As a few have pointed out the only thing we lack up front is pace. I don't neccessarily think this is a bad thing considering we have it in abundance down the wings. I slightly fear if we did have pace up front we would resort to a long ball style of play, the sort of thing we used to complain about. I like the set up NA is trying to implement ie playing from the back (how many times before NA came along did we hear a groan from 10k when Kelvin used to punt it). If we can get the ball wide to the likes of De Ridder, Chamberlain and Lallana let them use their pace to get the crossed ball in behind then give me Lambert, Connolly and Barnard over Maynard everyday of the week. They all have an eye for goal. I don't see lightning pace as a prerequisite for a striker. For a wide man yes. In my opinion we need a centre back and if this swap deal is on the table from QPR with Puncheon going the other way I'd bite their hand off. We have enough competition up front I can not help feeling one more may unsettle those we already have
His goal was quality - if he consistantly played like that, or should I say was given the chance to more often then we wouldn't need to shell out 5 mil for Maynard or whatever the extortionate fee they want for him is. If not I still think he is a good impact sub especially seeing as he can be a winger or forward, but with the 5 subs now instead of 7 I do worry. Maybe we could try him out up front vs Torquay? If Oxo Cube is out for a while we could see a bit more of him in some capacity I suppose and after today I don't think it would be such a bad thing.
Because of this stupid new rule, I do think that Torquay game could be really quite important us. Far too many players wont get the chance to really prove themselves in the first few weeks, and maybe months, of the season now - the likes of Martin, Dickson, Chaplow, Holmes, Forte. Maybe even Richardson, Jaidi and Barnard, depending on exactly who Adkins selects (the likes of Seaborne, Guly and De Ridder should all be fine, because being able to play in more than position should mean that even if they're not in the first XI, then Adkins will at least put them on the bench to increase his options). Many of these guys will no longer have regular opportunities to prove themselves from the bench, and hence stake a claim for a first XI place, and thus playing them in that Torquay game could be their chance. In particular, I can't see players like Forte and Holmes getting too many chances in the league this season - and yet and their best, they both have something very useful to offer.
I agree bud. And most of these are not young players who can be loaned out for experience. Good cup runs could keep the whole squad playing and happy. Whats going on with our reserve/u21 squad, still organised one off games rather than reserve league? If so I hope we have a good schedule lined up so that fringe players can keep up fitness levels as well as the younguns on the cusp, Reeves etc playing more.
