Pretty obvious I suppose, but for me, this is the crux of the problem at City. A single goal which brought us the win against a very poor West Brom was one of only 4 we've scored in our last 9 Prem League games since the Man U game. Southampton, Palace and Stoke proved we're toothless up front, and I don't think you can just put it down to the system we've been playing. It was changed by Ole yesterday, but no cigars. I suppose we did manage to stick 2 in against Sunderland only to squander the advantage and end up with one point instead of all three - the other was a consolation second half goal from a coasting Liverpool side already 3 up. I like this building for the future with Daehli and Eikrem in midfield for what is really no money these days, but if Ole can't find the right combo up front from what we've got in these two upcoming Manc games, Tan needs to press the big bucks button. I'm not saying I'm expecting to win them, just see some sort of improvement in front of goal. Don't know who's out there (and available) who can do us a job - any ideas?
No idea who we can get but if the weak link is Whitts that alone can prove costly. With the players on show probably only Cornelius is the other one most would not want. jck
Trouble is we paid out on a striker who up till now has had very little play( corny), and when he has played it didn't look inspiring, we simply can't allow him the time to show us whether he is any good or not. Maybe the FA game we can give him a big run out and see if he can fire. But I can only see OGS bringing in somebody and not sitting on his hands hoping that little acorns grow.
I can't see Tan doing that either. This Mame Biram Diouf at Hanover that Ole seems to rate - any good at this level?
Diouf is definitely on the radar and might be the one Ole will go for, some like him others not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mame_Biram_Diouf But I expect you've read that already
We need someone, even if it's just someone who can team up with FC, or perhaps give Corny the obvious helping hand he needs, if we don't get someone who can put these balls away soon then we have little chance of staying up.
Ole is bound to see Mason shine in training. To be honest we have players who can score but are having a poor run, Mutch was missing and hes proving very valuable. jck
Loaning Cornelius out is a definite option. A Prem side wouldn't take him so we just need to find a Championship club who can afford £45,000 a week. Mason should be given a go. Always liked him at Champ level with us, but didn't set the world alight at Bolton recently. Well worth a try though, but do we have the time to find out? Window shuts in just over a fortnight.
Sorry to disagree lads but I don't think Mason has it at Prem level, at least not with us. A great lad, plenty of effort and energy but not the quickest, not that good in the air and first touch could be better. That's why he hasn't played for us and been loaned out. I think Bolton fans echoed those thoughts as well. Perhaps he could be suited to Eikrem who was looking for someone to run the channels yesterday but no one could oblige. As ever I will be delighted to be proven wrong. Diouf looks like he knows where the goal is. I know we said the same about Corney as he looked good in Denmark but we really do need to change things and get someone scoring regularly. Mind you if Corney had put that header away (as Gestede may well have done) then possibly we would think a little better of him. I think Finnbo would cost several times what we have offered for Diouf - about £2,5m I think. In addition we don't get the ball into the box in goal scoring positions often enough. When did we last get a tap in like Cole yesterday? He still had to beat Marshall but from 5/6 yards he should. Campbell was unfortunate to have his shot from a little further out well saved but did he need to blast it? A sidefoot 2 yards either side of the keeper and we were back in business. I suppose it's not all doom and gloom as we had a few chances albeit most of then from the edge of the box but we really have to learn to put the ball in the back of the onion bag if we want to stay in this division.
Sparky I think we are going down. With our current debts I dont think we should chuck money at staying up. Weve got 2 young players in and also players who will stay and if we go down be good enough to get us to bounce back. They need to play though. We should be offloading those who are not good enough now though. Wonder if Odemwingie is wanted by Harry. However I think we all know the cheque book is coming out.
jck Totally agree about us missing Mutch. Until Bellers came on we had no one driving forward through the centre of the park with pace. Mutch does that so well and has the ability to take people out by ghosting past them. Anyone know what was wrong with Mutch yesterday? Subbed mid second half last 2 games and a bit of a sicknote. We will need him to be over that for next Saturday. If we sign Diouf then Corney needs to go on loan if only for regular game time and to get his touch.
