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So How Come The Bad Guy Is The 26 Goal A Season Striker Coached Down To 4 Or 5 Goals?
- Thread starter Tom Hark Preston Park
- Start date
NMH
Banned
How refreshing to see a thread in support of Leon. All this guff about "finding another talented player out there who CAN score goals" is windy rubbish. WHERE are there strikers with the sort of ground-skills that LK has? How would they score goals with the meagre sort of service and positioning that LK has been asked to make do with?
It's not because of his own positioning that he hasn't got goals, or for want of trying, or for want of talent. It's because the team does not work into a forward situation for ANY length of time - we have snake-like 'gambits' - momentary and fleeting - of attacking moves. BHA NEVER pen sides in their own half for sustained periods, and it's all because we have a flimsy, transparent MIDFIELD that isn't capable of stemming any 'tide' of opposition. We have a sporadic attempt on their goal, whether we are in counter-attack, or 'supposed' formation of attack.
Tactically, Brighton and Hove Albion are incapable of pressuring oppositions, and strikers cannot afford any time getting into a position unless it's from a free-kick (and Leon is not likely to get his head to many of those anyway). It's only fortuitous that CKR is around to have a dig from distance, esp. since Chippy hasn't been around.
Bottom line; a flimsy midfield asks a lot of our defenders, and on a regular basis. A flimsy midfield affords no luxuries to our strikers.
It's not because of his own positioning that he hasn't got goals, or for want of trying, or for want of talent. It's because the team does not work into a forward situation for ANY length of time - we have snake-like 'gambits' - momentary and fleeting - of attacking moves. BHA NEVER pen sides in their own half for sustained periods, and it's all because we have a flimsy, transparent MIDFIELD that isn't capable of stemming any 'tide' of opposition. We have a sporadic attempt on their goal, whether we are in counter-attack, or 'supposed' formation of attack.
Tactically, Brighton and Hove Albion are incapable of pressuring oppositions, and strikers cannot afford any time getting into a position unless it's from a free-kick (and Leon is not likely to get his head to many of those anyway). It's only fortuitous that CKR is around to have a dig from distance, esp. since Chippy hasn't been around.
Bottom line; a flimsy midfield asks a lot of our defenders, and on a regular basis. A flimsy midfield affords no luxuries to our strikers.
NMH said:
I totally agree. I'll be gutted if Leon goes, BUT what can you do about someone who constantly wants to sulk about every little matter which doesn't go his way, openly questions the manager's decisions, underperforms in training (according to MM) and leaves matches where he hasn't been picked. I just don't see this as acceptable behaviour and I think that almost all of the football league's managers would agree with me. What can be done?
London Irish
Well-known member
NMH's post is too pessimistic - we have had a lot of spells of pressure in the opposition half, particularly at Withdean, this season without getting the due reward. The Cardiff home game was so typical, so much work done down the flanks and near the byline but no one with the physique or strength to get on the end of the huge number of crosses we put in.
A new name up front I think would make a difference. We know what Leon can do, he has the same strengths and the same weaknesses as he's had for the past 2 or 3 years, he's not developing as a striker.
McGhee's number one job at the moment is finding a fresh outlet up front and that is the real story for the Albion at the moment, Leon's moodswings are just a sideshow.
A new name up front I think would make a difference. We know what Leon can do, he has the same strengths and the same weaknesses as he's had for the past 2 or 3 years, he's not developing as a striker.
McGhee's number one job at the moment is finding a fresh outlet up front and that is the real story for the Albion at the moment, Leon's moodswings are just a sideshow.
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London Irish
Well-known member
Double post
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Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
samparish said:The main criticism of Leon Knight (at least football-wise) seems to be that he does not score enough goals. Yet in our low-scoring team, he is top goalscorer.
And some people call us Brighton fans fickle
That appears to be the crux off it. I've said on another thread, but will repeat it here, that I don't think Leon should be considered (at this level at least) as the teams main goal provider. That he is, is more a comment on the lack of genuine options we currently possess.
Many decent strike partnerships involve a player who is a goalbox predator, a player who's main job is to finish off the moves created by the rest of the team, and a player who is a little more 'wiley' more creative who helps set up the chances, and weighs in with a fair share of goals. For the albion think of Small and Byrne, for England think of Shearer and Sherringham. I think Leon should be considered more as the 'support' striker a la Byrne and Sherringham.
If we went through the Season with Leon and A.N Other target man (Akinbuyi for example) and the target man scored 15-20 goals and Leon scored 10-12 then everyone would be saying what a good little strike partnership they were. If Leons stats for this season are looked at you can see that at the halfway stage of the season he has 5 goals and a number of assists. This seems in line with the scenario I have just suggested- that of a 'support' striker.
I think that instead of berating Leon for not scoring enough goals and looking to find a replacement we should be looking to find someone to play alongside him. At the moment we have two teenagers who seem to have a much better impact when coming off the bench, an Argentinian that we have seen nothing of, a player who always gives 100% but never seems really comfortable at this level, and the much maligned McCammon.
To get rid of our best striker, or to even advocate it, seems ridiculously short sighted. If we are to stayup this season we need our best players.
Meagre service is nonsense this season. Granted, it's slipped a bit recently as the lack of wins seems to have taken a toll on confidence attack-wise. But at the start of the season we were creating more chances than any Albion team for years... and where was he to finish them off?
I don't think Jake is as good a player skill-wise as Leon, but look at the number of clear goal-scoring chances he's had in games. That's what we need from our main striker and that's where Leon simply doesn't cut it. Even Virgo would probably have had 8 or 9 goals by now.
I don't think Jake is as good a player skill-wise as Leon, but look at the number of clear goal-scoring chances he's had in games. That's what we need from our main striker and that's where Leon simply doesn't cut it. Even Virgo would probably have had 8 or 9 goals by now.
m20gull
Well-known member
trueblue said:
Go back to the post about Leon not being the main striker. He keeps creating space for others and they're not finishing. The statr about goal chances are interesting, but not the whole picture - I'd like to see how many minutes each of them were on the pitch. But I do think there is a hint of truth about the midfield not creating the pressure in the first place. Luckily the defence is usually up to the job of covering their weaknesses. And this is not pessimism but subjective reality.
Schrödinger's Toad
Nie dla Idiotów
- Jan 21, 2004
- 11,957
garry nelsons left foot said:
Exactly right. Sadly, though, actually reading and understanding that is beyond some of the anti-Knight bores - it's far easier to take cheap shots and make wild, innacurate statements than it is to actually discuss the issue.
Ideally, I'd like to see Kazim-Richards and Knight worked on as a partnership, as the ability there is enormous - the problem is, of course, that both like to play in the same sort of area. However, I think K-R showed signs of being able to play as a target man of sorts in the previous game against Hull; I think it's something he could learn to do. Brighton fans and patience don't sit too easily together in many cases, though.
Yorkie said:Tosh
He scored at League 1 level for Huddersfield, moved UP a division and couldn't do it at Sheff Wed.
Dropped to League 1 with us and scored, when promoted couldn't do it.
Sheff Wed played him at right wing, then dropped him for not scoring heavily.
This thread is hilarious.
Leon Knight is, at best, a reasonable Championship player. Not some sort of superstar. With his attitude, he'd have been consigned to the reserves or drummed out of most clubs by now i.e. clubs that have a decent-sized squad.
Far, far, far better players than Leon Knight have left the Albion without there being any devastating long term effect.
Get rid. Use the wages and any fee, if we're lucky enough to get one, to sign somebody that knows where the net is on a regular basis. Even if the replacement's a journeyman by comparison, a dozen goals between now and May will do far more to keep us in this division than Leon's attractive but ultimately ineffective approach.
In the meantime, the other young talents in the team will improve to fill the gap long term.
I'm sick of hearing about bloody whingeing Leon.
Merry Christmas.
Leon Knight is, at best, a reasonable Championship player. Not some sort of superstar. With his attitude, he'd have been consigned to the reserves or drummed out of most clubs by now i.e. clubs that have a decent-sized squad.
Far, far, far better players than Leon Knight have left the Albion without there being any devastating long term effect.
Get rid. Use the wages and any fee, if we're lucky enough to get one, to sign somebody that knows where the net is on a regular basis. Even if the replacement's a journeyman by comparison, a dozen goals between now and May will do far more to keep us in this division than Leon's attractive but ultimately ineffective approach.
In the meantime, the other young talents in the team will improve to fill the gap long term.
I'm sick of hearing about bloody whingeing Leon.
Merry Christmas.
Windmill
New member
All the anti-Knight posters are forgetting one thing - he doesn't get consistent quality service from the midfield.
If he did he, and other players like Robinson, would score goals.
No wonder he's frustrated.
He has great ball skills, pace and fast feet.
Come on McGhee blow your transfer budget on a ball player, and some people on here, give Leon another chance.
Seagulls. 8 points from the Christmas games!
If he did he, and other players like Robinson, would score goals.
No wonder he's frustrated.
He has great ball skills, pace and fast feet.
Come on McGhee blow your transfer budget on a ball player, and some people on here, give Leon another chance.
Seagulls. 8 points from the Christmas games!