Strike force

[1danewhitehouse]

For me, Sharp and Adams just does not work.


When Sharp was up top with Sammon, I think he went on a run scoring about 6 in 6. Since he’s been up top with Adams or on his own, he’s scored something like 1 in 9. Sure Adams has also scored 6 goals but Some of them were scored when cutting in from the wing.


If you look at our points tally with the differing strike partnerships, I think you’ll see a similar pattern with Sharp and Adams being up front for Gillingham, Millwall, Crewe, Southend etc.


For me, given our lack of wide options and lack of balance in the current strike pairing, it is imperative we go back to having JCR and Adams wide with Sharp and Sammon up front. If we have those 4 in those positions, there is less for the central midfield to do and they can play deeper to protect the back 4 (2 from Baxter, Basham, Hammond, Coutts and Reed would do).

 

[ziggy4001]

Billy needs to be playing off a target man, whilst not technically a target man Sammon can play this role far better then Che. Whilst obviously not a priority I wouldn't be against us bringing in another target man style forward in January.

 

[Darthblade]

For me, Sharp and Adams just does not work.


When Sharp was up top with Sammon, I think he went on a run scoring about 6 in 6. Since he’s been up top with Adams or on his own, he’s scored something like 1 in 9. Sure Adams has also scored 6 goals but Some of them were scored when cutting in from the wing.


If you look at our points tally with the differing strike partnerships, I think you’ll see a similar pattern with Sharp and Adams being up front for Gillingham, Millwall, Crewe, Southend etc.


For me, given our lack of wide options and lack of balance in the current strike pairing, it is imperative we go back to having JCR and Adams wide with Sharp and Sammon up front. If we have those 4 in those positions, there is less for the central midfield to do and they can play deeper to protect the back 4 (2 from Baxter, Basham, Hammond, Coutts and Reed would do).

Its a good point and I agree with you here. I don't think it works because they are too similar ...... the problem is that Billy is "bullet-proof" because NA will not drop him even though he's not delivering !!

Same as Hammond in many respects and I'm tempted to say that the player in form should get the shirt, but the problem is that we don't have a single player in form !! They're all crap at the moment, hence our poor form and sliding down the league .......

UTB & FTP

 

[DronnieBlade]

Here we go again.

It's not working is it ????

Adams has 6, Billy has 7. Is there any other front two in the division that has 13 goals thus far ?????

Our "problems" up top are NOT these 2. They were a bit off the pace Satdi granted.

A target man is not what we need, nor is it what it is required. We play football through midfield. We do not hoof it aimlessly up to a target man. Sammon is not the answer.

A front pairing of Sharp with either Done, Adams or McNulty (yes McNulty) is what will get us the goals to get us out of the division.

I suggest that the OP looks to more obvious areas of the side that desperately need attention.

IMHO.

UTB

 

[Smirth]

Done and Sammon should be given a go together up front IMO.

 

[DazBlade88]

I think the bigger issue is the fact we're playing 4-4-2 with two central midfielders that can't run.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I think the bigger issue is the fact we're playing 4-4-2 with two central midfielders that can't run.

Nail on head.

Have a like !

UTB

 

[bornablade]

If Murphy was still with us then Billy would have been well and truly into double figures by now.

If we had potent right and left hand side wide players with ability to get to the bye line pull it back into the six yard box then it's exactly what Billy will feed on.

Hope Brayford can offer something when he returns.

 

[brownie4583]

The problem is in the middle of the park.
Hammond is too slow,Coutts had a decent game but we need another body in there or play 3-5-2 with maybe Coutts,Reed/Wallace and Baxter.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Here we go again.

It's not working is it ????

Adams has 6, Billy has 7. Is there any other front two in the division that has 13 goals thus far ?????

Our "problems" up top are NOT these 2. They were a bit off the pace Satdi granted.

A target man is not what we need, nor is it what it is required. We play football through midfield. We do not hoof it aimlessly up to a target man. Sammon is not the answer.

A front pairing of Sharp with either Done, Adams or McNulty (yes McNulty) is what will get us the goals to get us out of the division.

I suggest that the OP looks to more obvious areas of the side that desperately need attention.

IMHO.

UTB

Sharp scored 6 of those 7 goals playing alongside Sammon.

Adams scored 4 of those 6 goals cutting in from the wing.

Sammon also scored 4 goals in all competitions.

I'm not having a go at either of those 2, I'm saying that Adams wide and Sammon up top with Sharp seems to work much better for us.

In games where we've played Adams wide left and those 2 up front our record is:-

W- 4
D- 0
L- 0

That's the 4 consecutive league wins we had early in the season. Remarkably, we've not played that combination since. What's the old saying, "if it aint broke, don't fix it. "

 

[jt64]

Would like to see a Sammon/Adams front two at least tried if we must go 442, prob necessitates playing Done wide left though

 

[grafikhaus]

Adams has 6, Billy has 7. Is there any other front two in the division that has 13 goals thus far ?????

Coventry have Armstrong (12 goals), Jacob Murphy (4), Tudgay (4) and Vincelot (4). Not only a good 'spread' but - in Armstrong - a good use of the loan market (he's from Newcastle United). In similar news, Dominic Samuel (who scored 6 in 13 for Coventry while on loan from Reading last season is now on loan at Gillingham and scored against Bury on Saturday after 6 minutes.

I can't understand how people think that we're 'well catered for' up front. We're struggling and it wasn't the strikers who got us out of a hole on Saturday.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Sharp scored 6 of those 7 goals playing alongside Sammon.

Adams scored 4 of those 6 goals cutting in from the wing.

Sammon also scored 4 goals in all competitions.

I'm not having a go at either of those 2, I'm saying that Adams wide and Sammon up top with Sharp seems to work much better for us.

In games where we've played Adams wide left and those 2 up front our record is:-

W- 4
D- 0
L- 0

That's the 4 consecutive league wins we had early in the season. Remarkably, we've not played that combination since. What's the old saying, "if it aint broke, don't fix it. "

This for me is something we didn't really need to change, and we've looked poorer as a result. When you decide to play two up front, it's not simply a case of looking at which two have scored the most and just selecting the top two – they have to work as a pairing. So far I've seen Adams & Sharp as a pairing at Gillingham and on Saturday. Neither occasion worked. Whereas when Sammon & Sharp have played they have looked as though there's at least some basic level of understanding.

 

[DronnieBlade]

This for me is something we didn't really need to change, and we've looked poorer as a result. When you decide to play two up front, it's not simply a case of looking at which two have scored the most and just selecting the top two – they have to work as a pairing. So far I've seen Adams & Sharp as a pairing at Gillingham and on Saturday. Neither occasion worked. Whereas when Sammon & Sharp have played they have looked as though there's at least some basic level of understanding.

Yet what I have seen, in more games, is that Sammon and Sharp simply don't have the understanding that Sharp n Adams have

Opinions eh !!!!!!!!

UTB

 

[carthesis]

Yet what I have seen, in more games, is that Sammon and Sharp simply don't have the understanding that Sharp n Adams have

Opinions eh !!!!!!!!

UTB

I've been to every home game this season - League and Cup(s) - and i've got to tell you I think you're wrong. There doesn't seem to be any understanding at all between Sharp and Adams. On Saturday against Southend they didn't play together at all. Most of the time they were twenty to thirty yards apart. Admittedly, neither had the best game and were ineffective because the ball wasn't sticking, but when I've seen them before there doesn't seem to be that 'link' there.

Adams is young, and a 'flair' player, and he's probably used to being able to beat anyone he comes up against and do it all on his own still. He can't get away with that in this League, because he's identified as a danger-man and gets jumped on by the defence. this happened on Saturday, when because they were so far apart, the ball went up top, and three defenders could crowd-out whichever of them got the ball and didn't have to worry about the other one who was miles away. Murphy had a similar problem, and Saturday wasn't helped by the fact Southend identified very early on that Dean Hammond wasn't a threat and so could be left to his own devices, giving them a spare man, added to the fact they worked hard.

The pairing of Sammon and Sharp worked far better to my eyes, as it was clear from the very first game that they suited each other.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

There doesn't seem to be any understanding at all between Sharp and Adams

I'm not sure there's any understanding for Adams of what it takes to be an effective striker either to be honest. This might be something he develops over time, but at the minute I don't think this suits his current abilities.

 

[Jon Bon]

Coventry have Armstrong (12 goals), Jacob Murphy (4), Tudgay (4) and Vincelot (4).

Vincelot? What a cracking name. If King Arthur's court had a 50's teddy boy, that's what he would have been called.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Dunno what you've been watching Dronnie, like I say, we've won every game where Sharp and Sammon have started up front with Adams on the left wing and all 3 have chipped in with goals in that system.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Dunno what you've been watching Dronnie, like I say, we've won every game where Sharp and Sammon have started up front with Adams on the left wing and all 3 have chipped in with goals in that system.

All fair and valid opinions.

The main one that counts, is that of the manager, and the manager has deemed it appropriate to leave Sammon on the bench for the last 6 or so (League) games. Read in to that what you will.

I repeat, scoring and general attacking "intent" / creating chances has not been the problem.

UTB.

 

[sitwell]

I don't think Adams has the know how to play up front ,nothing comes natural to him ,whereas on the wing he has time to get the ball and then think. He is much better running at players and out muscling full backs than big hairy arsed centre backs. He and Jcr on the wings with Sharp and Done or Sammon down the middle would cause real problems for any defence in our league.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

This for me is something we didn't really need to change, and we've looked poorer as a result. When you decide to play two up front, it's not simply a case of looking at which two have scored the most and just selecting the top two – they have to work as a pairing. So far I've seen Adams & Sharp as a pairing at Gillingham and on Saturday. Neither occasion worked. Whereas when Sammon & Sharp have played they have looked as though there's at least some basic level of understanding.

Can't say I'm a fan of 442 these days, especially when most teams we come up against have that flexible 5/3 in midfield. But Nige is clearly committed to it.

I'd have thought two things were essential: get on the front foot from the start (so as not to get bogged down, & outnumbered, in midfield trench warfare) & have a proper partnership up top.

Like you, Luffbro, I reckon the partnership is more important that the individuals concerned: thus, Sammon & Sharp, for me. But, ideally, I'd much rather 4231/451/433.

 

[grafikhaus]

Vincelot? What a cracking name. If King Arthur's court had a 50's teddy boy, that's what he would have been called.

He's got the beard, too! A French bloke, Romain Vincelot. Je suis Vincelot...

 

[oldblade]

Coventry have Armstrong (12 goals), Jacob Murphy (4), Tudgay (4) and Vincelot (4). Not only a good 'spread' but - in Armstrong - a good use of the loan market (he's from Newcastle United). In similar news, Dominic Samuel (who scored 6 in 13 for Coventry while on loan from Reading last season is now on loan at Gillingham and scored against Bury on Saturday after 6 minutes.

I can't understand how people think that we're 'well catered for' up front. We're struggling and it wasn't the strikers who got us out of a hole on Saturday.

Compared with most sides in this division we are not struggling to get goals. Only four sides have scored more than us.

But we are currently struggling to get wins and that is probably because we are conceding too many. Only two sides in the top half of the table have conceded more than us.

More goals scored would obviously always be welcome, but that is not our main failing. Poor defending is a far bigger problem for us.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

I think Adams best postion will be striker, playing off a target man. Same goes for Sharp and Done. The problem is none of them are cutting it without a target man alongside them. Of those 3 Adams seems most adept at also performing out wide.

I've been banging this drum for weeks now, but again I will say that whilst our defense is Priority 1, our attack is not as good as some of our fans seem to think, especially not with Adkins current system. At Walsall I'd love to see us go 4-4-2 with the following midfield/attack.

JCR J Wallace Baxter Adams
Sharp Sammon

Done and Flynn both able to come on off the bench if a winger or forward isn't doing the business.

 

[robbiez666]

Sharp scored 6 of those 7 goals playing alongside Sammon.

Adams scored 4 of those 6 goals cutting in from the wing.

Sammon also scored 4 goals in all competitions.

I'm not having a go at either of those 2, I'm saying that Adams wide and Sammon up top with Sharp seems to work much better for us.

In games where we've played Adams wide left and those 2 up front our record is:-

W- 4
D- 0
L- 0

That's the 4 consecutive league wins we had early in the season. Remarkably, we've not played that combination since. What's the old saying, "if it aint broke, don't fix it. "

It seems obvious to me that we need to go back to Sammon and Sharp upfront. It's when we've been the most successful.

The problem is about who you play on the wing. JCR would seem obvious as he's our biggest threat and will supply Sammon. It's whether you can play Adams on the other wing as well. I doubt he'd drop Baxter, but it could work with Adams there as long as the centre mids can drop deeper and do all the hard work. The problem with Adams is that he's no use at doing the defensive side of the role. I don;t think Adkins feels comfortable playing him on the wing unless there's a more defensive player on the opposite wing.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Vincelot? What a cracking name. If King Arthur's court had a 50's teddy boy, that's what he would have been called.

I can see him now in big crape soled boots with lime green socks and a greased back tin helmet

 

[Jon Bon]

I can see him now in big crape soled boots with lime green socks and a greased back tin helmet

He'd be down the banqueting hall every Saturday night, slashing the benches and leering at maidens.

 

[SwissBlade]

The problem is in the middle of the park.
Hammond is too slow,Coutts had a decent game but we need another body in there or play 3-5-2 with maybe Coutts,Reed/Wallace and Baxter.

True, i was thinking this myself. We tried to address the Defensive issues by playing 3 in the centre of midfield, partly to protect the centre halves (very weak), but the main reason was because we didn't have two midfielders that could play the ball, protect the centre halves and do the running. Baxter and Coutts looks the best two, but perhaps with Reed doing the running and breaking up play. I don't think Reed is strong enough to play alongside one of Baxter or Coutts.

So its left us with little option but to play either 3 or 1 up front. Neither seems to work as it leaves Sharp either exposed in the middle on his own or Sharp has to chase the ball to the wings and leave us without a striker through the middle.

Trouble we have is that JCR and Che can't play as a striker in this type of scenario. JCR was struggling to do anything other than play as a winger on Saturday, there were times when he wasn't on his toes and if he'd got moving he'd have got on the end of the cross field balls being put into the space in front of him.

Personally i think we need to play Sammon on his own up front if we're playing a 1/ 3 striker formation, its just not Sharps game. Or we go back to 4-4-2 and play Sharp off Sammon with Done and Che fighting out the winger slots

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

We desperately need Sammon, Sharp back up front with Adams on the left.

I'd play Done on the right or behind the front two because he's probably the only one who can run with the ball, at defenders and keep it for periods.

Hammond protecting the back four and baxter in the play maker role, that's not a bad side!

Until you turn to the defence :/

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Wonder why everytime we get a manager who finds a winning formula they change it?

Adkins 4 wins... Changes tactics
Clough 10 wins... Changes squad next season