As part of the ongoing saga re Danny Graham not scoring since he was 3 years old or summat, someone else in a thread elsewhere on this forum mentioned Charlie Austin 'scoring goals for fun'. Well yes 5 goals in 9 games suggests he's doing rather well. But then consider that is at Championship level and against Yeovil, Barnsley, Bolton and Middlesbro, the latter only just moving away from the foot of the table following yesterdays result. For me we did well to swerve Austin. After spunking millions on a crocked Bullard, it was too much of a risk on an unproven (at Premier level) crocked Austin. Danny Graham suffers the 'number 9 syndrome'. Too many associate the 9 on the back as being an out and out goalscorer, particularly the numpties that phone in to umbersard. DG has got more about his game and is doing well for us. Brady was quick to claim the West Ham penalty (probably rightly so because he 'won it) but DG was after taking it. Had he done so he would have scored and the goals would have started flowing then. As it is, we'll have to wait a little longer, but goals will come from this fellow.
I like him. He's good on the ball and holds it up well but watching the highlights from yesterday he doesn't seem to have the desire to score.
He should be dropped next game in favour of Sagbo/Proschwitz. He is a hard worker and he's decent enough on the ball, but a striker should be scoring goals and we had plenty of crosses that flashed across the box but nobody put them in. Graham couldn't have any less confidence at the moment and I don't think he'd begrudge Brucey for dropping him; even he must realise it just isn't happening. Proschwitz has managed 5 in 2 for the reserves and scored the winning goal in the League Cup, I don't know what more he can do to stake a claim for a Premer League appearance.
I don't think it's desire, I'm sure he wants to score as much as we do! He just doesn't look relaxed or composed when presented with a goal scoring opportunity. I can't blame him for being up tight given the worlds media counting the minutes since his last goal. I like his play, he works tirelessly for the team, holds the ball up well, surely once he gets one his composure will settle and he'll score with more frequency.
Issue with Big Nick was last year he was shocking, he couldn't hold the ball up or win a header. Nick scored 4 against a League One reserve side, and one against a Championship reserve side in a cup game, that's all, he is not suddenly world class. He suffers from Ghilas diseases, the longer your out the better you become. I would like to see Sagbo given ago away at Spurs or Everton as i doubt we will get anything with Graham or Sagbo up top so might be worth a go.
Thing is, he still finished with more goals than Danny Graham did. I think you're being a bit harsh on him, he just wasn't as good as Simpson or Aluko, but he's actually a very good technical player and a good finisher. I'm not saying he's the tits, I'm just saying that he's been scoring goals (who it's against is irrelevant) and Graham hasn't, so either Sagbo or Der Proschwitzer to come in next time out.
To be fair we were reported as offering between £5 - 6million for Long so we probably could have had both players.
Agree with Macca. He's playing well and so is the team so why drop him? Proschwitz and Sagbo looked far worse when they've played. When I said desire I suppose I meant bravery as well as just making the runs. The one that Vlaar cleared after it was crossed from the right was Graham's ball to win, he was ahead of Vlaar but didn't want it as much as Vlaar did.
Long came up on deadline day and was a last minute thing. Bruce himself said Thudd was never originally an option in his mind, he only went for him when he went for Livermore. Had we spent the £4.5m on Austin, he would've ignored Thudd as he already spent that money on someone else.
Tommy - Graham is living proof that there's more to playing up front than just goals. He's clearly our best centre-forward (Aluko isn't a CF) despite not scoring. If anyone really thinks Sagbo or Proschwitz are better having seen them play recently then they're either seriously ****ed in the head or more likely, too obsessed with the 'A striker is paid to score goals' cliché.
I Know that but we're comparing tallies from both players. Give 4 penalties to Graham to see if he doesn't score some goals too.
I must have missed those yesterday. The quality of the defending in the premiership is far far better than the championship. We dont get enough players in the box. Graham was flanked by both CB's. Aluko doesnt get in the box, neither did Quinn or Elmo. We need more options when/if they ever beat the first man.
Then he isn't a very good striker is he? All the bits of his game he's good at make him more of an attacking midfielder. I was sat with my dad yesterday and he was saying the same thing you are. Yes, he does a lot of off the ball work and his link up play is alright (not spectacular), but then you could've said the same of Richard Garcia and he sure as hell wasn't a striker. He isn't a bad player by any means, but his lack of confidence is just going to frustrate him more and more and the other players who are having to go to Hartlepool reserves away on a Tuesday night and are scoring goals aren't getting the chance, when really they should. Maybe dropping Graham a bit deeper would be better? I thought Sagbo made a good impact when he came on yesterday and I'm sure Gedo will grab his opportunity when it comes.
