I said after the Oxford League Cup game (when he scored twice) that I wasn't sure what type of striker he was.
Having watched him this season he just doesn't seem to have any strengths to his game over than his work rate and fitness.
Even then, his work rate isn't as effective as you'd hope it would be. When Wagstaff or Pritchard used to close down it would sometimes lead to a mistake, or us winning a throw. They'd do it at pace with more aggression. They weren't the strongest but it was effective at times. Watching Church it feels as if the opposition just pass around him. He closes down but never really gets close enough to win the ball.
The other day it was a surprise to see him actually win the ball off the Burnley defender. Unfortunately it just resulted in another one of his weak shots that looks like a back pass. We've had plenty of strikers that aren't great finishers, but I can't remember a player that consistently fails to put any power into his shots. It's not as if they're all placed shots, even the ones outside the box roll wide or into the keepers arms.
Clearly Riga is rotating to keep players as fit as possible, but Church is rarely a threat with a partner, never mind on his own. It's not as if Sordell and Obika have been playing regularly all season.
In Riga's first game, aside from his finishing, I felt Sordell played quite well. Has a decent touch, probably stronger than Church and has on occasions picked out a decent pass. He also worked harder and played with more energy than in a lot of other games. Reza is definitely a poacher and not a winger or lone striker. I've not really been impressed by him but I think he'd get a few goals if we created the right sort of chances for him. Obika is at least a more physical threat than Church.
I'd be surprised if Church starts on Tuesday but then again I thought he'd be on the bench yesterday at best.
I saw him play last week. He was not quite average and he is not popular with Swindon fans. The play tended to break down when he got it and he looked far from a goal threat.
Get off his back. I didnt watch the match but when I have seen him at the valley he has given his all to the cause even if he cant finish so he deserves forgiveness for one bad performance. Was shocked by the way charlton fans have turned on him.
Get off his back. I didnt watch the match but when I have seen him at the valley he has given his all to the cause even if he cant finish so he deserves forgiveness for one bad performance. Was shocked by the way charlton fans have turned on him.
Well what can I say DMC. You seem like a friendly chap who sees the good in everyone. I admire your nice personality.
You're probably settling down with a nice cup of tea on your Sunday evening right now but remember back to earlier today....
You would've been sat on the toilet having a number two and when you were finished you would've got up, looked down with a sense of satisfaction and congratulated yourself on a perfectly formed turd.
The thing is Mr DMC, that turd had more talent than our Simon.
I saw him play last week. He was not quite average and he is not popular with Swindon fans. The play tended to break down when he got it and he looked far from a goal threat.
Get off his back. I didnt watch the match but when I have seen him at the valley he has given his all to the cause even if he cant finish so he deserves forgiveness for one bad performance. Was shocked by the way charlton fans have turned on him.
His 'all' is in fact 'fuck all.' Running around is NOT contributing anything to the cause if you don't actually at some point affect the play in the slightest degree. No-one has turned on him after one bad performance, they've lost all patience after a whole season of very poor performances and very very few goals or assists. I will forgive him the instant he fucks off to some conference team, not before.
I saw him play last week. He was not quite average and he is not popular with Swindon fans. The play tended to break down when he got it and he looked far from a goal threat.
He's still scored goals there though.
He has indeed scored six goals, and I really wanted him to play well when I saw him. But he didn't, his name was greeted with groans and they cheered when he went off. The Swindon crowd did not seem an unduly negative bunch but they might of course know nothing about football.
From what I saw he would not have been our goal-scoring saviour this season.
I watched Church closely today and he doesn't actually hassle defenders. He shuffles around them but never puts his boot in to let them know that he is prepared to kick the shite out of them if they hold onto the ball. Contrast that with their front man Pogrebnyak who flattened anyone in a red shirt when he needed to.
I saw him play last week. He was not quite average and he is not popular with Swindon fans. The play tended to break down when he got it and he looked far from a goal threat.
You are far too hard on Churchy. I was sceptical right from the start: a lousy goal-scoring record in his last few years at Reading: he was dropped from the team and there were notices about his mental health.
Yet, he got off to a flying start with us - remember those two at home against Oxford in the Cup, and another in the League. He can get into the box on his own - against Leeds at The Valley this season he skinned two defenders on the by-line, and even on Saturday he was hurtling in to the box from the left - but passed to the Reading defenders.
Churchy runs quickly; don't forget Danny Haynes, coming on as sub, sprinting across from the dug-out to the corner-flag and pulling his hamstring: out for four weeks. The reason why our strikers can't score is because our weak midfield gives them one chance per game - if they are lucky.
Get off his back. I didnt watch the match but when I have seen him at the valley he has given his all to the cause even if he cant finish so he deserves forgiveness for one bad performance. Was shocked by the way charlton fans have turned on him.
Ahem,... Isn't the 'C' in your monicker a giveaway?
You are far too hard on Churchy. I was sceptical right from the start: a lousy goal-scoring record in his last few years at Reading: he was dropped from the team and there were notices about his mental health.
Yet, he got off to a flying start with us - remember those two at home against Oxford in the Cup, and another in the League. He can get into the box on his own - against Leeds at The Valley this season he skinned two defenders on the by-line, and even on Saturday he was hurtling in to the box from the left - but passed to the Reading defenders.
Churchy runs quickly; don't forget Danny Haynes, coming on as sub, sprinting across from the dug-out to the corner-flag and pulling his hamstring: out for four weeks. The reason why our strikers can't score is because our weak midfield gives them one chance per game - if they are lucky.
Obika? Sordell? Reza? Not quite.
I think the optimism of the 2 league cup goals has well and truly dissipated....the fact that we are still referring back to them says it all. If as you say, he has had trouble with mental health issues, then I am truly sorry to hear that. I can only go by what I see on the pitch. He has been shocking. If his head truly isn't in it, then the right thing to do would be to remove himself from being picked for the rest of the season. Trott did the same during the Ashes tour, people won't think any less of him because of this, they will respect him more because he's putting the team first. I hadn't read anything about such problems, so would be interested to know where you heard this? His performances have been shit, so the more he plays, the more he opens himself up to criticism
You are far too hard on Churchy. I was sceptical right from the start: a lousy goal-scoring record in his last few years at Reading: he was dropped from the team and there were notices about his mental health.
Yet, he got off to a flying start with us - remember those two at home against Oxford in the Cup, and another in the League. He can get into the box on his own - against Leeds at The Valley this season he skinned two defenders on the by-line, and even on Saturday he was hurtling in to the box from the left - but passed to the Reading defenders.
Churchy runs quickly; don't forget Danny Haynes, coming on as sub, sprinting across from the dug-out to the corner-flag and pulling his hamstring: out for four weeks. The reason why our strikers can't score is because our weak midfield gives them one chance per game - if they are lucky.
Obika? Sordell? Reza? Not quite.
Church does not run quickly, the man has anti-gas.
To keep bringing up his league cup goals is ridiculous, Oxford United are a league 2 team. Piggott scored a hat-trick against Welling, does that mean he should start?
Comments
And no we haven't won Tuesday yet... That would be impossible. But we will have more of a chance with others up top instead of church...
Having watched him this season he just doesn't seem to have any strengths to his game over than his work rate and fitness.
Even then, his work rate isn't as effective as you'd hope it would be. When Wagstaff or Pritchard used to close down it would sometimes lead to a mistake, or us winning a throw. They'd do it at pace with more aggression. They weren't the strongest but it was effective at times. Watching Church it feels as if the opposition just pass around him. He closes down but never really gets close enough to win the ball.
The other day it was a surprise to see him actually win the ball off the Burnley defender. Unfortunately it just resulted in another one of his weak shots that looks like a back pass. We've had plenty of strikers that aren't great finishers, but I can't remember a player that consistently fails to put any power into his shots. It's not as if they're all placed shots, even the ones outside the box roll wide or into the keepers arms.
Clearly Riga is rotating to keep players as fit as possible, but Church is rarely a threat with a partner, never mind on his own. It's not as if Sordell and Obika have been playing regularly all season.
In Riga's first game, aside from his finishing, I felt Sordell played quite well. Has a decent touch, probably stronger than Church and has on occasions picked out a decent pass. He also worked harder and played with more energy than in a lot of other games. Reza is definitely a poacher and not a winger or lone striker. I've not really been impressed by him but I think he'd get a few goals if we created the right sort of chances for him. Obika is at least a more physical threat than Church.
I'd be surprised if Church starts on Tuesday but then again I thought he'd be on the bench yesterday at best.
You're probably settling down with a nice cup of tea on your Sunday evening right now but remember back to earlier today....
You would've been sat on the toilet having a number two and when you were finished you would've got up, looked down with a sense of satisfaction and congratulated yourself on a perfectly formed turd.
The thing is Mr DMC, that turd had more talent than our Simon.
Church can run, but does nothing else. He adds absolutely nothing to the team and it's been obvious since about the 5th game he played for us.
Yet, he got off to a flying start with us - remember those two at home against Oxford in the Cup, and another in the League. He can get into the box on his own - against Leeds at The Valley this season he skinned two defenders on the by-line, and even on Saturday he was hurtling in to the box from the left - but passed to the Reading defenders.
Churchy runs quickly; don't forget Danny Haynes, coming on as sub, sprinting across from the dug-out to the corner-flag and pulling his hamstring: out for four weeks. The reason why our strikers can't score is because our weak midfield gives them one chance per game - if they are lucky.
Obika? Sordell? Reza? Not quite.
To keep bringing up his league cup goals is ridiculous, Oxford United are a league 2 team. Piggott scored a hat-trick against Welling, does that mean he should start?
(I would start Piggott over Church though)