last night just pointed out even more that we need a better striking option on the bench and to challenge for places.. why oh why did nick not bring in a proper striker in the last transfer window is beyond me. also how many times is nick gonna say this in an interview.. "It was just one of those nights where it wasn't going to go in" funny that nick, we've had several of those already this year.... wonder what the answer is..
I think there's been many games this season when poor finishing cost us the win, but last night I'd say was probably the unluckiest of the season. Stewart missing the one on one and hitting the woodwork, Mclean missing from a few yards out, the last ditch goal line clearance, a few decent saves from Fryatt, Koren skying a couple that you'd normally expect him to get on target, it just seemed it wasn't our night. We still seem to be lacking confidence in front of goal, despite us dominating games and it's leading to players taking too many touches(I know Fryatt always does it, but I thought he did little wrong last night), we're so close to being in the top few teams in this league, it's depressing that we're not managing to turn the draws into wins. Barmby thinks it will come, he might be right, we couldn't be getting much closer.
That is a hell of a difficult run Mr Sponge and with the defence playing as well as it is, maybe we will be able to sneak a number of 1-0s. We need Koren to start banging a few in again. We seem to have more chance sneaking these sort of results away from home and there may lie our saving grace.
But then he does have a few more shots than the others. From ESPN: Nicky Barmby 1 goal from 3 shots: 0.33 goals/shot Matty Fryatt 9 goals from 57 shots: 0.16 goals/shot Robert Koren 9 goals from 73 shots: 0.12 goals/shot Aaron Mclean 4 goals from 46 shots: 0.09 goals/shot Robbie Brady 2 goals from 48 shots: 0.04 goals/shot Cameron Stewart 1 goal from 26 shots: 0.04 goals/shot Edit to add: Although not for us, Simpson has 6 goals from 25 shots: goals/shot.
Very interesting stats those, it's pretty clear now we should have got another striker in in January if Simpson was not going to figure again.
I know it's already been said but I just don't understand why we would have King on the bench instead of Simpson if he's not guna be brought on when we need a goal. It makes no sense at all.
King is a time wasting tactic rather than a goal scoring one, a simple touch for him could end up anywhere inside the ground or out, so we bring him on in the last 10 when we need to shut up shop and keep the ball out of play as long as possible.
It just about sums up my thoughts at the moment ^^^^^^^^^ this. Good post. But i still think we shall at least get a top 6 spot. Keep the faith. Onwards to the seaside and a new club record. Lets hope for a goal or 3 maybe ?
Agree on last two posts .. need to keep plugging away. If you believe in a tactic you stick with it. We need 75 points to make the playoffs with 15 left to play. Very dooable.
15 games left = 45 points. I would suggest its very dooable. Why do people keep banging on about F.Campbell and his goals for us in 2007/08.? He played his part yes but Deano and Folan actually scored MORE GAME WINNERS than FC did. Fact. Turner was not far behind either. Most of FC goals came in big wins when he grabbed a brace. FACT.
my main concern is, this isnt a new problem, if you think back to the 1st game of the season, we dominated that and wasted a hatful of chances.. you cant be unlucky for 30 odd games, so i guess ive answered my own question.
You've missed Simpson's ratio but it's clearly way beter than anyone else on that list. There must be a reason he hasn't been given a chance, presumably to do with the rest of his game (apart from shooting which he's obviously better than the others at). Fryatt and McLean offer a lot of running and effort, maybe NB feels that Simpson wn't do that? The finishing is obviously terrible, but it's been going on for so long and affecting so many members of the team (even the defenders miss when they get a chance) that it might not be so easily solved by bringing one striker in. One thing that really annoyed me last night was the lack of players in the box. When we last got promoted we had 2 strikers, 2 out and out wingers and one midfielder who often burst into the box (Marney) and scored a few. In this team, Koren is effectively the second striker so in addition to him and Fryatt you really want another player joining the attack from midfield. McKenna is obviously very good at his game of passing and tackling outside the box, but if Evans is playing next to him, isn't it his job to arrive late in the box and provide an extra man. Isn't that what a box-to-box midfielder does? As it is we have 2 totally defensive midfielders who hardly go forward at all and the fron 4 are just expected to do everything themselves.
I think it's a mix of both, but this has been an issue for a while now and it's as much down to the team as it is the woodwork, opposition keeper and defenders. If we had the attacking threat of West Ham or Southampton to complement a solid defence and midfield we'd be laughing.
A good post well stated, I said something similar but not as precise and got thumped by most people on here. It was some time ago so it was too early to accept but its showing up now.
If Millwall who are 19thish didn't want to sign Jay Simpson permanantly surely there is something wrong? Am i the only one who saw the same Jay Simpson at the start of this season and most of last season. I swear when someone doesn't play for a while for us their reputation is doubled. Like Ghilas became an overnight sensation because he never played despite the fact he was actually very poor.
I know what you mean. With Simpson it's weird becaue he hasn't played for us for that long, and never for an extended period. So I'd personally say I haven't formed a proper opinion on him yet. Others might have decided on him for certain but I don't think I've seen enough.
Indeed you have. There are so many games that if Hull City had got one more goal in each we would have one hand on the title already and almost confirmed as PL bound. We are so close its very frustrating. But still no need to panic just yet. As for OJ, Millwall did not want him and NB sees him everyday, we dont. So there must be something wrong as i trust NB judgement.
