Now I've said this before but I think this figure speaks for itself. Whoever it has been; Jackson, Martin or Wilbraham as the second striker, between them they haven't found the net since December the 4th. And that simply isn't good enough. I personally would rate the three of them in this order for the following reasons; Martin - looked most like scoring, so many nearly moments, and as Lambert said, maybe his court case was putting him off. You never know, but sadly we won't know for a while yet now he is injured. Wilbraham - got close to the goal a few times, not found it yet. However he does at least bring a rather unselfish element to the team, kinda like Emile Heskey. Jackson - seems an expensive flop. Started the season well, completely fizzled out in a few weeks. That he is so small doesn't help because it takes a possible route of scoring (Headers) and makes it a virtual impossibility. He should be good at winning penalties because he is so easy to bully off the ball, yet even with his diving, he isn't a handfull the same way Holt is. No matter what the doommongerers would have you believe we are in a very good position. If Forest win their game in hand, we are just 4 points off second place. With Holt and Wilbs I think we can get a playoff place, but unless he starts scoring goals, then I don't think we can get second... ...unless we try a new idea. Hoolahan upfront - now, I've heard this one suggested around the board. It sounds a little crazy, but also sounds exactly the sort of thing Lambert would try. Of last year's Holy Trinity, only Hoolahan and Holt are still scoring. Hoolahan is very good at scoring, and we can have space for someone like Fox or Korey to start as they are both very good midfielders. please log in to view this image 4-5-1 - Grant Holt is a very good striker, and is one goal from being in the top 5 for the golden boot. Why not just play an extra midfielder, and give the man even more service? This formation is similar to the one Tottenham have used in the past, with Grant Holt being Peter Crouch with a little less hight, Hoolahan being van der Vaart and so on. The only problem is, it has a slightly worrying resemblance to the one we used in the first half vs Burnley with 2 defensive midfielders orchestrating the play from the defence. But this team, we have 4 defenders not 3, and midfielders in the RDM/LDM not centre-backs. please log in to view this image Get a proven striker on loan - now, this seems to the most popular idea right now. It's easy to see how it works. But the problem is, it is much, much easier said than done. Not many clubs have a spare goal scorer kicking around, and for those that do, he is unlikely to come cheap. Does anyone have any ideas? I'd love to hear them. I think we need to do something, but boy, I trust Lambert will deliver the goods! Essay over.
I would prefer a Christmas tree formation (4-3-2-1) in which Hoolahan and Lansbury play off Holt and Croft, Surman and Fox provide a wider mid-field. This is not dissimilar to the 4-3-3 Lambert has used before, but it emphasizes the attacking mid-fielders supporting Holt and would be more difficult for opposing defences to pick up. Certainly think it's worth a try.
As for the proven striker on loan, Barnsley are said to be after Harewood from Blackpool and he would be my first choice. If not, Simon Cox might do the job.
Made me laugh, Dave! I see that Harewood is signing for Barnsley for the rest of the season and could play against us today. Be gutting if he scores a hat-trick!
