Just watch Nicolas Jackson’s performance against Los Angeles FC last night and tell me convincingly that his best position is a 9. Because it’s not.
Jackson was dropping very deep to get on the ball, he was collecting it, spinning on it, dribbling past players, and picking out line-breaking passes from deeper areas. His assist was basically like watching a creative 10 collect the ball to set Pedro Neto free on goal. His best work was done from deeper areas. So let’s allow him to play in those deeper areas now we have a much more suitable box striker in Liam Delap.
The pair can play together and should player together in the rest of the Club World Cup.
Let’s see what happens with Chelsea and potentially another striker coming in. But I urge Enzo Maresca, in these group games at least, to try Nicolas Jackson off the left when we are so short in that position right now.
Noni Madueke was awful last night and I personally wouldn’t hesitate selling him and bringing in TWO new wingers this summer. I think Madueke has some good attributes and at times can be a dangerous player. But he’s just not good enough overall and consistently for me I’m afraid, and I’ve always maintained that.
So let’s start Jackson out there, let him roam a bit more, and put Delap in the middle. Imagine how many times Jackson would get on the ball, skip it past his marker, and thread a pass through to Delap. It would be just like Cole Palmer was doing for Delap last night. We would have such a threat. Jackson can drop deep and cut into those central areas from starting wide left position, it could be so good.
Jackson has pace, he can accelerate from a standing position, or he can be devastating out wide on transition.
I see Jackson as a Salomon Kalou or a Nicolas Anelka, rather than a Diego Costa or a Didier Drogba. It’s been SO obvious to me and I’ve been saying it for years now.
Jackson is hard working too and he loves to run back and try to win the ball back, which is perfect for the winger role. He’s also played there before so he knows what to do. I think he can be useful defensively as well as offensively.
I just think he offers so much more being able to play deeper rather be our most advanced focal point attacker. It’s just so clear and obvious to me, and we have the perfect opportunity to try it now with a lack of left forwards and playing against some very poor opponents in the group stages at least.
