15 May 2015 12:44:29
Regarding strikers. I am of the mind that if Falcao, Rooney or RVP played for Burnley this season they would have scored a lot more goals for them than they did for us.
We have seen with Benteke how all of a sudden goals come for the strikers once the system and attitude of the midfield changes.
Therefore Ings, Beteke, Austin etc are not the answer in my eyes (they will be less effective than what we have). Sorting out our midfield and more importantly attacking mind-set (speed of attack) is the key to getting our strikers performing. Spending money on risky acquisitions upfront is a massive waste when we have other areas to fix first.
Any striker in world football would have looked rank average playing for us this season - it was the definition of isolation.
15 May 2015 12:56:07
Ed02 has mentioned that we have shown recent interest in Aleksandar Mitrović, but I would assume that he will not cost anywhere near what fees are getting mentioned for other strikers we have been linked with.
15 May 2015 13:07:28
I do agree. We are reluctant to play with more pace and take more risks in possession and constantly recycle the ball and allow the opposition defense to get in shape.
The team's first thought after gaining possession doesn't seem to be let's attack them immediately as they are out of shape, but its 'let's play it safe, keep the ball and retain possession'. We won't win anything with this style of play.
That, the earlier 3 at the back system and complete discouragement from the manager to dribble, take on players and beat them has led to a player like Di Maria looking a shadow of himself. I remember the first half against Burnley in his first game, he was unreal and quickened the tempo and opened them up left right and center. He followed it up in the next few games, then we changed formation and completely destroyed his confidence by playing him as a striker.
15 May 2015 13:09:02
As positive as ever 'Beast'. You are definitely a glass half empty character.
15 May 2015 13:20:03
Atko - How am I being glass half empty? I am saying we shouldn't sack off our strikers for others, surely that is showing loyalty?
The problem is not fixed by replacing X with Y, it is by evolving the system (easier than integrating new players and wasting money).
If I had said we need to sell all our strikers and replace them, you would still call me glass half empty wouldn't you? I can't win.
There is an obvious problem with what we are getting from our highly paid and highly talented strikers, ignoring it won't make it go away.
15 May 2015 13:35:39
I agree they would have scored more goals if they were given more chances. But RVP and Falcao have both been very poor, both are off form and both aren't the quickest of players.
What I don't understand is why Wilson has been given the go ahead over these two? He's performed when bought into games, so why not give him run out for the remainder of this season?
15 May 2015 14:10:35
beast i agree its down to the system.
wilson , chica and welbeck all have pace all play on the shoulder all can run behind or work the channels .
but that's not what lvg wants , he is playing with a striker that drops deep links the play and keeps possession .
{Ed004's Note - I also think he needs someone who is dangerous in the air as we cross the ball a lot}
15 May 2015 14:31:01
Even given the slow build up, our strikers have not performed particularly well, with loads of good chances being squandered, especially recently.
But, yes, the main issue is not strikers, it's chance creators. It's something that's been hashed to death on this site for years now, to the extent that one of our contributors has named himself "Nomidfield".
If we continue to play slow build-up, with attackers and midfield being so constrained by tactics that they take no risks, nor take a defender on in the dribble, we will continue to struggle however much we spend and whoever we buy. But that is not to say that every time we get the ball, we have to go hell for leather, or go for the killer ball. It's all in the timing.
{Ed004's Note - Maybe once we have a settled back 5 (including the defensive midfielder here) we will see LvG allow the like of Herrera, Di Maria, Depay, Bale (hopefully) and even Rooney taking players on more knowing we have a strong enough defence to cope. Also the fact we play a high line nowadays could help with this}
15 May 2015 14:40:57
ed
yer there has been games where our main idea seems to be get it wide and cross it to the 1 striker in the box being marked by the 4 defenders .
strange
{Ed004's Note - I think the next striker we sign will have to be like Kane or Lewandowski (ideal striker)}
15 May 2015 15:13:44
Exactly Ed, Kane, Lewandowski (Suarez) are the types of players we need if the system isn't going to change that much.
Like the rest of us I am hoping it will all change once we have more confidence in our defensive unit. But again it's just optimism, nothing to back it up because even against League 1 teams we have looked pathetic going forward.
15 May 2015 15:25:12
im not a huge fan of kane .
good young player and has had a great season but i'm not sure he is better than what we have .
15 May 2015 16:24:05
I think if we started this season again with Kane as our main striker we would have scored a lot more goals. If we change the system/focus then there is no need for a Kane type player, but our Strikers are not suitable for a slow game with nominal chance creation. Rooney should be but he drops too deep and doesn't create enough for himself anymore when up there.
15 May 2015 16:31:58
im still not convinced that kane hasn't just had one of them seasons where everything goes right.
im not convinced he will look any where near the same player next season.
i don't see anything about his game that convinces me he is the real deal yet.
although yet is the important word there , time is on his side i hope he goes on to be a top player