[Albion] Lack of goals from midfield

[Berty23]

In my opinion, people who think that Conor Gallagher would have scored as many goals for us as he has for Palace are missing the point. Palace get the ball forward much faster than we do and most of the time he hasn't got the whole of the opposition team in front of him when he shoots.

Playing in our team, he'd be shooting into a ruck of defenders or waiting for a half-blocked cross to reach him 25 yards out.

To a certain extent I agree. But i don’t think our midfielders are natural goal scorers. Moder has missed quite a few this season. Bissouma is more like Kante and lallana forgot how to score years ago even when at Liverpool. We just don’t look capable of scoring from midfield.

I agree we can be a bit slow but that is because we don’t have anyone up too with pace either.

 

[Streetlight]

It's the lack of players vying for the back post that frustrates me. So many balls whipped across the top (assuming they make it past the first man) and go straight out for an opposition throw. Get someone bombing down to to clean up anything going over the top and we might see more chances.

That said, any opportunities would get smashed into row Z anyway so...

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I think this where the issue is with our recruitment policy comes into play. We don't sign players who can score goals, we sign players who set them up. Now our entire team is filled with the exact same players. Maupay is best as support striker like Baldock was. Trossard is good but is better at getting the ball into dangerous positions the creating space. Moder is a left sided midfielder played through the middle who's best attribute is his passing, not known really for scoring goals. Same as Mwepu. Caicedo is more defensive minded, able to break up play and make good passes, but is able to score the occasional goal. Lallana is a support player and has never been a goalscorer. Bissouma never has nor will be a goalscorer will only ever score maybe 1 or 2 a season.

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I think you have hit the nail on the head, Washie. All creation, no completion, and because that's what those players do.

However, it seems to be the wrong type of creation. If we had a £50 million centre forward like (ahem) Richarleson, or Callumwilsonson, they would be left isolated (and offside) like bigger versions of little Aaron.

There is.....something......wrong and I just can't explain.....what it is apart from the players.....being all great and yet...all wrong .

 

[Bold Seagull]

It's not like we're asking them to score worldies either. March had a lovely chance first half, for any other team I reckon that is a 60-40 chance of being a goal, for us is 10-90. March couldn't even hit the target, and amateurish hack at the ball rather than a composed firm strike on target. The tap in Mwepu had to equalise, I don't know what you can do because that is just down to the player to make a clean contact. Trossard then had numerous occasions of choosing to check, check again, check a 3rd time, lose it...rather than just take a shot. The players are clearly feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders in front of goal.

 

[Sirnormangall]

The players are clearly feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders in front of goal.

It certainly seems like that - lacking confidence. Need to be brave and sometimes take the half chance shots on the edge of the box instead of forever trying to work the ball closer.

 

[Danny Wilson Said]

It certainly seems like that - lacking confidence. Need to be brave and sometimes take the half chance shots on the edge of the box instead of forever trying to work the ball closer.

I think they need to be braver in the more obvious sense too. Getting in there first among the flying boots takes physical courage and I get the sense - possibly quite unfairly - that one or two of our players don't fancy hurting themselves in exchange for the chance of getting a goal. Whether that's a diving header, or trying to go past a full-back in the area and maybe getting kicked and winning a penalty - none of our technically clever midfielders ever looks like they're prepared to bust a gut to score.

Significantly, our central defenders outscore our midfield players, and that's probably because playing their position successfully involves accepting that you're going to collect a share of knocks, cuts and bruises.