Morning all I,m with the Paynter out gang on this. A poor mans Becchio, just doesn't cut it at this level from what i've seen of him. If we get the chance to sell him we should, his wages are needed elsewhere. Nice to see all the old faces both here and an JA, i may even contribute myself more this season. MOT
Whats the point mate, we have somma that can do that, and he can do that very well imo. I always believe you have 2 players that can hold a ball up and 2 players who can run at full pace and scare the daylights out of defenders. if its a 4-4-2 were gonna play then you need a little and large.
Arrrrgh just typed out a full reply and accidentally pressed delete which took it back a page and got rid of it. How annoying. Anyway, the gist of it was that Somma isn't a target man: he's congenitally incapable of winning headers, rarely holds the ball up and gets muscled off the ball by defenders quite a lot. While Paynter won't chip in with loads of goals, he acts as the foil for Somma/McCormack if we're playing a 4-4-2. Play those two together though and it's a weak partnership, like playing Bromby/O'Brien together at centreback. I'm not asking for Billy to be part of the starting XI in any Saturday games, but I think after a pre-season he'll still be capable of filling in and winning us games with his movement and strength to help the other striker. He did it well at Burnley home and Preston away after his fitness levels were higher, I expect he'll play a lot better when he's at 100% come August.
I don’t want Montgomery either but I don’t want Paynter. Sometimes we just gotta admit we got it wrong like we did with Neil Collins.
Pags, I think time will tell regarding Paynter. He's a fair unit & he should be able to hold the ball up for his co-striker to score a few as well as getting a few goals for himself. Last season wasn't great, partly due to us normally playing only 1 up front & partly due to the time it took BP to get back into the team following a lengthy injury. This season should be different. Hopefully he won't pick up a pre-season injury. Hopefully we'll play 2 up top all the time. & hopefully he'll get a goa or 2 early on in the season, which will do his confidence a pwer of good. But as I say, time will tell
Pags, I'll chip in with the petrol money the guys just not good enough. Radio Leeds said that LUFC havent heard a thing from Shef United so just lazy journo's I reckon.
They don't have phones in Bluntland bucks. T'carrier pigeon will be winging it's way from Bumhole Lane as we speak...
A lot depends on what actually happens to the midfield and whether they are good enough to play 4-4-2. If Grayson brings in L1 players to replace Kilkenny and Johnson then I can see a desperate return to 4-5-1. Paynter is no good for that formation. If we get some decent midfielders then you could see Paynter being kept as a back up to Becchio. Not least because Grayson won't want to admit he's yet another bad signing.
Somma doesnt get out muscled that much, he can score headers aswell (Leicester at home, CC2) Paynter isnt good enough, I was sure of that the minute we signed him, 1 in 22 isnt anything to brag about, if he wasnt 100% he wldnt be playing wld he, so that excuse is nonsense. I dnt think we'll score as many goals as last season
He actually does. His passing's not great either, the opposition defense/midfield tend to intercept a lot of it. The game that sticks in mind is Bristol City at home, he did bugger all for an hour and then Luciano came on and dazzled everyone. Leicester home (league), Palace away and Sheff U away all stick in mind as games where he got completely outmuscled by defenders time and time again. That's one header. Wasn't he completely unmarked too? He's a big guy but never seems to be on the end of set pieces or crosses, the defenders just find him lightweight and easy to deal with in the air. Players who aren't 100% get played all the time. How many times did he play 90 minutes last season? Once is the answer. He's obviously not been 100% fit, nor has he been 100% sharp. Pre-season should rectify that. If not, he's still good backup and we'll still score loads of goals, so chill out.
Somma doesn't always get muscled off. You forget it was him who held the ball up (very well) in the dying moments of Coventry away. Get it to Somma and get it in the corner was the strategy and he was holding onto it for a long time.
the bloke busted his leg - or shin splints or whatever in the end and messed up the first 4 months of his season. Becchio went of like a rocket Somma was the new crowned king Poor billy then could not hit a barn door.... give the guy another season and lets judge him then if he hits 10 goals as a impact sub then Lets focus on the areas we need too DM CB LB
Donny away he was very good at holding it up too. It's just that more often than not, he isn't strong enough. Maybe that's something for him to improve on over the summer, get pumping some iron. He'll never be a Becchio/Paynter style centre forward though.
put an unguarded snazzy car with the key in the ignition in the other teams goal, then that scouse lump will be able to find the target!
