Weren't nearly all his starts in away games Nines? He would have been isolated as the lone striker in those matches.
I wonder why he hasn't been tried much alongside Polter; it seems like an Austin/Zamora-type partnership could develop???
I think it's because 4-4-2 is the last refuge of the desperate. might get away with it in the Championship though. Sometimes.
Yes the majority were away games 2 at home, 5 away. The 7 games he started were :- Ipswich H 1-0 Bolton A 1-1 Sheff Wed A 1-1 MK Dons A 0-2 Leeds A 1-1 Brighton A 0-4 Bristol City H 1-0 W 2 D 3 L 2
It would seem so. I was afraid that a comment such as that would be made. My money was on finglas coming up with it though.
Did he ever start with Polter? Most of last season has been long forgotten already but at MK we had him up front alone with no support within 40 yards. No Chery or Hoilett that day from memory.
Only in his first start against Ipswich away did he line up alongside Polter. He played up front with Mackie away to Bolton and Leeds. He was the lone striker v Sheff Weds, MK Dons, Brighton and Bristol City.
Conor Washington has had "some" game time with us, especially the last two matches where he was in the starting eleven. Unfortunately he has not yet scored for us, but he seems to be scoring regularly for N.I (two goals in two matches I believe). I don't think that the issue is Connor, but possibly how he is being used by us. I would be most grateful if someone who watched these N.I. matches could provide a quick insight into his role and position in the N.I team compared to how we have used him to date.
Expect the opposition defence's in those weak National teams are more sloppy than you get in the Championship, especially in friendlies. I don't rembember Washington getting past a defender once against Bristol, and he was never close to winning anything in the air or loose come to that. Hope he comes good but not confident based on what he's done with us so far. He's no lone striker and even we had better alternatives in the more attacking midfield 3.
Oslo - many thanks for your reply and your insights. I agree with the potential sloppy nature of these international friendlies, especially in this period of a run-up to the Euro tournament. A quick follow up question: Is Connor also used as a "lone striker" in the N.I formation, or is it part of a 4-4-2 or some set up?
Kiwi - that is exactly the point. Why does he have a good goal scoring record for N.I and a very poor record with us?
That common and highly infectious 'QPRitis' bug that lingers by the doors to Loftus Road and strikes many down with a bug that takes all their abilities and diminishes them to that of a schoolboy. So sad...so many players have been struck down with it over the years.
Well, despite all our misgivings about him Washington is the only R going to the Euros so let's hope Northern Ireland have a good run and he bags a few goals as well, he may return an even better player...
I hope he has a great Euro and comes back better, more experienced and more confident. I will just add an exclusion clause to his iopening games (against Poland) where I hope he stays off the score sheet
