Dwight Gayle’s performances this year have been good, and he’s not only started scoring some goals for us, but in the last two homes games, he’s had an assist in both games – brilliant assists too.
Rafa Benitez had mentioned in January how he was pleased with the attitude of the striker and that \he was doing well in training.
Dwight has looked good, and one thing we’ve noticed is that he works his socks off for the side.
Rafa believes maybe the uptick in Dwight’s form is due to extra competition up front since Slimani arrived, even though Islam has been injured.
Islam Slimani – still has to show us what he can do
This is what Rafa has said about how the arrival of Slimani has affected Gayle – as reported in the Chronicle today:.
“He’s fine, he’s doing well,” “Joselu has not been playing too much at the moment, but whenever he is on the bench he is positive too.”
“Joselu plays 10 or 15 minutes at the end of games, he is giving us control and something different.”
“The competition now is quite good. And Islam Slimani, when he comes back to fitness, will have to compete with them.”
“Islam has confidence in himself, which is positive, but he has to show us this in the training sessions and with his country.”
“Then we will see what happens against Huddersfield.”
Rafa is a great believer in having as much competition as possible for first-team positions.
It seems to be working, and hopefully, we can get our third successive home win against the Terriers on Saturday.
If we do win, it will be only the second time this season we have won two games in a row.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
80 comments so far
DubaiMicky
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:19 PM
Comment #1Am I the only one who thinks whoever agreed the loan deal for slim shandy was on a back-hander?
Looks to me like his “slight” problem is a lot worse than that, so, i wonder is it the player saying “It’s still tight” to get a decent pay day? His agent who tells him to say that? Our medical team?
Something smells of that loan move – and i hope I’m proved wrong.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:20 PM
Comment #2toonincheek,
I’m well aware that Veltman is out of his mind from chewing chat all day long but what is it that you’re smoking?
Jail for Ashley
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:22 PM
Comment #3Dubai Mickey,
I think unfortunately shit happens sometimes.
DubaiMicky
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:24 PM
Comment #4I’m aware of that Jail, but I get the feeling we’ve been done up like a Craster kipper here.
(btw, no “e” in Micky)
RobLeenio
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:31 PM
Comment #5Micky, there are some interesting Slimani comments from Rafa in the Chronicle today which essentially state that Slimani is confident in himself but that he has to demonstrate that with his country and in training. I wondered if that meant that as far as Rafa is concerned, he’s now fit but has to prove he’s worth a place in the team. Ahead of Gayle and Joselu.
DubaiMicky
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:40 PM
Comment #6I agree Rob, but why would you “buy” (loans have payments) a player who is either a) injured and not bothered about it or b) isn’t good enough to automatically go ahead of the guys you have?
As I said, I reckon there’s a rabbit away but hope I’m proved wrong.
Belfast
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:41 PM
Comment #7Nope. It was simply Silmani or nobody else in the end and we decided to roll the dice. We should have signed a striker in the first week not the last hour.
Belfast
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Comment #8He might have been really desperate to play and has made the initial injury worse himself. You just don’t know. He could still play a vital role in the last few games though.
toonincheek
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Comment #9Jail/Jane
Thanks for choosing the “what are you smoking” option
rather than the “You are a Mackem” option.
lesh
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #10Maybe Slimani was presented to Rafa as a fait accompli aand given a choice of take him or get nobody.
hibbit
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:53 PM
Comment #11makes me think Rafa was given Silmani on a him or nowt bases !!
Rafa just doesn’t seem that impressed with the guy,i thought Rafa would have been trying to big him up to get him playing and scoring but its as if Rafa is just not that bothered i just don’t get it
is he not a Rafa signing ????
Thump
Mar 27, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #12Seems to me that Rafa might be doubting Slimani’s commitment. Not suggesting he’s feigning injury, but perhaps Rafa thinks he’s not as injured as he believes. Perhaps he’s just trying to rev the lad up.
Similar to what SBR did when he arrived – all injured players to come in and have a chat with him about their recovery plans.
DubaiMicky
Mar 27, 2018 at 3:11 PM
Comment #13Thump, I concur.
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 3:41 PM
Comment #14You have to look at Islam Slimani’s
timeline to get the full picture.
In August 2016 to great fanfare and excitement
all round , Ranieri signs him from Sporting Lisbon
– the top goalscorer in Portugal joining the PL champions !!!
Unbelievably less than 6 months later
in Feb 2017 Leicester sack Claudio
and appoint the arsehole Craig Shakespeare
who completely blanks Slimani.
Shakespeare lasts until last October and the next
available window Slimani’s offmans.
No wonder his confidence needs nurturing !
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 27, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #15This is worth a watch.
https://youtu.be/kJkK-_zrBDM
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 27, 2018 at 4:40 PM
Comment #16Well, you never know. sometime in the future he might turn out to be a great signing for us but we need him to be a good signing for us now.
If he gets a hat trick Saturday for us then we all might be a little happier about his arrival.
Hope Ritchie is fit to play otherwise he won’t be scoring the goals needed to make my prediction of top scorer with 14 goals happen.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 27, 2018 at 4:42 PM
Comment #1794 Hours 20 Minutes to ko.
We’re getting there.
Thump
Mar 27, 2018 at 4:49 PM
Comment #18@Jib: Shakespeare definitely knocked his confidence, just needs a bit of a kick up the backside I think.
martoon
Mar 27, 2018 at 4:54 PM
Comment #19Anybody know how many Huddersfield players have been away on international duty? Just thinking not as many as us which could give them an advantage!
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Comment #20Martoon
3 Aussies
only as far as Scandinavia
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:03 PM
Comment #21Sorry
1 Aussie
2 Danes
the Danes aren’t great
woof woof
martoon
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:04 PM
Comment #22Cheers Jib – I suspected as much which means the majority of them have had 2 weeks to prepare whereas a few of ours will have a couple of days!
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:08 PM
Comment #23So did nobody find that youtube video at #15 amusing? Really?
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:16 PM
Comment #24Pain
Extremely
I’ve sent it to loads of mates
Sorry I didn’t realise you wanted your ego stroked
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:21 PM
Comment #25Stroke away, Jib.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:32 PM
Comment #26toonincheek,
I’m actually disappointed that you think I am doubling up as the bland and imo utterly pointless poster Jane.
Belfast
Mar 27, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #27So you got that annoyed with the whole Pokat shenanigans you decided to become a cross dressing poster and call yourself Jane?
I only wish Ian Toon was here to witness this.
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Comment #28Belfast
I wouldn’t be surprised if
Jail is Jeff from Benwell
as well – he seems to find
his old posts with great alacrity.
lochinvar
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #29not really our concern but FIFA yet alone the FA should be all over West Ham like a rash – more dodgy than Del Boy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43488055
martoon
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #30POster
Known
As
Tsunki
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:28 PM
Comment #31Slimani on and booked
9
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:32 PM
Comment #32The only time to judge the lad is EITHER at the end of the season OR if he has already scored the goal(s) that keep us up. Do we know who is paying his wages all the time he is unfit for selection?
9
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:34 PM
Comment #33Came on at 63 mins, booked at 68 mins! Crikey!
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:37 PM
Comment #349
Perhaps a touch of frustration there
Jib
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:41 PM
Comment #35http://www.tv3.ir/live/
the Slimani game
9
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #36Jib, very considerate of you. I hope you may be right!
bettyswallocks
Mar 27, 2018 at 6:58 PM
Comment #37Pain in the …. The link @15 was hilarious.
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 27, 2018 at 7:10 PM
Comment #38Cheers betty. Thought I was the only one to have a chortle.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 27, 2018 at 7:20 PM
Comment #39Ha ha, Jeff In Benwell, racist, linguist and Clockwork Oranges biggest fan accuses me of being the racist, linguist and Clockwork Oranges former biggest fan of being Jeff From Benwell.
The mind boggles
😮
9
Mar 27, 2018 at 7:27 PM
Comment #40Jib, Thanks for the link to the match. Unfortunately, I cottoned on to it just as the final whistle went, so learned nowt. Did you by chance see anything of our lad?