saying morrison gardner and mcclean dont float the boat 

From an attacking sense our current midfield couldn't float a rubber duck let alone a boat.

[Adder]

It's a similar problem to what Shane Long had when he was with us, especially late on in his spell. Loan isolated figure who looked a bit despondent.
Long linked up very well with Jelavic at Hull and links up with the Mane's etc. at Southampton who usually have fluid movement in the team.

[mulliganstired]

Rondon wastes his energy because he runs towards the defender with the ball but doesn't pressure him fully, so the pass is easy, then he has to run to the next player.  My guess is he used to playing with at least one other up front so "half pressuring" is useful as there is less likely to be an easy pass on.  There was very little else to watch on Saturday, so I studied him doing this at length 

[TheJacko2000]

Rondon wastes his energy because he runs towards the defender with the ball but doesn't pressure him fully, so the pass is easy, then he has to run to the next player.  My guess is he used to playing with at least one other up front so "half pressuring" is useful as there is less likely to be an easy pass on.  There was very little else to watch on Saturday, so I studied him doing this at length 

A one man press rarely works.