So what you're saying is we've only lost games when the wrong defenders are playing, and it's nothing to do with the lack of goals from upfront. I'm struggling to find a response to that.
To be fair to jck I kind of get where he's coming from. I've always maintained that not conceding goals is actually more important than scoring them as you'll win far more games if you are not letting them in. It's the old be hard to beat as you always have a chance to nick it type approach. You can score 2 or 3 a game but still lose!! However, where this falls down is if you don't look like scoring or you are not creating the chances to score. Ultimately we need to have both. I DO get the "let's be patient" approach as we created chances aplenty v Brum and we had two or three decent chances v the Wurzles. However, our front line are all still just getting started in their careers at this level. Arguably Harris is probably the one with the best grounding at Championship level due to his longevity at the club. In my mind I think I have come around to the Idea we need an experienced striker to come in just to relieve some of the pressure that is building on our young strikers' shoulders. Over the course of the season I'm sure they'll come good but we honestly can't afford to keep missing good chances to score or having play break down around the edge of the box as frequently as we've seen due to the combination of inexperience and lack of confidence. We won't even need a 15 goal type player. I'm still convinced that we can have a good season like the one under Malky where we went up as Champions but a top goal scorer on 8 league goals. Whatever happens though I still think we'll have an "ok" season and will enjoy watching the team mature and develop together. Patience is definitely the watch word overall.
I said elsewhere, a striker with a goal every 4 or 5 games would move us forward, take some pressure off Watters, Etete and the midfield and buy us some time. Also repeating myself, I'd be as happy with an experienced 30+ year old who could help our youngsters as I would with a young premier league tyro who would need as much support as they do, albeit contributing a few more goals (maybe).
Achieving balance needs time, but at the moment we're passing the ball about now with no end product. I fear that in an all out attempt to change our style, there's a danger we could have gone too far the other way. Getting that right is defiitely the key and Morison does deserve time. I've no doubt he and others at the club know that and are focused on sorting it, but waiting for the current options to come good will be the only option once the window shuts.
I don't believe we can wait for the window to shut leaving us with what we have. At this point they are not good enough. Patience is a great thing but we really cannot afford to get drawn into another relegation dogfight with our backs to the wall next January when we may be forced into panic buying. We won't have the Derby safety net this time around. I would settle for a 12 goals a season man now who can also bring in those around him to create opportunities for others. Morison has done well in building the rest of the team. It is odd that he can't find a goalscorer when that was his position. One week to go!!!
P.S. Morison scored 190 goals in 603 league games (including some non league). A goal every 3 and a bit games. He just needs a young clone of himself. Not rocket science. Or is it?
If not Hugill then who? A seasoned pro (ie journeyman)who is looking for to supplement his retirement fund? A PL youngster on loan? A punt on a lower league player? An expensive marquee signing?
The right man up front needn't necessarily be as prolific as that Bluey. We have no one to take on opposition CB's - the options we have at the moment like Harris, Watters and Zak Davies eventually only want to run past them not through them. With the right supply chain that can work but we are giving oppostion defenders an easy ride physically. No idea what sort of game Etete plays and I know it's early days, but in the two brief cameos so far, he's no battler up front to bring others into play. We certainly don't want to go back to the lump and rush style but there is merit in physical strength up front in the Championship. We do not have that option and it's going to cost us points and consequently table position if it's not addressed.
Lets face it there are weaknesses everywhere but hardly suprising with the rebuild. However the big isssue is up front. You know it is possible that strikers can be a threat themselves and make their own chances. Sadly Watters misses sitters and his overall threat is zero. Needs to be axed. The sooner Davies is fit the better and ive no idea if he will be the answer but ive seen enough to know hes better than Watters. I also dont get the he is not a striker either. As it stands Harris should start Saturday. At least he presses defenders , can create chances , and physically will make his presence felt.
I work on the premise that defence starts upfront. In saying that, I don't necessarily mean through a press. If we can occupy the opposition's minds with our threat then that, in turn, we dictate the way that they play. Currently our 'not much of a threat' resources mean that the other team can throw some caution to the wind and play higher through midfield. I disagree with SM regarding his over 30 theory. Horses for courses and an experienced 'passed his best' striker, with a good track record at our level or higher, can pass that knowledge on to our youngsters. Some would say that SM fits that billing himself with his experience but he seems unable to get the best out of any of our strikers. Get a Lewis Grabben, Shane Long style player in and see what transpires. We can't do much worse than we are currently.
Hi Sparkey, good to see you're still playing devils advocate Hi to other boys on here who are still going strong. Life and old age have been overtaking me these last few years, but I'm back to annoy you all again
As for Watters, I suspect he is destined to be loaned out to a L1 side where he will become a prolific scorer and top scorer in that league. Harris , Davies and Etete will proceed to set the championship alight. It's all in hand, nothing to panic about, 3 points from the top.
Welcome back SBFF. Nothing to do with you but my last words on this as I must get on with living. To fail to score is................. to fail!!!
Get your arse in the prediction league!!! Preston H will be up soon. Predict final score and a scorer for us.
We are scoring goals, one against Norwich and one against Brum and one against Reading , those are goals we scored so it can`t be we are not scoring. We let two goals in against Reading and two goals in against Bristol that is why we lost those two games where we had to play Nelson and Jack Simpson. God forbid five games into the season and any strikers who have not scored need to be replaced. This is a new season and these five games are with a new team and they need support from every fan. I am perfectly happy with the football we are playing after last season and we are lucky to have SM and I hope we win the league as the 40-1 I got seems decent.
