The forward line

[Revolution]

That's a bit harsh! He got 14 goals the season before last... You always want a 15+ striker, 14's not a bad return.

You misunderstand me. Cresswell did very well in 2009-10 (proving me wrong, I am happy to admit), but he lost it last year.

My point was if you'd seen him in the last 2 years the decline in his form from 2 years ago to last season was obvious.

And I agree that selling your wingers and replacing them with the likes of Doyle is no help to the likes of Cresswell, but that wasn't his only problem last year. Loss of form was his main issue. I do not believe he has it in him to score regularly any more.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

There is probably some truth in what you are both saying about Cresswell.

Loss of form can be a combination of things. My take is that it usually stems from poor team performances.

When a side struggles to create chances forwards can start to lose their sharpness and anticipation.

They stop gambling and getting into good areas because their mind becomes lazy.

When the ball does eventually fall to them in a good position, they're either too tense or lack the concentration to convert the chance.

 

[Revolution]

When the subject of Cresswell comes up in the Revolution household (and let's face it, I'm sure you're all as preoccupied with him as we are) it is often pointed out that the odd thing about his form is that he played as poorly as we feared he would - but he only did this after a year in which he had defied our predicitions of doom and proved himself an excellent signing. His decline was not unexpected (that contract was too long) but the speed at which it happened was bizarre.

Another bizzare thing is that despite Cresswell's Pig connections and general stealing a living behaviour since he lost his pace/nose for goal/mojo, I find I don't dislike him as much as other wasters like Hendo, Evans, Monty and France. It's odd...

 

[Darren]

Yep, on the same wavelength with this one. I don't know many teams that play the same strikers all the time (injuries, tactics, suspensions, other reasons dictate this) so the supply lines have to fit the strikers, its not rocket science.

I remember a time under Robson/ Blackwell where we were playing 4-4-3 the balls into the box were excellent, fizzing across the 6 yd box all the time... it needed a Billy Sharp type on the end, Billy stayed on the bench and i think we had Webber (Was he still there under Blackwell)/ Stokes/ Craig Beattie or up front. The balls in clearly didn't suit the strikers, but they still kept coming. The strikers got nowhere near them.

Somewhere along the line it needed a winger/ striker/ manager to do something different... nobody did.

It been rarer and rarer to see the balls into the strikers in the way they want them. For me, the supply lines need to match the Strikers strengths...

On the subject of useless strikers, Stokes is a member of that elite bunch of forwards who played more than 1 or 2 games and didn't get a goal. Russell Black and Alan Warboys are other alumni and there must be a few more...

 

[Revolution]

Barry Hayles is another infamous example.

On a similar theme, Rob Hulse's goalless 2007/8 - no goals despite playing 24 games - is a good candidate for worst ever season by a United forward.

 

[Darren]

Barry Hayles is another infamous example.

On a similar theme, Rob Hulse's goalless 2007/8 - no goals despite playing 24 games - is a good candidate for worst ever season by a United forward.

I think Hayles only played 4 games though.

Cadamarteri - only 1 goal in his one season playing 21 games - is another candidate for most useless foward.

 

[Revolution]

I'll see you Cadamarteri and raise you the second coming of Marcus Bent - 11 games, zero goals.

 

[Darren]

I'll see you Cadamarteri and raise you the second coming of Marcus Bent - 11 games, zero goals.

And who can forget Paul Williams.

He must top any chart of useless so called strikers - he must certainly be the only one to have more sending offs (1) than goals (0).

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I'll see you Cadamarteri and raise you the second coming of Marcus Bent - 11 games, zero goals.

I'll show you a full-house with the forward line of Duggie Brown and Don Peattie

 

[Darren]

I'll show you a full-house with the forward line of Duggie Brown and Don Peattie

Brown was crap but he did manage 3 goals. Peattie only managed 3 starts (last 3 games of the 84-85 season), so he may not qualify.

 

[stannyblade]

Lauren Ten Heuvel?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Brown was crap but he did manage 3 goals. Peattie only managed 3 starts (last 3 games of the 84-85 season), so he may not qualify.

3 goals Bleeding 'ell, that's 3 more than I remember.

Richard Cadette?

 

[Darren]

3 goals Bleeding 'ell, that's 3 more than I remember.

Richard Cadette?

Cadette suffered from too high expectations I think (he was the first player we had shelled out over £100K for for 3 years), but he did manage 7 goals.

 

[BringBackDeano]

Yep, on the same wavelength with this one. I don't know many teams that play the same strikers all the time (injuries, tactics, suspensions, other reasons dictate this) so the supply lines have to fit the strikers, its not rocket science.

I remember a time under Robson/ Blackwell where we were playing 4-4-3 the balls into the box were excellent, fizzing across the 6 yd box all the time... it needed a Billy Sharp type on the end, Billy stayed on the bench and i think we had Webber (Was he still there under Blackwell)/ Stokes/ Craig Beattie or up front. The balls in clearly didn't suit the strikers, but they still kept coming. The strikers got nowhere near them.

Somewhere along the line it needed a winger/ striker/ manager to do something different... nobody did.

It been rarer and rarer to see the balls into the strikers in the way they want them. For me, the supply lines need to match the Strikers strengths...

I understand what you mean. However, if you watch the movement of the strikers in the box, none of them try to get infront of their man and attack the near post. It happens countless times where our strikers are stood in the middle of 2 defenders when the cross comes in.

 

[gavtheblade]

so as a whole then-porter starts-with slew.lets hope as a majority it works.
not long till kick off.
As a blade,i feel as hungry for the season to start than ever-lets hope that in 8 months we will be cheering for promotion.
as a fan,i feel quietly confident of a good start,which is a must for us,as i hope it will turn a lot of wilson haters back in our favour.
THE SEASON STARTS HERE BLADES.lets hope its a good one.win or lose.i still love em.
you fill up my senses......................................................................

 

[Bergen Blade]

When the subject of Cresswell comes up in the Revolution household (and let's face it, I'm sure you're all as preoccupied with him as we are) it is often pointed out that the odd thing about his form is that he played as poorly as we feared he would - but he only did this after a year in which he had defied our predicitions of doom and proved himself an excellent signing. His decline was not unexpected (that contract was too long) but the speed at which it happened was bizarre.

Same thing happened at Stoke, he suddenly stopped scoring. I thought he was average in general play when I saw him the first season, but his goalscoring meant he deserved his place in the team. While we gave him a new three year contract I posted on here the concern "what if his goals dries up for him like they did at Stoke?"

 

[mattbianco1]

Good to see Cressy score. I said if he's played upfront he'd get goals.

 

[Revolution]

Good to see Cressy score.

It certainly is.

I said if he's played upfront he'd get goals

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