' Kenneth Zohore '

' Kenneth Zohore '

An absolute waste of space tonight, it was pointless him being on the pitch. I don't care that he's only recently returned from a long injury, so has Rhys Healey.

Tonight, it wasn't our midfield being overrun, it wasn't Preston being sharper than us, it wasn't Preston being on the front foot. Tonight, we couldn't get any attacking momentum going because the one player we rely on with our game plan to make himself available, receive the ball, hold it up, take some pressure off and link the play to allow our midfield to get further forward up the pitch, didn't TRY at all!

If I put as little effort into my job as Zohore did tonight, I would be sacked. You can't blame the lack of service as an excuse. Rhys Healey's first involvement when he came on was COMPETING against their centre back when a long ball went forward to him. Healey battled, won it, kept possession, linked the play and then suddenly we moved 10 yards further up the pitch as a team, allowing us to play in their final third.

Zohore's lack of effort on the other hand infuriated me. Every high ball played up to him, he just stood there and allowed their centre back to head it clear unchallenged. In fact, Zohore pretty much just stood there the whole game, strolling around, no effort to run and close their defenders down, no effort to jump and CHALLENGE their centre backs.

Even when an accurate ball was played up to Zohore, he still allowed their centre backs to beat him way too easily. Whenever the ball got played up to Zohore, he was beaten and the ball kept coming straight back. We were always on the back foot because Zohore didn't compete for one ball.

However well or badly a striker plays under Warnock, I'm sure Warnock would at least want his striker to battle away and put himself about so the opposing centre backs know they've been in a game. Tonight, Zohore just probably gave the Preston centre backs the easiest game they will have in their entire careers.

What a difference when Healey came on, he competed for every ball played up to him, he sprinted back into midfield to win the ball back, he ran the channels, always making himself available for a forward pass and winning free kicks. Suddenly, our midfielders could looks forwards and see someone making himself available. Healey made himself a nuisance to play against and the Preston centre backs finally had something to think about.

I would start Healey in our next game because at least for the first 60 to 70 minutes, we will have a willing runner up front who will compete and give everything until he tires. The difference to what Healey gave us tonight compared to Zohore's pathetic effort was there for all to see.

The majority will probably blame our midfield tonight and we are desperately missing Gunnarsson. But with Zohore not battling for anything up front, our midfield was always on the back foot. The ball was not sticking up top, the ball was coming straight back with ease, which allowed Preston to continually come at us.

If a striker competes by closing a defender down or challenges for a header, the quality of the defenders pass/header/clearance is not going to be as accurate. That increases the chances of our midfield picking up a loose ball and driving forwards. Suddenly, we get some momentum, we are on the front foot and Preston are on the back foot. It's one of the several little things that contributes to a game swinging to a teams direction.

Tonight, the game swung to Preston's direction because although he may not be fully fit, although he may not be match sharp and although he may not be physically ready to produce his earlier season form, Zohore didn't TRY at all. Zohore badly let us down and in my opinion, was the main reason why we lost tonight.

i thought everyone tried..was just a really crap game that one goal was going to decide and whoever got it wouldnt have desrved it.

I'm an advocate of defending up front.

Bellamy, Chopra and Miller have been the best for us over the years. I believe Bothroyd got his international as he went through a period of chasing everything.

Gestede though was a prime frustration of this. He just walked around and I was not surprised was sent packing. I fear the same for Zohore as well. Ken is a better all round build than Rudy and has shown he has ability. I fear it could all be for nothing if he does not get stuck in more.

I've got to say, I completely agree with you. Zohore was poor he was not challenging anything and looked knackered after 65 mins. I would of put him on the bench and put him on as a sub to ease him in cause he didnt look fit, i know he scored that class goal against Fulham. Against Preston he looked something else...

Agreed, he looked badly off the pace. Want to see the days where he bullied the defenders from every goal kick again.

Could try playing to his strengths instead of hitting him with high balls he as no hope of winning when having taller and usually 2 defenders around him? When did play to his feet he usually got the ball but then no one from midfield supporting him! Healy did well but then easy for him they played ball to him wide so had more space to move.

Didn't have his best game, but don't think he was any worst than the other 10 players last night. He played some lovely passes twice putting players through Tonkin the first who just had no pace to do anything when set free and Mendez Laing who I think fell over. As I said not his best game but certainty not as bad to be singled out from a poor team display. I would argue Damour and Patterson for 2 who did even less than Ken

WOW Tonteg I see its Zahores turn to be a scrape goat, he did no more or less than the other ten players,I expect you forgot about Etheridge who did cost us at least getting a draw, back to your usual negative crap again, I am bitterly disappointed we lost but to put the blame on Zahore is ridiculous

WOW Tonteg I see its Zahores turn to be a scrape goat, he did no more or less than the other ten players,I expect you forgot about Etheridge who did cost us at least getting a draw, back to your usual negative crap again, I am bitterly disappointed we lost but to put the blame on Zahore is ridiculous

Couldn’t agree more. This guy always has a scapegoat on the go. It’s usually Morrison.
Zahore was poor but who wasn’t? His strengths are not winning headers lumped up from the keeper. The ball was just hoofed up hopelessly and aimed anywhere all game from the defenders and the midfielders.
Ralls is often praised on here. Can he actually put his foot on the ball and pass it and try to control the game? That’s where the problem was last night - the midfield.

Some people astound me. Having a pop at Zohore now.

Have you ever been off with long term injury and returned back at full pace. He's gonna take time to get back to where he was it's not going to just happen but the more game time he gets the quicker we'll see the results or shall we just drop him and write him off.

did people watch the Fulham game? where he chased everything down?
He started it yesterday, but when no one else is helping him, it makes it pointless as hes never going to do anything apart from waste energy. They will just pass around him

what about feeney,how the hell he started i dont know ,what a waste didnt offer anything ,neil sort this out asap

This isn’t fair.

He quite clearly isn’t fit. He wasn’t our problem we have plenty but the service to him is the issue.

what about feeney,how the hell he started i dont know ,what a waste didnt offer anything ,neil sort this out asap

Offered more than NML.

Zohore was poor but doesn’t help when every time the ball gets played into him he’s isolated.

Top post Zohore is not a player who can play up top on his own if say, he’s a hold it up player knock it into someone else - should have paired him or started Bogle

When in possession, Manga and Bamba had no options in front of them from the midfield, hence the long ball tactic. Naturally, this made things harder for an often isolated Ken Zohore up front. Just my opinion of course.

“Who’s Zohore? Ken’s Zohore!”

Ross, sorry but you're as wide of the post here as a Jazz Richards snap shot!

Kenneth Zohore needs (a) to get 'match fit' and (b) to be fed during games. Cannot possibly do it all on his own and the players around him (the rested Junior Hoillet apart) have simply gone off the build due to the number of games they are expected to play in a physically tough style of football whilst others remain on the treatment table

I don't blame the players or the manager, as I feel both have worked miracles in keeping us at or near the top and (for me at least) it all augs well for the remainder of the season if we can get some/most of them back plus a few newbies

Keep the faith. We haven't really become a bad side over Xmas!

He was poor but no worse than anyone else. We just lumped balls high to him, he needs balls along the floor. A couple of times when the ball was played to him he showed great touch and played it off, that one time to tomlin for example.

Do you expect him to run into midfield win it and then create a chance om his own?

To say he didn't try is incredibly harsh. He was ineffective but he was on of a number of ineffective players on a bad night all round.

I think we can be over critical at times when things don't go our way. It's impractical to think we can play the same way 46 times while demolishing all before us. Even the best sides in the world lose when they are outwitted or other factors come into play.

We've improved drastically inside the last 12 months and I think we should remember that at times.

Disagree Ken was trying he is clearly not match fit. There is a difference

Odd person to single out. Poor team performance.

He was poor but no worse than anyone else. We just lumped balls high to him, he needs balls along the floor. A couple of times when the ball was played to him he showed great touch and played it off, that one time to tomlin for example.

Do you expect him to run into midfield win it and then create a chance om his own?

A few lovely touches. Almost got a couple of shots away.

If i`m coming back from injury my first 3 races are always very poor .... 17-30 for a 5k .... after about 3 races i`m running sub 17s again ...... there is no difference between my sport and football when coming back from long injuries, It takes time so get off his back ... he`s a class player!

He was poor but no worse than anyone else. We just lumped balls high to him, he needs balls along the floor. A couple of times when the ball was played to him he showed great touch and played it off, that one time to tomlin for example.

Do you expect him to run into midfield win it and then create a chance om his own?

A few lovely touches. Almost got a couple of shots away.

Exactly despite being out for months his quality was there, no support or service that's what the problem was! How the op can blame a lone striker for a team display like that I don't know!

Got to be honest he appeared to be really lazy and not bothered Everything seemed an effort If he had been any more laid back he would have stopped,Not saying he is always like that just commenting on last nights game

Agree, he was not very good. He does not try to lose his marker, very predicable . He can do a a lot better than last nights showing. NML ran him a close second. We were much better when the 3 subs came on...people blaming the goalie makes me smile hes keep us in most games this season. however his kicking is poor but it doesn't help no one makes themselves available to play it out from defence like most of the teams in the championship. The whole team and coaches need to work on that one...

There were 11 players out there last night, & All of them can be criticized to some degree or another.

You win as a team, & you loose as a team. Good players don't become bad overnight.

Ross, sorry but you're as wide of the post here as a Jazz Richards snap shot!

Kenneth Zohore needs (a) to get 'match fit' and (b) to be fed during games. Cannot possibly do it all on his own and the players around him (the rested Junior Hoillet apart) have simply gone off the build due to the number of games they are expected to play in a physically tough style of football whilst others remain on the treatment table

I don't blame the players or the manager, as I feel both have worked miracles in keeping us at or near the top and (for me at least) it all augs well for the remainder of the season if we can get some/most of them back plus a few newbies

Keep the faith. We haven't really become a bad side over Xmas!

I know he needs to get match fit. That's the point of my post. Strolling around the pitch and standing still instead of running, putting in some effort and competing for the ball is NOT going to get him match fit!

To be able to work your way up to match fitness, you need to actually put in a shift on the pitch. Zohore didn't do this, I was sat in the Grandstand with Zohore directly in front of me, making no effort to get his body between the ball and defender, no using his body strength to hold the defenders off, no urgency, no desire, it was an absolutely pathetic excuse of a performance effort wise.

Like I said, compare Zohore's effort to Rhys Healey, who has also been out with a long injury as well, and the effort shown between the two players was miles apart. If Zohore was off the pace, did things that didn't come off, lost his battles, had a poor game but actually tried, I wouldn't have slated him. I would have blamed Warnock for rushing him back instead of starting a fully fit Bogle. I would never criticise a player for having a bad game, as long as he puts in some effort.

Not sure if Zohore's agent has got in his ear for this January and told him to do the bare minimum on the pitch not to risk injury, but not even bothering to compete for the ball was inexcusable in my opinion. I felt sorry for Ralls who was battling away for every ball in the scrappy midfield area, only to see Zohore standing there and allowing their centre back to step in front of him to clear the ball, or lean over him without any challenge to head it straight back down our throats.

Zohore just went through the motions yesterday, he let us down badly and I'm surprised not many people are seeing that.

Healy only to do it for about 15mins though, HUGE difference.