(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

I'd quite like us to have a striker who can control it and hold off defenders, before passing it to a fellow teammate.

On the subject of strikers...

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24755260.bolton-wanderers-next-opponents-mansfield-dealt-injury-blow/

Good news, or another example of us surrendering an advantage?

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Regardless, the 4 we have in our forward line, collectively, are the best 4 in the division. 

 

I wouldn't stand in their way if Birmingham's strikers (Stansfield, May, Dykes, Anderson, Juke) wanted to travel in the opposition direction 😀

 

38 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I wouldn't stand in their way if Birmingham's strikers (Stansfield, May, Dykes, Anderson, Juke) wanted to travel in the opposition direction 😀

 

I suppose you'd have to review that after they'd played a dozen games in front of a group of teammates making 97 passes amongst themselves! 😁

1 hour ago, DazBob said:

I'd quite like us to have a striker who can control it and hold off defenders, before passing it to a fellow teammate.

Like Bodvarsson??

Edited November 28, 20241 yr by JimmyRiddle

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Walker and McGinlay. Hardly lumps, but very prolific.

Don't need lumps at all so long as service is good.

I think we have plenty in Charles, Collins and McAtee,,,,,One old fashioned forward just to give options

Still move three or four out to bring a couple in

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

Cosgrove is awful

He is. ... and he was the guy who clogged Toal. I'd not want him for both reasons. But he was good that game.

If we're looking at big geezers, that Yengi at Pompey who fckg terrorised Santos at their place last December. 

Admittedly that is the one & only experience I have of him but hey.

None of our strikers seem to have that animal instinct that makes the difference. They all take ages to set up their shots as if they are judged on style rather than outcome. Top strikers will hit it first time, on the run, toe poke if necessary just to beat the block/save. It’s about goals and shooting on sight.

Edited November 28, 20241 yr by Wanderlust

34 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

None of our strikers seem to have that animal instinct that makes the difference. They all take ages to set up their shots as if they are judged on style rather than outcome. Top strikers will hit it first time, on the run, toe poke if necessary just to beat the block/save. It’s about goals and shooting on sight.

Don't agree on Charles.

He's more instinctive for me, but, obviously, still misses a few.

4 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't agree on Charles.

He's more instinctive for me, but, obviously, still misses a few.

Feeding on scraps.

Felt sorry for the lad last Saturday, running around on his own with two other decent forwards not sure where they should be playing.

I would have loved to have heard the conversation between Charles and Collins as they were walking around the pitch on Tuesday, after both being subbed.

Our two best goal scorers being taken off when we needed another goal, FFS.

 

 

Strikers are the least of our worries

13 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Feeding on scraps.

Felt sorry for the lad last Saturday, running around on his own with two other decent forwards not sure where they should be playing.

I would have loved to have heard the conversation between Charles and Collins as they were walking around the pitch on Tuesday, after both being subbed.

Our two best goal scorers being taken off when we needed another goal, FFS.

 

 

He must get so frustrated.

Darted across the back line into space wanting the ball fed through so many times. Our lads just turn inside or pass straight to his feet with back to goal.

He'd thrive in an off shoulder type team on the counter.

7 hours ago, gonzo said:

Should've signed him instead of McAtee tbf.

You have got to be joking. Can’t even get in the Barnsley side and is just a thug in shorts. McAtee may not have delivered yet but he’s ten times the footballer Cosgrove is.

Edited November 28, 20241 yr by Whitesince63

Do they still make nathan Blake type players.   Loved watching that lad.

28 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't agree on Charles.

He's more instinctive for me, but, obviously, still misses a few.

None of the four are natural finishers, though Dion has a bit more of that instinct (his finish on Saturday was very good and unlucky for it not to count). My only niggle with him at times is he doesn't instinctively go in on balls across the six yard box, more often preferring to hang around the pen spot for a cutback. Collins and McAtee are similar. Vic's bundled an odd one in. Williams played an absolute killer ball across in last minute v Posh, begging to be slid in, and all our forwards were five yards behind, waving their arms at Williams as though he'd put it in the wrong place

 

Just now, gonzo said:

He must get so frustrated.

Darted across the back line into space wanting the ball fed through so many times. Our lads just turn inside or pass straight to his feet with back to goal.

He'd thrive in an off shoulder type team on the counter.

Said that last week, in a counter attacking side that shifted the ball forward quickly he'd score far more than he does with us. He isn't being made best use of (not the only one). Lost count of the number of runs he starts to make in games only for them to fart about at the back and have another few passes

13 minutes ago, gonzo said:

He must get so frustrated.

Darted across the back line into space wanting the ball fed through so many times. Our lads just turn inside or pass straight to his feet with back to goal.

He'd thrive in an off shoulder type team on the counter.

Something I've noticed this season too. We very rarely pass into space. It's either direct or behind. Cogley or Schon darting down the wing, and they have to stop or retreat to receive the ball. That can't be an instruction, surely, or they'd all be on the same page?

3 hours ago, DazBob said:

I'd quite like us to have a striker who can control it and hold off defenders, before passing it to a fellow teammate.

You mean like Bodvarrson 

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

I think we have plenty in Charles, Collins and McAtee,,,,,One old fashioned forward just to give options

Still move three or four out to bring a couple in

Those 3 are all decent players at what they do (not sure what's "old fashioned" about our 4th striker though?) .  But none are going to score a header from open play.  I'm not expecting us to get strikers of the calibre of McGinlay and Walker but they did illustrate that you don't have to be big to score from headers, its all about the ability to find space and use skill to direct the header accurately.  The two at Anfield were the most famous examples but there were loads more.  Of our current players Dempsey is the best and Toal's decent.

 

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't agree on Charles.

He's more instinctive for me, but, obviously, still misses a few.

I still think he takes way too many touches at times. He’s good when there’s no choice but to shoot first time but otherwise delays too much and gets blocked or tackled.

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm not expecting us to get strikers of the calibre of McGinlay and Walker 

 

Why not? We were at this level when we got them from Millwall and Celtic reserves respectively. Not sure that quality of player is beyond us but as many have stated it likely wouldn't matter anyway as we simply don't play to the strengths of strikers (or anyone else really).

7 hours ago, Cheese said:

Something I've noticed this season too. We very rarely pass into space. It's either direct or behind. Cogley or Schon darting down the wing, and they have to stop or retreat to receive the ball. That can't be an instruction, surely, or they'd all be on the same page?

Yes, it's just basic football isn't it.

Pass the ball so the man can move onto it.

When we do it right, it works a treat.

Think of Rico's pass to Schon at Northampton early on.

Two more touches and McAtee was knocking it in.

Front to back goal in about 10 seconds.

And all along the floor. 

9 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

None of the four are natural finishers, though Dion has a bit more of that instinct (his finish on Saturday was very good and unlucky for it not to count). My only niggle with him at times is he doesn't instinctively go in on balls across the six yard box, more often preferring to hang around the pen spot for a cutback. Collins and McAtee are similar. Vic's bundled an odd one in. Williams played an absolute killer ball across in last minute v Posh, begging to be slid in, and all our forwards were five yards behind, waving their arms at Williams as though he'd put it in the wrong place

 

Said that last week, in a counter attacking side that shifted the ball forward quickly he'd score far more than he does with us. He isn't being made best use of (not the only one). Lost count of the number of runs he starts to make in games only for them to fart about at the back and have another few passes

A striker that gets 20 a season, despite us often waiting to play the killer ball to him.

But not instinctive?

Iirc it was his first goal for us at Shrewsbury- have a look.

Being in the right place is an instinct, missing plenty is simply a third division striker and not a premier league one.

7 hours ago, perth_white said:

Why not? We were at this level when we got them from Millwall and Celtic reserves respectively. Not sure that quality of player is beyond us but as many have stated it likely wouldn't matter anyway as we simply don't play to the strengths of strikers (or anyone else really).

Neither of the Scottish duo were big target men that could have been hit early to hold off a big centre half. Into space, for them to move into, on the turn or dropping in, fine.

As you say, play to their strengths. 

I remember after Charles signed, on more than one occasion, an early ball was played over the top (not directly into him) on the counter, his pace and aggression allowing him to get onto it resulting in goals.

Doesn't seem to happen the same now.

20 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A striker that gets 20 a season, despite us often waiting to play the killer ball to him.

But not instinctive?

Iirc it was his first goal for us at Shrewsbury- have a look.

Being in the right place is an instinct, missing plenty is simply a third division striker and not a premier league one.

Fair point, I'd said he'd more of an instinct than the others, he certainly has a desire to forage for the ball, get it down quickly and fire it in, as with that unlucky one last Sat. The only bit that's not quite there for me is him being on the end of balls fired across the six yard box, he tends to want to be in that area between there and penalty spot, for a pull back or a loose ball, where he can face goal, take a touch and hit it.

You're right, he's going to miss a few, why he's in L1, and if we played to his strengths more he'd have more chances than he gets now. 

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Neither of the Scottish duo were big target men that could have been hit early to hold off a big centre half. Into space, for them to move into, on the turn or dropping in, fine.

As you say, play to their strengths. 

I remember after Charles signed, on more than one occasion, an early ball was played over the top (not directly into him) on the counter, his pace and aggression allowing him to get onto it resulting in goals.

Doesn't seem to happen the same now.

Problem is are slow build up play does not help Dion whatsoever why Evatt cannot play to his strengths is beyond me .