I'm reluctant to judge a player on the basis of 9 games. Six goals in 9 games is excellent in my book and if he carries on at that rate he'll score around 30 goals for the season. 20 goals would be a good output, 30 would be a great output. That is especially good for a player who is not an out and out striker, but a versatile attacking player who uses his pace to good effect. That pace can also cause problems with touch, but as has been pointed out his sense of positioning is also his strength and contributes to the number of chances he gets, many of which are only 'half chances'. IMO, the 'sitter' he missed in the first half was actually a cross to Jerome, who was in a better position, and who failed to anticipate and get on to it. Nine games is still early days for a striker who is new to the team. Like DH, I'd prefer to see him play on the right in a 4-2-3-1 with Jerome or Hooper in the centre, Redmond on the left and Wes in the hole. I know people will say that Redmond should play on the right, but Redmond doesn't score many goals (he has had over 30 chances and has yet to score, whereas Grabban has scored 6 from his 36 chances).
Agreed. Jerome was standing between 2 defenders, slightly behind Grabban. Grabban in that position should only be going for goal, so even if it was an attempted cross, it was the wrong decision in that situation.
He and Jerome are actually in the gelling in period and Jerome wasn't even in the squad for the first few games. @ a combined £4.5 m the 12 goals between them is an absolutely ridiculous return. We tried 1 up front that was a disaster Holt left frustrated Winky bagged 1 Elmander got 1 and Hooper had a burst for a month and dried up too. Don't see the appeal to change a winning formular personally .
Hoolahoops played a diagonal ball into Jerome on the pen spot and he poked it well wide under very little pressure, not one mention on here.
It's a winning formula, but we're not making games as easy as we could do. I think we've picked up 10 points this season from losing positions, which whilst a quite incredible effort shows that the team are getting into positions that with our quality we really shouldn't be. I don't think it's fair to abandon 1 up front based on the failures of last season, plenty of successful teams play that way (and equally 4-4-2 works for others). The way Hoolahan and Grabban are being used is the conundrum for me. In the 4-4-2 we're seeing Hoolahan's best work when he comes more central, and Grabban has looked dangerous when he's strayed wide. I'd either like to see us play 4-2-3-1 with Hoolahan central and Grabban pushed wider, or 4-4-2 and bring in a proper wide player instead of Hoolahan. I think there's scope to tailor that to the opposition though. At home something like: Redmond-Howson-Johnson-Murphy Jerome-Grabban/Hooper Should offer wide threats either side, with Howson shouldering the creative burden in the middle of the pitch. Perhaps Howson's not quite fit enough for that though, and not quite sure Murphy's suited to starting just yet. Away from home: Tettey-Johnson Redmond-Hoolahan-Grabban Jerome Similar to what we've had recently just with slightly different roles to try and make the most of Hoolahan, and maintain the defensive shield Tettey and Johnson offer. Might just be me, but until I saw it on the FL show long after the game, I'd not actually seen what'd happened. The appeals from Hoolahan and defender by Jerome made me think it was some kind of slightly dodgy wonder clearance, rather than Jerome messing up. Yeah, he should have buried that.
Can't remember that one. I remember the one that was fired at him from Redmond that bounced of the inside of his leg into Wes's path. Jerome had a pretty quiet game too to be honest. Neither of our strikers could really get in the game.
It's the way they've gone in Munky. Other than the header v Bournmouth I think they've all had a slice of luck, with deflections especially helping him out. I agree if you were someone who just saw his stats but not seen him play 6 in 9 looks fantastic. But there is still IMO massive room for improvement in his finishing, and I would still rather see a fit Hooper up along side Jerome right now. These are people's opinions, not necessarily moaning, but just areas that could be made better.
To be honest I'm not all that bothered how they go in as long as they do. I agree there has been an element of good luck/fortune about a lot of his goals, a point I have also made, however as we should all realise by now this is all part of the game. We had sod all good fortune last season, whereas I'd argue we had a good old slab of it during the promotion year with Lambert. Looks like another one of those so far this year, long may it continue Ultimately football is decided by stats, rather than being judged on style, artistic merit etc. It's the points on the board that make the prizes, not media plaudits or fan opinion.
http://www.not606.com/group.php?groupid=190 We have 2 members now I would hope when L G hits double figures or a clean shot we will have more .
Im so pleased with our start , things can always be better, players will have off days Its great knowing we are top and still have plenty of room to improve !!!!!!
