Savor the moment boys, strikers like Chris Woods are a super, super rare breed. South Africa with all the investment has never been able to find another Benni McCarthy. Yes there will be other good strikers to follow, but rarely in the breed of a Chris Woods. 22ct gold.
20 goals in an EPL season. Some class on this list. From Niche Cache
But count ‘em all up and The Woodsman is just the 52nd man to achieve this mark in a Premier League season, this being the 95th instance overall. If you want to try a thought experiment around what an incredible achievement this has been, take a look at the full list and ask yourself who is the worst player on there. Because they’re all ballers. You don’t fluke your way to 20 goals in a Prem season.
Alan Shearer (7), Harry Kane (6), Sergio Aguero (6), Thierry Henry (5), Mo Salah (5), Ruud van Nistelrooy (4), Jamie Vardy (3), Les Ferdinand (3), Erling Haaland (3), Andy Cole (2), Robbie Fowler (2), Ian Wright (2), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2), Didier Drogba (2), Carlos Tevez (2), Wayne Rooney (2), Robin van Persie (2), Luis Suarez (2), Diego Costa (2), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2), Louis Saha, Mark Viduka, Stan Collymore, Chris Sutton, Andy Johnson, Romelu Lukaku, Ivan Toney, Darren Bent, Kevin Phillips, Danny Ings, James Beattie, Matt Le Tissier, Peter Beardsley, Cole Palmer, Frank Lampard, Teddy Sheringham, Gareth Bale, Heung-min Song, Jurgen Klinsmann, Dwight Yorke, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure, Alexis Sanchez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Isak, and Chris Wood
Woah, he hit the post full force! Love how the commentators try and lay the blame on the asst ref - "thats what happens when the flag doesnt go up" - Liker the striker was watching for the flag in any case.
Would be nice if he could score a meaningful goal in a big game for us one day though. He's never had a Fallon/Reid/Smeltz moment. It is nice that he scores goals in a big league but that doesn't really matter that much to me personally Saffa
Savor the moment boys, strikers like Chris Woods are a super, super rare breed. South Africa with all the investment has never been able to find another Benni McCarthy. Yes there will be other good strikers to follow, but rarely in the breed of a Chris Woods. 22ct gold.
Would be nice if he could score a meaningful goal in a big game for us one day though. He's never had a Fallon/Reid/Smeltz moment. It is nice that he scores goals in a big league but that doesn't really matter that much to me personally Saffa
Savor the moment boys, strikers like Chris Woods are a super, super rare breed. South Africa with all the investment has never been able to find another Benni McCarthy. Yes there will be other good strikers to follow, but rarely in the breed of a Chris Woods. 22ct gold.
Yeah but that ain't the Woodsman's fault is it. He was oh sooo young in 2010.
A double in Tokyo verus Japan. Nicely taken goal against Mexico at the 2017 Confeds Cup, from a peach of a Lewis pass.
Ask most football fans around the world about Kiwi footballers, and he's likely the only one they can name.
Prayers that he will be fully fit come June next year.
Would be nice if he could score a meaningful goal in a big game for us one day though. He's never had a Fallon/Reid/Smeltz moment. It is nice that he scores goals in a big league but that doesn't really matter that much to me personally Saffa
Savor the moment boys, strikers like Chris Woods are a super, super rare breed. South Africa with all the investment has never been able to find another Benni McCarthy. Yes there will be other good strikers to follow, but rarely in the breed of a Chris Woods. 22ct gold.
I've thought the same at times, to be honest. He has only scored 2 goals against teams below 50th in the rankings in his All Whites career, only 3 non-penalty goals against teams ranked below 90th since 2014; no goals in World Cup playoff matches either.
Is it harsh to judge on those matches rather than hattricks against Samoa?
He was plenty old enough in the Peru and Costa Rica games though
Mate he sadly wasn't fit against Peru. Jogging on one leg, hammy injury on the other. A fatigued Thomas who gave his all ran himself ragged at the ROF, had a glorious chance to play the Woodsman in late on, but completely shanked the cross.
Against Costa Rica, Wood had the one big chance that Garbett created and he buried it, but righly VAR ruled it out. That footage is still to painful to rewatch. He did however have one very reasonable pen shout in that game that another ref may have given.
Edit - and re Carlind's post above he's scored against Japan x3 (double in 2014 & another in 2017), plus Mexico at 2017 Confeds Cup. I doubt either have ever dropped out of the world's top 50 ranked teams?
What has been annoying lately is his propensity to get injured on AWs duty. Australia 2022. China 2023. New Caledonia this year.
And yes when he has played against the bigger teams, he can cut a frustrated figure with a lack of any real quality service. It's several steps down from his team mates like Elanga at Forest. But Bell and McCowatt now look to be in upward trajectories. Stamenic, Old and Garbett definitely also have strong upside. De Vries with his great deliveries has forced his way back into the squad. Hopefully the team can create more chances for their EPL striker. Though I still think this squad will be stronger in 2030, than 2026.
Unfortunately can see him missing the Toronto games next month. Forest seem a tired lot, and Wood is having to play the 90 mins.
But yipe he's due a goal for the national team in a big game. Fingers crossed for next year.
Really disappointed in Jota and Sosa. Or perhaps Nuno needs to trust them more. But they should be getting more minutes, especially with Hudson-Odoi out and everyone else just hanging in there.
Nuno must be sick. Had a chance to sub him and chose to leave him on.
Have to say, a bit harsh on the coach. He would have gone off the advice from the medical staff. Also, the players themselves often try and stay on as you could come off and if your replacement does well, you could lose your spot in the team.
Still, it looked like an absolutely horrible hit, really hope he's OK. Abdominal surgery and being in an induced come could have rather lingering effects on his life, let alone his career. Hope he makes a full recovery!
So they’re guaranteed conference league, they’ll make the europa league at least with a win on the last day, and they’ll make the champions league if they win and one of villa and Newcastle also lose. City are also catchable if they drop points midweek. Pretty remarkable final day scenario for the club if you’d told them that back in August.
Forest only need to win and hope one of Newcastle or Villa draw, they don't need them to lose. Fitzy
So they’re guaranteed conference league, they’ll make the europa league at least with a win on the last day, and they’ll make the champions league if they win and one of villa and Newcastle also lose. City are also catchable if they drop points midweek. Pretty remarkable final day scenario for the club if you’d told them that back in August.
As a kiwi member of the Toon Army I’m conflicted about this weekend - it would be awesome to see Wood playing in the CL next year, but I don’t really want Forest to get there at Newcastle’s expense. Then again, if they do it’ll mean Chelsea are even worse off, so that’s a silver lining.
Halftime and Woodsy son, shoulda scored! Even contest so far, perhaps Forest shading it, but not showing that advantage on the scoreboard means starting again in the second half.
So close- but if I’m reading it correctly a draw would only get them what they’re getting anyway? Newcastle go to the Champions League and Forest get their Europa League place?
Forest missed Hudson-Odoi in the last 5-6 games.
Big Picture: twenty goal season and Forest in European competition!
So close- but if I’m reading it correctly a draw would only get them what they’re getting anyway? Newcastle go to the Champions League and Forest get their Europa League place?
Forest missed Hudson-Odoi in the last 5-6 games.
Big Picture: twenty goal season and Forest in European competition!
A draw would have got them even with Villa and into Europa on goal difference... But the loss means it's the conference.
I wonder if this will increase Bindon and Stamenic chances of being called into squad? Not as much money given to them in the 3rd tier(?) to bolster the squad may make do with who’s already on the books?