We need to talk about Sam Dalby

[Tombwfc]

5 hours ago, Traf said:

I'd hope not, but he was our no. 1 target.

 

The other strikers at the time were Charlie Warren and Big Dave. It's inconceivable that we weren't going to sign anyone else until Dalby got injured.

[bwfc4ife]

On 30/11/2025 at 10:31, Wanderlust said:

2. Get him on to hold the ball up when we need an outlet. From what I’ve seen he has the touch of a rapist

This is one of the greatest things I've read for a while, almost spat my coffee out 😂

[frank_spencer]

36 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

It was a mixed bag the summer signings; so far Taylor, Dalby and Cissoko have been very disappointing but ACD, Burstow(albeit he is having a bad run of form) and Simons have looked good. The others haven’t really impressed though as well

Erhahon has looked a decent player too. Cyrus, TSL and Gale have all impressed me too.

[only1swanny]

5 hours ago, frank_spencer said:

Erhahon has looked a decent player too. Cyrus, TSL and Gale have all impressed me too.

Erhahon was an undisclosed fee, but I'm sure I read somewhere he was 700k.

[RUREADY2ROLL]

6 hours ago, frank_spencer said:

Erhahon has looked a decent player too. Cyrus, TSL and Gale have all impressed me too.

TSL is coming good; forgot about him and Gale has had some games. Hard to judge Cyrus and Erhahon

[Wanderlust]

10 hours ago, bwfc4ife said:

This is one of the greatest things I've read for a while, almost spat my coffee out 😂

Apologies - subtlety was never my strongpoint.

[ph31]

Some mixed feelings on Dalby not too long ago to put it mildly.

Its taken a bit of time to find a system, the players to fit and SS to admit defeat with trying to win games trying to play like man city. Its great to see it coming good with Dalby leading the line, long may it continue. 

[desperado]

What this thread does/should prove is that you should be careful making too early a judgement, being over-critical and writing someone off too quickly. 

[Zico]

3 hours ago, desperado said:

What this thread does/should prove is that you should be careful making too early a judgement, being over-critical and writing someone off too quickly. 

Whilst there's praise for TSL and Gale too so it works both ways

[Johnnyrotten]

15 minutes ago, Zico said:

Whilst there's praise for TSL and Gale too so it works both ways

Yes, definitely works both ways.

In October there was plenty talk on here about Hull maybe recalling Burstow.

How would we cope without our only proper goalscorer and leader of the line?

And I was all over the Simons thread wondering how we'd managed to get a bone fide championship player for £300k while getting 3 times that for Tomo.

My first impressions of Cissoko at Barnsley on his debut were, how the hell is he only in L1?

[Johnnyrotten]

On 30/11/2025 at 19:22, Roger_Dubuis said:

 

I wasn't expecting Dalby to be good enough for Bolton if not good enough for Wrexham.

 

Having said that i like his attitude and effort if not the standard of his football.He should only be a reserve anyway with the higher quality Burstow, Forss and Cozier Duberry available

Not picking on you, we've all misjudged lots of players, but the difference between this opinion and current general opinion in only 2 months sums it all up 😀

[bolty58]

8 hours ago, desperado said:

What this thread does/should prove is that you should be careful making too early a judgement, being over-critical and writing someone off too quickly. 

I would advise against taking too much notice of Blunderbuss.

[paulhanley]

When you are looking at a player and seeing him looking Championship standard one week and struggling with League One the next (or comparing a small block of fixtures with the next block) that in itself might explain why someone is League 1 level. By which I mean the consistency is as important as the ability. 

That is not a comment on any one of the present BWFC squad but just an important factor in separating out those who are going to do better in the leagues above ours.

[desperado]

11 hours ago, Zico said:

Whilst there's praise for TSL and Gale too so it works both ways

Absolutely.

It would be easy to assume off two games that CBT is the answer down the left, yet Apter is not as productive on the right, we could be looking at a totally different scenario further down the line. 

FWIW I think Apter will become really good on the right for us. 

Edited February 9 by desperado

[BeeversLeftPeg]

The other thing with Dalby this last month or so is what offering that outball that we haven't had in years.

I reckon every goal he's scored has been in the 6 yard box. He's a poacher and has needed a run of guys and the right service to get the best out of him.

It's nice to have the option to go long if needed if things on the wings aren't proving fruitful.

[Zico]

12 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Yes, definitely works both ways.

In October there was plenty talk on here about Hull maybe recalling Burstow.

How would we cope without our only proper goalscorer and leader of the line?

And I was all over the Simons thread wondering how we'd managed to get a bone fide championship player for £300k while getting 3 times that for Tomo.

My first impressions of Cissoko at Barnsley on his debut were, how the hell is he only in L1?

Aye, totally agree on Simons

My thinking is that him and Burstow just haven't had a proper full season before and it's caught up with them 

Same with ACD

They all started so well then all dipped at the same time

[bwfc4ife]

The thing that stands out for me which i didn't realise is that he's only made 10 starts in the league.

Started each of the last 6 games, got 4 goals and 1 assist. 

[gonzo]

21 hours ago, Zico said:

 

They all started so well then all dipped at the same time

After the club trip to Dublin....

🧞‍♂️

[Wanderlust]

On 30/11/2025 at 10:31, Wanderlust said:

Scored a great header and then……nothing.

There have been two recurring themes in conversation about him:

1. He isn’t getting the right kind of service. Well I’m still not convinced he’s that lethal when he does, although TBF his opportunities have been few and far between but it has to be a very specific kind of service as he’s not very mobile.

2. Get him on to hold the ball up when we need an outlet. From what I’ve seen he has the touch of a rapist and the ball just bounces off him or he misplaces the lay off. And he is slow  getting to the ball in the first place compared to Burstow. If Burstow is knackered and we’re under the cosh, wouldn’t we be better off sticking someone quick and annoying like ACD to chase down clearances into space rather than have Dalby get into a wrestling match on the few occasions the clearance actually comes in his direction? Or a combo player with a bit a pace and strength when required like Taylor?
 

There was a moment during McAtee’s cameo yesterday when we were defending our box and McAtee brought the ball down with an incredible touch, slipped it to Dalby and ran into space for the return - and Sam passed what should have been a routine ball straight to a Luton player. Frustrating.

So what’s the story? Do we change the way we play to suit him better? Does he need to improve his fitness, speed and touch to fit the way we play? Is he carrying an injury? Or do we write him off as a poor signing and move on?

Two months later, and Dalby has found the role that suits him and/or Schumacher has changed the shape to get the most out of him - both I think. And Sam himself has upped his game. He was certainly lost chasing around back in November/December but now we’ve started hitting him with long balls and getting players around him to pick up the pieces instead of making him chase after it, he’s finally in his element. 
And that has helped us defensively as we have stopped trying to play through the opposition from the back so much giving us another option.
Delighted for the lad and for SS for having the nous to tweak it notably changing our obsession with playing everything wide to ACD and Gale back then.
We could still improve on it as Dalby is winning a lot of challenges that don’t find one of our players, but it’s far better than it was.
 

[RUREADY2ROLL]

He has really turned it round and with Kenny in the squad we should have a real threat up front

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

 
Delighted for the lad and for SS for having the nous to tweak it notably changing our obsession with playing everything wide to ACD and Gale back then.
 

Has Dalby's up turn in form coimcided with ACDs injury?

[Tonge moor green jacket]

13 minutes ago, Zico said:

Has Dalby's up turn in form coimcided with ACDs injury?

There are some figures in the BN today, as part of an interview with Apter. They detail the number of crosses he has put in.

It would be interesting the compare those numbers with those of ACD and Gale.

Also, when those crosses are made.

[masi 51]

All was debated back end of last year on here. I said don't give up on Mcatee and Dalby would come good with another beside him

Playing two wingers away from home was the problem

We still play with the two wingers but they are chalk and cheese away fromACD and Gale

They now look up before crossing to see where Dalby is

 

 

 

[gonzo]

There have been a few comments and stuff on talksport regarding just that this week. It's like we've all been through a 3 season abyss of Nobody crossing a fucking ball in. 

Hopefully the tide is starting to turn for us at least.

Watching boro last night, there wasn't a sideways pass all game. Lincolns success this season has been quick direct crosses. Maybe folk are realising turning inside stunts any attack.

[Wanderlust]

2 hours ago, Zico said:

Has Dalby's up turn in form coimcided with ACDs injury?

I think it happened when SS changed ACD’s role and put him in a slightly more central role just prior to the injury but the effect was the same. Initial problem was no service from wide as their crossing was pants and they cut inside a lot, but now there’s service from wide and through the middle. ACD looked fine playing more like an inside right, but I reckon Gale has struggled to adapt to the system.

We certainly give the opposition more problems now we are less one-dimensional going forward.