But then you're assuming none of his replacements can score. He's getting the Inzaghi and Trez treatment in this thread even though he's not as good of a finisher as those guys.
Just the way you're assuming, they can. So far, he only doesn't have the reputation of Inzaghi or Trez, but if he's finishing his chances and half chances as and when they're coming his way then how can one question it? In fact, I'd go as far as saying that he scored in the first real opportunity we got.
So 90% of the team last night all played well below their standards but it's still Quagliarella's fault when our team is playing like shit?
A lot of people overlook this, because the player is considered to be less cohesive because of his hybrid characteristics. SS/CF, specialising in neither. I agree and disagree with that. I do think he will struggle to form a pair with somebody who plays closer to goal, as that will impede on his own movements, while I think he would do great with someone like Tevez who creates a bit of space and opens up certain channels for him with quick interplay. Let's see if these situations develop though. Early days still.
I don't know who will put the ball in the back of the net and who won't. But what I do believe is that the rest of the the strikers would give more over 90 minutes. They are more skilled.
Vucinic and Giovinco who were here last year were our starting pair. They played a lot more minutes than Quag, and I've got to say neither was that pairing effective, nor clinical. Vucinic still went on to justify the minutes he got by adding to the team's cause and netting important goals and ending up the team's top scoring forward, but Quag threw up better or identical numbers with Gio in almost half the time, or 1000 mins less. How can you then say that all our strikers can give more over 90 minutes?! Do you know how they maybe limited in certain circumstances, or how they may suffer due to certain tactics? Youre questioning a so called 5th choice forward right now who has gotten the team massive points at a very crucial stage of our season psychologically.
You're also forgetting, that in the two games that Quag started, it was the team that sucked first and foremost. In the game in Copenhagen, we had played our worst game of the season, till we came across Chievo. When the team got better against Copenhagen, even Quag's own game went up a notch. Coincidence? I think not. He even got a goal to show for it. What happened against Chievo? Too easy to make him the scapegoat here, but the fact of the matter is Isla and Peluso were having a horrid evening, and the first decent cross that was put into the box, was a goal. And guess who got that goal??
You are sadly mistaken if you think any of our forwards would've flourished in any of those two games just because they have bigger reputations than Quag. You should follow some of the newspaper journalist ratings to see where the player stands in the context of those games. I think it says a lot for the player's ability to adapt, his skill set, his temperament, if he can get the job done even when he's not a preferred choice or is not as 'skilled' as his more illustrious teammates. Last season was proof of it too.
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The 2 games where he started & scored also happen to be the 2 games where none of our other players managed to put the ball in the back of the net.
Of course it's only an assumption to say we wouldn't have scored & drawn or won the game without him, but it's an assumption that is a lot more likely than the opposite.
As for him being given the Trez treatment: I agree. And it's a treatment he deserves at the moment. As soon as the goals stop coming, that treatment will inevitably stop.
Besides, like I've repeatedly said, I don't like Quag to play much because, quite frankly, we play a hell of a lot better without him on the pitch. But, right now, the facts are there for everyone to see, are they not?
Buck Fuddy bringing the heat like never before.
