[Albion] Thoughts on that missing killer instinct

[Originunknown]

Maupay up top on his own is not the answer. We controlled the midfield yesterday of course, we can't do it all but we have to find a different balance at times.

Neal does bring a lot to the side, work rate off the ball and movement are good. The attacking phase tends to break down when he receives the ball and can't get an instant shot off.

He gets blinkered, unwilling or unable to shoot then equally unable to see a pass. He has this tunnel vision which takes him down avenues which invariably lead to us conceding possession, or an attempt of the like we saw yesterday when turning outside, closing the angle and not being able to produce anything. This is after receiving the ball in an exceptional position. Still young, still has great potential but he should be producing more given the luxury of the amount of touches he has inside the opposition box.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Still. Keeper, looking great. Defence, 1 goal conceded in 6. Dependable, brilliant on the ball. Defensive midfield. Getting better all the time, our ball winning stats amongst best in the game. Attack, getting better and better, lovely movement, pressing. Wing backs, a real strength of ours, whoever is playing there.

All improved under Potter. Building from the back, working out what works and what doesn't. Trying different personnel in different positions. Brave to look beyond the next game and give young players experience and experiment with partnerships.

Who'd bet against him raising the striking side of the game next?

 

[Frankworthington]

Still. Keeper, looking great. Defence, 1 goal conceded in 6. Dependable, brilliant on the ball. Defensive midfield. Getting better all the time, our ball winning stats amongst best in the game. Attack, getting better and better, lovely movement, pressing. Wing backs, a real strength of ours, whoever is playing there.

All improved under Potter. Building from the back, working out what works and what doesn't. Trying different personnel in different positions. Brave to look beyond the next game and give young players experience and experiment with partnerships.

Who'd bet against him raising the striking side of the game next?

Spot on.

The glass is half full.

 

[b.w.2.]

Still. Keeper, looking great. Defence, 1 goal conceded in 6. Dependable, brilliant on the ball. Defensive midfield. Getting better all the time, our ball winning stats amongst best in the game. Attack, getting better and better, lovely movement, pressing. Wing backs, a real strength of ours, whoever is playing there.

All improved under Potter. Building from the back, working out what works and what doesn't. Trying different personnel in different positions. Brave to look beyond the next game and give young players experience and experiment with partnerships.

Who'd bet against him raising the striking side of the game next?

I love your positivity. And our performance last night was fantastic. Their keeper had a stormer. But... just when do you think Potter is going to address the most obvious problem we have? It is not as if this is a new problem. It has been our primary problem since Muzza finally stepped over the hill. The article in the Argus shows Potter may FINALLY accept he needs to work in our striker problems. Here is hoping. We are so close.


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[KeegansHairPiece]

Look at Wolves with Jiminez and Jota then without Jiminez and Jota. Difference between top 7 or bottom 7.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I love your positivity. And our performance last night was fantastic. Their keeper had a stormer. But... just when do you think Potter is going to address the most obvious problem we have? It is not as if this is a new problem. It has been our primary problem since Muzza finally stepped over the hill. The article in the Argus shows Potter may FINALLY accept he needs to work in our striker problems. Here is hoping. We are so close.


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I suspect he's working on all things at all times.
The defence was a critical piece though, as our current position proves.
A clean sheet gurantees a point and you only have to score once to get all 3.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

I love your positivity. And our performance last night was fantastic. Their keeper had a stormer. But... just when do you think Potter is going to address the most obvious problem we have? It is not as if this is a new problem. It has been our primary problem since Muzza finally stepped over the hill. The article in the Argus shows Potter may FINALLY accept he needs to work in our striker problems. Here is hoping. We are so close.

How has he not worked on it? He’s tried so many combinations from what he has available. He’s tactically tried different ways of going at games, whether no out and out strikers v Arsenal, to 2 up front, 3 up front, lone striker. Maupay, Connolly, Welbeck (when fit), Tau, Zequiri; all given game time, he had them all in the squad last night. I’m not sure what else he can do when we create 26 chances with 9 on target needing saving? Comes down to the individual quality of the players in the end when you’re in a game you completely dominate and create in.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Look at Wolves with Jiminez and Jota then without Jiminez and Jota. Difference between top 7 or bottom 7.

Great example. We’d have never got promoted from the Championship without a top natural Striker in Murray, they make so much difference.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I love your positivity. And our performance last night was fantastic. Their keeper had a stormer. But... just when do you think Potter is going to address the most obvious problem we have? It is not as if this is a new problem. It has been our primary problem since Muzza finally stepped over the hill. The article in the Argus shows Potter may FINALLY accept he needs to work in our striker problems. Here is hoping. We are so close.


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In time. Might take new players, but I'd wager he can get closer with the current lot. Scoring is the hardest thing in football, so makes sense it takes the longest to get right.

The idea that he's FINALLY accepting he needs to work on strikers is absurd. He's a football manager. In the Premier league. He's not some fool who's stumbled into the managers office by mistake.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

If we were to run a poll asking which position is currently our weakest, Striker would come out top.

It's very nice to have a sense of loyalty to our players. The Matt Ryan and Chris Hughton debates were the same, but sometimes you need to be ruthless to succeed.

The club will know we need a better lead striker and you can be sure they are making enquiries behind the scenes to put that right.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

In time. Might take new players, but I'd wager he can get closer with the current lot. Scoring is the hardest thing in football, so makes sense it takes the longest to get right.

The idea that he's FINALLY accepting he needs to work on strikers is absurd. He's a football manager. In the Premier league. He's not some fool who's stumbled into the managers office by mistake.

Exactly. To insinuate that the club and Potter in particular, through a combination of stupidity, arrogance and any other weakness one may invoke, are wilfully running this great club into the ground by not buying one of those countless excellent and available 20+ goals a season strikers, is one the most tedious tropes on NSC. And people like me (and you I would imagine) get called know-alls for suggesting that possibly the club do know what they are doing, and probably know a bit more about it than us plebs? Hmmm...

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Setting aside whether we succeed in signing one or two better strikers when the next window opens (as an aside, I have some sad news to report to the 'we need a new striker NOW' brigade; look up 'transfer window'), what we need to do now is coach the strikers we already have, try different things, and be mindful of the overall picture (keeping our excellent defence and midfield operating at its newly improved high level, for example).

Nevertheless, and I admit that I know nothing about how football works, or how to run a football club, but if I were a betting man (which I'm also not) I'd bet that the club is actually doing all this stuff already and, given we have gone from the gutter to the stars, I'd also bet they are reasonably adroit at this.

However, given the nature of NSC and this thread, the idea, I assume, is to offer my own unique solution to the goal scoring crisis that is dragging this great club nearer and nearer to the abyss. OK:

We have several strikers on our books. The first thing I'd do is crossbar challenge. They have five shots from the half way line each. Any player not hitting the bar at least twice has to run five times around the pitch. Wearing only his socks, boots and pants.

I'd also make them train wearing old skool 1960s heavy leather boots. If they can hone their skills in these, they will be like little Maradonnas, when Saturday comes.

The final piece in the jigsaw would be to stop them wearing those soppy undershirts and gloves. You can't score goals wrapped up like sad child who's forgotten his PE kit on games day. Propper long sleeve shirts are what's required. And a vest, according to preference, but not one of those weird bra things that some of them are wearing these days. And no gloves. It's a man's game (the men's game) and you don't score goals by dressing like you're going for cocktails on a roof bar in Hoxton.

If that doesn't sort it then I don't know what will.

 

[carlzeiss]

Setting aside whether we succeed in signing one or two better strikers when the next window opens (as an aside, I have some sad news to report to the 'we need a new striker NOW' brigade; look up 'transfer window'), what we need to do now is coach the strikers we already have, try different things, and be mindful of the overall picture (keeping our excellent defence and midfield operating at its newly improved high level, for example).

Nevertheless, and I admit that I know nothing about how football works, or how to run a football club, but if I were a betting man (which I'm also not) I'd bet that the club is actually doing all this stuff already and, given we have gone from the gutter to the stars, I'd also bet they are reasonably adroit at this.

However, given the nature of NSC and this thread, the idea, I assume, is to offer my own unique solution to the goal scoring crisis that is dragging this great club nearer and nearer to the abyss. OK:

We have several strikers on our books. The first thing I'd do is crossbar challenge. They have five shots from the half way line each. Any player not hitting the bar at least twice has to run five times around the pitch. Wearing only his socks, boots and pants.

I'd also make them train wearing old skool 1960s heavy leather boots. If they can hone their skills in these, they will be like little Maradonnas, when Saturday comes.

The final piece in the jigsaw would be to stop them wearing those soppy undershirts and gloves. You can't score goals wrapped up like sad child who's forgotten his PE kit on games day. Propper long sleeve shirts are what's required. And a vest, according to preference, but not one of those weird bra things that some of them are wearing these days. And no gloves. It's a man's game (the men's game) and you don't score goals by dressing like you're going for cocktails on a roof bar in Hoxton.

If that doesn't sort it then I don't know what will.

Sounds like a good plan , why not give it a go Graham

 

[Perkino]

You only need to watch MOTD once and you will see analysis on a team who has a player who held a run or lost his marker with some clever movement. Most sides in the division now operate a 4-3-3 or variation of that which allows 1 main striker and 2 wider goalscorers, the sides at the top of the league also have an attacking central midfielder who chips in with goals. Our platform is really strong with a defensive unit that can keep clean sheets regularly and there is no suprise in a settled line up bringing consistent performances and better results. In was interesting to see us in a back 4 whenever Villa had a goal kick or free kick in their own half, I feel this is a better way of marshalling the 4-2-3-1 which the more attacking sides tend to use

Our goal scoring chances are often faced by a packed defence so moving forward quicker may help but the goal we scored against Leeds is a marker of how we find space. Maupay always wants to get involved and be a part of play and more runs into space would help him get more time.

Also decision making in the final third has long been a weakness but as players continue to develop partnership across the pitch their understanding of where to pass and where to run will evolve.

 

[A1X]

I think Welbeck could be out "cutting edge" striker who takes the chances (he was only on for about 10 mins yesterday and was denied a couple of times by Martinez), the problem is keeping him fit

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

All the talk about strikers. Villa (who we outplayed) are 10 points clear of us. As well as Watkins they have goals through Traore, El Ghazi, Grealish and Barkley.

Our top scoring midfielder in the league this season (Trossard) has 2. TWO. That's as much where our issues lie as Maupay.

Trossard, Gross, Macallister, Bissouma and Alzate have 7 goals between them. That's simply not enough for a team creating chances the way we do.

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[Swansman]

I think Welbeck could be out "cutting edge" striker who takes the chances (he was only on for about 10 mins yesterday and was denied a couple of times by Martinez), the problem is keeping him fit

He touched the ball two times (one failed pass, one shot attempt on goal) so "a couple of times" is a bit exaggerated.

He is also pretty well-known throughout his career to be wasteful in front of goal. Dont know why he at the age of 30 and losing his main asset (pace) would suddenly turn into someone who "takes his chances".

All the talk about strikers. Villa (who we outplayed) are 10 points clear of us. As well as Watkins they have goals through Traore, El Ghazi, Grealish and Barkley.

Our top scoring midfielder in the league this season (Trossard) has 2. TWO. That's as much where our issues lie as Maupay.

Trossard, Gross, Macallister, Bissouma and Alzate have 7 goals between them. That's simply not enough for a team creating chances the way we do.

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Indeed. Midfield goal production is not what it should be considering the way Brighton play, a style that creates a lot of space and opportunities just outside the box.

 

[willalbion]

Me too. I'd love to see him form a partnership with a slightly younger version of Murray, think he would thrive with someone alongside him. At the moment we're so good at driving the ball to the edge of the box, he is finding himself with his back to goal 8 yards out and surrounded by defenders. I thought he did really well last night, making life difficult for them - but without a strike partner to pick up the pieces or a midfield capable of routinely hitting the target from the edge of the box, it's hard in there.

Agreed, Villa actually defended really well I thought. So many bodies in there and as you say Maups often with his back to goal and crowded out.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I think Welbeck could be out "cutting edge" striker who takes the chances (he was only on for about 10 mins yesterday and was denied a couple of times by Martinez), the problem is keeping him fit

Getting denied by the keeper was the issue for those in the starting line up

 

[blue-shifted]

Drop Maupay

Play Zeqiri for 3 or 4 games

It might work, it might not. Neal can have no complaints