The problem is that it isn't just the strikers who contribute the team offensively. I don't think Kermogant and Church is too shoddy a partnership. Away from home- we keep it tight and are not too adventurous so I'm not too concerned about Saturday - we'll probably get more than our fair share of points playing that way. At home - I tyhink it is the qulaity of balls in the final third that is our biggest issue. I have been diapointed with Harriot this season as he is a key player for me in terms of opening up defences - Stewart doesn't really do it either - despite scoring 2 great goals, he doesn't beat players as much as I would have hoped.
Our forwards get so isolated its ridiculous. you've got Kermogant playing up front on his own, getting balls pumped 50 yards up to him, he wins the header…to nobody. the nearest player is 20 yards away. Unless we change our approach play, i.e. getting the ball into his feet, or play more patiently, then we will continue to struggle scoring goals…no matter who plays there. The concern is, this has been the case for a couple of seasons now.
The current strike force would have to go some to be worse than when we played a couple of games with Kim Grant alongside Phil Chapple as an emergency striker. Doesn't get much worse than that. No idea what the games were, although Sunderland away is ringing a bell.
How about Carl Leaburn as the lone striker with Brendan O'Connell behind him "in the hole". Surely another ill=fated "pairing"
O'Connell was okay in the hole, it just wasn't deep enough !
Just to clarify a quote from ''Stoney''. Paul Gorman 40 Apps - 21 were as sub, so I looked at 19 full appearances and 8 goals. As sub he may have come on 3 minutes from the end of game.
You can't knock Church if he's not getting opportunities to put the ball away. He's forever chasing dead balls and running angles to create space but nobody's helping him. Him and Kermo together is our best hope, but Yann has looked to be carrying too much timber since pre-season hence his injuries and not vice versa. I agree that we try Smith out in Jan and send Marvin Sod-all back to Bolton. He's been an embarrassment to the club
Church is nowhere near as bad as many we have had he trys unlike jeffers,JFH, Bent, etc and he aint being paid anywhere near what that lot got. we even played a centre half upfront for a couple of games in the past---Paul Went.
If your saying that Church is bad, then I think you've been watching a different player/team.
I agree. He works his nuts off and is feeding off scraps. When a chance does eventually come along he's probably forgotten what to do with it. If we created chances he'd score his fair share. Anyone saying he's part of our worst ever strike force couldn't have been watching us for long.
Our forwards get so isolated its ridiculous. you've got Kermogant playing up front on his own, getting balls pumped 50 yards up to him, he wins the header…to nobody. the nearest player is 20 yards away. Unless we change our approach play, i.e. getting the ball into his feet, or play more patiently, then we will continue to struggle scoring goals…no matter who plays there. The concern is, this has been the case for a couple of seasons now.
Our forwards get so isolated its ridiculous. you've got Kermogant playing up front on his own, getting balls pumped 50 yards up to him, he wins the header…to nobody. the nearest player is 20 yards away. Unless we change our approach play, i.e. getting the ball into his feet, or play more patiently, then we will continue to struggle scoring goals…no matter who plays there. The concern is, this has been the case for a couple of seasons now.
Laughable that Church has even been mentioned on this thread. I'd actually be happy with him and Kermo up front together. Church is not a target man, simple as. And Kermorgant needs a willing run to win his flicks. Hope they both start tonight.
Some random thoughts on forwards, past and present.....
Marvin Sordell's probably ok but we've hardly seen him.
Marcus Bent would have been ok in the Championship but was outclassed in the Premier League.
Simon Church is ok but his better performances have probably been away from home or against Oxford when no-one was there to see it.
Paul Gorman was a good finisher and should have started more games. Great outside of the foot finish away to Bristol City and scored decent headers for a smallish man.
Mark McCammon was grim and didn't look remotely good enough. A bit like Jason Lee when he first got his chance.
Kenny Achampong was so far out of his depth because we were in the top division and his one contribution was to get chopped down for a penalty "at home" to Crystal Palace (which I think we missed).
John McDonald hardly did a thing while he was on loan from Rangers...but did play in a winning streak.
Kermit and Church looked fine together last night even allowing for how p!ss poor donny were. Church needs to work on his finishing for sure but at least he gets to where the chances are. Fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes all crossed they can now stay injury free cos we really ain;t got anybody else in their class.
The current strike force would have to go some to be worse than when we played a couple of games with Kim Grant alongside Phil Chapple as an emergency striker. Doesn't get much worse than that. No idea what the games were, although Sunderland away is ringing a bell.
How about Carl Leaburn as the lone striker with Brendan O'Connell behind him "in the hole". Surely another ill=fated "pairing"
Was that the night we were huffing and puffing against a 10-man Huddersfield, and Shaun Newton scored with a 25 yard header? (!)
It was indeed Big William. Some mugs, of which I was one, also travelled up to soon to be promoted Barnsley on the Saturday. Curbs kept the same line up and we were trounced 4-0. That was the only time I heard "Curbs out" chants in all the years he managed us and I saw most of his matches under his stewardship (home and away).
How about Carl Leaburn as the lone striker with Brendan O'Connell behind him "in the hole". Surely another ill=fated "pairing"
Was that the night we were huffing and puffing against a 10-man Huddersfield, and Shaun Newton scored with a 25 yard header? (!)
It was indeed Big William. Some mugs, of which I was one, also travelled up to soon to be promoted Barnsley on the Saturday. Curbs kept the same line up and we were trounced 4-0. That was the only time I heard "Curbs out" chants in all the years he managed us and I saw most of his matches under his stewardship (home and away).
Remember ringing you lot in the car at 5pm to get the result, you were already at Nottingham, not happy bunnies that day :-)
“I watched them on Tuesday night (in a 2-0 home win over Doncaster) and they had a real good strike force in (Simon) Church and (Yann) Kermorgant. Cameron Stewart was excellent wide right and the goal Dale Stephens got was an amazing strike. I thought they were a real threat."
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we even played a centre half upfront for a couple of games in the past---Paul Went.
If any of my clients questioned if I was the worst in my roll for decades I think I would lose enthusiasm in working as hard a I can for them!
Marvin Sordell's probably ok but we've hardly seen him.
Marcus Bent would have been ok in the Championship but was outclassed in the Premier League.
Simon Church is ok but his better performances have probably been away from home or against Oxford when no-one was there to see it.
Paul Gorman was a good finisher and should have started more games. Great outside of the foot finish away to Bristol City and scored decent headers for a smallish man.
Mark McCammon was grim and didn't look remotely good enough. A bit like Jason Lee when he first got his chance.
Kenny Achampong was so far out of his depth because we were in the top division and his one contribution was to get chopped down for a penalty "at home" to Crystal Palace (which I think we missed).
John McDonald hardly did a thing while he was on loan from Rangers...but did play in a winning streak.
“I watched them on Tuesday night (in a 2-0 home win over Doncaster) and they had a real good strike force in (Simon) Church and (Yann) Kermorgant. Cameron Stewart was excellent wide right and the goal Dale Stephens got was an amazing strike. I thought they were a real threat."