How we do improve our strikeforce? Isit really the problem?

[PeterNdlovu081]

Think the problem with him Pete is it's him that doesn't look interested, looked brilliant at Bristol City but since his big transfer he looks to have developed a better than I am attitude and is just going through the motions.

He's never played for Bristol City.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Talking to another poster on here about transfer rumours etc for next season. I am the same as everyone think we seem to lack something up top but to be fair it isn't goals from our 2 strikers. If we are realistic we aren't going to sign really anyone from that list. The only one who would have a slight chance is Bowen just as Hull are struggling (I know nothing about him).

Our third highest goal scorer is Clayton Donaldson with 5, who actually has the best minutes to goal ratio of our strikers 1 goal every 172 minutes. Clarke is a goal every 175 minutes and Sharp is a goal every 180 Minutes. Not Donaldson biggest fan but his records for a sub seem very good.

Under that we have Brooks who has scored 3 and so has Lundstram.

Any Striker on the below list I think is unachievable, and to be fair Sharp has enough goals to be considered one of the good strikers in the league.

Championship top Goal scorers:

Vydra 19
Reid 18
Clarke 18
Grabban 17
Jota 16
Waghorn 14
Sessengon 14
Adomoah 14
Bowen 13
Assombalonga 13
Bonatini 12
Sharp 12

Keep a clean sheet v Brentford, Cardiff, Barnsley and Millwall, we win 1-0, 1-0, 2-0 and 1-0, that's the type of results promotion teams get. We're a little limited up top but if we'd kept the back door shut more this season we'd be looking towards top 2, not border line play-offs. Big dominant leader centre half required, who'll be into the ribs of his fellow defenders, so they don't switch off and hopeful punts forward, like against Millwall, don't end up in the back of our net. I'd also say we lack a central mid whose game is all about getting his foot in and doing the dirty work in midfield, personally I'd like to see Leonard given a good run in this role.

I'd don't think we're that far off being a really good all round team, but for me it's the getting your hands mucky side of the game where we're lacking.

 

[Bladezz]

I do quite like the idea of Chris Martin he is a risk but a good all round player. If Wilder cannot get anything out of him I think he would be best off going back up to Scotland.

 

[Ricky]

Chris Martin's looked like a lazy tub of shit every time I've seen him in the last 2 or 3 seasons. Expensive too, so he's not one I'd look at.

But we do have to think about players who have the ability but might be out of form/favour.

Vellios at Forest is one I'd consider.

 

[Rob86]

What we've also got to do is ensure we have the right quality to be a threat in various systems, not just the 3-5-2.

Yep agreed, I’d like to see 1/2 proper wingers in as well, who can get early crosses in from outside the box. The - to the byline approach - is now being defended by most teams.

It’d also be good to have someone who stays out wide as a counter attacking option IMO.

 

[Ricky]

Yep agreed, I’d like to see 1/2 proper wingers in as well, who can get early crosses in from outside the box. The - to the byline approach - is now being defended by most teams.

It’d also be good to have someone who stays out wide as a counter attacking option IMO.

Yep, we've just got to get wingers who can also either play wing back or centrally.

Ben Marshall and Ameobi would be my picks.

 

[Champagneblade]

I think we need to be realistic on the money front if we don’t go up.

Signing a lot of players creates agent fees. We also need to optimise what we have.

Play 3-4-2-1

Get Blackman in any way we can.

Replace Lafferty with someone better than Stevens, maybe the QPR lad we were linked with. Freeman will also return. Replace Wright with someone to rival Stearman and Basham.

You should have 2 from Coutts, Evans and Fleck to pick from plus Leonard who can also cover defence.

Keep Brooks and play him AND Duffy Behind a striker.

Are we writing off Ricky Holmes already? He may still come good and can be decent understudy to those two. Maybe Thomas has a future?

You have the option to throw in Holmes or switch to 3-4-1-2 if Brooks is not fit.

You also have Lundstram who can mature into Duffy’s role based on some of his recent displays, Cardiff especially, at his age.

Keep Leon and Billy and get one more, better than them if you can. It may be that Musa has to be that guy and you hope he steps up.

But we also need to be quite ruthless on the outgoings too if money is tight.

 

[Ricky]

I think we need to be realistic on the money front if we don’t go up.

Signing a lot of players creates agent fees. We also need to optimise what we have.

Play 3-4-2-1

Get Blackman in any way we can.

Replace Lafferty with someone better than Stevens, maybe the QPR lad we were linked with. Freeman will also return. Replace Wright with someone to rival Stearman and Basham.

You should have 2 from Coutts, Evans and Fleck to pick from plus Leonard who can also cover defence.

Keep Brooks and play him AND Duffy Behind a striker.

Are we writing off Ricky Holmes already? He may still come good and can be decent understudy to those two. Maybe Thomas has a future?

You have the option to throw in Holmes or switch to 3-4-1-2 if Brooks is not fit.

You also have Lundstram who can mature into Duffy’s role based on some of his recent displays, Cardiff especially, at his age.

Keep Leon and Billy and get one more, better than them if you can. It may be that Musa has to be that guy and you hope he steps up.

But we also need to be quite ruthless on the outgoings too if money is tight.

I'd like a 23 man squad with 6 or 7 signings.

We have to be realistic with the outgoings - there's no place for sentiment or blind faith. If they aren't going to play, let them go.

Even the likes of Holmes and Wright could be allowed to leave. I suspect what Wright does will be entirely down to him. Heneghan and Thomas might as well be allowed to leave permanently. Ched too, although it would be best to loan him to L1 till January.

We're linked with Will Vaulks (Rotherham) who plays the same positions as Leonard so I wonder if he could be another who might leave.

 

[South Bucks]

With our top 3 strikers all close to the point where their legs go we clearly need replacements and quick or its a massive risk next season.

Having said that the big different against Millwall was when they got to the edge of our box they kept going or usually played it early into dangerous areas for their strikers to attack so their forwards know when to make a run.

When we get to the edge of their box we slow it all down, dither, have some meaningless interpassing then out to the wing and trying to work an overload each time. Our strikers might as well be sat on deck chairs reading their horoscopes for clues on when the ball might sail in yonks later and way above their heads Doesn't work anymore.

 

[Lane Ender]

Yep, we've just got to get wingers who can also either play wing back or centrally.

Ben Marshall and Ameobi would be my picks.

Both serious players at this level,proven

 

[Lane Ender]

I think we need to be realistic on the money front if we don’t go up.

Signing a lot of players creates agent fees. We also need to optimise what we have.

Play 3-4-2-1

Get Blackman in any way we can.

Replace Lafferty with someone better than Stevens, maybe the QPR lad we were linked with. Freeman will also return. Replace Wright with someone to rival Stearman and Basham.

You should have 2 from Coutts, Evans and Fleck to pick from plus Leonard who can also cover defence.

Keep Brooks and play him AND Duffy Behind a striker.

Are we writing off Ricky Holmes already? He may still come good and can be decent understudy to those two. Maybe Thomas has a future?

You have the option to throw in Holmes or switch to 3-4-1-2 if Brooks is not fit.

You also have Lundstram who can mature into Duffy’s role based on some of his recent displays, Cardiff especially, at his age.

Keep Leon and Billy and get one more, better than them if you can. It may be that Musa has to be that guy and you hope he steps up.

But we also need to be quite ruthless on the outgoings too if money is tight.

The newbies will get their chance preseason

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

With our top 3 strikers all close to the point where their legs go we clearly need replacements and quick or its a massive risk next season.

Having said that the big different against Millwall was when they got to the edge of our box they kept going or usually played it early into dangerous areas for their strikers to attack so their forwards know when to make a run.

When we get to the edge of their box we slow it all down, dither, have some meaningless interpassing then out to the wing and trying to work an overload each time. Our strikers might as well be sat on deck chairs reading their horoscopes for clues on when the ball might sail in yonks later and way above their heads Doesn't work anymore.

Ironically, Millwall's striker looked older than my dad...

 

[Revolution]

I would like to see Nathan Thomas given a try at some point.

Indeed, given our problems in getting the ball in from out wide - which were apparent before he went out on loan - I was disappointed we haven't seen him much this season. He might have offered something different as a sub if nothing else. Plus most of our players seem incapable of scoring the sort of goal he bagged at Ipswich in the Cup.

 

[wadblade]

Can i suggest Jonathon Walters played a lot for Stoke now kicking his heels in Burnley reserves
wrong side of 30 but good attitude always put a shift in and has a decent goal ratio

 

[Dronfield Blade]

It could be a long shot but Sam Winnall from the pigs could be an option.

Obviously depends on the rumours regarding the pigs and FFP.

Looking at Derby fans comments, they also want to sign him, could be a bidding war.

Only negative is the current injury.

 

[Bladezz]

I'd like a 23 man squad with 6 or 7 signings.

We have to be realistic with the outgoings - there's no place for sentiment or blind faith. If they aren't going to play, let them go.

Even the likes of Holmes and Wright could be allowed to leave. I suspect what Wright does will be entirely down to him. Heneghan and Thomas might as well be allowed to leave permanently. Ched too, although it would be best to loan him to L1 till January.

We're linked with Will Vaulks (Rotherham) who plays the same positions as Leonard so I wonder if he could be another who might leave.

To be honest I can see a fair few leaving:

Long
Lafferty
Hussey
Heneghan
Thomas
Reed
Carruthers
Hanson
Lavery
Ched

Send back:
Blackman (Would want us to resign)
Wilson

If not in plans:
Wright
Holmes

Up to 14 to go, gives us some wriggle room.

 

[Grappler]

we need some experience of the division easier said that done because money is no guarantee look at Wednesday at proof of that 10m Rhodes, huge wages on fletcher & hooper they been huge flops. but then service been hit & miss because there has been matches this season when we have made hundreds of chances & then other games when we could've played all night but never scored

ive heard rumours from alan biggs about possible interest in shane long

Can't agree on Hooper,he has not played for ages through injury but still sits in the top scorer table on 10 goals. He started off well.

Fletcher is a crock and t'owd "shot shy" has hardly worn his scoring boots all season.

 

[Grappler]

As has already been said, it's not so much the scoring, it's holding on to the lead where we let ourselves down, Cardiff, Barnsley and Millwall being three very recent cases. The other problem is not enough goals coming from outside the strikers, no Kieron Freeman, not enough headers on target from corners, or free kicks, etc., not enough bodies in the box when one of our players arrives there, to find it empty. Billy and Leon often otu wide delivering the cross instead of being in the box, awaiting the delivery.

We are a good side that just needs some astute additions in Summer and then maybe again in January. Not sure why we signed Holmes if I am honest, but no doubt he will feature in the plans at some point.

A faster version of Leon Clarke up front, same height, same build, would be a great start.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

He's never played for Bristol City.

Quite right Pete, I don't know where I got that from.

 

[broomhillblade]

Maybe it's time our Academy produced a decent centre forward. It's been very good at producing full-backs and central defenders over the years.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

It could be a long shot but Sam Winnall from the pigs could be an option.

Obviously depends on the rumours regarding the pigs and FFP.

Looking at Derby fans comments, they also want to sign him, could be a bidding war.

Only negative is the current injury.

Called it.

 

[South Bucks]

Maybe a perfect storm coming, a forward line all close to the end of their careers and one owner who thinks we need to invest and one who doesn't and peanuts to bring in anyone new. I looked forward to the start of last season with optimism but not this time around.

 

[madeinsheffield]

We need more goals from other areas of the pitch, just as an example I know it was a division lower but Freeman scored a lot, we missed that last season