Issac Hayden has given a fascinating interview on Miguel Almiron after the goalless attacker was criticised for a few more missed chances following Saturday’s draw with Watford.
Despite getting himself into some great positions, it was yet another game without a goal for the Paraguayan, with another couple of big chances snatched at.
That said, Hayden reveals how Almiron scores ‘every day’ in training and barely misses a shot in the pre-match shooting drill – meaning this wait for his first goal has created a ‘weird situation’ for him.
Here’s what the midfielder’s had to say to the Chronicle, echoing the sentiments of Steve Bruce and highlighting the positives about Almiron’s all round contribution – and his ability in front of goal:
“He’s massively appreciated by everyone else in the dressing room. He’s got bundles of energy. Sometimes, you give him the ball in a difficult area and he can get past three players to break up the pitch”
“Him and Atsu are probably the only two players in the team that can do that. He’s massively important to us, especially in terms of getting us up the pitch and making sure that Jo is not isolated. It’s similar to last season, when we had Rondon who was quite isolated. Jo can be quite isolated too, but if you get the willing runners like Almiron, who can get close to him, then it helps him.”
“It’s a weird situation because in training he scores every day. In the pre-match routines, he scores with pretty much every shot. It’s one of those things where for whatever reason, it’s just not quite coming off for him in the matches at the minute. The most important thing for him is to keep getting the goalscoring opportunities, keep working hard for the team and at the end of the day, it will come.”
“He’s a fantastic worker for the team. I think everyone can see that. He runs his heart out for the team every week. Defensively, he’s very good, and going forward he creates chances and causes a nuisance. I think the goal will come,”
“It’s just one of things, every striker or forward goes through those patches where for some unknown reason, whatever they do just doesn’t quite work out. I thought it was his goal, but it’s come across so fast and so late that he’s not seen it and it’s bounced off him.
“That just happens when you’re in those ruts, and it’ll be a situation where it’ll deflect off his ear or something like that and go in the net, and then he’ll be off and running from there. He just needs to keep working hard for the team like he is doing, and helping the team, which is all we ask of him.”
There have been some negative comments and thoughts about Almiron on social media in the last couple of weeks. Fair enough he was poor in the first two games but the criticism is harsh. The tactical difference he makes with his pace and work rate is there for all to see. He absolutely needs a goal though, the critics are right. What better place to start than Anfield.
Hopefully it’s just a lack of confidence, and once he scores one, they will start to flow.
You can see the hesitation he currently has when he gets within sight of goal, while it’s not the Premier League, some of the goals he scored in the MLS were composed and clinical.
I’m backing him to break his duck at Anfield, after gliding past Van Dijk!
