Niasse off the mark on full Hull debut

Whatever the reason that Koeman banished him after half a preseason game, it wasn't evident tonight. He may not be worth what we paid for him, but he looked every bit of a competent Premier League player.

I obviously don't know the circumstances of the rift between him and Koeman, but I have been impressed that he hasn't let his head drop, has kept on working hard for the U23s, and has now seized his first real opportunity with a goal and a Man of the Match performance.

Ultimately whatever you think of the fee paid or the quality of the Russian league he was their Player of the Season and banged in a decent number of goals. He clearly wasn't hopeless.

Fingers crossed he can continue to impress for Hull and convince Koeman to change his mind. If this does not happen for whatever reason at least we will have a more marketable asset and we will be able to recoup some of the fee paid and he will be able to find a club willing to offer him a similar contract.

Either way (and I would prefer the first option) best of luck to the lad!

I hope he proves everyone wrong. He never slagged the club off either.

Yes, he scored; yes, he hit the bar, but he gets that ball and runs straight into people, plus some of his crosses were unreal, some of the worst I've ever seen on a pitch, even at grass roots Under-7s.

I am sure people will argue his case, I have in the past, but I seen a very lucky man on the pitch for Hull who must not believe his luck getting Premier League wages etc.

His goal was pretty much open, although his run was well timed, and the header against the bar was instinctive.

Interesting to see what happens, but to me Niasse looked more like Bambi on ice than a footballer.

Here it is the guy's FIRST full game in a top league... EVER... in a side he just joined and probably doesn't know everybody's name, and in their biggest game of the season he scores a goal and barely misses two others against the third best defense in the Prem. While pressuring them for the full 90, no letup, right to the end.

And all you can say is that his crossing is a disaster, and dismiss everything else he did as luck and instinct. Yeah, right.

If Kate Upton walked in on you naked, the only thing you'd comment on would be her bad pedicure.

I saw a player who knows his stuff. His runs were intelligent and well-timed, he knows how to separate from a defender, and his first touch is better than Rom could ever dream of. And yeah, his crosses are awful. So what?

Tell you what, even with the rough edges.. I've got a tenner that says Niasse scores more goals for Hull the rest of this season than anybody besides Rom will score for us... more than Kev, or Barks, or Valencia. Even Coleman. You in?

Lots of running & held the ball up really well.

Don't get the "where's the money" comments. The club is spending, slowly and building a new team. It's not all going to be solved in Koeman's first January.

Whatever the reason that Koeman banished him after half a preseason game, it wasn't evident tonight. He may not be worth what we paid for him, but he looked every bit of a competent Premier League player."

100% agree. I never thought it fair to judge a player pre-season/slightly injured/without having a run of first team games.

I'm not anti-Niasse mate, and I'm not saying he's not equally as good as Kone or Valencia, or maybe even better, In fact I was one of the fans voicing my frustration that he wasn't given a chance after doing well for the U23s.

I also credited Niasse with instinctive heading ability, and good positioning to finish up chances.

But IMO I don't see Niasse as a Premier League striker, I don't see Niasse as a 㾹m man, I see Niasse as a player who most probably couldn't lace the boots of the likes of Jermaine Beckford, who himself at best is a Championship player. Call me harsh, but that's my honest opinion on first viewing.

Hopefully he proves me wrong, hopefully he comes out of the loan deal with a glowing reference, a bag of goals, allowing us to demand a half decent fee, or even a new striker, but frankly I don't see it.

As for your bet, mate, I will take you up on it, call it a pint bet for the final game of the season as I might as well lose to a blue as I lose enough bets to red shite supporters each season !

We don't have anyone scoring after Rom, that's clear as can be, but I'd still expect Ross, Mirallas or/and Coleman to outscore Niasse.

Here's to hoping I'm wrong.

I know your opinion might hurt poor Niasse's feelings and it's important that someone like Mike points that out to you, but I agree.

Hope he does well, scores a dozen goals, keeps them up and changes Koeman's mind. But on first showing, despite what the stats will say, he looked out of his depth.

Crouch's technique and physique is far from a top players typically composure but he gets the goals.

Glad Niasse has found a team that wants him and lets him play.

Maybe it's cos they feel sorry for the lads, especially Naisy seemed to be a very kind considerate lad who did lots of charity work etc. but in reality their records as players are not great. Yes, they work hard and I think maybe that's why Niasse has had some success in his career to date.

It looks like he's very raw skill wise and doesn't have much subtly about him but when a player has pace and is willing to work his ass off then of course he'll be effective to some extent and many fans will appreciate his hard work ethic much more than a very skillful player like Deulofeu but who will not put in the same effort.

Bilyaletdinov, McGeady and Niasse all seemed to do well in Moscow yet all three struggled in the Premier League. That would appear to signify that they do OK at a certain level but, when up against top quality opposition, they struggle. I presume Niasse is happy to play with Hull as he probably can stay with his wife near Manchester and still play for a Premier League club. I think he'll do OK if they go down to the championship but the lad might have to decide does he take a pay cut to play each week or stay with us and play U23s.

Oumar Niasse: ‘It's really sad. I don't think I deserve this'

Who is Lokomotiv striker Baye Oumar Niasse?

Well firstly a completely different kettle of footballers entirely.

Regarding Weah's 'cousin', Souness received a phone call purporting to be from Liberian international and former FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah. 'Weah' tells Sourpuss that Dia's his cousin, has played for PSG, and played 13 times for his country. All of this is completely invented bollocks - the phone call to Souness was made by a fellow university student of Dia's, suggesting that he should give Dia a chance with Southampton. Gullible nob-head Souness is convinced, and (without any due diligence) signs Dia on a one-month contract.

Whatever Niasse's shortcomings, he did score the winning goal against the world's richest club last night and is a professional footballer.

He has played for Everton, he has played (for Lokomotiv Moscow) in the Russian top flight.

Secondly (and let me explain this for the zillionth time) re 'cutting our losses', it's not up to us, it's his choice completely.

His choice to go on loan or stay, his choice to accept a move to another club or stay.

And his choice (should he choose to) to say "You scouted me. You brought me here, you agreed to my wages, you agreed to a 4½-year deal. So, if you don't want another Winston Bogarde on your hands, wind your fucking necks in." (nb: Which is exactly what I'd say in his situation.)

Like Eugene says, I'm sick to death of hearing the phrase, "Let's get rid of the deadwood" – It's not that simple. It will only happen if another club want him and sign him.

I've never heard of a player being sacked for being shit, because at the moment that's the only way the likes of Niasse, McGeady, Gibson and maybe Oviedo are going to leave the club.

"He was harshly judged without Koeman seeing enough of him". I think we saw enough of him before Koeman's arrival. Bambi on Ice springs to mind.

"He never slagged the club off"
Apart from moaning about not getting a locker, which meant he had to carry some extra stuff his man bag or Louis Vuitton washbag, he REFUSED to go on loan before the Hull move.

"He scored, he played well, he was a nuisance"
The same people saying he hasn't had a chance to show his "ability" or worthiness, are now doing the exact same and judging him on one performance. Credit for him causing a kerfuffle and working hard and chasing the ball, but there is more to that in football, especially a club like ours and the quality that we need.

In only 2 Premier League games (with another one competing against an A team Man Utd in the semi-final of the EFL Cup) of Niasse's life:

1) He provided an assist in the first game;

2) In his second game, he did some good runs etc but nearly scored in final third with a reverse volley from behind (shows excellent timing as the ball only bounced once; excellent aerial ball judgement; excellent eye/ body/ movement co-ordination);

3) He had an excellent game (last night) for Hull with some excellent runs and getting into really good positions (Neville believed Niasse stopped a strong Man Utd side from playing their usual game); he also has amazingly powerful header potential as his shot literally rattled the cross-bar.

Of course, he also scored his first goal ever for the Premier League in the final 3rd, where he was massively under pressure – notwithstanding the game being televised, too.

Niasse has excellent timing as I said previously; he also has amazing pace. Notwithstanding, but certainly not least, he also was fit enough to race around the pitch for a full 90 minutes and still have the energy to get himself into position to score, in which he did. Not bad for fitness considering his proper first game for Hull and really the second at Premier League.

Niasse is also over 6 ft in height. He may not have Lukaku's build/ strength but Lukaku does not have Niasse's athleticism. Watching Lukaku on the ball, is like a body-builder trying to swim sometimes. Lukaku does not have the build to defy gravity, he looks awkward, and sluggish. If it were not for Lukaku's strength, he simply wouldn't be the player/ scorer he is today.

So Niasse has his obvious weaknesses, "woeful" to quote Hull's commentators where Niasse put in his seldom crosses. Niasse, is not the best crosser in the world but as a striker, he can score goals. Niasse is also a confidence player (like Barkley), look at his confidence when he scored. He may be able to improve his crosses over time. If Beckham's practice can make him world-class, then am sure Niasse can improve them for Premier League at least. Let's remember we're Everton, we're no elite Premier League team at this point.

The probability of Niasse scoring in any of Hull's games this season based on his current performance is likely 3-1 (ie, out of 3 games, he scored 1). There is also a strong probability that if he were not to score in each game, there will certain be several on target attempts by him (potentially 2 in every 3 games, ie he had 2 on target attempts over 3 games). So, every two games, there will be at least 1 or more attempt on target.

Not so bad for the alleged disaster Koeman made Niasse out to be.

More than anything else, Niasse is a hungry player and he will put the effort in.

He simply isn't good enough for EFC and we need to get some other gullible fuckwit to take him and his 㿣k/week wages off our hands. Thankfully Hull have saved us 6 months' wages, now we need to get some of the 㾹.5M fee back as well.

I know not all transfers work out but this one truly was odd given the manager didn't want to play him and didn't even look at him before he was signed. I wonder how much Kenwright had to do with this in actual fact and not Martinez.

How, in this time, can a player be signed for such a high fee and on such high wages, without the manager ever having seen him play live? That – along with the Gibbo extension promise when he's had his feet up for 4 years – beggars belief.

Koeman has had a good look at the boy and come to his conclusion. The romantics on here would love him to prove the doubters wrong. He won't – he's not very good.

Koeman – as he is not a psychologist – does not know what goes on in a player's head. Koeman is no rocket scientist; he was an excellent football player.

In any event, at whose or which standard does Koeman compare another prospective Everton footballer to? Is it for instance the professional standard; the Everton standard; the Premier League standard; or the Koeman professional standard?

I do not think Koeman is an expert at spotting underlying talent which may be hidden owing to various problems. To be fair footballers are generally not the most intelligent people in the world, yet when they aspire to management, apparently these congenital/ genetic traits just randomly change to where they are omniscient and cognitively gifted. Koeman – stick to your job and let intelligent people do theirs.

I don't believe he's what we need at the moment, but a couple of points.

1) You have to be in the right place to score tap-ins. Barcelona bought a tap-in expert from us in 1986 who didn't do too badly and I remember Ian Rush scoring a shed load of goals very similar to the one Niasse got last night.

2) Fuss? I see no fuss, just a few people prepared to look at the facts rather than stick rigidly to an opinion they formed after watching 15 mins of the player when he first arrived.

Niasse hasn't "struggled in the Premier League" like Bilyaletdinov and McGeady. He hasn't even played in the league yet. 7 cameo appearances only so far. Bily had 59 Premier League appearances, Aiden 31. Way too soon to judge Niasse on that scale.

John Wilson (#28), gotta ask what planet you are orbiting with this:

"Lukaku does not have Niasse's athleticism. Watching Lukaku on the ball, is like a body-builder trying to swim sometimes. Lukaku does not have the build to defy gravity, he looks awkward, and sluggish."

Umm... WHAT??

Lukaku on the ball is the 1812 Overture. He's one of the most dynamic forwards in the world. In addition to his strength, he has extraordinary and seemingly effortless pace, outstanding balance and remarkable dribbling ability for a man his size. Go to YouTube and pull up the Chelsea goal last spring, and then please name five other players in the world who could have done that. Awkward and sluggish? Mamma mia.

"Frank (#31) – 'I am not convinced by the fuss that this young man has scored a tap-in.'"

I never said that. You are referring to Eddie (#30).

If you have a drink with every one who's offering you one, you'll be taking your liver home in the cargo hold.

Eddie, see Frank's post.

That's classic, "Lukaku on the ball is like 1812 Overture', ha ha that has to be one of funniest ever shouts on this forum.

Forget the goal he scuffed against Chelsea in the cup last year when they all backed off him without a challenge and if you watch him every game and not just the TV highlights then you must see his woeful first touch and inability to hold up play to bring in support?

Thanks for making me laugh, Mike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRp6k9ZnaYM

Obviously not.

I didn't say a word about scuffed shots, first touch or hold up play.

I also didn't say anything about his work rate, lack of anticipation, sour expressions or anything else that drive me crazy about him.

All I talked about was his world-class brilliance on the ball. The rest you invented.

Glad you had a laugh, but I can't take the credit. You amused yourself on that one.

Sure it was his first game but, he was out of control, nothing calm or intelligent about his play. His game if it exists is based on physique and power.

Even in the odd cameo he got last year, he ran around like a nutter. He might cut in the Championship based on his size and graft.

Cumbersome and raw, not a player with any kind of silken touch to his game. Not for me, but it was fun to watch.

My brother, a RS, took me to watch them play Galatasary in the ECL he scored 3 including a bicycle kick.

Never touch himself too seriously and remember him waltzing round our keeper at the 'Street end?

Decent player

The brilliance that brought in the big clubs clambering for him last year when his pimp agent and him were screaming for the exit door?

Crouch is an okay journeyman player who, I'm astonished to hear, has scored 99 goals in the Premier League for his ten clubs. As well as 22 in 42 England appearances.

Stats look good but would we have bought him? Come to think of it, I once scored a Zidane like, overhead volleyed goal but the only thing we have in common is that we're both past it.

This has happened down the years –Moyes bought a centre-backin Kroldrup who couldn't head the ball and very much like Martinez with Niasse he refused to pick him because he knew what would happen.

Niasse reminds me of Paulo Wanchope – Man CIty and Derby County player who was all arms and legs, very ungainly but scored goals. I'm sure Koeman saw enough of him in training to decide he wanted better and you certainly couldn't see him as a starter in a side fighting for Top 4 which is what Koeman is aiming for but let's hope he does well and if there is nothing here for him then we get most of our money back.

Too often, we equate fluidity in movement with "good touch" or "silky skills" Similarly, an awkward person is not seen as having a good touch or skills. I think Niasse falls into this category for some who will never be able to look past the awkward part of his game. In this respect, he is like Crouch, who is a bit gangly and looks at times like a cartoon character getting ready to run where not all of him starts or stops at the same time.

I think Niasse has more to offer than Koeman saw, but not enough to earn a spot at Everton.

He garners a lot of conflicting opinion on here or in fact his situation does but whatever happens he won't be playing for us again so I just hope he scores bagfulls and we can then recoup the monies paid.

Good luck to him and good luck to us!

I wasn't thinking that all TW threads were a "fuss", but when you look at the meaning of the word...

Fuss. "a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest."

I suppose they all are.

Maybe I'll take to Niasse. Well...

Always thought it strange that a feller who couldn't head a ball was snapped up by Fiorentina and went on to play 6 seasons in Serie A with them (and they qualified for Champions League in two of those seasons).

I touched on Crouch earlier in the thread. You rightly point out the style may be wanting in both players, yet I can see quite clearly Crouch had the technical proficiency, a football brain that Niasse doesn't.

Often we judge a player quickly and on little evidence. This case is no different but often what the eye or gut tells us from first look isn't too far from reality.

Most people on the site have been around football in all its guises for some time, I'd say most on the thread think Niasse is a player wth much to improve on?

The real issue here is was he dealt with in a way anybody would like to be treated? The comment from both Koeman and Niasse suggest not.

Sure there are some murmurs of off field issues, but in light of the Baxter storyline you'd think Everton could have moved him on in a more professional and human way.

I don't know if anyone else remarked on it but I thought Lookman's first touch when he scored his goal was superb.

Instantly he had the ball under control with the outside of his foot. Looked very skilful and totally natural.

I hope it wasn't a fluke or I haven't put a curse on him for all time.

Hopefully it's a win win for all concerned.

And yes, the brilliance that produced a 㿥 million bid from Chelsea. They weren't bidding on him for his subpar heading or clanky first touch or intelligent running. The bid was because with the ball at his feet running at a defender he is one of the best on the planet.

Who could have seen that coming?

If he keeps banging them in, ToffeeWeb will go into meltdown

Blimey he can't be faulted if he wears his baseball cap on top of his head, shows an intelligent streak there! I blame the kit man for laying his boots out the wrong way round... he could have been a Goodison hero had he had them on the correct feet.

We've had signings in the past and present who may realise they have to persevere their ego and drop down a league, especially when that's the first chance to prove their attitude or their "ability" to others that may be watching.

The only so-called "unprofessional" thing that I can see (that you may call it so) is not giving him a locker, boo-hoo? Is that what you're calling harsh? Maybe he has to carry his stuff in his manbag or washbag instead of putting it in his locker? What's the problem here??

As you say, he goes on to have a good career at a top Italian side, so what happened with us? His top-flight career before and after Everton suggests he was good enough. My theory is some kind of massive personal fallout with Moyes or someone else influential at the club. Nothing else makes sense.

Any professional footballer is capable of moments of excellence so one shouldn't be surprised that he did a few good things – just watch some semi-pro matches to get my drift.

He publicly stated that he found it hard to adjust to the Premier League.

Not sure what it is with some folk on here, but there's a lot of folk who don't do any research. Niasse got offered a loan deal before Hull and yet very few people know about this.

Also, I'm sure Krøldrup's words on his Everton "career" have been in an article on here...

Niasse was just not given the time because Everton were not interested in the lad. 'Not suited for our style.' Excuse me, but who gives a crap how graceful Niasse is on the pitch as long as he can score, which apparently he can.

Perhaps, I'm wrong and Niasse is hiding his talent or needs to settle into England before he takes off and becomes the next Drogba £ I don't think that will happen though. He may prove to be as good as Kone or slightly better or in other words not good enough for a club that wants to move onto the next level.

If we had a better scoring record, and showed consistency (which we have not except for the last few games or so), we would be the right side of the top 6 rather than the wrong side. We are only in 7th position because we did well against the Premier League's lower tier teams at the start of the season.

Niasse may not be the most sophisticated, graceful player on the ball, he may not have the class of Lukaku. He may not pirouette across Goodison Park's pitch like the finest ballerina. Nevertheless, and here I repeat, Niasse can score goals. Valencia cannot: where goals = 'points, and points = prizes.

I predict Niasse on his current performance at Hull, banging in lots of Goals for them. As for Everton, after their games it'll be Koeman – in Comical Ali mode – either telling us of a positive Everton instead of an average, dismal lack-lustre performance. Or if they play well, it's not likely they'll score enough to win because they never invested in sufficient strikers.

You are obviously less than impressed with the Dutchman and that's your privilege, I was feeling pretty happy after the Palace match but I suppose thinking we had turned a corner is silly of me and a lot of others.

I'm also looking at the bigger picture and there's a chance that Everton FC will need some cash to get the new stadium up and running and therefore that might be more of a priority than pushing the boat out in this window. If a new stadium isn't announced by the summer at the latest and we still haven't invested in a forward player I'll join you in decrying the manager and the club.

I have a hunch and that's all it is, that those who wish that Koeman was elsewhere may be smiling in the summer as the Dutchman heads off to his spiritual home after doing the dirty work for Everton this season by removing those who weren't going to take Everton forward – but we'll have to wait and see on that.

Anyway Everton with or without another striker are probably not going to be relegated and unfortunately are unlikely to break into the top six.