Back in 1972 we listened to this a lot and our group was convinced he was watching himself gavotte!!!! Not the clearest of voices our Carly.
So the answer to my original question is quite clearly.... Well not clear at all tbf.... Original question, what original question? To think that this would remain a sensible post!e Well, I had a some dreams - they were clouds in my coffee... Clouds in my coffee
To answer your question, yes, sign up an attack coach. Won't happen though. Its more likely we'll get to see the total eclipse of the sun.
A defensive coach may have priority - Wigan’s goal was a terrible goal to concede; allowing a cross & not heading the ball away
Perhaps that's where its going wrong, stick to practising shooting, I hear hitting the target is a good starting point.
After Saturday, I can't help feeling that this thread is worth revisiting. Is it purely a striker problem that we have or is it about the quality of chances we create. One or two go astray but I wonder how many absolute sitters we miss. Is it that many? Would love to see us driving into the box a bit more and up our chances of penalties too. I think we all agree that the goal count is a problem so should we be taking positive action to improve. I know I'm just asking the original question again.
A large proportion of our goals came by the aerial route, but with the "big guys" now virtually gone, we are creating far more chances on the deck. Chances have gone begging - Harris, Robbo, Ojo and even O'Dowda have been guilty of some poor finishing. More balls have been played into the box below head height recently than for ages - get "killer instinct" sorted and we'll climb the table.
They say strikers can't be created - they're just born that way, but I'm not so sure. Natural finishers like Aguero are thin on the ground and way beyond our means, but there must be a way to "coach" the art to an extent. If the often poor decison making by the likes of Harris and Robbo could be coached out of them, we'd be in a better place. You can't coach pace over the ground but you can coach pace of thought and awareness. Without zillions to spend, that is the only way forward for the club up front.
Being alert to fact the ball is on its way might help, need to be on your toes and ready. Haaland is a prime example of how to be alert, doesn't seem to be doing much ....then pounces. Not saying its easy, but i do think its a state of mind, the absolute blindness to everything except getting to that ball and putting in the net.
It was interesting watching MOTD2 last night as they had Mikael Antonio on the programme and he talked through hi thought process for some of his movement during attacks. The majority of it comes down to awareness and anticipation in my opinion. Awareness IS something that can be taught (at least the ability to have the mindset to take in what's around you at the time) but anticipation is something that will come more easily with regularity of occurrences and familiarity with those around you. Putting our two 10 man experiences to one side, it'd be interesting to see how many chances we're creating now when compared to say our first 8 games? I may have to do some stats trawling later... Robbo has only been with us for what, 8 or 9 games so far? I'm pretty sure we'll see an increase from his arrival point.
We have some pace up front but we play too high a line. That leaves little room for us to put pressure on the defence either from a threaded through ball or a wide ball around the back of the defence. I remember Whitts (may he rest peacefully) scoring a hat full of goals one season with many coming from timely arrivals at the back post from balls sent in from the wide right. I also watched Antonio last night and it was interesting. However what was clear is the the wide players are also on the same wavelength as him. They can read what his options are and are waiting for him to make his move. This is definitely a training ground requirement. They need a proven goalscorer to advise them or coach them in the way that a striker thinks and acts and what they expect in the way of service. (Earnie?) Ultimately this is football and the game is played in it's most simplistic form to facilitate the scoring of goals. You score 3 and we'll score 4. Ok stopping them from scoring also helps but that doesn't win games alone.
Ahh, the old Kevin Keegan at Newcastle philosophy - I loved it. BTW - I've heard that City have spoken to Earnie.
