Are we missing some thing here ?

[SandyMcBlade]

When NC started this tactic of surrendering the midfield to draw teams out so we could hit them on the break, every one was complaining about us not getting stuck in.
Now it's proven successful, the main complaint seems to be about playing without that out and out goal scorer.
But mysteriously NC doesn't seem to be in that big a rush to sign one, so are we all missing something here again ?

 

[kozluk]

every team, no matter how they play needs an out an out goal scorer, or at least a consistent one. Or at least that's how I see it.

Teams will get wise to our tactics, especially at the lane and just sit back and hope to nick something, on these occasions (which will be plenty especially if we stay lumbered in division 3) we will need a goal scorer, and I have every confidence Clough will address this when he finds the right man.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

When NC started this tactic of surrendering the midfield to draw teams out so we could hit them on the break, every one was complaining about us not getting stuck in.
Now it's proven successful, the main complaint seems to be about playing without that out and out goal scorer.
But mysteriously NC doesn't seem to be in that big a rush to sign one, so are we all missing something here again ?

Surrender midfield? Really? We've been exceptional in midfield. We've allowed tippy tappy possession, yet maintained midfield possession.

The main complaint has not been about an out an out goal scorer but in the one game we lost in 12 that we didn't have a type of striker

 

[Esablade]

To counter this though, and partly why it's been successfull is because we've had Murphey, Flynny, Brayford, Harris and now Freeman bombing down the wing and getting crosses in.
It allows our midfield to get in the box also and we're creating chances.

If we had a deadly finisher in there also it would be interesting!

 

[WhiteHawk]

I can't imagine the results we'd be getting if we had a Beattie or an Evans.

 

[kozluk]

I agree to an Evans type player, but Beattie would have done fack all the way the team is currently set up...can you imagine Beattie keeping up with our counter attacks?

 

[Pinchy]

We'll have at least one, probably two, quality strikers (for this level) by the end of the Summer (October at the latest ).

Nigel is a 4-4-2 manager at heart and that's what we'll see next term.

 

[WhiteHawk]

I agree to an Evans type player, but Beattie would have done fack all the way the team is currently set up...can you imagine Beattie keeping up with our counter attacks?

Beattie would have just hung around in the final third waiting for the counter attack.

 

[kozluk]

Beattie would have just hung around in the final third waiting for the counter attack.

I doubt clough would have stood for that, he likes all his players putting a shift in. IMO

 

[Dnblade]

It's a great way of playing though while we lack a real Striker...let them have it in their own half,then win the ball when they come in our half and hit them on the break and get runners forward.
Don't think it was a rigid 442 he was playing at Derby....not this season anyway.
Think he had 2 up top plus Jamie Ward playing deeper in the hole,then Eustace holding in front of the back 4..full Backs pushing on,and 2 mobile midfielders in Bryson and ..errr forgotten the other lads name..is it Hendricks?

 

[wizadry]

Agree with most comments there,i cant help but think if we had one or two strikers and i mean proper strikers we would be beating teams a bit more convincingly.Although we are on a good run,these 1 nil wins are only going to go on for so long,we need to address the striking department and i think we all know that,lets hope sir nigel does and i think he will,like kozzie said teams or a good manager gets used to how we play and we cant rely on our defence all the time can we?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I agree to an Evans type player, but Beattie would have done fack all the way the team is currently set up...can you imagine Beattie keeping up with our counter attacks?

Beattie would have drawn the centre halves out more than Baxter just because of his name and a greater fear of leaving him un-marked.

 

[Blade56]

Think back 2/3 months ago. If NC had gone to market for a striker who would have been interested in joining a failing club at risk of relegation. We would have be chasing journeymen and those who failed to make their mark.
Now look at SUFC, semi final at Wembleeeeee, potential to make the final, potential to make Charity Shield, potential to make Europe and potential to make play-offs. It's likely a semi and top half finish in L1 will be the final result of the season. However, instead of journeymen all that potential will give approaches to proven players and PL development players some credibility to us and attraction to the players.
We will probabley have to do with what we have this season as the better potential has already been loaned out or required for promotion and play-off battles and NC won't buy for the sake of it. But as the season draws to a close and negotiations start the queue at our Nigel's door will be one of quality not quantity, instead of looking at the King's and Stead's we will hopefully be looking at the Wilson's and Tubbs of this world.

But don't be surprised if there is a late addition to the squad

In Nigel we trust

 

[grafikhaus]

Agree with most comments there,i cant help but think if we had one or two strikers and i mean proper strikers we would be beating teams a bit more convincingly.Although we are on a good run, these 1 nil wins are only going to go on for so long,we need to address the striking department and i think we all know that,lets hope sir nigel does and i think he will,like kozzie said teams or a good manager gets used to how we play and we cant rely on our defence all the time can we?

I'd agree with that and raise you this:

I think we all realise that we're good at drawing the opposition out and catching them on the break, this leaves them chasing the game. But what if it's us who are doing the chasing?

In the 13 games (League & Cup) since the Crewe debacle on 1st February, we have only been behind twice. The first was Forest in the Cup and it was a tremendous effort - and 2 late goals - which saw us turn it around.

The second time was last Saturday v. Wolves. True, they're top of the table and a decent - if cynical - team. At 0-1 down, I knew we had to get the next goal. We didn't, got stretched and conceded a second.

The biter bit?

 

[sitwell]

The one player I would like to see is Jamie Mackie. A mix of everything good in a striker and would suit our style.

 

[blader]

Whilst I generally agree about a goalscorer, it sometimes changes the whole ethos of a team and teams can become reliant on them. (our reliance on Ched Evans proved disastrous after all)

I don't think you necessarily need a 20+ goal striker in the team, you just need to find 70+ goals throughout the team. Wolves have scored 71 to date, yet their top scorer (Sakho) only has 11 goals. I actually think its better if you don't have one pivotal goalscorer, as it means the squad can be rotated and goals will still come regardless of personnel. The way we're set up means we attack in numbers, we just need to find players that will suit this fast-paced attack. Scougall was a good start, for example.

 

[kozluk]

Beattie would have drawn the centre halves out more than Baxter just because of his name and a greater fear of leaving him un-marked.

I can understand that, and agree to an extent, But unless we changed the system Beattie would basically wait for play (like he always did) and clough wouldn't stand for that, as I said before, I feel Clough likes all his players to put a shift in and close down etc.

I stand by my original post and say Beattie wouldn't fit into a Clough team.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

This is Scougall first season and I know he's hit the floor running so far but I also feel as we've seen with Flynn and Murphy, once he settles in there's a lot more to come.
When Scougall does settle and starts to score the goals I believe the type of striker we need will become more obvious.....

 

[Rollerball]

Some good debates here on the one hand most seem to think a decent striker would improve us on the other some advocating the current system, ie no recognised striker in the team.
Against wolves we saw a good team effort but unfortunately no end result, this showed to me possibly our one major failing, being unable to change systems mid game when such as wolves they Suss us out and nullify mostly murph and Flynn , leaving our one guy up top totally isolated, meaning we then are playing almost short handed.
I think letting lyle taylor go on loan was possibly cloughs only real mistake, I think in games such as wolves a direct runner such as taylor may have stuck with same system ethos but with his pace changed it enough to make the opposition defence change their game plan enough to make them loosen their grip on murph n Flynn opening up for such as scougal n coady to be allowed to push forward more.
Just my thoughts but other than that I don't see our game plan needing too much changing, just maybe slight personal change to maybe shift the balance when teams scythe down the wide men, limiting their ability to send in the fast paced killer crosses, at these times maybe a few balls over the back of their two CB's and let a pacey player play on their shoulders, make the little runs in behind and make their full back pull inside to cover the centre backs, maybe even have Flynn and murph tuck in more central too.
Who knows with two or three fast players running at the centre backs few more pens or dangerous free kicks won.

 

[mattbianco1]

Beattie would have just hung around in the final third waiting for the counter attack.

For all Beatties qualities infront of goal he held Sharp back. Sharp was out wide most of the time fetching the ball for Beattie.

Sharp would thrive infront of goal now for us

 

[blade too long]

many clubs now dont use a main striker , barca sold david villa and like chelsea play 3/4 attacking midfielders who move a lot, be nice to emulate such poor teams

 

[SandyMcBlade]

In today's football the by word seems to be flexibility and these are the kind of players NC is bringing in.
Players with the ability to play comfortably in different positions so giving the manager the opportunity to change the teams formation to deal with any situation they may face ...

 

[silverfox]

Missing something?

Clough has a team playing beyond the individual players.

He's decided not to bring in a "main striker"

He has us winning games with clean sheets.

Just hope he can keep it going.