Cost of a striker.

[Grappler]

He's scored 22 in 64 games for them, but has got 17 in his last 19.

So he'd scored 5 in 45 before Carrick.

Exactly this. He is the top scorer in the league, but look at his stats from previous years.

As far as I can see, he has never had a season like this, and no one could have predicted it.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Akpom's always had very good ability and been a prospect, it's bizarre it's taken him until age 26 to start doing what he's doing

 

[SwissBlade]

Yep, as I've just said on another post, the evidence is this system worked best with Lundstram and Fleck covering every blade of grass. Osborn is the closest we have to that, but not buying midfielders with that skillset for the past 3 seasons now is where the issue truly lies. Not noticing this from 30min onwards is on Hecky. Osborn and Basham would have been a bold, but much stronger tactically move.

Last night we had a window into what the PL will look like. If we think a midfield of Berge, Norwood, McAtee (I assume Citeh would loan him back if we get promoted) is going to cut it, we've seen tonight we'll get over-run every week.

We have a midfield that works and runs around Norwood, we have plenty of runners in the team. It’s the physicality that was missing last night.

Looking at the bench, the best option was Bash. But he’s got his limitations. I just don’t think we had it on the bench last night.

Osborn is not that player. As much as I don’t rate him at all and believe he’s won some sort of competition from shoot magazine, he’s still got qualities which allow him a place on the bench. He can fill in down either wingback position when we need a defensive player, but he’s got enough energy to get forward too. Beyond that he’s never going to achieve much. Not his fault

Bigger picture is that we have more than enough to get up and to say we’ll face perhaps 2 teams (Burnley and Boro) which can do what Boro did, suggests that we have prioritised our recruitment in the right areas for this league.

With players coming back we have enough in this squad, so it’s not a worry at all.

I don’t buy this “window into what the PL will look like” as we will recruit if we go up. It’s not an expectation that we have the same team - we didn’t under wilder, hence Lunny. But I agree, I’ve said it before as well that we need an enforcer in the midfield so that Norwood and Berge or McAtee can play their game. Tommy Doyle is the best enforcer in this current squad

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

We have a midfield that works and runs around Norwood, we have plenty of runners in the team. It’s the physicality that was missing last night.

Looking at the bench, the best option was Bash. But he’s got his limitations. I just don’t think we had it on the bench last night.

Osborn is not that player. As much as I don’t rate him at all and believe he’s won some sort of competition from shoot magazine, he’s still got qualities which allow him a place on the bench. He can fill in down either wingback position when we need a defensive player, but he’s got enough energy to get forward too. Beyond that he’s never going to achieve much. Not his fault

Bigger picture is that we have more than enough to get up and to say we’ll face perhaps 2 teams (Burnley and Boro) which can do what Boro did, suggests that we have prioritised our recruitment in the right areas for this league.

With players coming back we have enough in this squad, so it’s not a worry at all.

I don’t buy this “window into what the PL will look like” as we will recruit if we go up. It’s not an expectation that we have the same team - we didn’t under wilder, hence Lunny. But I agree, I’ve said it before as well that we need an enforcer in the midfield so that Norwood and Berge or McAtee can play their game. Tommy Doyle is the best enforcer in this current squad

I'm not sure I buy the 'enforcer' role. For me it's more someone who has the energy, wherewithal and inclination to show for the ball, pass and move, track back, follow runners and stay in their designated zones and do it all with boundless energy so those around follow. There were numerous times last night when Berge just jogged back as all around him were zipping, and other times McAtee was popping up in all manner of random positions.

Like I say, Fleck and Lundstram used to tick all those boxes. The current crop don't. Osborn (i'll grant you he flatters to deceive most of the time) is the closest - which in itself shows how badly neglected this area has been through 3 years of transfer windows. It's where we fell short in the second PL season and are lack of addressing this means we're now very reliant on one transfer window to fix this problem.

You're right. We will have enough to win enough points from here, but surely we're looking and planning for next year and 2-5 years thereafter... Our defence looks stacked with bright young talent, but midfield looks very bare.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'm not sure I buy the 'enforcer' role. For me it's more someone who has the energy, wherewithal and inclination to show for the ball, pass and move, track back, follow runners and stay in their designated zones and do it all with boundless energy so those around follow.

Like I say, Fleck and Lundstram used to tick all those boxes. The current crop don't. It's where we fell short in the second PL season and are lack of addressing this means we're now very reliant on one transfer window to fix this problem.

You're right. We will have enough to win enough points from here, but surely we're looking and planning for next year and 2-5 years thereafter... Our defence looks stacked with bright young talent, but midfield looks very bare.

There’s more than one way to play, the way you describe is what we had in midfield last night. Over recent weeks Norwood has stepped out of the deeper role, switched with Berge and got himself further forward. Berge and McAtee naturally want to get forward and it works with them as a 3. Wingbacks of Bogle and Lowe supported by the attacking Centre halves, it’s all very mobile. Especially with Ndiaye dropping in as well.

What we missed last night was not an enthusiastic runner, it was a protector. That enforcer to give Norwood the chance to ping, the physicality to give McAtee freedom to link up with the attacks..

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

There’s more than one way to play, the way you describe is what we had in midfield last night. Over recent weeks Norwood has stepped out of the deeper role, switched with Berge and got himself further forward. Berge and McAtee naturally want to get forward and it works with them as a 3. Wingbacks of Bogle and Lowe supported by the attacking Centre halves, it’s all very mobile. Especially with Ndiaye dropping in as well.

What we missed last night was not an enthusiastic runner, it was a protector. That enforcer to give Norwood the chance to ping, the physicality to give McAtee freedom to link up with the attacks..

I'm not sure how an 'enforcer' gives Norwood any more options when the opposition press him? It may help us out of possession but last night we were as bad in possession.

Numerous times in the second half Lowe got the ball outwide but there was no one in that 'inner left channel' to work with. Bogle the same on the otherside.

Undoubtedly Berge and McAtee are great when they individually have possession which does make a difference, but as someone else pointed out on another thread, there's no cohesion or interplay with movement like there used to be as those seem to like to drift and freestyle.

I think the answer is to stick Ndiaye as the 9 then McAtee or Berge in the 10 role and then have a more structured midfield 3 with Norwood at the fulcrum.

 

[Big.Dane.w]

‘’I don’t buy this “window into what the PL will look like” as we will recruit if we go up. It’s not an expectation that we have the same team - we didn’t under wilder, hence Lunny. But I agree, I’ve said it before as well that we need an enforcer in the midfield so that Norwood and Berge or McAtee can play their game. Tommy Doyle is the best enforcer in this current squad’’


Trouble is our recruitment/scouting is garbage, totally inept and not fit for purpose.
We rarely buy a player that fits right in and actually improves us like other clubs seem to do, then when it doesn’t work out it gets labelled as ‘one for the future’ like thats just what we need. Berge case in point, not the type of player we needed yet spent 20mil on that one transfer. Freeman, Robinson, Burke, khadra all players brought in for what? Mouset had a good spell and I liked him but even that tune we got out of him was a total fluke and ended badly when his issues should have been identified before we bothered to sign him. Brewster

Do we purposely overlook fast, athletic, powerful players?? As if they don’t fit in to the slow laboured way we have come accustomed to play,

akpom? 2.75mil??…. Nah looks too quick and I bet his work rate is shit,
here we go look, Ben Osborn 3mil he runs his little socks off him…
but I think he’s not reyt good..
can he get on the end of an hoof?
Probably yea.. but….
Gerrim in.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

‘’I don’t buy this “window into what the PL will look like” as we will recruit if we go up. It’s not an expectation that we have the same team - we didn’t under wilder, hence Lunny. But I agree, I’ve said it before as well that we need an enforcer in the midfield so that Norwood and Berge or McAtee can play their game. Tommy Doyle is the best enforcer in this current squad’’


Trouble is our recruitment/scouting is garbage, totally inept and not fit for purpose.
We rarely buy a player that fits right in and actually improves us like other clubs seem to do, then when it doesn’t work out it gets labelled as ‘one for the future’ like thats just what we need. Berge case in point, not the type of player we needed yet spent 20mil on that one transfer. Freeman, Robinson, Burke, khadra all players brought in for what? Mouset had a good spell and I liked him but even that tune we got out of him was a total fluke and ended badly when his issues should have been identified before we bothered to sign him. Brewster

Do we purposely overlook fast, athletic, powerful players?? As if they don’t fit in to the slow laboured way we have come accustomed to play,

akpom? 2.75mil??…. Nah looks too quick and I bet his work rate is shit,
here we go look, Ben Osborn 3mil he runs his little socks off him…
but I think he’s not reyt good..
can he get on the end of an hoof?
Probably yea.. but….
Gerrim in.

The overall point you're making is right.

As I've said elsewhere, we've got x4 LBs but no midfielders who can tackle, get stuck in and mix it with fast, nimble opposition.

For 3 years (that's 6 Windows) we've not bought a midfielder other than loans. The more I think about that, the more it stands out as negligence.

 

[mattbianco1]

Akpom 2.75 million. Rhian 23.5 million. The Middlesbrough guy was untouchable tonight and totally dominated our defence

He was. But he's 27 and this is his first prolific season ever!

Only managed 5 goals in the Greek league last season, playing for PAOK who are a Europa League team.

This season is his first ever to hit double figures

 

[Big.Dane.w]

He was. But he's 27 and this is his first prolific season ever!

Only managed 5 goals in the Greek league last season, playing for PAOK who are a Europa League team.

This season is his first ever to hit double figures

View attachment 154041

Akpom was more in jest tbh

Just highlighting the short comings of our recruitment where we fail to address what’s needed at the time

 

[mattbianco1]

Akpom was more in jest tbh

Just highlighting the short comings of our recruitment where we fail to address what’s needed at the time

I was replying to the OP. Unless you have 2 accounts

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Those two up front ran a mock all night caused us all sorts of problems we just couldn’t handle them, they were too quick and strong.
Every time they went forward they looked like they had an extra man.

Same as when Forest came to town!

 

[CarlMcBlade]

We've got Coulibaly to be the physical presence which Lundstram was when he was arsed.

Norwood's class but despite the stats saying he wins us the ball, he does it by being smart, nicking it and reading it. McAtee and Berge are good footballers but they're both total luxury players. Neither get a challenge in.... McAtee had a stinker last night but at least gave his all. When the going's tough Sander actively hides- he doesn't show for the ball whatsoever. You can watch his movement disappear altogether. Great footballer potentially but his issues are all in his head and heart.

Stick a physical presence in to protect Norwood and let him do his thing, and set free the other (either Sander, McAtee or Doyle) and suddenly we've got a midfield. I don't think it's the players as such, it's the balance.

We’ve got 3 ballers in there…Where’s the enforcer, a midfield scrapper. If anyone should know that it’s Stuart McCall

 

[newforestblade]

Yep, and what makes it even more stupid and inexcusable was that our performance levels should have in no way convinced them that we could just breeze to promotion with what we had

It was a fucking miracle to find ourselves with the gap we had. So what you do is make damn sure that you capitalise on an unexpected gift of an opportunity, be ruthless and do what needs to be done. Instead it appears we were lazy, stupid and complacent

It might end up like the McCabe / Nick Blackman moment but much more costly

Lazy,stupid and complacent.
Sums it all up when someone called Dozy is trying to buy us!