[Albion] The Ridiculous Tedious Striker Situation

[Herr Tubthumper]

But on most if not all those occasions they had 9 or 10 in the penalty area. No one on ones just balls put into congested areas. Makes finishing harder as less room to see the ball or you have a smaller target to aim at. Totally agree finishing was poor some of that was due to what I described , some were just very tame efforts that were more like back passes. Dunk also had 2 decent opportunities which he couldn't get on target

You need to draw a team out to have one-on-ones. Charlton went forward a bit in the first half but as the game dragged on they were settled in for penalties; it takes two to tango.

As for the chances I listed, they were either one or more of bad luck, bad finishing, due to the “9 or 10 in the penalty area” or because it was Solly March. Apart from the latter we will never truly know the reason. But, given our long history of bad finishing I put it down to this. I respect your opinion though.

 

[dazzer6666]

The style of our play w

The worrying bit is we failed to break down a poor league 1 team because our team looked all over the place and we didn't have a plan B that changed the style or the urgency. The subs did nothing to change the game play and that is something we have seen a number of times this season - Brentford, Spurs & Villa just fresh legs same style. Regards the £60 million striker, I would play Ferguson who shows a maturity beyond his age and has the physical attributes of a hold up play centre forward.

Agreed…..it felt like a bit of a reversion after mostly decent performances under RdeZ. Seemed to me we (specifically Dunk and Colwill) were very slow to move the ball, sitting on it waiting for a Charlton press to expose gaps but (unsurprisingl) the press never came (as it would have done against many PL teams) because Charlton were happy to defend en masse in their own half. This was obvious from the start and RdeZ didn’t seem to have a Plan B (or if he did, it was implemented late, chucking Trossard and Ferguson on). Lallana was the only one that really looked like unlocking them.

 

[Guinness Boy]

We’re on a different page here. A good striker causes problems for defenders on his own accord and also can create chances out of nothing. We lost to Villa last month because of one man- Ings. That’s it. They were crap. We need that striker, I’m not talking hundreds of millions too- but more than £6m we paid for Undav that’s a given. Glenn Murray did the above brilliantly, and he is sorely missed.

Murray's best season back was in a totally different style of play that revolved around him, against some really poor Championship defences. When we went up he didn't score nearly as many and we nearly got relegated twice. Now we're seventh.

EXACTLY the reason I quoted those stats to you. Trossard has better goals per game and minute stats than Diaz against much better defences.

@Acker79 has also made good points. We score from anywhere where teams are open (mostly) and struggle against a massed ten man block. Three away against Wolves isn't bad though, considering how defensive they've been, and who got the assist for the winner? Undav.

 

[doogie004]

I don't get what all the bollocks is about. Sure we don't have Haaland, Kane, Mitrovic, Toney, Rodrigo or Salah, oh hang on Trossard is doing better than Salah, has the same number as Fodin, Firmino and Maddsion and unlike Mitrovic and Toney non have come from penalties. Oh and as for getting more than 12 in a season he is on 7 after 14 games. Oh and then we have Groß who is doing better than Saka and Rashford.

We also have undav and wellbeck who are the only club out of 92 for at least one of there strikers not to of scored a league goal this season
And Solly March whose is embarrassing in front of goal

 

[Tommy11]

Murray's best season back was in a totally different style of play that revolved around him, against some really poor Championship defences. When we went up he didn't score nearly as many and we nearly got relegated twice. Now we're seventh.

EXACTLY the reason I quoted those stats to you. Trossard has better goals per game and minute stats than Diaz against much better defences.

@Acker79 has also made good points. We score from anywhere where teams are open (mostly) and struggle against a massed ten man block. Three away against Wolves isn't bad though, considering how defensive they've been, and who got the assist for the winner? Undav.

Your talking out of your arse. Murray scored 12 and 13 PL goals in the first two PL seasons, who else has come near to that over the last 3 years? Different style of play- who cares your clutching at straws. Undav assist for Winner at Wolves?! He miss-controlled a turn- again clutching at straws here. Your full of useless stats @ Guinness Boy. Sorry, but you don’t have a clue what your talking about.

 

[Bakero]

So our owner hasn’t got big enough ‘balls’ …bllx to that statement

I think he actually said our owner isn't taking enough balls.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Your talking out of your arse. Murray scored 12 and 13 PL goals in the first two PL seasons, who else has come near to that over the last 3 years? Different style of play- who cares your clutching at straws. Undav assist for Winner at Wolves?! He miss-controlled a turn- again clutching at straws here. Your full of useless stats @ Guinness Boy. Sorry, but you don’t have a clue what your talking about.

Erm, Maupay. 10 PL goals and 11 in total in 19/20.

In 17/18 as a team we scored 34 goals in 38 games and finished 15th.
In 18/19 we scored 35 in 38 and finished 17th.
Last season as a team we scored 42 and finished 9th. Our three forward players between them scored 23 of those and Mac Allister added another 5.
This season we're 7th with 23 goals in 14 games and Trossard has a goal every other game, Gross and Mac Allister are also in the top scorers list.

I know what I'd prefer.

You're another one of those idiots who thinks goals count double if they're scored by an old fashioned centre forward. You're 15 years out of date and Adam Lallana knows it.

 

[Tommy11]

Erm, Maupay. 10 PL goals and 11 in total in 19/20.

In 17/18 as a team we scored 34 goals in 38 games and finished 15th.
In 18/19 we scored 35 in 38 and finished 17th.
Last season as a team we scored 42 and finished 9th. Our three forward players between them scored 23 of those and Mac Allister added another 5.
This season we're 7th with 23 goals in 14 games and Trossard has a goal every other game, Gross and Mac Allister are also in the top scorers list.

I know what I'd prefer.

You're another one of those idiots who thinks goals count double if they're scored by an old fashioned centre forward. You're 15 years out of date and Adam Lallana knows it.

Here we go - got the usual NSC geeks gang up as usual. And your the moderator?? Racist finder . God help us. Your just a club arse licker and your arguments are biased- again with the usual rubbish stats which you also are missing the point. Wow Maupay 10 league goals!!! 11 in total. Im talking about PL goals for a start. Totals then…. Murray got 14 all together furst season, 15 the next. Can’t believe your even having a pop about Murray’s goals too. You should be ashamed of yourself!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Here we go - got the usual NSC geeks gang up as usual. And your the moderator?? Racist finder . God help us. Your just a club arse licker and your arguments are biased- again with the usual rubbish stats which you also are missing the point. Wow Maupay 10 league goals!!! 11 in total. Im talking about PL goals for a start. Murray got 14 all together that season, 15 the next. Can’t believe your even having a pop about Murray’s goals too. You should be ashamed of yourself!

I believe you've just run out of arguments.......

 

[Tommy11]

I believe you've just run out of arguments.......

 

[Kosh]

Erm, Maupay. 10 PL goals and 11 in total in 19/20.

In 17/18 as a team we scored 34 goals in 38 games and finished 15th.
In 18/19 we scored 35 in 38 and finished 17th.
Last season as a team we scored 42 and finished 9th. Our three forward players between them scored 23 of those and Mac Allister added another 5.
This season we're 7th with 23 goals in 14 games and Trossard has a goal every other game, Gross and Mac Allister are also in the top scorers list.

I know what I'd prefer.

You're another one of those idiots who thinks goals count double if they're scored by an old fashioned centre forward. You're 15 years out of date and Adam Lallana knows it.

I agree with the majority of that, but I can’t help feeling that we’ve been a bit fortunate that, Leo for example, and Pascal have contributed so many goals this season - if that source goes missing, then we do have an issue as Welbz simply isn’t prolific, brilliant player aside, and Undav (let’s get real) is currently a (8 million) pound shop Mitrovic.

Relying on the midfield to hit double figures is stretching credulity a little, as stats throughout the years will illustrate... you can’t cement a European place by relying solely on your midfielders to get you there in terms of goal scoring.

To me, we’re (evidently) still in it to simply survive - and I think we will this year, but I’m not confident we’ll be top 10 for some time... if we scrape 16th I’ll be happy enough.

 

[Swansman]

I agree with the majority of that, but I can’t help feeling that we’ve been a bit fortunate that, Leo for example, and Pascal have contributed so many goals this season - if that source goes missing, then we do have an issue as Welbz simply isn’t prolific, brilliant player aside, and Undav (let’s get real) is currently a (8 million) pound shop Mitrovic.

Relying on the midfield to hit double figures is stretching credulity a little, as stats throughout the years will illustrate... you can’t cement a European place by relying solely on your midfielders to get you there in terms of goal scoring.

To me, we’re (evidently) still in it to simply survive - and I think we will this year, but I’m not confident we’ll be top 10 for some time... if we scrape 16th I’ll be happy enough.

Staying up is always good enough for a club of this size... but would still be very disappointing to end in the bottom 5 at this point.

 

[nickjhs]

You're another one of those idiots who thinks goals count double if they're scored by an old fashioned centre forward. You're 15 years out of date and Adam Lallana knows it.

Beautifully put.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I agree with the majority of that, but I can’t help feeling that we’ve been a bit fortunate that, Leo for example, and Pascal have contributed so many goals this season - if that source goes missing, then we do have an issue as Welbz simply isn’t prolific, brilliant player aside, and Undav (let’s get real) is currently a (8 million) pound shop Mitrovic.

Relying on the midfield to hit double figures is stretching credulity a little, as stats throughout the years will illustrate... you can’t cement a European place by relying solely on your midfielders to get you there in terms of goal scoring.

To me, we’re (evidently) still in it to simply survive - and I think we will this year, but I’m not confident we’ll be top 10 for some time... if we scrape 16th I’ll be happy enough.

I think that's an incredibly depressing position to take considering we're seventh. Trossard hasn't been playing in "midfield" at all this season either.

Realistically under Potter Welbz was used as an assists player, holding up play with other attacking players running beyond him. We haven't seen enough of Welbeck under De Zerbi but we seem to have a decent enough tactic when full strength of Mitoma running beyond and cutting the ball back, which will inevitably mean a runner finishing the chance rather than the fulcrum.

When all our attacking options are fit we have Welbeck, Trossard, Ferguson, Undav and now Connolly competing for one spot and I would say that they're competing in that order after the Charlton showing. We also have Sima and Adringa on loan.

Too much pant wetting going on because we didn't beat a "team like" Charlton who have been playing every week while we've been on a break and stuck 10 behind the ball all game to play for pens.

Chill, Winston.

 

[Kosh]

Staying up is always good enough for a club of this size... but would still be very disappointing to end in the bottom 5 at this point.

I agree - it would be, and I’d be delighted if we continue to buck the trend or defy the odds ... as we did under GP - it’s unlikely to continue indefinitely though...

It’s a shame that the shackles mean we’re kind of stuck, it makes for a less exciting time as a fan really... but, as you say, a club of our size has to accept our limitations and as such 9th was really our zenith... our CL final and it should never go forgotten just how amazing an achievement it was.

 

[Kosh]

I think that's an incredibly depressing position to take considering we're seventh. Trossard hasn't been playing in "midfield" at all this season either.

Realistically under Potter Welbz was used as an assists player, holding up play with other attacking players running beyond him. We haven't seen enough of Welbeck under De Zerbi but we seem to have a decent enough tactic when full strength of Mitoma running beyond and cutting the ball back, which will inevitably mean a runner finishing the chance rather than the fulcrum.

When all our attacking options are fit we have Welbeck, Trossard, Ferguson, Undav and now Connolly competing for one spot and I would say that they're competing in that order after the Charlton showing. We also have Sima and Adringa on loan.

Too much pant wetting going on because we didn't beat a "team like" Charlton who have been playing every week while we've been on a break and stuck 10 behind the ball all game to play for pens.

Chill, Winston.

Lol - oh I’m chilled, 16th would be about right though given our current net spend and ambition... like I say, let’s aim to keep defying the odds and punching above our financial weight, as it’s very, very sweet when it comes to fruition

 

[Swansman]

I agree - it would be, and I’d be delighted if we continue to buck the trend or defy the odds ... as we did under GP - it’s unlikely to continue indefinitely though...

It’s a shame that the shackles mean we’re kind of stuck, it makes for a less exciting time as a fan really... but, as you say, a club of our size has to accept our limitations and as such 9th was really our zenith... our CL final and it should never go forgotten just how amazing an achievement it was.

I don't think it is utopian to finish 9th or 10th again, current team is good enough to do it if there's not too much injuries.

Difficult to improve on it though.

 

[Tommy11]

I think that's an incredibly depressing position to take considering we're seventh. Trossard hasn't been playing in "midfield" at all this season either.

Realistically under Potter Welbz was used as an assists player, holding up play with other attacking players running beyond him. We haven't seen enough of Welbeck under De Zerbi but we seem to have a decent enough tactic when full strength of Mitoma running beyond and cutting the ball back, which will inevitably mean a runner finishing the chance rather than the fulcrum.

When all our attacking options are fit we have Welbeck, Trossard, Ferguson, Undav and now Connolly competing for one spot and I would say that they're competing in that order after the Charlton showing. We also have Sima and Adringa on loan.

Too much pant wetting going on because we didn't beat a "team like" Charlton who have been playing every week while we've been on a break and stuck 10 behind the ball all game to play for pens.

Chill, Winston.

Your incredibly literal and full of stats - yes were 7th, but 7 points off 4th from bottom with half a season to go. This was not a thread based on the Charlton game, its been going on for years. It makes me laugh that you and your cronies jiizzz in your pants about last season, the stats, the goals (42 - not exactly jizzing material) when we actually went god knows how many games without scoring at home, winning a game and playing tedious football. I mean, now your going on about Connolly? WTF he may as well be statue. Take your head out your arse.

 

[macbeth]

What's PG on 5 after 14 games, could easily see him doubling that, also if we can keep Trossard, then build the new players around him. Not forgetting Ali Mac. I really don't see why so many are having conniptions over this. As to the 20m thing as a pundit I read said at 20m you don't really know what you are getting. The vital thing is we develop and hold onto our squad. This has been the mantra of TB and GP. RDZ has made it plain that he sees tross as a forward and hopefully our new recruitment team can be as successful as the before without the locadias etc

if he did that would be very nice. Obviously you don't know at 20 million, but the same could be said for any sort of fee around there. Agree 100% that developing the squad is what's important, but I think we both have quite different ideas of what that could look like. Not drastically different, I just think we could be well served by supplementing the younger attackers a player who doesn't need two or three loans spells before they're ready for the first team, especially if leo goes. Locadia is an example to look at when arguing against this, but at the end of the day he was shite because the recruitment team got it wrong, badly wrong, and not because we were fishing around that price, rather than say £50M. Sure, it's more likely to happen around that price range, but there is still so much in the way of variables between them identifying and signing a player that there is every chance they won't get it wrong next time. anyway, neither of us know what route we will or should go down, though it will probably similar to the last few windows, except maybe RDZ might get a couple of first teamers so he can put his own stamp on the squad, just like GP did. I merely wished to point out that affordable attackers who would improve our team do exist

 

[macbeth]

The most important point is, our style of play isn't dependent on a proven striker.
Potter had Glenn Murray at his disposal and had no use for him.

The club want to build a squad based on different attributes to the standard, decent strikers and good service.
We aren't just looking for someone who can get on the end of crosses, they have to have more to their game.

This thread comes out time and time again after we've failed to beat a low block.
There is no guarantee the "proven striker" would have actually made any difference in these games.
Shit happens sometimes.

I would've agreed with you had GP still been here but now I'm not sure. Obviously he'll adjust based on the individual qualities of the squad, but as Shakhtar, RDZ had Traore, at Sassuolo he had Caputo, definitely players you'd describe as out and out strikers and he used them quite a lot. and I completely agree about the 'more to their game' point, which was my major issue I highlighted on the Undav thread.