If Bent and Gyan form a partnership....


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Chilly_Road_Mackem

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If they did hit it off straight away and both carried on at their goal ratios we would be well on our way.

Football isnt rocket science, we have a defensive unit who can keep clean sheets, and if we can get the two strikers going as a partnership, we have a duo who could get 20 a season each.

There are many good teams in the league, the likes of everton and villa, but neither of these clubs managed to get that striker who could get 20 a season, from what Ive seen we have two of them.

So we have done the hardest part, if they hit off, whats stopping us?
 
Im with u mate. I still think we dont get enough goals from our midfielders, but there are better things to come!

The only thing stopping us is our history of cocking up good situations
 
Im with u mate. I still think we dont get enough goals from our midfielders, but there are better things to come!

The only thing stopping us is our history of cocking up good situations

This could be the only thing to stop us as I see it at the moment
 
Im with u mate. I still think we dont get enough goals from our midfielders, but there are better things to come!

The only thing stopping us is our history of cocking up good situations

We haven't had a forward with the quality of hold-up play that Gyan possesses for a long time, though. It is tough to ask midfielders to trust someone like Bent, Jones, or Campbell enough to abandon their defensive positions and get beyond them. If I was a midfield player I am sure I wouldn't trust them enough to feel more confident about being played in than being caught out defensively. Gyan on the other hand...
 
so you think our past strikers are to blame for midfielders not scoring?
 
We haven't had a forward with the quality of hold-up play that Gyan possesses for a long time, though. It is tough to ask midfielders to trust someone like Bent, Jones, or Campbell enough to abandon their defensive positions and get beyond them. If I was a midfield player I am sure I wouldn't trust them enough to feel more confident about being played in than being caught out defensively. Gyan on the other hand...

We also have ayoung midfield, cattermole 22, henderson 22, elmo 22? meyler 20-21.

I actually think if zenden had a good run of games he would get a few like, he always looks dangerous, hits the ball cleanly aswell
 
so you think our past strikers are to blame for midfielders not scoring?

I think there is a huge element to it, yes. The ball has to stick up top to allow midfielders to get into goalscoring positions and we haven't had someone capable of doing that for a long time. Bent is a superb striker, but he isn't someone that midfield players can play off.
 
I think there is a huge element to it, yes. The ball has to stick up top to allow midfielders to get into goalscoring positions and we haven't had someone capable of doing that for a long time. Bent is a superb striker, but he isn't someone that midfield players can play off.

understand that, however, weve missed a midfielder who can run at defences and frighten cb's

who was our last to do that?
 
We also have ayoung midfield, cattermole 22, henderson 22, elmo 22? meyler 20-21.

I actually think if zenden had a good run of games he would get a few like, he always looks dangerous, hits the ball cleanly aswell

I knew he was maturing but didn't realise he was actually aging faster too.
 
If they did hit it off straight away and both carried on at their goal ratios we would be well on our way.

Football isnt rocket science, we have a defensive unit who can keep clean sheets, and if we can get the two strikers going as a partnership, we have a duo who could get 20 a season each.

There are many good teams in the league, the likes of everton and villa, but neither of these clubs managed to get that striker who could get 20 a season, from what Ive seen we have two of them.

So we have done the hardest part, if they hit off, whats stopping us?

For whatever reason if we start scoring goals for fun we will probaly find we start shipping them no end to, there will be no logical explanation. Its just the way football works sometimes
 
Inclined to agree. It's true that we don't have any goal scoring midfielders, but there aren't many team who have the calibre of strikers as we do. If we hold onto the ball for long enough and give them chances, they will score.

Given that we tend to play from the back as well the chances of conceding as many as we score is less likely, as it means we hold shape.

At the start of the season the team worked quite differently. 5 In the middle so plenty of possession but no one to make things happen, and a forward who is an excellent poacher but not much of a footballer, so we had to rely on taking the few chances we made and keeping the opposition out.

Whereas now we have the defensive steel to keep the opposition from scoring, and a forward in Gyan who is capable of both dropping deep and finding his way into scoring positions. The 5 in the middle is no longer necessary as a result, and so the strikers have each other to play off, allowing the midfield to get forward.

The missing link has been a lack of quality in midfield which has meant holding the ball in midfield long enough to create pressure and dictate a game has been an issue, but Zenden's inclusion, although a short term measure because of his age/contract, looks as though this won't be so much of an issue either.

So in terms of the ability to win as a team, we have plenty strengths and no glaring weaknesses, which is a huge step in the right direction.
 
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