I think the challenge for Gakpo recently is that he’s had poorer performances in our 2 perceived biggest games. In between he’s done fine. But as one of only 2 fit forwards in the League Cup final he was disappointing. Fairly or unfairly, as the senior centre forward he didn’t really step up in that game. Yesterday, away at United he comes on winning 2-1 and it coincides with the performance deteriorating. Gakpo individually struggled to get into the pace of the game. I think it’s pretty unlucky for him that it coincided with the team performance falling away.
More than any of the other 4 forward options think Gakpo needs the team to be doing well around him. He’s not as likely to grab a goal out of nowhere or provide the swashbuckling solo run you can get from the other 4. He’s more of a cog in the wider machine, and as such when that machine isn’t fully functional I don’t think you see the best of Gakpo.
This is what I have been implying about him for a long time. He's a system player rather than a one man army type player like Diaz. That means he needs to be placed in the right position with the right role. He's not the type who can single-handedly drag a non-performing team out of the mud.
First of all, he played as LW for PSV and no. 10 for The Netherlands and he hasn't been used in those roles for us at all this season and you wonder why he's not at his best. This season we have moved away from the false 9 role with the addition of the technical midfielders, and that's why he performed better last season and Nunez is excelling this season in the central role. Secondly you can look at his skillset, no further than
in his performances for us last season (so that no one can say he only performs in a weaker league), and see from that video that the bad things people are saying about him recently aren't true. He's almost a complete attacker: can pass, cross, link-up play, dribble, drive with the ball, and finish. And his speed of thought and football IQ aren't low either. He actually assisted more than scored when he played for PSV. It's the Eredivisie of course and his numbers should certainly go down in the PL, but that speaks volume about the type of player he is. I've seen enough to know there's a big player in there and I think many agree with that. He's going through a dip in form and confidence while being played out of position. Yesterday he started as RW, then wandered through the center, ended up on the left at times, made some runs behind the defenders, while also dropping deep too. Just doesn't have a clear identity in the team and I think it's the coaching staff should take the responsibility for this.