David Evans discusses why the criticism against Bjorn Sigurdarson needs to ease.
Why is everyone so angry?
Oh that’s right because we have massively underachieved this season compared to last.
Anger about Wolves at the moment can take many shapes and forms. I repeatedly watch Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern and shout at the TV about how bad this film is to express my frustrations.
One man who has received a brunt of fan discontent is one Bjorn Sigurdarson.
The Fancast Favourite returned to Wolves this January to a hero’s welcome after a two year exodus to help fill a striker void. But over the last few weeks what turned out to be fanfare has now evolved into fire and pitchforks every time Bjorn’s name is mentioned.
So why has opinion turned so dramatically on the Icelandic striker?
(If your answer is simply ‘because he’s shit’, please read on).
Now I know half of our Fancast audience ‘loves’ our wrestling analogies and references, so be pre-warned for what you’re about to read and put into context.
Before you go any further, watch the below video. It’s of WWE wrestler Roman Reigns (I hate the term ‘superstar’) walking into the arena at the start of ‘Monday Night Raw’ after WrestleMania 32 a couple of weeks ago.
Only watch this is you don’t watch or currently have any ideas about what’s going on in WWE at the moment.
After viewing, answer this question – Why are the crowd booing?
If your answer is “Well he must be the bad guy. No-one likes him”, then you’re mistaken my friends.
Not only is Roman Reigns the good guy, he is THE good guy. The Hulk Hogan, John Cena or The Rock of this modern age.
So why are the crowd booing him?
Well, fans are unhappy that WWE are ‘pushing’ Reigns to be the top good guy, or ‘face’, of the company.
Despite their disapproval, WWE continues to promote Reigns as the top dog. The opinion that ‘Reigns should not be pushed’ against others such as the wrestlers seen as the hipsters’ choice has grown… and grown… and grown.
Whether fans are actually unhappy with this decision or are just agreeing with some wrestling fan hipsters so they don’t get abused or trolled for saying otherwise and can therefore ‘safe face’ is a theory I would lean towards.
What has now happened is that this anger has outgrown fans view on WWE and spread into their opinion on Reigns.
In reality, he is a fine ‘wrestler’ and showman of his craft. But apparently without saying or doing anything to make the fans turn on him, he is all of a sudden the worse thing to have happened in that community.
Does all of this now sound a bit familiar?
Bjorn Sigurdarson has played in the positions he has been told to and done his best. But as fan frustrations about this below par season continue to grow due to different factors, players like Bjorn are starting to feel the brunt of where fans can project their disappointment.
Let’s clear one thing first. Bjorn has not scored a goal. I agree that it’s a fundamental part of what a striker needs to do and he should have done so by now. A criticism I can’t deny. I even howled at his ‘strike’ v Middlesbrough away a few weeks ago.
But, look Siggy’s role in the squad.
Is he a lone striker? No, but with the options of Le Fondre and Mason available, Siggy is the best choice to fill that system which Jackett preservers with.
Against Hull you could see that Bjorn was making those runs down the wing, holding onto the ball and trying to hassle defenders when the ball became loose. However, this is a role which ideally suits Nouha Dicko more than Bjorn.
Is Bjorn a right winger (which Wolves managers love to do with our strikers) No.
In my opinion you will get the best out of Siggy partnering him with another striker in a front two.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been times since January where I have watched Siggy and felt that he could have done more to get behind the defender and try to create a chance for himself. But the creativity and service available has been very limited.
Against Hull Bjorn’s link up play, energy and commitment to play the lonely striker was commendable. Some of his passes were the starting point of Wolves attacking threats. In particular the movement which ended in Edwards’ equaliser. The ground in which Bjorn made up to start that pass and then be at the near post from Helan’s cross was incredible.
Would I like to see Bjorn be given a year extension? Yes.
In reality, will Sigurdarson be gone this summer. Of course.
Although I would like to see the Icelandic striker be given a year and a full pre-season, I feel that Wolves will be looking to clear out who they can, including those out of contract, to have as much available funds as possible for a summer recruitment attempt.
Siggy’s inclusion back into the fold felt very much like Kevin Doyle’s return last season. There to fill a role in a failed recruitment drive.
In this piece I’m not suggesting that Bjorn is as perfect as his fine hair. Far from it. I’m merely suggesting that the high level of criticism he has received is not all deserved.
With little games to go I hope that Bjorn does score a goal to end his time at Wolves on a happy note, end the 900+ days drought and perhaps prove some doubters wrong.
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