What is it with this obsession of having a target man ?

[sitwell]

Billy Sharp isn't just a poacher who feeds off a partner ,he is a workaholic and makes runs from deep and wide as well as playing in the box. A player like Hanson who can also play as well as being good in the air in both boxes would create more and different problems for defenders and keepers giving Sharp more opportunities. Its not just a case of launching the ball up to him ,its about measured play and tactics although it can also be an option if nothing else is on. It doesn't mean we have to go route one all the time.

 

[sheffielder]

If you look back at how he was used at the clubs he's been at then he was used for his physical presence.

Its not that I'm arguing for/against Hansen. I just don't get how people want to dismiss having a physical presence up front.

I have nothing against having a physical presence upfront, as long as it comes in the shape of Kane, Shearer, Drogba etc and not Carroll, Hansen, Crouch

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

I'd like to see a "TM" who when he jumps is taller than when he is stood standing.

I've become accustomed a lately to watching ours hit the heights of Peter Dinklage, de Vito and Davies.

 

[Slim Man]

I'd like to see a "TM" who when he jumps is taller than when he is stood standing.

I've become accustomed a lately to watching ours hit the heights of Peter Dinklage, de Vito and Davies.

I'm convinced when Connor Sammon jumped his bottom half just fell into a black hole. Infact, come to think of it I don't think it ever returned.

 

[Slim Man]

Here's my argument for... From the James Hanson thread:

Don't see why it would be a problem with anyone.

Weakening our rivals by signing the best target man in the league. If you look every 'big' side who's got promoted, with the exception of Wigan arguably, had at least one.

Southampton - Lambert
Norwich - Holt
Charlton - Kermogant
Wendy - COG, Madine
Wolves - Clarke

All big clubs who the other sides risen their game against. They needed to be able to change their style of play to win games, these players allowed them to do that. Whether you like it or not that's what we're seen as still.

Who have we got who can win headers and be a nuisance? Sammon tried, and failed.

So why not sign the best player at this level at doing just that? 10 goals minimum with the right service. No brainer.

_________________________________

To add to my point, the other 'big' teams who have got promoted from this division and the target men who allowed them to switch up the play to make it happen:

Preston - Kevin Davies
Bristol City - Matt Smith, Aaron Wilbraham
Huddersfield (sigh) - Alan Lee

It isn't a coincidence.

This year was an exception to the rule, Wigan had the money to blow everyone out the water so didn't need a target man, meanwhile Burton just about managed to claw their way up. They did often use Lucas Akins as a target man out wide but not in the true sense of the word I suppose.
If Millwall go up they've had Steve Morrison.

It isn't about becoming a 'hoof' team, it's about being able to change your style mid game to win those gritty 0-0's against a stubborn Port Vale side etc.
And then in games they start, you can bring Adams or Done on to exploit the worn down defences. Makes total sense.

If Hanson is our choice, don't write him off. The fact remains there isn't a better target man in league one, and we are a 'big' side who, as I've provided facts for, tend to have a target man to call on when the going gets tough.

 

[TJB.]

Reyt, this is my expert diagram for why Wilder might want a target man.

1 = Mr. Target Man
2 = Wingy Men
3 = Billy Sharp
4 = Midfield Maestro

Option 1 = Wingers cross, target man is free, back o' the net
Option 2 = Wingers cross, target man under pressure, knocks down to Billy (playing behind Mr. Target in a 4-2-3-1), goyal
Option 3 = Big punt from the maestro, target man free, boom
Option 4 = Big punt, knock down, Billy shot, bangin' goal

This management lark is PISS easy.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Who have we got who can win headers and be a nuisance?

So why not sign the best player at this level at doing just that?

It isn't about becoming a 'hoof' team, it's about being able to change your style mid game to win those gritty 0-0's against a stubborn Port Vale side etc.
And then in games they start, you can bring Adams or Done on to exploit the worn down defences. Makes total sense.

If Hanson is our choice, don't write him off. The fact remains there isn't a better target man in league one, and we are a 'big' side who, as I've provided facts for, tend to have a target man to call on when the going gets tough.

Nail on head with those points.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Haha! You cant really believe that.

Christ, a target man/physical striker doesnt mean it dictates the playing style, it provides an option should a game dictate that one is needed.

How people cant see that is baffling.

Christ?. . . He was a good target man.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Christ?. . . He was a good target man.

You don't realise what you've done do you?

This could trigger post after post of Jesus Christ puns.

How Christ was good with crosses etc etc etc.

This thread needs closing!

 

[TJB.]

You don't realise what you've done do you?

This could trigger post after post of Jesus Christ puns.

How Christ was good with crosses etc etc etc.

This thread needs closing!

'Using the 53 cm. special cubit, Jesus' height would have been about 156 cm (5ft 1in.)'

If Google is owt to go by, he'd certainly be a Clough signing...

 

[super_pig]

Question for you then.

If a ball is played accurately to a strikers feet, what would generally be the chances of retaining possession of the ball ?

Now compare this to if a ball is played accurately to a strikers head ?

See the point ??

As has been said, while it is accepted that we are not in the same league as the Barca's of this world, there is a very good reason why they, and other top sides, go about their business in the way they go about their business.

Good football is good football. From the Nou Camp to Concord Park.

Possession is 9 10ths. Period. It is, as far as I am aware, extremely difficult to both score a goal without the ball and to concede a goal with it !!!!

UTB

P.s I am 6'3" !!!

assumes i think barcelona play good football.. it's spanish football suited to their weather conditions.. backwards and forwards until messi gets his breath back and then he scores a wonder goal to dig them out of the shit. not very interesting to watch overall.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Reyt, this is my expert diagram for why Wilder might want a target man.

1 = Mr. Target Man
2 = Wingy Men
3 = Billy Sharp
4 = Midfield Maestro

Option 1 = Wingers cross, target man is free, back o' the net
Option 2 = Wingers cross, target man under pressure, knocks down to Billy (playing behind Mr. Target in a 4-2-3-1), goyal
Option 3 = Big punt from the maestro, target man free, boom
Option 4 = Big punt, knock down, Billy shot, bangin' goal

This management lark is PISS easy.

Piss easy when there's no opposing defender or keeper as per your diagram,

 

[TJB.]

Piss easy when there's no opposing defender or keeper as per your diagram,

I was going to do a more detailed one but I couldn't be arsed. Look in the top right corner where I tried doing circles for crowd faces and gave up. Too fiddly.

Give me some fucking artistic licence, yeah? Pffffft.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I was going to do a more detailed one but I couldn't be arsed. Look in the top right corner where I tried doing circles for crowd faces and gave up. Too fiddly.

Give me some fucking artistic licence, yeah? Pffffft.

I love that the faces in the crowd are more relevant than opposition players!

 

[DronnieBlade]

assumes i think barcelona play good football.. it's spanish football suited to their weather conditions.. backwards and forwards until messi gets his breath back and then he scores a wonder goal to dig them out of the shit. not very interesting to watch overall.

Barcelona Not very interesting to watch overall.

Wowza.

Therein lies my fundamental differences in opinion on this matter with you and others I suspect.

Maybe just best leave it there.

UTB

 

[CarlMcBlade]

You don't realise what you've done do you?

This could trigger post after post of Jesus Christ puns.

How Christ was good with crosses etc etc etc.

This thread needs closing!

Badum tissssh!

 

[CarlMcBlade]

'Using the 53 cm. special cubit, Jesus' height would have been about 156 cm (5ft 1in.)'

If Google is owt to go by, he'd certainly be a Clough signing...

The Romans thought he was a good target man anyway.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The Romans thought he was a good target man anyway.

Seemed to have an unparalleled ability to hang in the air.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Wigan had 6 foot 2 inch Craig Davies.

95% of teams that get promoted, at any level, have some sort of physical presence up front as an option.

Yanic Wildschut also offered some height (6'2) and strength. Overall Wigan was a very fit and strong side. For Burton Akins is 6'1 and a powerful lad, their top scorer with 12 goals. Burton strength was not conceding though. They scored 7 league goals fewer than us.

DronnieBlade 's fear and logic seem to be that a tall and strong striker will force us to play hoof ball.

He should be calmed by the fact that most teams have some sort of size and physicality in forward positions. For the Premiership:

Leicester - Ulloa
Arsenal - Giroud
Tottenham - Kane
Man City - Bony, Iheanacho
Man Utd - Fellaini
Southampton - Pelle
West Ham - Carroll
Liverpool - Benteke
Stoke - Crouch
Chelsea - Costa, Remy
Everton - Lukaku
Swansea - Gomis
Watford - Deeney
WBA - Rondon, Lambert
Crystal Palace - Wickham, Adebayor
Bournemouth - Murray, King
Sunderland - Fletcher, Toivonen, Graham, Mandron
Newcastle - Mitrovic,
Norwich - Mbokani, Jerome
Aston Villa - Gestede

This doesn't prove that you can't cope without a target man, but it proves that most managers feels that some height and strength going forward is useful to have in the squad. I think this is what most Blades are saying. If someone's saying "all strikers must be very short" I think that's more indicative of an obsession.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Yanic Wildschut also offered some height (6'2) and strength. Overall Wigan was a very fit and strong side. For Burton Akins is 6'1 and a powerful lad, their top scorer with 12 goals. Burton strength was not conceding though. They scored 7 league goals fewer than us.

DronnieBlade 's fear and logic seem to be that a tall and strong striker will force us to play hoof ball.

He should be calmed by the fact that most teams have some sort of size and physicality in forward positions. For the Premiership:

Leicester - Ulloa
Arsenal - Giroud
Tottenham - Kane
Man City - Bony, Iheanacho
Man Utd - Fellaini
Southampton - Pelle
West Ham - Carroll
Liverpool - Benteke
Stoke - Crouch
Chelsea - Costa, Remy
Everton - Lukaku
Swansea - Gomis
Watford - Deeney
WBA - Rondon, Lambert
Crystal Palace - Wickham, Adebayor
Bournemouth - Murray, King
Sunderland - Fletcher, Toivonen, Graham, Mandron
Newcastle - Mitrovic,
Norwich - Mbokani, Jerome
Aston Villa - Gestede

This doesn't prove that you can't cope without a target man, but it proves that most managers feels that some height and strength going forward is useful to have in the squad. I think this is what most Blades are saying. If someone's saying "all strikers must be very short" I think that's more indicative of an obsession.

Nice list.

Kinda emphasises my point in that most (not all) of the many names you have put up there BB have got splinters in their overpaid arses from sitting on the bench.

They are in effect, a plan B. For the most part.

That's exactly as I see it.

Football has moved on. The days of hitting long diagonal balls up to Jostein "Flu" are long since gone.

Let it go fellas. Let it go.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

Barcelona Not very interesting to watch overall.

Wowza.

Therein lies my fundamental differences in opinion on this matter with you and others I suspect.

Maybe just best leave it there.

UTB

if i fancy a bit of a kip i put the la liga footage on on sunday evenings.. five minutes. zonk. out.

 

[DronnieBlade]

if i fancy a bit of a kip i put the la liga footage on on sunday evenings.. five minutes. zonk. out.

Whereas I watch La Liga ( a lot) and see the best footballers in the best league in the world perform what is akin to Chess on a pitch.

As I say, my perception on this is very different to quite a few of you. I could offer reasons as to why, but will politely decline.

All blades.

UTB

 

[Sean Thornton]

I have nothing against having a physical presence upfront, as long as it comes in the shape of Kane, Shearer, Drogba etc and not Carroll, Hansen, Crouch

Or Donkey Darius

 

[super_pig]

Whereas I watch La Liga ( a lot) and see the best footballers in the best league in the world perform what is akin to Chess on a pitch.

As I say, my perception on this is very different to quite a few of you. I could offer reasons as to why, but will politely decline.

All blades.

UTB

like you said mate. chess.

 

[DronnieBlade]

like you said mate. chess.

Fascinating game, that Chess malarkey

You don't like it. That's OK.

Does it ever occur to you WHY Spanish clubs (and not just the big 2) have utterly dominated in European club comps for a long long time ?

If you can get your head round this, you might make a Jedi yet !

UTB

 

[super_pig]

yeah but they don't all use midgets and play like barca do they?

 

[DronnieBlade]

yeah but they don't all use midgets and play like barca do they?

You said La Liga. La Liga is more than just Barca !

Comfortably the best league in the world. The reasons why this is so are there, you just need to open your mind and watch / learn rather than nodding off ️

UTB

 

[super_pig]

You said La Liga. La Liga is more than just Barca !

Comfortably the best league in the world. The reasons why this is so are there, you just need to open your mind and watch / learn rather than nodding off ️

UTB

yes dad

 

[DronnieBlade]

yes dad

Obi Wan, if you please

 

[super_pig]

Obi Wan, if you please