Let me start by saying that this thread is in no way critisism towards Jay Bothroyd. For those who watched Bayern Munich v Manchester City tonight will know what i'm talking about. Mario Gomez don't contribute with much in Bayerns build up play, he doesn't win any headers outside the box or link up with the midfield. But he score goals. I watch aprox 30 Bayern games a season, this is not a one off for Gomez, only a fine save by Hart prevented Gomez's 9th hat-trick since the start of last season. I'm not comparing the two of them, how could i? Gomez cost Bayern £30 million, Bothroyd joined QPR for free. What is interesting though is that Bayern line up in exactly the same formation as QPR, 4-2-3-1. The difference is that they don't look for Gomez as an option when they attack, they leave him to do what a striker should, get into those goalscoring positions. The three behind the lone striker and the two holding midfielders opperate in much the same way in both teams. Which leaves me with the questions, does it matter who play up front for us as long as he score goals ? And does he need to play in the same way as Bothroyd?
Gomez scores those goals because he has players like Robben, Kroos, Muller, Ribery and Schweinsteiger behind him. you cant really compare the two
If you read the post you can see that i'm NOT comparing them. Both goals today where rebounds, which in some way was my point.
You saw that Bayern play the same formation as us, then saw Gomez score two goals and immediately thought of our own team and Bothroyd. In my opinion, whether your meaning to or not, you've compared them. However, i'm now struggling with what exactly your point is mate? Yes both goals were rebounds, so are you saying that Bothroyd should change his style to play like Gomez does?
I kind of understand where you're coming from Norway. I've always thought strikers are there to score goals, so when you're essentially playing one up top it's not ideal to have him coming deep and holding the ball up all the time. Yeah, it's fine laying it wide and playing in the likes of Adel and SWP, but not if there isn't anyone in the box to latch onto a cross or through ball. I'd quite like to see DJ given a start. He's a goal poacher and would have taken some of the chances Bothroyd has been presented with.
Good point Norway there is a lesson in that for every striker lets hope NW was watching and picked up on your observations.
No, only that we should look at other options up front. Bothroyd is one of them, DJ Campbell another. Problem is when Bothroyd is up front our defenders/midfielders look for options only to see the tall man and hitting it long, and thereby unabling Bothroyd to get into scoring positions often enough. I didn't see Bayern play the same formation as us, i KNOW they play the same formation after watching them every week (except when their matches collide with the hoops), nothing new in this. Warnock and Heynces philosophies are different so are the way their teams play, they just line up in the same formation. I was just trying to open a discussion about other angles on how we should utilise our strikers to get results/goals.
This is all very interesting,regarding strikers, but can anyone therefore explain... How did France win the World Cup '98 without an out & out striker then?
Norway, if what your saying is the lone striker's role is to score and not be involved in the build-up, then I think our best option has to DJ. He seems far more likely to poach a goal or two than Bothroyd. Alternatively, Warnock might view players such as AT as our main goal-scorers and require Bothroyd's style to bring them into the game so they're within striking distance of the goal. I'm not sure that there is necessarily one way to play with a lone striker formation- it really depends on the personnel and the qualities they bring to the team
Thanks for the reality check Houston. Someone snuck a Galoise into my Marlboro packet. I swear I was this close to getting an HGV license and barricading an arterial road somewhere.
At the time he wasn't great - an underachieving winger. Fantastic player from about 2000 onwards. Probably Wenger's best bit of coaching. Shame about that va va voom advert...
Interesting comments, Norway. The idea of an offensively strong midfield and a freelance goal poacher definitely has relevance to QPR when we play DJ. When he has come on so far in games, there is a tendency for him to be pulled back deep. The freedom of his role is dependent on how effective the midfield is to push forward without using him.
