Goals (striker debate)

[xmastree]

Why are people wanting Broom playing up front? He's settling well in MF, leave him there please.

I can't see why anyone doubts that a team that plays 2 specialist strikers needs at least 4 specialist strikers on their books. Every club has at least 4 strikers. I don't see why it's up for debate, particularly when one of the three has a medium term injury, except as an excuse if we end up with only 3 strikers. You can't expect to play the same 2 strikers for most of the season - strikers need to be sharp. Jephcott was exhausted, and sometimes appeared to be running in sand, in the latter stages of last season.

More of a debate is whether we need a 5th striker.

 

[PL2 3DQ]

I haven't seen anyone say they want Broom to play upfront, only that he's an option, as proven against Cambridge.

 

[Justin]

If we were able to adapt our formation to 3-4-3 on occasions, I’d be much happier.

3-4-3 is not too far away from the holy 3-5-2, and you could even adapt it to allow one of the front 3 a freer, 10-style role, incorporating Mayor or Cooper, or play it as one central (Jephcott) and 2 wings (Garrick and Hardie, or possibly Garrick and Broom).

It’s the fixation on 2 upfront combined with only having 2 fit strikers that perplexes me the most.

 

[Justin]

I haven't seen anyone say they want Broom to play upfront, only that he's an option, as proven against Cambridge.

Ultlmately we couldn’t break Cambridge down though, so I wouldn’t say that match proves that Broom is an option upfront.

Possibly the reverse in fact?

 

[Balham Green]

I'm just stating the fact that Lowe has played Garrick and Broom as strikers so he must see them as an option as a striker.

Not really. He had no other options and they were only there a few brief minutes.

 

[Fergy]

If they weren’t considered options then Lowe wouldn’t have made the substitutions or altered the formation at all..

 

[davie nine]

Not really. He had no other options and they were only there a few brief minutes.

Is Hardie growing on you again, BG?
You were impressed when he was here on loan.

 

[NLG]

There is no doubt we are after an another striker, finding one with the right skills and experience and attitude seems to be the issue. Personally I would rather get by with changed formations / use and develop one of our young prospects than get someone in that upsets what seems to be a great team spirit at the moment.

 

[JannerinCardiff]

That’s correct. Quite like the look of it myself. From what I’ve seen, Broom certainly looks the part, and the way Garrick went past the fullback against Shrewsbury was awesome.

Was there a full back there?? - Garrick looked like he was running against someone who was walking !!! 😂

 

[Balham Green]

If they weren’t considered options then Lowe wouldn’t have made the substitutions or altered the formation at all..

Yes he would if players were injured, tired, carrying a knock especially when we are 3 up.

 

[JannerinCardiff]

I’d say Garrick has certainly come in to play a few roles and one of them is to play up front and by the look of him he’d be good when pace is needed up front or against tired legs in the 2nd half.

I’d agree with BG (yes I’m feeling well.. 😉) and Quintrell tho that Broom isn’t really a striker, he’s an attacking midfielder who might just might be able to play a number 10 (Berghamp sort of role behind the main striker) and only fulfilled that cameo role out of necessity and not wanting to put Shirley on the pitch.

I’d say we’ve currently got 4 strikers including Garrick (although one is injured - Ennis) and we do need another proper striker and I’d personally like it to be a different type than one we’ve already got and one that is not immobile, can win aerial challenges against 6ft 2 CB’s, link up play well and chip in with 8-9 goals in a season. Tom Eaves would be good.

 

[jimsing]

I suggest that Tom Eaves MAY have been the striker that Lowe was after (no inside knowledge) but rumour has it that Eaves is going elsewhere so Lowe will now be looking at getting someone else in.

 

[briangreen]

Well Nouble was a waste of time and wages, so maybe it is a case of lesson learnt?
If the ball needs holding up, Niall Ennis will do it better than a journeyman targetman anyway. He is a much more clever, intricate player with other aspects to his game. However if that is the specific job Lowe wants doing, then Ennis can do it.

Actually when Nouble was here Jeffers was having his purple patch.

 

[Knibbsworth]

I don’t think there was any correlation there though. How many assists did Nouble get for example? Or even assisting the assister if you like?
Jephcott thrived and scored playing with Hardie for months up until the point Ennis came in.
That one signing saw a change of tactics which interrupted the rhythm.
If Ennis was fit, Jephcott and Hardie would very likely not be playing together and scoring goals together. Only an injury has brought about Luke Jephcott returning to pre-Ennis scoring ratios.

 

[NLG]

I don’t think there was any correlation there though. How many assists did Nouble get for example? Or even assisting the assister if you like?
Jephcott thrived and scored playing with Hardie for months up until the point Ennis came in.
That one signing saw a change of tactics which interrupted the rhythm.
If Ennis was fit, Jephcott and Hardie would very likely not be playing together and scoring goals together. Only an injury has brought about Luke Jephcott returning to pre-Ennis scoring ratios.

This is not strictly so. End of season rest and rehab, plus pre season goals may have made more of a difference to both than an unfortunate injury. We could have 3 attacking players scoring goals if it wasn't for the injury !