Like lots of other sides in the Prem, we seem to have the problem that our strikers are limited. Jerome works very hard, leads the attack well, and plays the channels effectively, but doesn't represent an imposing presence in the way that, for example, Benteke is. Mbokani looks very one-footed and also a little clumsy, although he has power and deserves some time - the pass for Jarvis to score agst WBA was inch perfect. I'm convinced that Grabban's problems are mental - he is simply too flaky, which is why he will always screw up the sitters because he has no mental composure. Also I suspect that mentally he needs to be 'top guy'. If that's the case, he should look at the Championship, because he's never going to be top guy in a Premiership team. Hooper in theory could be a fantastic player but seems to lack the basic discipline to even lose weight. He looks like a player who'll happily take a ridiculous wage to sit on the bench. Lafferty clearly isn't rated by AN - this weekend makes that very clear - and should agitate to leave in January. I think he could, and will, do very well elsewhere, but he just isn't on AN's radar. RvW needs to rebuild his career outside the UK. Spain or Portugal seem the obvious places for someone of his footballing intelligence who can't really cope with the physical side of Premiership football. I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing we still had Holt at the peak of his powers. Fans of other teams used to take the piss and call him Fat Boy, but he offered a central figure that none of the current players do.
Hooper is intelligent enough to play in the Wessi-shaped hole behind Jerome. The Irish wizard is 33 now and his involvement in games needs careful managing. If he was subbed after an hour or so, I'd have no problem with Hooper coming on in the hole behind the striker. Though it's starting to look like we'll possibly never see Hooper or Lafferty in a yellow/green/MacDonalds uniform ever again?
Just re-read my post and feel sorry it sounds so negative. I wasn't trying to slag our strikers off - I was trying to recognise that there isn't the old-fashioned 'complete' striker any more. And arguing that Holt was much closer to being it than the fans of other teams gave him credit for.
Holty was always a deceptive striker. Quicker than you'd think, really good ball control, very intelligent with his passing, strong and clinical. I miss his presence up front.
I think your OP was a very fair summary and I feel Jerome needs to be rested. He missed a relatively easy chance against Stoke and again yesterday when we were leasing 1-0 - had we gone 2-0 up, I'm sure we would have gone on to win!!!!
I was actually quite impressed with Mbokani yesterday, thought he had a decent touch for a big fella, held the ball up well and looks like he's going to be a real handful for opposition defenders. I don't see him scoring many as I've yet to see him get into any decent position in the box, but I think he will be useful. Didn't think Cam had a great game yesterday, I wonder if Laffs might have taken one of the chances he had?
Yes I was disappointed whn I saw the squad selection that Lafferty was omitted completely. He must be a bit disheartened. If we had a top striker then I think we would have beaten Stoke and West Ham but overall I am happy.
Laffery is sort of an unknown still. Looked great in the league cup and has been much lauded for his international performances but never tried in our systems and with our players as an out and out striker. That said. Every opportunity he's had, he's taken. He deserves his shot at the PL.
Jerome has scored 2 goals in 6 starts and 1 sub appearance (I count the one wrongly disallowed by Simon Hooper) and Adrian knew nothing about the vicious volley he saved with his face. I'd have rather seen Lafferty on the bench instead of Grabban, but AN seems to feel he offers a different option to the others. I was a little disappointed with Mbokani at West Ham and in both appearances though he shows some good touches, he often shows little urgency to get into the box when the ball goes forward. It's early days though, so we shouldn't judge him too soon. I'm reasonably pleased with our strikers as AN's tactics focus on getting others into the box to score rather than depending mainly on the striker up front. The situation was very different when Holt was playing under Lambert and Hughton as we depended heavily on his goals to keep us up.
Yeah, the Mbokani getting into the box has now been mentioned a number of times. I'm torn as to whether it can be really a criticism though (I know I was critical at first in my ratings). As one of our tallest, he was obviously expected to pull his weight defensively too, and given the pressure we were under with their freekicks and corners, it's not surprising he might have been in our area rather than West Ham's, and on the TV it's impossible to tell whether he was then busting a gut to get forward. Also, as a loan centre-forward when the other team are dominating, it's inevitable that you'll drop deeper and deeper (and end up not in their box so often). So I'm going to try to withhold judgment until I've seen him start a game. On his touch - I thought he showed some very intelligent interplay, and at times it looked brilliant. But then other times it seemed very heavy. A bit variable - like Benteke. Hopefully that will steadily improve as he gets used to the league as he clearly has class about him, I completely agree with you RER "we should judge him too soon".
By the way Bath, I meant to say that I spent a long weekend in your neck of the woods last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Roman Baths were stunning and well worth the somewhat ambitious entrance fee. The Abbey too, very impressive. It is a lovely City and was long overdue a visit.
Going back to Mbokani, I probably sounded harsher than I wanted to. For a big man he handles himself well and has quick feet when tusselling for the ball with opposing players. The through ball to Jarvis was pure class, but then he just stood there rather than running into the penalty area in case the keeper parried Jarvis' shot. It's happened several times but hopefully AN and his team are working on it and more match fitness will probably help as well. In spite of that, though, I think he could add a new dimension to our play when he settles in.
Mbokani only played a handful of games last season so is clearly not match fit yet this season. I've seen enough good things this season to suggest when he is match fit he could be a beast.
I dont see an issue. We are not going to get a 20+ prem goal scorer for cheap, so why not be happy with what we have. I just wish everyone would stop moaning, because I think our current crop of strikers have more than enough in them to keep us up and more, added to the fact that we have goals in midfield as well. Harping back to wanting Grant Holt back is just ridiculous!! We have millions of pounds worth of strikers in our current squad, all capable of scoring and the envy of alot of other teams. Personally I am more worried by our frail defence!!
We have a good mix of scoring options without having to rely on the striker alone. Assuming Alex starts with the predicted line-up on Saturday there will be only three outfield players on the pitch yet to score a PL goal this season (Bassong, Howson, Tettey). The fact we are creating lots of chances and having plenty of pops on goal shows a core strength within the team and whereas we'd all want Cam/Mbonk/Grabs/Laffs/Hooper to be banging in hat-tricks each week it ain't gonna happen and as long as everyone else keeps chipping in then we'll be fine.
