Miller

[crucialkneeligaman]

Not a moan, but was just wondering what other people think about Miller. Scored a right poachers goal against Fulham but hardly seems to have been given a sniff lately. Happy enough with the 1-0 wins lately but it would be nice to make things a bit more comfortable to close out games and reduce that -4 goal difference. Seems ages since he came back into the squad after injury, is he still being eased back in ?. Just though we would have seen a bit more of him.

 

[Damski]

Seems as though he's still being eased back in, he's clearly not fit enough to play a full 90 every week. He's off form too, but he was out for a while. We do need a guy like him up front tho, as you said a goal poacher.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Seems as though he's still being eased back in, he's clearly not fit enough to play a full 90 every week. He's off form too, but he was out for a while. We do need a guy like him up front tho, as you said a goal poacher.

Yes, lets hope he can recover his form, should be a vital player for us if he can recover the form shown at Notts County last season.

 

[travellingblade]

We've a lot of games in quick succession, so he'll probably be involved in future games.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

We've a lot of games in quick succession, so he'll probably be involved in future games.

Yeah good point.

 

[The Glasshouse Blade]

I think over the next 2-months we will see a lot of players get involved from the bench and from the academy, it depends how we are doing. If we get three wins in the next 9-10 days against Posh, Charlton, and carlisle that will dictate who plays.

 

[BladeInThatcham]

With Murphy possibly out it wouldn't surprise me if he made a start on Tuesday night

 

[SandyMcBlade]

To be honest I can't make head nor tails of NC selections some times, but what I do know is I like his style and it's working, so I should just sit down,shut up, and enjoy the ride..

In Nigel we trust...
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[blade too long]

If Murphy is going to be out hes there as an option , he missed a large chunk of the season so being used sparingly is no surprise

 

[alcoblade]

Yes, lets hope he can recover his form, should be a vital player for us .

I'd love for someone to point me in the direction of this "form" that Miller has lost. Which part of the 4 in 27 he's scored for us are we hankering after?

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[Pinchy]

I'd love for someone to point me in the direction of this "form" that Miller has lost. Which part of the 4 in 27 he's scored for us are we hankering after?

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Ah, if only we had goal penalty machine Blackman back eh? Sadly, his scorching form at Reading has put him way beyond our reach. Guess we'll have to opt for a different returning hero. Anyone seen Steady or Cotts lately?

 

[alcoblade]

Ah, if only we had goal penalty machine Blackman back eh? Sadly, his scorching form at Reading has put him way beyond our reach. Guess we'll have to opt for a different returning hero. Anyone seen Steady or Cotts lately?

Wow, another oportunity to bring back old arguments. You never learn. Are my numbers incorrect - have I missed the point re Miller?

My judgement about Blackman's sale proved spot on - perhaps the last disasterous year has passed you by as your thirst for sideways football over real content was met by the useless Weir - Whatever the issue with Blackman post us, he was doing the business for us, we sold him and collapsed - it's that simple.

None of this has got anything to do with the 4 goals in 27 appearances Miller has notched up. We can all hope there's more to come, perhaps hidden away as it has been with Flynn. But he's 27 now, and the lost form that many still refer to never actually existed in the previous 10 years of being a professional.

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[Guesty]

Ah, if only we had goal penalty machine Blackman back eh? Sadly, his scorching form at Reading has put him way beyond our reach. Guess we'll have to opt for a different returning hero. Anyone seen Steady or Cotts lately?

Cotterill is playing in a higher league than us, having actually helped a team get promoted from League One in recent years, and was part of the team that got us within 90 minutes of the Premier League.

I have never and will never understand the vitriol that man gets, so many years after he left too.

 

[Rossb123]

Ah, if only we had goal penalty machine Blackman back eh? Sadly, his scorching form at Reading has put him way beyond our reach. Guess we'll have to opt for a different returning hero. Anyone seen Steady or Cotts lately?

Bring Beattie back he can score penalties with Luton Shelton he can do all the running.

But back to Miller, I think he will be released at the end of the season. I do feel for him, not easy to come back from an injury half way through the season. He will definitely get another team maybe in the same league.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I'd love for someone to point me in the direction of this "form" that Miller has lost. Which part of the 4 in 27 he's scored for us are we hankering after?

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Actually thought Miller was showing some good form prior to his injury. Miller has shown (in flashes I grant you) that he has the ability, just needs to get the rub of the green. When it comes to goals/appearances, you could make your argument about a number of our present squad.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Ah, if only we had goal penalty machine Blackman back eh? Sadly, his scorching form at Reading has put him way beyond our reach. Guess we'll have to opt for a different returning hero. Anyone seen Steady or Cotts lately?

Selling Blackman was extremely foolish. Always was, always will be.

 

[wizadry]

Wow, another oportunity to bring back old arguments. You never learn. Are my numbers incorrect - have I missed the point re Miller?

My judgement about Blackman's sale proved spot on - perhaps the last disasterous year has passed you by as your thirst for sideways football over real content was met by the useless Weir - Whatever the issue with Blackman post us, he was doing the business for us, we sold him and collapsed - it's that simple.

None of this has got anything to do with the 4 goals in 27 appearances Miller has notched up. We can all hope there's more to come, perhaps hidden away as it has been with Flynn. But he's 27 now, and the lost form that many still refer to never actually existed in the previous 10 years of being a professional.

UTB

I would like to know how many of the games youve stated in his ratio he has actually started please enlighten me

 

[alcoblade]

When it comes to goals/appearances, you could make your argument about a number of our present squad.

All our strikers are below the standard we need. That just reinforces the point. It's hard to judge most positions on the field using stats, because they don't tell the full story. For strikers, give or take a little, they do. At 27, it's highly likely there's nothing hidden from the less than 1 goal in 4 lower division appearances.

He is the type of player who leaves you feeling that there's something more to come - but 4 in 27 for us says it all, I fear.

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[alcoblade]

I would like to know how many of the games you've stated in his ratio he has actually started please enlighten me

Do the work yourself, I have no desire to enlighten you.

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[Patrick Suffaux]

All of the strikers are struggling to get starts because of the system we are currently adopting. Rather similar to the famous "false 9" and it's working a treat. Gives us a very solid shape with players that have the ability to break quickly and link up with one another.

I'm sure at some point we will have to adapt and change things around which will bring our forwards into it. While it's working I couldn't care less who is playing and who isn't.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

If you include Miller's cup appearances he's actually scored 9 in 34, which is not a bad return for someone who's turned out mostly from the bench.

He is bang out of form though and I can't really see where he fits into this new style of play unless he starts playing like he did pre injury..

 

[alcoblade]

All of the strikers are struggling to get starts because of the system we are currently adopting. Rather similar to the famous "false 9" and it's working a treat. Gives us a very solid shape with players that have the ability to break quickly and link up with one another.

I'm sure at some point we will have to adapt and change things around which will bring our forwards into it. While it's working I couldn't care less who is playing and who isn't.

I agree, I don't care where the goals come from, and I'm really happy with what I'm seeing right now. But sooner or later, we need a proven striker - and I don't believe we have one on the books - as I've said, the stats over many years tell us all there is to know. And though some don't seem to like this conclusion for whatever reason, I'm sure Clough knows this too.

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[alcoblade]

If you include Miller's cup appearances he's actually scored 9 in 34, which is not a bad return for someone who's turned out mostly from the bench.

He is bang out of form though and I can't really see where he fits into this new style of play unless he starts playing like he did pre injury..

Presumably that includes JPT goals, which is I suspect of such low standard, they don't include in the main statistics (genuine question)?

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[Patrick Suffaux]

I agree, I don't care where the goals come from, and I'm really happy with what I'm seeing right now. But sooner or later, we need a proven striker - and I don't believe we have one on the books - as I've said, the stats over many years tell us all there is to know. And though some don't seem to like this conclusion for whatever reason, I'm sure Clough knows this too.

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Completely. It has to be priority no.1 in the summer. What we are doing at the moment is working and will probably work on occasions in the future but at some point sides will learn to cope with it and we need to be adaptable to keep them guessing. As you say, having a quality centre forward will be key to this as it's so often the difference between sides that go up and others that don't.

I think there are a lot of decent strikers about at the moment but they will all cost money and our owners have to be willing to invest in one or two. The current crop of strikers we have are good honest lads and I would be happy for most of them to stay with us and play a part but they will need a bit of extra quality alongside them to help at some point.

Having said that I'm happy with Porter, Miller, Paynter and our other current options for the rest of the season. I think it's more than enough to secure safety, especially with that they have behind them at present.

 

[wizadry]

If you include Miller's cup appearances he's actually scored 9 in 34, which is not a bad return for someone who's turned out mostly from the bench.

He is bang out of form though and I can't really see where he fits into this new style of play unless he starts playing like he did pre injury..

18 of the 34 are from the bench hes by far the best striker we have porter has had a good run of games up until now so why cant miller he will out score porter 3fold

 

[wizadry]

18 of the 34 are from the bench hes by far the best striker we have porter has had a good run of games up until now so why cant miller he will out score porter 3fold

No matter what style we play by the way

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Presumably that includes JPT goals, which is I suspect of such low standard, they don't include in the main statistics (genuine question)?

UTB

Yes, the two away at Notts County, however i'd say that's balanced out by his Fa Cup goal at Fulham, which was against Premiership opposition who are supposed to be of a much higher standard. (Admittedly Fulham weren't that night!)

To say it's such a poor standard in the JPT, Weirs team managed to play two 4th division sides this year and not even look like scoring..

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Miller's the answer to our current goalscoring problem, but I think looking at his League goals (I'd like to see how many of those 27 apps were as sub) and ignoring his 5 goals in 7 cup games does the lad a bit of a disservice.

Edit - Just seen Wizardry's response, so his stats would actually read 16 (18) and 9 goals..

 

[alcoblade]

Having said that I'm happy with Porter, Miller, Paynter and our other current options for the rest of the season. I think it's more than enough to secure safety, especially with that they have behind them at present.

Yep, spot on. Hopefully we've learned the mistakes of the past and can cease just getting someone is as a panic signing. If there's nobody better available, then don't bother - especially as the season is realistically over. Credit Clough for holding out (or pessimistically, perhaps the money just wasn't there?)

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[Darren]

Presumably that includes JPT goals, which is I suspect of such low standard, they don't include in the main statistics (genuine question)?

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Last season he scored 4 league goals (2 v Stevenage H, 1 v Crewe H and 1 v Scunthorpe H) in 7 starts plus 8 sub appearances. He got 2 in the FA Cup (v Port Vale H) in 2 starts and 2 (v Notts County H) in the JPT in 1 start. He also had a start in the League Cup without scoring.

So in total last season he got 8 in 11 starts and 8 as sub, which, if you count the sub appearances as half a start gives in a better than 1 in 2 ratio.

So, I don't think it's fair to say there was nothing there last season.

This season is rather different: 5 starts plus 10 as sub in league and cup and just that one goal.

 

[alcoblade]

Yes, the two away at Notts County, however i'd say that's balanced out by his Fa Cup goal at Fulham, which was against Premiership opposition who are supposed to be of a much higher standard. (Admittedly Fulham weren't that night!)

To say it's such a poor standard in the JPT, Weirs team managed to play two 4th division sides this year and not even look like scoring..

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Miller's the answer to our current goalscoring problem, but I think looking at his League goals (I'd like to see how many of those 27 apps were as sub) and ignoring his 5 goals in 7 cup games does the lad a bit of a disservice.

Edit - Just seen Wizardry's response, so his stats would actually read 16 (18) and 9 goals..

Looking wider though, at 27 he's spent his entire career in divisions 3 and 4, hitting double figures in only one 4th division season. I think those stats are, sadly, compelling.

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