It's not hard being right, it doesn't take some great genius, or amazing insight.
If I say "we're not going to sign a striker" everyday from the day the transfer window opens until the day it closes, I'll be right 89 out of the 90 days. Yay me, aren't I clever.
We're in league one, there isn't a club in the division that will get all of their targets and be 100% happy with their squad. We're not unique or special a d the sooner people stop whining on here everyday because we're not special the happier we'll all be.
As I said to Golfie a decade ago when I let the negativity get to me. When a new season rolls around you can choose to be optimistic and hope for the best, or you can be pessimistic and expect the worst. If you choose the second then I, personally, simply don't understand why you bother. Why spend time, money and emotional investment in something that not only gives you no joy, but that you are seemingly sure won't give you any joy in the future.
I have a giant "MEH!" shaped balloon all ready for the window shutting, anyone else made any special arrangements?
Going to trawl through this thread & find my posts in late June/early July where I said that we were slow in getting players in & that I would be proved right yet again when we fail to assemble a squad good enough for promotion.
And you moan at Sandgaard wanting the limelight, all your posts are about you, you and you. Probably the most annoying poster I have ever come across.
Yes,but sadly I'm seldom wrong.
You disappear when you're wrong, and show back up when you're right. When we win a few games you're quiet. When we lose or stutter you're back.
You're not even right this time. We haven't been 'slow' in the market. We could use a fourth striker (for one position) and a CB and that's about it, and we're only waiting because of the budget.
We got the bulk of our business done early
"We got the bulk of our business done early"
Apart from up front where it really matters. We let Washington go in mid May - 3 and a half months later we still haven't replaced him. At that time we also had Davison - he has since left. And don't say "but Garner only plays with 1 main striker" because he only became our manager in late June so for 6 weeks we were still lacking in strikers if (like lots of managers) we were going to play with 2 up front.
And the player(s) brought in to play the "attacking role" have not exactly set the world on fire. Payne has yet to start & yesterday looked off the pace. Only Rak Sakyi could be said to be a revelation. Most of the "business done early" has been defenders / defensive players. Our main problem over the last 2 years has been scoring goals & not only had that not been addressed we have actually got worse, especially striker wise.
I have a giant "MEH!" shaped balloon all ready for the window shutting, anyone else made any special arrangements?
Going to trawl through this thread & find my posts in late June/early July where I said that we were slow in getting players in & that I would be proved right yet again when we fail to assemble a squad good enough for promotion.
And you moan at Sandgaard wanting the limelight, all your posts are about you, you and you. Probably the most annoying poster I have ever come across.
Yes,but sadly I'm seldom wrong.
You disappear when you're wrong, and show back up when you're right. When we win a few games you're quiet. When we lose or stutter you're back.
You're not even right this time. We haven't been 'slow' in the market. We could use a fourth striker (for one position) and a CB and that's about it, and we're only waiting because of the budget.
We got the bulk of our business done early
"We got the bulk of our business done early"
Apart from up front where it really matters. We let Washington go in mid May - 3 and a half months later we still haven't replaced him. At that time we also had Davison - he has since left. And don't say "but Garner only plays with 1 main striker" because he only became our manager in late June so for 6 weeks we were still lacking in strikers if (like lots of managers) we were going to play with 2 up front.
And the player(s) brought in to play the "attacking role" have not exactly set the world on fire. Payne has yet to start & yesterday looked off the pace. Only Rak Sakyi could be said to be a revelation. Most of the "business done early" has been defenders / defensive players. Our main problem over the last 2 years has been scoring goals & not only had that not been addressed we have actually got worse, especially striker wise.
Says the bloke who says he would not watch us again if we signed Taylor.
I don't know what's worse the people that say everything is shit all the time or the people that blow smoke up the clubs arse at every opportunity.
Funny enough they both end up being right some of the time.
Calling things shit when they are shit and good when they are good is balanced. IMO that's what 90% of posters do. 90% of the traffic is people arguing with the lunatic fringe, either way.
I have a giant "MEH!" shaped balloon all ready for the window shutting, anyone else made any special arrangements?
Going to trawl through this thread & find my posts in late June/early July where I said that we were slow in getting players in & that I would be proved right yet again when we fail to assemble a squad good enough for promotion.
And you moan at Sandgaard wanting the limelight, all your posts are about you, you and you. Probably the most annoying poster I have ever come across.
Yes,but sadly I'm seldom wrong.
You disappear when you're wrong, and show back up when you're right. When we win a few games you're quiet. When we lose or stutter you're back.
You're not even right this time. We haven't been 'slow' in the market. We could use a fourth striker (for one position) and a CB and that's about it, and we're only waiting because of the budget.
We got the bulk of our business done early
"We got the bulk of our business done early"
Apart from up front where it really matters. We let Washington go in mid May - 3 and a half months later we still haven't replaced him. At that time we also had Davison - he has since left. And don't say "but Garner only plays with 1 main striker" because he only became our manager in late June so for 6 weeks we were still lacking in strikers if (like lots of managers) we were going to play with 2 up front.
And the player(s) brought in to play the "attacking role" have not exactly set the world on fire. Payne has yet to start & yesterday looked off the pace. Only Rak Sakyi could be said to be a revelation. Most of the "business done early" has been defenders / defensive players. Our main problem over the last 2 years has been scoring goals & not only had that not been addressed we have actually got worse, especially striker wise.
Are you complaining we didn't sign a striker in the six weeks we didn't have a manager? I can only imagine I've misunderstood that point because surely not.
You said we didn't get our business done early. Now you agree we did, except mostly defenders and attackers and not strikers.
Like I say, we could do with a fourth for a single position. But if we don't get one it won't be because we left it too late, it will be because we don't have the money.
Even if the moves don’t work out .. and we go with what we got till think this group will keep us in and around top 6 then we strengthen again in Jan for a final push …. it’s all down to what injuries and who gets injured and more important length of time but more luck and we deserve luck in this area and think we would be ok …
See, I dont get this. Why would you "strengthen in January" when you are half way through the season when you could strengthen now (or even in July) and give yourself a whole season to get promoted instead of playing catch up in the new year.
I wonder if it’s fear Golfie, if we push the boat and blow the budget now, then there’s nothing left to spend in January if we pick up more injuries?
I do agree with you, I reckon the only reason we brought Chuks back is we were genuinely concerned about getting relegated through lack of goals, was Chuks a JJ signing, guess we’ll never know.
so.... according to this thread.... we DEFINATELY won't get Rak-Sakyi because he is too good... multiple pages of people raving about the guy and how it's impossible we could ever sign him up... Then we get him, he scores for fun. Still not good enough. We need an Alan Shearer up front as well... ok... nothing is ever good enough is it.
This team is crying out for another striker and one who is better than Stockley.
When it’s not working he looks like a pub player. Yes the service into him hasn’t been good and that’s not fair, but it’s not like he even offers us anything to combat that. He’s not great with his feet, he’s not a monster in the air, he doesn’t run in behind and stretch a defence, his link play is okay but not something that can take us up a league.
If he’s not getting quality crosses to attack, he’s useless in this formation. And as our captain, he sure does moan a lot.
There I’ve said it. Allowed my opinion and this is it. I just don’t think we will ever be strong enough for a promotion side with Stockley leading the line on his own. We need better.
I think this is a little harsh on Stockley, but overall very well put and correct. Though I expect nothing less from you, as you're always incredibly insightful and articulate.
The problem still remains, can we move Stockley on to free up some of his wages? Because I feel like we will have a hard time offering another striker wages and playing time with Chuks and Stockley on the books. And I struggle to see us moving him on and signing another quality striker in the next three days. I would love to be wrong, he does not fit out set up anymore, but I just don't see it.
why is this team crying out for another striker??? We have scored plenty. Scoring is not the problem? is it? I mean, we have scored a fair few goals
Another Striker increases the potential for winning games.
We can argue Stockley's merits to the squad as a whole, but yesterday he did look ineffective against Wycombe's defence (People thought the same against Sheff Wed, and looked what happened when he was replaced), and like the rest of the team did appear to tire.
It would be nice if we had another option on the bench, at the very least until Aneke is back fit - That way if its not working, we are able to give the opposition something else to think about.
I'd be shocked if we get anything other than an U21 loanee though.
In all honesty I dont think there are many fans on here who don't realise that we need another Striker brought in before the Transfer Window closes... Just the majority dont feel the need to bring it up every five minutes.
It's not hard being right, it doesn't take some great genius, or amazing insight.
If I say "we're not going to sign a striker" everyday from the day the transfer window opens until the day it closes, I'll be right 89 out of the 90 days. Yay me, aren't I clever.
We're in league one, there isn't a club in the division that will get all of their targets and be 100% happy with their squad. We're not unique or special a d the sooner people stop whining on here everyday because we're not special the happier we'll all be.
As I said to Golfie a decade ago when I let the negativity get to me. When a new season rolls around you can choose to be optimistic and hope for the best, or you can be pessimistic and expect the worst. If you choose the second then I, personally, simply don't understand why you bother. Why spend time, money and emotional investment in something that not only gives you no joy, but that you are seemingly sure won't give you any joy in the future.
And somewhere on the spectrum between optimism and pessimism lays realism!
why is this team crying out for another striker??? We have scored plenty. Scoring is not the problem? is it? I mean, we have scored a fair few goals
Another Striker increases the potential for winning games.
We can argue Stockley's merits to the squad as a whole, but yesterday he did look ineffective against Wycombe's defence (People thought the same against Sheff Wed, and looked what happened when he was replaced), and like the rest of the team did appear to tire.
It would be nice if we had another option on the bench, at the very least until Aneke is back fit - That way if its not working, we are able to give the opposition something else to think about.
I'd be shocked if we get anything other than an U21 loanee though.
In all honesty I dont think there are many fans on here who don't realise that we need another Striker brought in before the Transfer Window closes... Just the majority dont feel the need to bring it up every five minutes.
how did you come to that decision?
I mean why? If our other forwards and midfielders are contributing goals that win/draw games we would have lost? if our entire front line contributes 10 goals each for example? Chuks is an outlier to that btw, he'll either be injured all season and get 3 or not and get ten himself. The manager is setting us up to get goals all over the pitch and it appears to be working.
why is this team crying out for another striker??? We have scored plenty. Scoring is not the problem? is it? I mean, we have scored a fair few goals
Another Striker increases the potential for winning games.
We can argue Stockley's merits to the squad as a whole, but yesterday he did look ineffective against Wycombe's defence (People thought the same against Sheff Wed, and looked what happened when he was replaced), and like the rest of the team did appear to tire.
It would be nice if we had another option on the bench, at the very least until Aneke is back fit - That way if its not working, we are able to give the opposition something else to think about.
I'd be shocked if we get anything other than an U21 loanee though.
In all honesty I dont think there are many fans on here who don't realise that we need another Striker brought in before the Transfer Window closes... Just the majority dont feel the need to bring it up every five minutes.
how did you come to that decision?
I mean why? If our other forwards and midfielders are contributing goals that win/draw games we would have lost? if our entire front line contributes 10 goals each for example? Chuks is an outlier to that btw, he'll either be injured all season and get 3 or not and get ten himself. The manager is setting us up to get goals all over the pitch and it appears to be working.
The fact that we didnt win yesterday, and given the wasted chances against Sheff Wed.
Granted players will always miss opportunities.
But then there are other factors, which I go on to explain in my second paragraph
e.g. Defenders will occasionally get the better of certain Strikers, so give them something else to think about... Those on the pitch will tire, so having more options on the bench, allows for fresher legs, something else Defenders will hate to deal with.
We dont want to get to the point either where Stockley gets injured because he's not getting an occasional break, and is left exhausted from the amount of endless playing time.
I agree its helpful that we have other positions in the team who are contributing goals instead of Stockley, so in some regard its taking added pressure off his shoulders - Could equally argue though that he's currently too comfortable within the team. He'll know that Miles Leaburn is too green to be starting ahead of him, whilst Aneke is injured so can relax a bit too much on the pitch - Against Accrington at the Valley last season he was left on the bench, came on when we were losing and his whole attitude was that of a player saying: "Right time to prove the Manager wrong" - Doesnt have to do that at the moment does he.
Got a feeling we are rather hamstrung with Stockley, in the context of this idea of moving him on to facilitate bringing in somebody more suited to Garner's style. He is on contract, almost certainly settled and unlikely to want to move. I suspect the powers that be viewed him as something of a marquee signing. I am sure he is a quality forward at this level and an asset to any side that plays to his strengths. We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea really. 1. Because whilst he has attributes that benefit us, he also has limitations that are kind of exposed in the style we are trying to play. 2. Because our "ideal" player/striker is hardly going to be tempted to come and have to compete for a starting place or to play second fiddle to Stockley. Conversely, if we simply bring a player in as back-up, he ain't gonna fire us to promotion. We may of course be looking to bring in a goalscoring wide forward to play on the opposite side to Rak-sakyi. That would of course leave the Stockley conundrum unresolved
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I am not down on this team, by any means. I don't think we are good enough to get promoted. They aren't the same thing.
I don't buy the idea that it's a work in progress and will take 2 or 3 windows to get right. I don't buy we can't bring x or y in until z leaves, for reasons other than the budget has been poorly managed.
I rated the class of 20/21 higher than most and this team isn't better and will suffer the same fate.
Now saying that that could all change in the next 4 days. If it does brilliant. I'll be as happy as anyone.
But we have been a quality center half short for 4 windows and a center forward short for 3. How optimistic can you be this time?
Personally I think it will be quite enjoyable to watch but we will finish outside the play offs and end up playing in front of sub 10k fans, at home, on Saturdays. The club will organically shrink.
If you did slow and steady in the championship you could still grow the club.
Giving Garner time, as opposed to financial backing, is as folly as not backing Adkins.
You’re not down on the team? You sound down the on club as a whole. Jesus Christ
Perhaps it's the stats that are driving the club to look at a CB before a striker.
Attacking stats:
5th in the league for goals per match.
3rd in the league for expected goals.
6th in the league for shots on target per match.
Defensive stats:
8th for xG conceded (1st being worse).
10th for saves per match.
17th for clean sheets.
-
Some interesting unrelated stats. We're 2nd in the league for accurate long balls, behind only Fleetwood. And we're 23rd for possession won in final 3rd per match (so much for the press).
why is this team crying out for another striker??? We have scored plenty. Scoring is not the problem? is it? I mean, we have scored a fair few goals
i mean... is it just because we aren't relying on one person to score them all that is the problem?
But those stats are distorted by one result against a very open Plymouth side, who went down to 10 men. The performances since then suggest that was a bit of a one off, with us at our peak and the opposition having a mare.
Why exclude the Plymouth game... When was the last time we scored 5 against a team with 10 men? I think I can remember a few times over the past few seasons where we didn't score any in the same situation.
It's not like it's easy to smash them in when a player goes off. We were brilliant that night, give the team some credit.
We'd already scored 3 when their player got sent off anyway. (Given he blocked the 3rd going in with his hand).
Got a feeling we are rather hamstrung with Stockley, in the context of this idea of moving him on to facilitate bringing in somebody more suited to Garner's style. He is on contract, almost certainly settled and unlikely to want to move. I suspect the powers that be viewed him as something of a marquee signing. I am sure he is a quality forward at this level and an asset to any side that plays to his strengths. We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea really. 1. Because whilst he has attributes that benefit us, he also has limitations that are kind of exposed in the style we are trying to play. 2. Because our "ideal" player/striker is hardly going to be tempted to come and have to compete for a starting place or to play second fiddle to Stockley. Conversely, if we simply bring a player in as back-up, he ain't gonna fire us to promotion. We may of course be looking to bring in a goalscoring wide forward to play on the opposite side to Rak-sakyi. That would of course leave the Stockley conundrum unresolved
A decent more mobile Number 9 would should be confident enough to fight for his place with Stockley. Plus, there's no reason why he couldn't play alongside him as well, after all Leaburn is a young Number 9 who's mainly been played as a wide forward
And I don't agree with the idea that Stockley is seen as a talismanic striker at this level. A decent player yes, but hardly someone who has the track record in L1 to strike fear into opponents
Indeed looking at his record, I was surprised at how few games he's actually played in L1 before joining us. By far his best success was when he played for Exeter in L2.
We shouldn't exclude the Plymouth game. When was the last time we scored 5 against a team with 10 men? I think I can remember a few times over the past few seasons where we didn't score any! It's not like it's easy to smash them in when a player goes off. We were brilliant that night, give the team some credit.
Also, their player stopped our 3rd goal going in with his hand. So we only scored another 2 when they had him red carded.
I'm not excluding that game, but pointing out that the performances in the other games this season have been nowhere near as dynamic, suggesting that while we were great, Plymouth also got it very wrong, and that other teams won't play like that against us.
why is this team crying out for another striker??? We have scored plenty. Scoring is not the problem? is it? I mean, we have scored a fair few goals
Another Striker increases the potential for winning games.
We can argue Stockley's merits to the squad as a whole, but yesterday he did look ineffective against Wycombe's defence (People thought the same against Sheff Wed, and looked what happened when he was replaced), and like the rest of the team did appear to tire.
It would be nice if we had another option on the bench, at the very least until Aneke is back fit - That way if its not working, we are able to give the opposition something else to think about.
I'd be shocked if we get anything other than an U21 loanee though.
In all honesty I dont think there are many fans on here who don't realise that we need another Striker brought in before the Transfer Window closes... Just the majority dont feel the need to bring it up every five minutes.
how did you come to that decision?
I mean why? If our other forwards and midfielders are contributing goals that win/draw games we would have lost? if our entire front line contributes 10 goals each for example? Chuks is an outlier to that btw, he'll either be injured all season and get 3 or not and get ten himself. The manager is setting us up to get goals all over the pitch and it appears to be working.
Its actually not working. Leaving aside the game against 10 men we are averaging one goal a game. Nowhere near good enough for a promotion challenge.
Why exclude the Plymouth game... When was the last time we scored 5 against a team with 10 men? I think I can remember a few times over the past few seasons where we didn't score any in the same situation.
It's not like it's easy to smash them in when a player goes off. We were brilliant that night, give the team some credit.
We'd already scored 3 when their player got sent off anyway. (Given he blocked the 3rd going in with his hand).
Many studies, tables and statistics would argue why include it, when it's quite clearly an anomaly at this point, an outlier that's skewing the rest of the stats
If we're winning games, I don't really care a great deal where they are coming from. Ultimately, Stockley primarily facilitates the other players - I'd be infinitely happier if he was chipping in with more, but even if he was, the concern remains about our dependence on him and the lack of cover. We could be bundling them in from 4 yards off someone's arse, I only care about the result and points.
I very much doubt he'd be sold. There's a very limited amount of teams that would play to his strengths and pay both a fee / his sizeable wages. I'd want him and another player who can hold up play + play behind to it switch up. I sit towards more positive than negative about our results so far, but I see the opportunity this year to be seized by investing now in cover up front and at the back. It's a tentative assessment that has me wanting to see the performances vs. the better sides we've played so far, against the weaker sides.
If you can’t see that Stockley either doesn’t fit the system we’re playing or isn’t good enough for it, you don’t have a clue about football I’m afraid.
If you can’t see that Stockley either doesn’t fit the system we’re playing or isn’t good enough for it, you don’t have a clue about football I’m afraid.
Why exclude the Plymouth game... When was the last time we scored 5 against a team with 10 men? I think I can remember a few times over the past few seasons where we didn't score any in the same situation.
It's not like it's easy to smash them in when a player goes off. We were brilliant that night, give the team some credit.
We'd already scored 3 when their player got sent off anyway. (Given he blocked the 3rd going in with his hand).
That was the second goal wasn’t it? Clare scored the third with his wonder strike.
Comments
If I say "we're not going to sign a striker" everyday from the day the transfer window opens until the day it closes, I'll be right 89 out of the 90 days. Yay me, aren't I clever.
We're in league one, there isn't a club in the division that will get all of their targets and be 100% happy with their squad. We're not unique or special a d the sooner people stop whining on here everyday because we're not special the happier we'll all be.
As I said to Golfie a decade ago when I let the negativity get to me. When a new season rolls around you can choose to be optimistic and hope for the best, or you can be pessimistic and expect the worst. If you choose the second then I, personally, simply don't understand why you bother. Why spend time, money and emotional investment in something that not only gives you no joy, but that you are seemingly sure won't give you any joy in the future.
Apart from up front where it really matters. We let Washington go in mid May - 3 and a half months later we still haven't replaced him. At that time we also had Davison - he has since left. And don't say "but Garner only plays with 1 main striker" because he only became our manager in late June so for 6 weeks we were still lacking in strikers if (like lots of managers) we were going to play with 2 up front.
And the player(s) brought in to play the "attacking role" have not exactly set the world on fire. Payne has yet to start & yesterday looked off the pace. Only Rak Sakyi could be said to be a revelation. Most of the "business done early" has been defenders / defensive players. Our main problem over the last 2 years has been scoring goals & not only had that not been addressed we have actually got worse, especially striker wise.
Funny enough they both end up being right some of the time.
Calling things shit when they are shit and good when they are good is balanced. IMO that's what 90% of posters do. 90% of the traffic is people arguing with the lunatic fringe, either way.
You said we didn't get our business done early. Now you agree we did, except mostly defenders and attackers and not strikers.
Like I say, we could do with a fourth for a single position. But if we don't get one it won't be because we left it too late, it will be because we don't have the money.
Personally I believe it is true but now you have rubbished I am 100% convinced its "non football" reasons.
I do agree with you, I reckon the only reason we brought Chuks back is we were genuinely concerned about getting relegated through lack of goals, was Chuks a JJ signing, guess we’ll never know.
The problem still remains, can we move Stockley on to free up some of his wages? Because I feel like we will have a hard time offering another striker wages and playing time with Chuks and Stockley on the books. And I struggle to see us moving him on and signing another quality striker in the next three days. I would love to be wrong, he does not fit out set up anymore, but I just don't see it.
i mean... is it just because we aren't relying on one person to score them all that is the problem?
We can argue Stockley's merits to the squad as a whole, but yesterday he did look ineffective against Wycombe's defence (People thought the same against Sheff Wed, and looked what happened when he was replaced), and like the rest of the team did appear to tire.
It would be nice if we had another option on the bench, at the very least until Aneke is back fit - That way if its not working, we are able to give the opposition something else to think about.
I'd be shocked if we get anything other than an U21 loanee though.
In all honesty I dont think there are many fans on here who don't realise that we need another Striker brought in before the Transfer Window closes... Just the majority dont feel the need to bring it up every five minutes.
I mean why? If our other forwards and midfielders are contributing goals that win/draw games we would have lost? if our entire front line contributes 10 goals each for example? Chuks is an outlier to that btw, he'll either be injured all season and get 3 or not and get ten himself. The manager is setting us up to get goals all over the pitch and it appears to be working.
Granted players will always miss opportunities.
But then there are other factors, which I go on to explain in my second paragraph
e.g. Defenders will occasionally get the better of certain Strikers, so give them something else to think about... Those on the pitch will tire, so having more options on the bench, allows for fresher legs, something else Defenders will hate to deal with.
We dont want to get to the point either where Stockley gets injured because he's not getting an occasional break, and is left exhausted from the amount of endless playing time.
I agree its helpful that we have other positions in the team who are contributing goals instead of Stockley, so in some regard its taking added pressure off his shoulders - Could equally argue though that he's currently too comfortable within the team. He'll know that Miles Leaburn is too green to be starting ahead of him, whilst Aneke is injured so can relax a bit too much on the pitch - Against Accrington at the Valley last season he was left on the bench, came on when we were losing and his whole attitude was that of a player saying: "Right time to prove the Manager wrong" - Doesnt have to do that at the moment does he.
He is on contract, almost certainly settled and unlikely to want to move.
I suspect the powers that be viewed him as something of a marquee signing.
I am sure he is a quality forward at this level and an asset to any side that plays to his strengths.
We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea really.
1. Because whilst he has attributes that benefit us, he also has limitations that are kind of exposed in the style we are trying to play.
2. Because our "ideal" player/striker is hardly going to be tempted to come and have to compete for a starting place or to play second fiddle to Stockley. Conversely, if we simply bring a player in as back-up, he ain't gonna fire us to promotion.
We may of course be looking to bring in a goalscoring wide forward to play on the opposite side to Rak-sakyi. That would of course leave the Stockley conundrum unresolved
Attacking stats:
5th in the league for goals per match.
3rd in the league for expected goals.
6th in the league for shots on target per match.
Defensive stats:
8th for xG conceded (1st being worse).
10th for saves per match.
17th for clean sheets.
-
Some interesting unrelated stats. We're 2nd in the league for accurate long balls, behind only Fleetwood. And we're 23rd for possession won in final 3rd per match (so much for the press).
2-2
1-0
1-1 (EFL Cup)
0-1
5-1
1-1
1-0 (EFL Cup)
1-1
In the other 7 games we're averaging 1 goal per game.
It's not like it's easy to smash them in when a player goes off. We were brilliant that night, give the team some credit.
We'd already scored 3 when their player got sent off anyway. (Given he blocked the 3rd going in with his hand).
And I don't agree with the idea that Stockley is seen as a talismanic striker at this level. A decent player yes, but hardly someone who has the track record in L1 to strike fear into opponents
Indeed looking at his record, I was surprised at how few games he's actually played in L1 before joining us. By far his best success was when he played for Exeter in L2.
We're entering a bit of a strange place where certain goals don't count because the other team didn't play right
I very much doubt he'd be sold. There's a very limited amount of teams that would play to his strengths and pay both a fee / his sizeable wages. I'd want him and another player who can hold up play + play behind to it switch up. I sit towards more positive than negative about our results so far, but I see the opportunity this year to be seized by investing now in cover up front and at the back. It's a tentative assessment that has me wanting to see the performances vs. the better sides we've played so far, against the weaker sides.
😊