Now I know when ever I mention Cody it can be controversial but I think it's ground that needs covering once again. I've been watching many twitter debates, and there does seem a small consensus of feeling similar to my view now. If we're performing up front we are taking the pressure of frailties at the back, and this is a problem we are not performing up front. I personally believe and i've said it before, Cody / Dack cannot play together. Too much quality crowding one another's space, especially when you throw in another equation such as Norris (or another) for example. Now let's look back to BAYO days; 1. Over the top, back to goal, drop like a lead balloon from his enormous chest, little flick on into the open space which Cody will cover like a ferret out of the traps. Goal! 2. Cody the goal poacher, Gary Lineker style, or Cody hassle the keeper into mistakes. Goal! The problem now is Cody is not hassling the keeper it appears to be more Norris' job but he makes what i can best describe as a poor energetic interest in doing that. With our team now the ball should not be coming over the top, so again rules out Cody. So what does Cody actually achieve for all his determined energetic bluster, nothing, no goals. Now let's look at our top scorer's (taken from BBC site); Dack = 15 Donnelly = 10 Norris = 8 Now when Cody was playing well the first thing supporters would highlight is his scoring rate, so now I will do the same, Cody should not be in the same line-up as Dack and another (Donnelly/Norris). Why because he is crowding the space Dack wants to get into. I know I get a lot of stick for saying this stuff but the proof has been in the pudding all season now, Cody is back and the goals dry up. Passion is a great thing, and it will win you cup finals, but it will not win you the league over the course of games, you have to play as a fine tuned team and up front we are simply not that. After all let's not kid ourselves, the massive transfer bids were coming in for Dack, so why are we not building around him. If a player was sold to a Championship or Premiership club who do you think it would be Cody or Dack....I rest my case. But I'm not tactican, so i will let others debate...
Partly agree but both players played well in the first half before the whole team went down hill after Norris missed pen ( why did he take it when cody and Dack were on the pitch} Cody worked harder than Norris or Donnely in previous matches. Now what does not work is Norris with Cody. Do think we need a target man though who can hold the ball up or win some headers against tall centre halfs.
brb Creatively, in the time before Christmas, we were (are) a one man team - Dack. And Dack has been the instrument of the goals that Norris and Donelly has scored. Whilst Dack has been injured Norris and Donnelly etc have hardly scored. The style of play to 'suit' Norris and Donnelly should be more ball-to-feet ( Norris hardly won a header against Walsall ). He does have some physical strength when he gets the ball at his feet - Donnelly likewise --- but both of them have relied on the craft of Dack to create a goal scoring shot - rather than some hit and hope(less). As for McDonald - you accurately describe his prowess - but we don't have a Bayo in the side off whom Cody can feed - yet are we expecting him to perform in the same way. I've said that if we play hoofball type football ( it reared its' head for much of the 2nd half last night ), then there is NO point in playing Cody - because he isn't going to win much in the air. So - are we just a one-man team ? The level of performances and results whilst Dack has been absent, suggests 'Yes' -- I also noted that, for a few games before Dack was injured, he appeared ( to me ) to be playing 'within' himself - perhaps trying to prevent himself getting the 10th booking , and a suspension - unfortunately the reduced 'aggression' reduced his effectiveness. We are what we are - a Division 3 team - that occasionally flatters to deceive, with the odd 'giant-killing' in the cup, and now and again produce a star of the future. In the grand scheme of things, we won't be doing a Leicester anytime soon. As for us fans - we either understand our limitations - and still support the Club - or we can just stay at home - it depends on how much passion anyone has for their home town club.
Great views alwaysright and gioblues, not anything in there I would disagree with, also I liked the point gioblues made 'Now what does not work is Norris with Cody.' - I did personally think of that aspect too and glad you have highlighted so.
