Striker(s)?

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I don't think there's any cause for concern on that front. Whittaker is more than capable of covering in that position for a few games in the same way Naughton did last season.


I've never understood this about Martin. Everyone says he's a fantastic finisher. PL went as far as saying he was the best finisher at the club, yet his goal scoring record at Norwich isn't that great.

His career at Norwich currently stands at 34 goals in 115 games, compared to Holt (73 goals in 139), Hoolahan (27 goals in 150 games) and Jackson (17 in 65) he doesn't come off that well. In the case of Holt and Hoolahan you could say they have started more and take penalties, but Jackson starts from the bench a lot and is scoring at about the same rate, yet Martin is considered a better finisher than Jackson.

Martin isn't able to get into the same positions as Holt and Jackson and has far fewer chances during a game.

It is a rare occurance when Martin shoots for him to mishit, like Holt he is a very clean striker of the ball, it may go wide or over but more often than not its a very clean contact. I don't think people appreciate how cleanly Holt hits a football so frequently when shooting and passing. His skills and touch are very underated.
 
Martin isn't able to get into the same positions as Holt and Jackson and has far fewer chances during a game.

It is a rare occurance when Martin shoots for him to mishit, like Holt he is a very clean striker of the ball, it may go wide or over but more often than not its a very clean contact. I don't think people appreciate how cleanly Holt hits a football so frequently when shooting and passing. His skills and touch are very underated.

You've just backed up precisely why I don't understand the myth that he's the best finisher at the club. I've just started playing five-a-side football again, and while my first touch has deserted me a bit, I still strike the ball cleanly. That doesn't make me the best finisher on the pitch though as more often than not the shot is off target. It's the same with Martin. He strikes the ball well, but unlike Holt who will hit the target with most of his shots, Martin hits the target with a lot less.
 
You've just backed up precisely why I don't understand the myth that he's the best finisher at the club. I've just started playing five-a-side football again, and while my first touch has deserted me a bit, I still strike the ball cleanly. That doesn't make me the best finisher on the pitch though as more often than not the shot is off target. It's the same with Martin. He strikes the ball well, but unlike Holt who will hit the target with most of his shots, Martin hits the target with a lot less.

I said it may go over as any striker will.

Your 5 aside game is not professional football, shooting past professional goalies and defenders from 8 yards.

When I say say ball cleanly I don't mean when you have a free shot, thats easy. Its when you have players around you, the ball at knee height, being off balance, short of time, running at full speed, jostling and then striking cleanly aiming from further away and nearer the goal edge.

Good strikers hit the ball true, thats partly why Shearer got so many, very rarely scuffed it, always hit hard and true.

I still maintain the reason why Martin doesn't score as many is because he can't get himself into those shooting positions because he is hopelessly overweight, he's good technically but not good enough to overcome this lack of mobility which he lacked even when younger and thinner.