Lucas Pratto had probably envisioned a better start to his time at Feyenoord. The River Plate mercenary got a starting place in his first two league matches, but had to make way for Nicolai Jörgensen in the Classic after disappointing performances. When the Argentinian got a basic place again on Wednesday in the cup match against Heracles Almelo (3-2), trainer Dick Advocaat decided to change him during the break. Pierre van Hooijdonk and Harry van der Laan are by no means convinced of Pratto.
Lawyer indicated that Pratto brought ‘too little’ and therefore had to be replaced. In the first half, the attacker did not fire a single shot and was not happy in the duels. On behalf of Feyenoord, Pratto was not yet responsible for a goal or assist and Van Hooijdonk knows that strikers will be settled on that. “In that sense I understand Dick’s comment. Feyenoord does not have anything to do with a striker who does not score”, he indicates in the Algemeen Dagblad. The former attacker does not doubt that Pratto can ‘score a goal’, but believes that a striker should also have other specific qualities.
“Heads can be good for example, can be super fast, or have two legs. Then you have added value. I don’t see those kinds of specific qualities at Pratto”, says Van Hooijdonk. Former attacker Van der Laan, who played for Feyenoord in the 1990/91 season, thinks that Pratto already looks like a ‘guy of 50’ at the age of 32. That does not necessarily have to be a problem, says Van der Laan, but in Pratto’s case it is. “He just isn’t the smart, scoring striker he used to be. Too slow, not manoeuvrable, over the hill: that is Pratto and he radiates that. “
Van der Laan admits that he likes ‘stylish strikers’ like Robin van Pesie and Ronaldo anyway. In his eyes, Pratto looks more like a ‘toiler’. “A porter and anything but an athlete. Just pay attention to his feet, they are permanently at ten past ten. In other words: way too far out. He is not beautiful to look at. I certainly do not rule out that he still scored some goals. “Go for Feyenoord, you know. But the difference? No, this boy is not going to make that in De Kuip.”