Naylor on the button for once

Peter Grummit · Oct 6, 2014

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/11515420.Albion_Analysis__Time_for_an_attacking_re_think/?ref=twtrec

Good piece by Andy. Two seasons ago was not dissimilar - we played very well but didn't have a clinical striker to put chances away. After 14 games we were 10th. We signed Ulloa in the January and the last 17 games yielded 35 points. This time, I agree we can't wait until January.
The good news is, as yet, there is no outstanding team and lots of draws. It's not too late to put a run together.

PG

Tooting Gull · Oct 6, 2014

Anyone who has actually seen the last two games will not be as worried as someone who just looks at the table and 7 Championship games without a win.

Brighton were very good against Cardiff, 4-1 would not have flattered them at all.

And they were pretty good against a Watford team that have always been my promotion favourites this season, they have got the best squad bar none. Not many teams could have coped with the 7 players out Watford had on Saturday, but they have two quality players in every position which is rare in this division. The Albion never gave up, and could easily have nicked the win.

Obviously just playing better isn't enough and that win can't come soon enough but performances are an indicator, and they indicate we are getting there. As said above, to complete this picture a goalscorer is essential. It could still be Baldock but he needs to be back quickly or we look elsewhere.

TWOCHOICEStom · Oct 6, 2014

I actually think Andy Naylor is a decent journalist. Don't know why he gets so much stick to be honest.

edna krabappel · Oct 6, 2014

TWOCHOICEStom said:
I actually think Andy Naylor is a decent journalist. Don't know why he gets so much stick to be honest.

Lazy stereotyping & people jumping on the bandwagon, at a guess?

happypig · Oct 6, 2014

TWOCHOICEStom said:
I actually think Andy Naylor is a decent journalist. Don't know why he gets so much stick to be honest.

Because HB&B doesn't write more ?

The Grockle · Oct 6, 2014

edna krabappel said:
Lazy stereotyping & people jumping on the bandwagon, at a guess?

This.

Add the fact he does many people's dream job and his attackers think they could definitely do a better job.

Ernest · Oct 6, 2014

He's spot on, the transfer window despite what the lickers will tell you left us considerably weaker especially up front and money has been wasted on the likes of Colugna especially when we needed an Ulloa replacement

Mo Gosfield · Oct 6, 2014

Agree with pretty much all of it. Went to Forest and Watford and we played pretty well in both games.
Its not too late to put a run together and I wouldn't think about changing anything until the November break. Up to that point we have 6 games including 4 at home. We need to target 10 points from those games and the way we are playing, I think its possible.
Colunga is too small and lightweight and hasn't shown me anything yet to suggest he is going to be a regular goalscorer. If you play CMS all season he is likely to get about 12-13 goals. Baldock is an unknown and needs to be given time over the next few games. COG is a solid target man but again, not likely to get more than 6-8 goals.
So the key is Baldock. Lets assess him after these next six games when he is sure to feature and if it seems unlikely that he is our 15+ goals a season man then new blood is clearly needed.

Surf's Up · Oct 6, 2014

He's right. The thing that sits rather uneasily at the back of my mind is that if we don't start scoring goals I can see Blackpool and Fulham beginning to win more games while we continue to draw, us slipping into the relegation zone in the next 3/4 games and the detrimental effect that will have on the confidence of the squad.

T soprano · Oct 6, 2014

If I were SAMMI Hyppia I'd be on the blower to Bloom this morning and say "we need a striker on loan now or I'm off"
We're like a pen with no nib
We're like a Stanley with no blade
We're like 99 ice cream without a flake
We're like a ...........etc etc

T soprano · Oct 6, 2014

We're like a candle without a wick

Hotchilidog · Oct 6, 2014

It's a good article and I agree. We are a headless team at the moment, we lack a serious attacking threat in the box. The jury is out on Baldock as obviously we have not a had a decent look at him, but we should definitely be looking to bolster our forward line either with a loan or a january purchase.

Rugrat · Oct 6, 2014

Mo Gosfield said:
COG is a solid target man but again, not likely to get more than 6-8 goals.
So the key is Baldock. Lets assess him after these next six games when he is sure to feature and if it seems unlikely that he is our 15+ goals a season man then new blood is clearly needed.

I'd really like to see COG and Baldock together.

Although we got COG from the footballing equivalent of Primark, I've got a sneaky that he and Baldock could operate well together. I could well be wrong but I can't see much wrong in giving them 3 or 4 games together

CheeseRolls · Oct 6, 2014

T soprano said:
If I were SAMMI Hyppia I'd be on the blower to Bloom this morning and say "we need a striker on loan now or I'm off"
We're like a pen with no nib
We're like a Stanley with no blade
We're like 99 ice cream without a flake
We're like a ...........etc etc

That would be a knee jerk reaction. A loan striker would only paper over the cracks. Anyone good enough to start banging the goals in now, would risk a recall or a January move. I think we have to hold tight until the January window and prepare to bring in a Centre Forward, and a centre back. The first is more important than the second, but if Dunk carries on scoring, we could see some large bids coming our way in the New Year.

Napper · Oct 6, 2014

We gambled not spending big for ulloa replacement or indeed any replacements . It's mostly worked except for up front . It could of worked but I agree with Naylor and we should look to change things . Yes give Baldock the next batch of games but we need a player similar to ulloa as an option . Easier said than done but helps if you chuck money at it .

Sadly I also am unsure colunga is any good and too similar to out other mis firing strikers

Black Rod · Oct 6, 2014

When your centre forward is not even connecting with a header from a peach of a cross 6 yards out from goal you are in a world of trouble

severnside gull · Oct 6, 2014

Naylor created a problem for himself by appearing to "side" with Oscar Garcia against the club. Before that he seemed to be allowed some insight into the club and as a result his readers were better informed. Since his apparent fallout he seems to have struggled but this is by far and away the best article from him in a long time. Bloom, Barber, Hyppia et al should have it pinned to their notice boards and reading it should be obligatory for the players. - maybe get Brian Owen to translate it into Spanish?.
I believe we have the quality but lack the confidence to exploit it in front of goal. Time to import that confidence via the loan market? Yes, for me anyway, if it is available but that's another debate.

MattBackHome · Oct 6, 2014

I reckon that Naylor is 'on the button' far more often than he's given credit for. Not necessarily in this case (there's some confused reasoning in the piece) but on the whole he's pretty accurate.

father_and_son · Oct 6, 2014

Collunga.... too ineffective so far.
Tex... Good ball skill but communication is lacking (too many 1-2 balls going into nowhere). His work rate and eagerness for the ball is great. Don't like how he throws himself on the floor - not even vaguely convincing 99% of the time - no Championship ref will fall for such poor play acting.
COG... His positioning is poor, not worth what we paid at all. I'm completely unimpressed.
McCourt... Sublime dribbling ability, with a goal hanging strike partner, he could be a legend within a season
Kaz... Not half the player he is on the wing when played up the centre. At the very least he could be forcing a red card a game just by running at the opposition.
CMS... Does not suit our style of play at all, hasn't done for a long time. A hoof ball specialist who is wasted in our team.
Baldock... I don't see the talent others seem to see in him, just a journeyman player in my eyes.

I don't see us having a problem getting the ball forward and into the box... Tex on one wing (supported by Bruno), Kaz on the other (supported by Bennett) and McCourt bringing the ball down the middle (all by himself Pele-style!) and all we'd need is someone who can stretch a leg or neck at the perfect moment and get the ball in the net and we'd be close to unbeatable. But we don't have that person in the squad at the moment, anywhere. Dunk's head from the set ball is great but nowhere near enough to win us games consistently.

We aren't Two thirds of the way there... we are 10/11ths! One addition is all we need, but it has to be the right player!

Geriatric Seagull · Oct 6, 2014

Most people seem to be agreeing with the basic thrust of the article but will those with the ability to do something about it take any action? Somehow I doubt it. Their track record on strikers, with the exception of Ulloa, has been pretty poor.

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Naylor on the button for once

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Staring at the rude boys

Formally Croydon Seagull

Stupid IDIOT

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