Give me Cody's goals/game ratio any day. There are probably 15+ other League 1 sides that would love him in their team. Couldn't care much about his goals/chances rate. All strikers miss more than they score. ALL of them. He has a good scoring record because he gets into positions for those chances. Many strikers don't. Anyone know what other strikers there are in this league that have a 1goal in 2games record over a period.
But there lies the crux of my issue Keefy, what happens when the chances dry up, as they do agaianst better teams. Take Barnsley for example Cody was on for 20-25minutes as a second half sub and didn't touch the ball inside the Barnsley box, in fact he may have only touched the ball half a dozen times, he was reduced to a specator, totally ineffective. Now you may argue, and rightly so, that he wasn't being given the chances, feed the ball etc. Correct but that is another issue, he very rarely creates his own chances, he is very good off the shoulder of the last defender (up until the finish)but he doesn't create much out of nothing, which is way he played alongside Bayo so well. So the arguement has to be made, who is more important in he team, Cody and the players feeding Cody? A good L1 striker would only need a one or two chances per game to score; an average L1 striker will take 4 or 5 chances... and an average L1 striker isn't going to help push the club up the table
And it's not the first penalty he's won for us already this season - but, of course he doesn't take them ! ( otherwise he might be the divisions' joint top goal scorer.) Cody may well have gone on to score on the occasions where he was 'chopped' down - thereby giving him + 2 more..... whereas a certain Mr.Kedwell would probably have -2 and put him 'level' with Cody. Now, I'm not actually 'bashing' Kedwell - I would still have him in the side - (alongside Cody) - They offer different things to the team and tactics - it's just that I feel each would profit more greatly with and from each other if they were deployed a little closer together - and be in the box to receive McGlashan's crosses. Well done, Norris for actually scoring a penalty - I was beginning to think that it had become rocket science. It will be interesting to see what happens the next time we are awarded a penalty - if both Kedwell & Norris are on the pitch. Kedwell has, personally imparted information as to why he can't blast his spot kicks - being compelled to 'place' them with less power. This seems to have reduced the effectiveness of Kedwell's penalty taking. ( I believe it is a temporary 'condition' )
BSG Some of what you say in #44 is true. I believe I have offered an observation on the matter in #45. As much I like Cody - the tactics are not suited to extract the best out of him ( and we know he can finish ) ...Also the pairing with Kedwell has them too far apart - for the greater good of both of them and the team in general. This season we do have a different dimension. We have a bit of pace in the side - we have a better chance of some decent balls into the box (not just from McGlashan ) I think that Kedwell & McDonald need to play closer to each other - I'm sure both will score more than being 30-40 yards apart -- otherwise I would have to say that it is a bit of a waste of time having Cody in the side - although I do believe that, for all the 'Cody bashing', he creates as many chances ( if not more ) than most other players in the side. He might be a little 'wasteful' - but, as I said previously, I would take his goal / game/ ratio all season long. It's a little unfair to quote the Barnsley game - when ALL were abysmal. You would have a case if you 'laid into' the defence - being unable to cut out one, two,three,four crosses that led to the goals - not really Cody's fault !
I know where you're coming from BSG, and I agree Cody is not Alan Shearer for example. Or he would be playing for a top Championship side. But I'd argue with the two items I've "bolded" above. A quick search reveals last season Cody scored against 4 of the top 6 teams (Preston, Brentford, Wolves & Rotherham). He also scored against other top half sides - Sheff U, Vale, Bradford etc. It's not as if he has a record of only scoring against weaker teams. I don't know how many chances we created v those teams. But you can't blame a striker for not scoring if he isn't given service. I also think Cody does create quite a few of his own chances, as many as other strikers do anyway. I'd also strongly argue that League 1 strikers need a lot more than 2 chances for every goal scored. Although you could get into semantics about what constitues a "chance" I suppose. I think even the better EPL players require more than 2 chances per goal. Anyway, I am very happy Cody is our goalscorer. We could do a whole lot worse. My money is on him getting at least 15 again this season (barring injury) and being in the top 10 list in the division. In fact, I reckon 20 is his target.
Always the Barnsley game perfectly made my point, I wasn't critical of Cody but if the team doesn't perfom he doesn't perform. You are correct that it is not his fault, but he isn't the sort of player to "create" anyhing on his own. Whilst Kedwell, who does chase everything sometimes, all be it fairly rarely does create something out of nothing; case in point Sheffield Utd last season and Swindon this season simply by chasing down the keeper. This also covers Keefy comments, I can't remember the last time Cody created his own chances, by say, recieving the ball with his back to goal and turning, or a wonder strike. He is good running on to balls and in the box but he is not creative. Now this may seem the I am criticising him too much, but I accept these weaker areas and I am very happy that he is continuing to score goals (and long may it continue). However, he frustrates me, I feel he could do better, which is my only criticism of the lad (well that and he seems to be carrying a extra bit of timber this season)
BSG - did you see the game at home to Walsall last season? Cody's first ticks your 'back to goal' and 'wonder strike' boxes. From memory his second, the injury time equaliser was a good example of something out of nothing. Another would be the goal at Oxford which ended our 30-odd game run without an away win, which came from him putting pressure on the last man and then chasing down his under hit back pass. Just saying.
Can't call those to memory but I'll take your word for it. It is good that he can do that I just wish he would do it more, for me it is like how I felt about players like Jon Hodge, Adam Miller and Paul Shaw; they clearly had the talent but they also seemed to coast through games sometimes contributing nothing.
Agree with Miller, but Shaw was a world apart from anyone we have had in the side since and Hodgy only played 10 mins a week ;-)
Shaw was fantastic on his day, but the one defining memory I have is that he would have a couple of outstanding games than a couple of average/poor game with no rhyme nor reason behind it
Like most players then?! I cant name any players outside the premier league who have a stormer week in week out. That is why they are playing down the pyramid surely? As a striker even more so you are relying on others too & at L1 level you might be waiting a long time for a decent ball in so a lot of the time Cody has to try and make his own fortune, one i would say he does pretty well COYG
Very true, most players can't perform consistently at this to a high standard at this level. The more potential as player has the more frustrating it is when they fail to perform, as with the list of players i mentioned, including Cody
I think the thing that seems is appearing to get overlooked here is that Cody's sole task is not just to score goals...it is to be consistent in his performance and my expectation would be a high L1 level, considering the salary he might be on. So let us look at his current games played; MK Dons, played we lost Yeovil, didn't play we won Swindon, didn't play we drew Barnsley, came on as sub, we lost and conceded two of our four goals when he came on Crewe, played we won So with Cody 3pts Without Cody 4pts Hence why i am saying he does not have to be a nailed on start every game, give the others a chance. And lets be honest when Cody played and we won, Crewe were the worst side we have seen in a very long time. Even McCammon could have scored against them....ok, ok that's not true....i will swap u a McCammon for an Oli
Cody v MK Dons - played- scored and created the pen for Kedwell. Cody then went off injured - we were winning at the time. Yeovil - didn't play (against side bottom of division) - we got a slightly lucky win. Swindon - didn't play - we got a decent draw. Barnsley - came on as sub at a time when the game was lost and EVERYONE in the side was having a shocking day. The only time we played the ball forward we created the pen awarded for McGlashan being chopped ( Kedwell nearly messing it up - and nearly ruining the day for one Gills fan who had us 1-4 @ 28/1 ) Crewe - played - scored. ( yes, he could have made it more certain than it looked - but would anyone seriously care if the ball goes in off his backside ? ) Stevenage - played - was chopped down for the penalty that won the game. Cody hasn't just been scoring - he's been chopped down for a couple of penalties - he's getting involved as much as any striker that Gillingham FC can afford for our L1 season - but the tactics haven't best suited Cody's abilities - that is why ( despite my obvious support for him ) I have said that he may as well not be in the side if our tactics don't help him. My post#46 elaborates a little on my thoughts re tactics.
Hold up all you Cody supporters and detractors! Don't forget in the New Year he can start talking to other clubs if nothing attractive enough is on the table at Priestfield. What price Micky Adams (in revenge for us nicking Lofty) takes him on a free at reasons end to team him up with Tom Pope ? Sounds like a good combination.........
This thread is literally outrageous. If Cody scored more goals, quite simply he wouldn't be with us, he does a great job and scores in half of his games, please go out and find me another striker who has that goalscoring record who we can actually afford. Additionally, to those who say he doesn't work hard for the team, utter rubbish, he creates chances out of absolute thin air. Without even going into the previous seasons, both MK Dons goals were down to his tenacity to get the ball when the defender was odds on to get there first, Tuesday was a similar story. BRB i usually take your points with respect but your outlining of the losses and wins points ratio with Cody in the side is ridiculous because of all the points Always has already raised, and to pick up on another point, he actually is only there to score goals yet he does a lot more! Let's look at the leagues top scorers last season, Assombolong and Baldock, both work equally to Cody trying to create chances, both have now moved on in multi million pound deals. Cody is not at their level in terms of scoring goals, yet he works just as hard and continues to be the player most feared by our opposition (apart from maybe mcglashan now).
