Typical undermining of an intelligent thread.
In my day half an orange and a B&H Gold was the fare of all the best strikers, that's where we've gone wrong
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Albion] Midfield goal production and the striker myth
- Thread starter Swansman
- Start date
Typical undermining of an intelligent thread.
In my day half an orange and a B&H Gold was the fare of all the best strikers, that's where we've gone wrong
KeegansHairPiece
New member
- Jan 28, 2016
- 1,829
Always turned up in some flash but clapped out motor like a Ford Capri. Always in the changing room late, always asking who has some deep heat, spare pads, who’s got tape...shocking work rate in the game, everyone else’s fault for their misses. I never played with a striker I actually liked. Flash twats.
That's not the role he is playing. He plays deep.
KeegansHairPiece
New member
- Jan 28, 2016
- 1,829
Let’s not excuse anyone.
We’ve had so much possession against Palace and West Brom, Dunk and White were covering any kind of holding midfielder role. Bissouma has been presented with some really good chances around the box and really only endangered wildlife in the empty stands. His role arriving late and picking up 2nd ball around the box is to threaten the target occasionally?
He has a free-er role than that.
Proven by a couple of shots to row z every game from 25 yards out, ruining attacks.
Fitting of a rugby union place kicker.
albionalex
Well-known member
I agree that it shouldn't be on the likes of Stephens, Propper and Bissouma to chip in with a lot of goals; that's not why they're in the team. But I think they should score more goals than they do and Bissouma in particular has a pathetic shooting accuracy (worst in the league of eligible players).
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,461
also shows Welbeck is not the upgrade on Connolly everyone thinks he is.
Conclusion : most people on this thread are saying our strikers have been crap at converting their chances. Swansman is pointing out that, actually, our midfield have been crap at scoring. Also, given the number of corners we get, our tall defenders are also crap at scoring. Collectively, we are saying that...well we are just crap at scoring all over the pitch (apart from Sanchez who's yet to miss a chance).
I don't know who to blame...but collectively I think it's a mix of recruitment, coaching, lack of quality/discipline/composure, luck, plus the occasional sh*te referee.
But... I think we'll improve.
My head is spinning with all those numbers and stats.
It's easy to pull stats to suit an Agenda but nut very wise to choose two Clubs punching above their weight in and around the Champions League places.
Brighton will be just about fine. Not by much but they will have enough to keep 3 or 4 teams below them. That's all that matters.
Just enjoy the remainder of the season. That's why we all watch it and love it for the Roller Coaster ups and downs of a full season.
It's easy to pull stats to suit an Agenda but nut very wise to choose two Clubs punching above their weight in and around the Champions League places.
Brighton will be just about fine. Not by much but they will have enough to keep 3 or 4 teams below them. That's all that matters.
Just enjoy the remainder of the season. That's why we all watch it and love it for the Roller Coaster ups and downs of a full season.
GT49er
Well-known member
Makes a bit of sense to me - but I wouldn't trust Trossard as a wing back.
London Irish
Well-known member
Weird thread, started by a strong supporter of Potter, basically undermining a consensus view that the only part of the team that Potter has got functioning really well is the midfield. I think there is probably something in it but really just shows how far we are away from being anything but bottom 5/6 scrappers. Hard to know where that elusive progression to the next level is going to come from except a big squad revamp. And managers who can’t work with the existing squad of players don’t tend to last too long at our club
albionalbino
Well-known member
Interesting point, which I agree with. You've said previously that you see coaching as less important as natural ability so if we dismiss this option, how do you think Potter will remedy the midfield weakness? Transfer market in the summer? Moder and Caicedo's emergence??
No it isn't. [MENTION=38333]Swansman[/MENTION]'s point is midfielders aren't scoring enough, not that they aren't functioning (creating chances and breaking up attacks). When they get a chance to shoot they pass or they miss more often than they should.
Also 'the next level' was simply, initially, playing actual football rather than doing the U dance (up the side and back, round the back and up the other side and back, round the back and up the other side).
If goals from midfield are part of the key, then the continual re-jigging and rotation of personnel and formation between Mac Allister, Groß, Propper, Alzate, Lallana, Trossard and Bissouma can't be helping. It certainly seemed we performed better when we played a more settled side.
Doubtless I'm wrong.
Doubtless I'm wrong.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #96
Coaching is definitely less important than natural ability but that doesnt mean players can not be improved, someone like Ali Mac will hopefully improve. Too many central midfielders atm so someone will have to go and its probably not necessary to bring someone in, its on the wings and in the AMC role (and striker, obv) where I think the club should/will try to make some nice, classy recruitment. Five or six midfielders/strikers out, two or three in.
blue-shifted
Banned
It's based on a view that we can afford to risk conceding more in order to score more
- Thread starter
- #98
The team pretty much played the same starting eleven for the last seven or eight games now with only one or two changes between games (mostly out of necessity). While results over this time are generally decent the guys have not really been scoring for fun. Mac Allister started 8 out of the last 9, Gross 8 out of the last 9, Trossard 8 of the last 9 and Bissouma 7 out of the last 9... I dont know how much more consistency than that you can expect?
It’s a shame we haven’t got any strikers coming through pushing for a place in the squad.
Clearly GP, to his credit, has no qualms putting faith in young talent (Lamptey, Alzate, Connolly, Sanchez), so I can only assume he doesn’t feel we have any worthy strikers from the u23’s/u18’s (yet..).
The one to watch out for is young Zak Emerson. 8 goals in 10 games for the u18’s.
Clearly GP, to his credit, has no qualms putting faith in young talent (Lamptey, Alzate, Connolly, Sanchez), so I can only assume he doesn’t feel we have any worthy strikers from the u23’s/u18’s (yet..).
The one to watch out for is young Zak Emerson. 8 goals in 10 games for the u18’s.
London Irish
Well-known member
How on earth is the midfield functioning well if it’s not scoring its expected contribution of goals. It’s a basic contradiction - you’ll have to explain a bit more