It's a bit of a conundrum really regarding the strikers position. I feel for Armstrong left up field totally isolated with little to nothing created for him. Yes he missed a great opportunity but not half as bad as some that have gone begging in the past from other players. He played his best game for us with Dykes behind him and I fully expected that to be the change last night. As good a game as Chair had, he must infuriate the forward at times. Gets in a good position to cross, the striker makes his move yet the ball hasn't come due to Chair cutting back. The striker has to check his run, start again and wait for the delivery. For me, Armstrong would still be my first name on the team sheet. This isolated striker that we play due to Chair dropping so deep and Willock being lazy, has to travel 10 yards back towards his own goal to hold the play and find a teammate.
If Armstrong was playing for a better team than us he’d be out left in a 4-3-3 I think. His best moments (setting up the second at Cardiff, that run against Ipswich) were from roasting full-backs. Theoretically you could play a 4-2-3-1 but GA doesn’t trust the lack of pace and playing in a 3 suits Cook and Fox but you could have Kakay-Cook-Fox-Paal Colback-Field Smyth-Chair-Armstrong Dykes For me that’s our strongest XI on paper. Lots of pace wide albeit not a lot of quality and gets Chair on the ball more.
Armstrong isn't a centre forward, in the same way, many, many levels higher, Rashford isn't a centre forward. Both are better coming in from the left. Problem is, Ainsworth wants to play 3 centre backs and wing backs. Last night looked like 3-4-3 to me, with Dozzell and Field in the middle. Didn't work for me. We looked better once Swansea got nervous and sat deep and we pushed Field further forward looking for an equaliser. Can't really see how we can play Willock, Chair, Dykes and Armstrong in the same starting 11. Chair in a free roll behind Smyth, Dykes and Armstrong would be our best attacking option imo.
Armstrong from out wide would be a good shout. He has the pace to go either way. I thought we were poor last night against a poor team. The midfield was totally out manoeuvred, especially in the first half. There's no need to listen to Ainsworths post match interview, you could listen to any of them to relate to this game.
Agree that Armstrong and Dykes should be given the chance to play together, to see how that works out. Something has happened with Willock...it is a mystery but he's gone from sharp, energetic and effective to head in the clouds, slow and absent...could easily have forgotten he was playing for large spells of the game last night. Is it an injury or psychological, as he was expecting to be elsewhere right now? Got to be Dykes and Armstrong with Kelman as back up until Willock is sorted out.
Smyth did look very dangerous at times. Willing to run at players and try to beat them. A few woeful crosses, but some that should have been met by strikers charging into dangerous areas.
I was surprised Armstrong was on his own against Swansea. I thought we would revert to both Dykes and Armstrong to pressure them in the box. Would have meant no Willock, but he’s been largely ineffective anyway - and doesn’t seem to have the Will to make a name for himself anymore (with us at least). Bloody unlucky with their goal and (as with Sunderland game) who knows what could have been. Move on. Point in bag. Have to do much much better. While I like GA, the shots of him at the side of the pitch lately don’t instil me with great confidence - he seems a little … lost.
Does make you wonder what they practice in training. They should be able to perfect a routine of who will be running towards the front post and who goes to the back post in anticipation of a cross. No excuse for the cross not finding a forward unless an opposition player intervenes.
The lovely little through ball that Armstrong wellied over was from Dozzell after Chair moved the ball nicely in from out wide and then passed it onto Dozzell. A terrible miss.
GA; If we can start like we finished nobody can live with us in this league. Does he actually believe what he trots out in interviews?
You've got to admire his optimism and enthusiasm. Reminds me so much of a coach I had as a kid. Full of beans but not much else
Totally agree. I was expecting the completely anonymous Willock to be hauled off and Dykes to partner Armstrong. We've got to play them together and drop Willock. I'd like to see some stats about how many times we've started a game with Dykes and Armstrong together. Anyone?
Going on this seasons stats we certainly shouldn’t be expecting Armstrong to be a twenty or fifteen goal a year striker, unless he can improve his miserable 13% shot/goal conversion rate. And have more shots to convert. Perhaps more wingerish, or just Ainsworth’s agent of chaos and disruption is his role.
