Chris Wood…

[Rileybobs]

held the ball up? defended from the front? bullied defenders? Are we talking about Barnes or Wood here?

Wood did all of those things. He held the ball up, quite often isolated up front. His lay-offs and short passing could be sloppy for sure. He defended from the front, his flukey goal at the Emirates being a prime example. He gave defenders a very tough time, didn’t come across as aggressive but he was a physical presence.

You can’t have been paying much attention over the past few years if you didn’t see him do those things. More likely that you did see those things but have let his most recent form cloud your judgement whilst taking an extreme position because you don’t like the grey area in between.

[Lancasterclaret]

Wood did all of those things. He held the ball up, quite often isolated up front. His lay-offs and short passing could be sloppy for sure. He defended from the front, his flukey goal at the Emirates being a prime example. He gave defenders a very tough time, didn’t come across as aggressive but he was a physical presence.

You can’t have been paying much attention over the past few years if you didn’t see him do those things. More likely that you did see those things but have let his most recent form cloud your judgement whilst taking an extreme position because you don’t like the grey area in between.

The amount of fans though (to be fair to KRBFC) who notice one bad thing in a game from any of our players and then that becomes the only thing they ever do in that game is mind boggling

I had more than a few arguments with people on twitter about Wood, with people mentioning (for example) his terrible miss v Wolves, but then completely ignoring his perfect penalty about 30 seconds later

He was great for us, but he was struggling this season (for whatever reason) and I hope he does well at his new club

If Weghorst can do as well as Wood did for us, then well, we'll all be very, very happy

[RingoMcCartney]

Wout - Wood.

A massive upgrade

2 letters difference but a world apart.

[KRBFC]

Wood did all of those things. He held the ball up, quite often isolated up front. His lay-offs and short passing could be sloppy for sure. He defended from the front, his flukey goal at the Emirates being a prime example. He gave defenders a very tough time, didn’t come across as aggressive but he was a physical presence.

You can’t have been paying much attention over the past few years if you didn’t see him do those things. More likely that you did see those things but have let his most recent form cloud your judgement whilst taking an extreme position because you don’t like the grey area in between.

I think Wood was detrimental to the way we play, we're a better side with the ball on the ground but to make up for Wood's lack of ability we resorted to just wellying it forward far too often. He was offside what felt like 5 times per game through lazy static play. Very good in the air, in both boxes though. I think the goals really cover up alot of his flaws for some, less so for me because the way we played for Wood, 10 was bare minimum.

[Rileybobs]

I think Wood was detrimental to the way we play, we're a better side with the ball on the ground but to make up for Wood's lack of ability we resorted to just wellying it forward far too often. He was offside what felt like 5 times per game through lazy static play. Very good in the air, in both boxes though. I think the goals really cover up alot of his flaws for some, less so for me because the way we played for Wood, 10 was bare minimum.

See, you can do a bit more balanced if you try.

[Belial]

MOTD being slightly critical of him last night, pointing him out and saying he needs to control it better, bring others into play and make better movement. Basically everything we've said this season.

On the limited showings do far, we've a more technical player in Wout, but let's not kid ourselves that Wood is as bad as made out above. Poor season for him yes, but prior to that even on this board people were quite rightly saying he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet

[RalphCoatesComb]

If, as is being reported, Wood gave Zouma some mee-owwing abuse, he gets some of his lost respect back from me.

[RingoMcCartney]

Even the geordies are comparing Wood with Weghorst. Taken from a NUFC messageboard......

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[NewClaret]

If, as is being reported, Wood gave Zouma some mee-owwing abuse, he gets some of his lost respect back from me.

Whilst Wood was meowing at defenders, Weghorst was scoring and assisting

[RalphCoatesComb]

Whilst Wood was meowing at defenders, Weghorst was scoring and assisting

Cats off to him

[CoolClaret]

It seems as though most of the people in slight support of Chris Wood didn’t read my OP or other comments but just read the title and defended his time here.

Quite sad.

[NewClaret]

Even the geordies are comparing Wood with Weghorst. Taken from a NUFC messageboard......

Their results have massively improved since his arrival. To what extent that’s down to Wood I’m not sure, but it can’t be purely coincidental. £25m will be a bargain for them if he keeps them up.

[RingoMcCartney]

Their results have massively improved since his arrival. To what extent that’s down to Wood I’m not sure, but it can’t be purely coincidental. £25m will be a bargain for them if he keeps them up.

Fair point

[warksclaret]

Cats off to him

And the purr-fect goal for Weghorse

[RalphCoatesComb]

£25m will be a bargain for them if he keeps them up.

Especially if done at our expense.

Howe and Wood into the envelope marked "Judas the Horseface"

[BabylonClaret]

Hmm. That clip from the Newcastke fans is a good one - not unlike a convo on here perhaps last season. But the defensive contribution can be seen. He's played 4 games now and they've not conceded much have they - weren't they a poor side for set piece defending before Christmas?

[bobinho]

So after continually hearing on here that Eddie can't arrange a back four of PL quality to defend, but by introducing Wood to his forward line all of a sudden he's a defensive genius and Wood is the answer to Newcastle's defensive woes?

Nope. We all know too well how that ball up to Wood in the hope he will hold it up and bring others into the game thereby helping to relieve the pressure on the defenders is (this season for sure) a pipe dream. We were all delighted when Eddie went to Newcastle because apparently he couldn't organise a defence, and Wood had become allergic to footballs.

Perhaps they were just under performing for a manager they didn't like or respect, and now they have a new manager in there has been a reaction? Perhaps the other players they have brought in have helped to tighten things up?
Perhaps a new training regime and some serious defensive coaching has been taking place behind the scenes?

Whatever it is, it ISN'T Wood.

[clarethomer]

Got a lot of respect for our all time top scoring premier league striker.

However he just hasn’t been at the races this season for us. Sometimes forced change can be good, as this one is looking like.

If this stay is true, it’s easy to understand why we are delighted with our new striker and the recent frustration that has clouded what Wood did for Burnley for some.

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[ClaretTony]

Firstly, fair play to him for ‘meowing’ at Kurt ‘the animal abuser’ Zouma…. But….

I had forgotten what it was like to play with a striker who could actually play a bit! I mean when Wood wasn’t scoring he was a complete cart horse - actually no worse because his hold up play and technical ability were practically non existent; Weghorst in contrast is a thoroughbred!

We really did get a good deal with that, 13 mill spare and Weghorst?! Excellent business!!

Really a perfect striker for us, helps link defence to attack brilliantly!!

Wood was outstanding for us over four seasons. Non existent hold up play and technical ability? Don’t be ridiculous. Complete cart horse? Even more ridiculous.

[arise_sir_charge]

Chris Wood scored goals but his general footballing ability was terrible, very wasteful with the ball at his feet and infuriating at times.

Wout is clearly a better player technically and time will tell if he can match Wood’s goal return.

[Iloveyoubrady]

Wood had a great goal return, but he didn’t this year. And he’s carried on with more of the same for Newcastle. It isn’t fair to say he was **** overall, but he was obviously not like wout. The problem with wood wasn’t that he was slow, he was quite quick in a straight line, it was his lack of natural footballing brain which allows wout, who is nowhere near as quick btw, to find space.
Also, having somebody like wout who is so good at holding the ball up will bring goals from other areas, such as the midfield and his strike partner who can run beyond him like brownhill did.

[ClaretTony]

Difficult to compare the two players. They are very different types of player.

[CoolClaret]

Wood was outstanding for us over four seasons. Non existent hold up play and technical ability? Don’t be ridiculous. Complete cart horse? Even more ridiculous.

When he wasn’t ‘up for it’ and not putting the ball in the net I think we suffered overall yes, however, was a great finisher.

For example, he wasn’t as good at linking play as Vokes or Barnes was but he was way more of a goal threat than them.

[ClaretPete001]

Chris Wood notched double digits in the Premiership for four year for us.

What more do fans want? You could argue he left us in the lurch in January but then again fans who post this sort of stuff kind of justify why players feel little attachment to clubs these days.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

I won't hammer Chris Wood because his contributions up to this season have by end large helped us stop up. However this season his form has fallen off a cliff and if anything his scoring hot streaks were becoming further apart over time.

Imo though if we had kept Wood up top for the remainder of this season there is nothing more certain that we would have been relegated, we may still be, but our post Wood performances gives us a slither hope

[PremierLeagueClass]

Big fan of wood but I suspect we will become a better footballing side and a more rounded team with Weghorst.

[PremierLeagueClass]

And you have to say at the moment this is looking like superb business from us.

[Woodleyclaret]

Tripp made the difference at Newcastle without him they are in trouble

[Lew200100]

Difficult to compare the two players. They are very different types of player.

I’d agree with you Tony. One I’d class as a very good footballer the other a very average target man. We have been fortunate to have some very good strikers over the last few years but Wood wouldn’t be in my top 5 personally.

[tiger76]

I’d agree with you Tony. One I’d class as a very good footballer the other a very average target man. We have been fortunate to have some very good strikers over the last few years but Wood wouldn’t be in my top 5 personally.

Big call that Lew, who would be in your top 5 then.

Mine would be

Ings (pity we only had him fit for a couple of seasons) but anyone who's scores the winner at Ewood has to be included.
Barnes (snip at the price, and what a servant he's been)
Vokes (his partnership with Ings got us up almost on it's own), and he bagged our 1st goal in Europe for over 50 years.
Andre Gray (his stint was short, but what an impact he had) and ditto Danny he bagged a winner against Rovers.
Wood (he's got to be on the list purely for his volume of goals at PL level) but it looks on the early evidence that we cashed in at the right time, and he wanted out anyway, so I'm happy to let him go, and this season he'd offered little to the cause.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I’d agree with you Tony. One I’d class as a very good footballer the other a very average target man. We have been fortunate to have some very good strikers over the last few years but Wood wouldn’t be in my top 5 personally.

Our record PL goalscorer wouldn't be in your top 5?
Can't wait to see that list then.

[Iloveyoubrady]

Wood was our best overall striker for years, because he could score goals, was big, strong and quick in a straight line to run channels. However, he never seemed to be involved in play, and in my opinion that was because he didn’t have the brain weghorst does. Weghorst has lesser athletic attributes, but he picks up space brilliantly. Weghorst is a proven goalscorer, and we’ll see how he matches up to wood, but what I think will be most noticeable is how many more the midfielders/his strike partner will get than when they played with wood as weghorst is just so good at dropping in (like Harry Kane does for spurs).

Wood was great for us, scored 50 PL goals and made us £10 million, but the signs for his replacement are very good so far.

I for one know who I’d choose between wood and Barnes, or Weghorst and Cornet, even if W&B did so well for us.

[ClaretTony]

I’d agree with you Tony. One I’d class as a very good footballer the other a very average target man. We have been fortunate to have some very good strikers over the last few years but Wood wouldn’t be in my top 5 personally.

49 goals and all in the Premier League - top of my list

[Tall Paul]

I’d agree with you Tony. One I’d class as a very good footballer the other a very average target man. We have been fortunate to have some very good strikers over the last few years but Wood wouldn’t be in my top 5 personally.

Weghorst could surpass him, but he'd be right at the top of mine.

[Devils_Advocate]

If we're talking top Burnley strikers of the 21st century then Wood is 2nd only to Jon Walters who but for his bad luck with injury's would have gone on to be one of our greatest players of all time.

[boatshed bill]

If we're talking top Burnley strikers of the 21st century then Wood is 2nd only to Jon Walters who but for his bad luck with injury's would have gone on to be one of our greatest players of all time.

Good one, DA.

[ClaretPete001]

Some of the comments on here are so off the wall I can't tell the difference between the serious and the sarcastic

Wood scored 49 times in 144 games, which is a scoring rate of a goal every 2.93 games, which is pretty outstanding in a team that struggles to get 40 per cent possession.

[AshevilleNCClaret]

Wood was great for us. Decent scoring record. He fit within our style of play. No complaints.
However, we were one dimensional with Wood.
Weghorst has a touch and vision that Wood did not have. While not as good in the air, his passing and awareness are head and shoulders above Wood.
We finally have some forwards that can string a few neat passes together, make a move or two, and create their own shot. Looking forward to seeing more of Weghorst and Cornet together.

[Bigvince]

I think all this negativity about Chris Wood is a result of when he left, and where he went! There is no doubting his complicity in our remaining in the premier for so long. And for that l can only regard his time as a claret a complete success! Time will only tell if Wout enjoys as much success.

[NewClaret]

I think all this negativity about Chris Wood is a result of when he left, and where he went! There is no doubting his complicity in our remaining in the premier for so long. And for that l can only regard his time as a claret a complete success! Time will only tell if Wout enjoys as much success.

I think it’s possible to appreciate the fantastic record he had for us, and the significant contribution he made to our Premier League survival, whilst also recognising he was awful in the last six months. And hoping that form continues given where he went & the circumstances. I’m grateful for his service but it’s hard to wish him well. Certainly at the moment.

[Zom Zom]

Absolutely nothing against Chris Wood. He was fabulous for us.

I’m of the persuasion that Newcastle wanted to take him to weaken a struggling fellow relegation candidate. I may be wrong, but I don’t recall any Eddie Howe side taking the field with such a footballer. They have all been rather more cultured players.

They will stay up. Hopefully, the “upgrade” certain medias tell us we have in Weghorst, will ensure we do too. Hopefully too, a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Spurs on Wednesday.

UTC

[Bigvince]

but it’s hard to wish him well. Certainly at the moment.

That’s my point, leaving us and playing for a rival

[bobinho]

Come and watch us zom zom…. Your own eyes will then tell you about the “upgrade”.

I have every confidence this lad will more than match Woods goal return for us. If he’s there or thereabouts, then that’s great. Personally, I believe if we manage to avoid the drop, and bring in one or two players of the same quality that the last two have been and we play the sort of football we can do albeit sporadically now, then it’s goodbye to relegation battles and hello to mid table mediocrity in the PL. And Wout will get the goals I’m certain. He’s a footballer, and no mistake.

[Rowls]

Wood played every minute of every game, took penalties and the team was shaped and formed to play around HIM …

Penalties? What are “penalties”?

[KRBFC]

Come and watch us zom zom…. Your own eyes will then tell you about the “upgrade”.

I have every confidence this lad will more than match Woods goal return for us. If he’s there or thereabouts, then that’s great. Personally, I believe if we manage to avoid the drop, and bring in one or two players of the same quality that the last two have been and we play the sort of football we can do albeit sporadically now, then it’s goodbye to relegation battles and hello to mid table mediocrity in the PL. And Wout will get the goals I’m certain. He’s a footballer, and no mistake.

He doesn't need to match Wood goal wise, his game brings so much more than goals imo. I don't think it's a huge coincidence Brownhill scores his first PL goal and Rodriguez scores for the first time in forever with Wout upfront.

[superdimitri]

Good players bring out the best of those around them. We saw it when Jones came in to the team instead of McCann. Marney started to play much better.
We're seeing it now with the players around Weghorst.

For far too long we were predictable with one creatine outlet our opposition had to mark out of the game. Now we have more options. Not just people who can score, but set up others too. Our opponents now have to worry about Weghorst, Cornet and McNeil and that means other players will get less attention too.

If we can work on improving centre midfield it will be even better in the future. I for one think we have more than it takes to stay up.

[Damo]

Attributing Newcastles defensive improvement to Wood is a bit of a stretch considering they spent good money on 2 accomplished defenders.
Make no bones about it. If Wilson was fit, Wood would already be warming the bench

[Damo]

Also, as much as I appreciate his goal contributions over the years, he has moved to another club and is probably hoping we are relegated.
I don't wish him bad luck, but I don't hold him dear in my heart.
He did a job for us. We appear to have upgraded and he is no doubt earning more money.
He will end up in the championship or abroad in the next couple of seasons and will quickly be forgotten

[claretonthecoast1882]

A lot of dumped teenagers seem to be posting about Wood.

Some very short memories at times on here

[The Hung Juror]

I am now fairly indifferent about Chris Wood. Yes, he was great for us and no doubt he was a major factor in us staying in the Premier League. His goal record up to this season was very good, in a side lacking creativity. Therefore, I am grateful to him.

But he always frustrated the hell out of me, constantly offside, his lack of vision, poor passing and inability to bring others into play, and so easily disposed.

I don’t blame him leaving for his big pay day, in the same position I would have done exactly the same. However, given the circumstances when he left it just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.