Strikers
 

I don't think nobody can question our recruitment of strikers in the past years. If you look at the statistics they are pretty damming. Below is the goal stats for our past strikers this year. It is obvious that it is only our style of play that is causing these players to have goal droughts.

Scott Boden (Gateshead / Chesterfield - 21 Goals
Tyler Harvey (Truro City) - 20 Goals
Connor Jennings (Tranmere Rovers) - 12 Goals :bulb:
Mark Beck (Harrogate Town) - 12 Goals
Danny Wright (Solihull Moors) - 12 Goals

No doubt if we had any of the above they'd do better

Joe Quigley (Maidstone / Bromley / Eastbourne Borough / Havant and Waterlooville) - 6 Goals
George Miller (Bradford City) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Johnny Smith (Tranmere Rovers) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Louis Moult (Preston North End) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Jordan Maguire Drew (Leyton Orient) - 3 Goals
Callum Powell (Stourbridge) - 3 Goals
Alex Reid (Solihull Moors / AFC Fylde) - 2 Goals
Scott Quigley (Halifax Town) - 2 Goals
Ntumba Massanka (RWD Molenbeek) - 1 Goal

I think we need a different approach :jester::jester::jester:

Light bulb indicates playing higher league.

Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=Loughboroughred;2250612]I don't think nobody can question our recruitment of strikers in the past years. If you look at the statistics they are pretty damming. Below is the goal stats for our past strikers this year. It is obvious that it is only our style of play that is causing these players to have goal droughts.

Scott Boden (Gateshead / Chesterfield - 21 Goals
Tyler Harvey (Truro City) - 20 Goals
Connor Jennings (Tranmere Rovers) - 12 Goals :bulb:
Mark Beck (Harrogate Town) - 12 Goals
Danny Wright (Solihull Moors) - 12 Goals

No doubt if we had any of the above they'd do better

Joe Quigley (Maidstone / Bromley / Eastbourne Borough / Havant and Waterlooville) - 6 Goals
George Miller (Bradford City) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Johnny Smith (Tranmere Rovers) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Louis Moult (Preston North End) - 5 Goals :bulb:
Jordan Maguire Drew (Leyton Orient) - 3 Goals
Callum Powell (Stourbridge) - 3 Goals
Alex Reid (Solihull Moors / AFC Fylde) - 2 Goals
Scott Quigley (Halifax Town) - 2 Goals
Ntumba Massanka (RWD Molenbeek) - 1 Goal

I think we need a different approach :jester::jester::jester:

Light bulb indicates playing higher league.[/QUOTE]

These statistics are absolutely damning, and need to be looked at seriously.
I believe looking at some of these figures prove that something is drastically wrong with our whole playing philosophy & style. Our core fundamental footballing structure, in my opinion, is completely wrong and too negative.
Worrying...

Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=TomWFC;2250616]These statistics are absolutely damning, and need to be looked at seriously.
I believe looking at some of these figures prove that something is drastically wrong with our whole playing philosophy & style. Our core fundamental footballing structure, in my opinion, is completely wrong and too negative.
Worrying...[/QUOTE]

It would be interesting to hear what Carl Darlington's thoughts on this are. Come on Kings, get him on Dragonheart.

Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=TomWFC;2250616]These statistics are absolutely damning, and need to be looked at seriously.
I believe looking at some of these figures prove that something is drastically wrong with our whole playing philosophy & style. Our core fundamental footballing structure, in my opinion, is completely wrong and too negative.
Worrying...[/QUOTE]

Those statistics need addressing but it is an exaggeration to say 'our core fundamental footballing structure is wrong. Many teams concentrate on supplying their main striker, but it doesn't always prove a consistent winning formula. Goals, providers and goal scorers has to be a priority in the summer, but it should be to supplement the solid foundations we already have as most title winning sides are built on strong defence and great consistency. Keates and Ricketts knew it, but where they struggled was to add that bit of flair and potential game turners when we needed goals. Anyone who has played as a striker will know that apart from good service strikers grow in confidence and thrive if the team aren't conceding goals easily.

For some reason, maybe quality we just haven't gone that bit extra, but in my opinion we are getting closer and not that far from where we need to be. Not much BH can do in this next 3 weeks, other than get his team as best prepared as he can and if he can do that I would fancy us as much as any of the other 5 teams in the hat.

Re: Strikers
 

I’m sure our managers and coaches (note pulral) have been performance managed day by day after all we have some top people on the board with experience of managing poor performing staff.

Re: Strikers
 

I would love to see us sign a prolific striker, but regardless of opinion this low scoring defensive style of football, may be unable to accommodate one, regardless of ability.

Whether you love or loathe the style, it's improving our final league position year on year, despite the turmoil off field.

I'd happily take a low scoring defender being a top scorer for another two years if we continue to increase our total points tally and final get out of this gf league.

Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=davewilli;2250621]Those statistics need addressing but it is an exaggeration to say 'our core fundamental footballing structure is wrong. Many teams concentrate on supplying their main striker, but it doesn't always prove a consistent winning formula. Goals, providers and goal scorers has to be a priority in the summer, but it should be to supplement the solid foundations we already have as most title winning sides are built on strong defence and great consistency. Keates and Ricketts knew it, but where they struggled was to add that bit of flair and potential game turners when we needed goals. Anyone who has played as a striker will know that apart from good service strikers grow in confidence and thrive if the team aren't conceding goals easily.

For some reason, maybe quality we just haven't gone that bit extra, but in my opinion we are getting closer and not that far from where we need to be. Not much BH can do in this next 3 weeks, other than get his team as best prepared as he can and if he can do that I would fancy us as much as any of the other 5 teams in the hat.[/QUOTE]

Solid defensive foundations are vital I agree, however it shouldn't be to the neglect of playing attacking football,getting balls into dangerous areas and creating chances - they should never be mutually exclusive. This links then to poor recruitment of attacking midfielders, or a recruitment of midfielders and then just shoving them into a system hoping they might create something.

If these players (and I include Grant in this) can score fairly frequently at other clubs (and some at an even higher level) then in my opinion it points to one or two things (or both) - a flawed overly-defensive playing philosophy and a failure to recruit adequate midfielders who have the attributes to attack, create chances, get the best out of strikers and also to contribute with the odd goal.

Either way, it's damning and something which I feel will persistently lead to failure if it isn't addressed.

Re: Strikers
 

Last 2 seasons have been the most negative in our history. Its like watching paint dry going to a wrexham match. I don't see much changing in future, until it does I won't be returning in a hurry.

Re: Strikers
 

I think one of the big reasons we can't score goals is a serious lack of pace by the full backs, no pace in midfield and most certainly upfront.

Yesterday a couple of times we had the opportunity to break and instead of going for it we slow the play down with sideways and backwards passing while their defence got back, that along with Wright when he gets the ball he can't control it,either goes to ground or passes to the opposition.

Also the defence is hitting balls into channels and nobody with pace to get onto it.

Reminds me of a poormans version of Mourinho. No tempo slow build ups
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Re: Strikers
 

Its been said so much on here but one isolated striker upfront doesn't work for us especially when said striker isn't a target man.

Add into that a woeful midfield who can't pass and can't create and its no surprise our strikers struggle.

Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=NottsRed;2250646]Its been said so much on here but one isolated striker upfront doesn't work for us especially when said striker isn't a target man.

Add into that a woeful midfield who can't pass and can't create and its no surprise our strikers struggle.[/QUOTE]

Spot on with this viewpoint.

Lionel Messi could sign for us tomorrow but would be starved of service and be written off as another crap striker before moving elsewhere and starting to score again (Scott Boden in disguise).

What also is quite striking is the lack of movement - the old style Bill Shankly approach - football is simple - you pass the ball to a team mate then move into space for a return ball and if you haven't got the ball and your team have then try and move into a position so the man on the ball has more than one option - BUT time and time again we don't do this - the man on the ball is almost blanked and left to fend for himself especially when the ball is coming out of defence - both Roberts and Carrington are too slow to give the central defenders a viable option and the midfielders don't come seeking the ball so we play tippy tappy sideways and backwards until we either lose possession or the man on the ball runs out of ideas and hoofballs it up the field in hope.

get in the ground an hour before kick off and watch the warm up - shooting practice - some players seem to struggle to score in a shooting practice session - repeatedly kicking the ball off target in a controlled environment - what really goes on in training ?

Re: Strikers
 

We’re not set up to score bucket loads of goals , we could have Harry Kane up top and he wouldn’t get double figures imo

[QUOTE=NottsRed;2250646]Its been said so much on here but one isolated striker upfront doesn't work for us especially when said striker isn't a target man.

Add into that a woeful midfield who can't pass and can't create and its no surprise our strikers struggle.[/QUOTE]

But we cant play 2 up top because of the CM issue, so what formation do those players (particularly Beck and Boden) play in?
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[QUOTE=Red Light;2250653]Spot on with this viewpoint.

Lionel Messi could sign for us tomorrow but would be starved of service and be written off as another crap striker before moving elsewhere and starting to score again (Scott Boden in disguise).

What also is quite striking is the lack of movement - the old style Bill Shankly approach - football is simple - you pass the ball to a team mate then move into space for a return ball and if you haven't got the ball and your team have then try and move into a position so the man on the ball has more than one option - BUT time and time again we don't do this - the man on the ball is almost blanked and left to fend for himself especially when the ball is coming out of defence - both Roberts and Carrington are too slow to give the central defenders a viable option and the midfielders don't come seeking the ball so we play tippy tappy sideways and backwards until we either lose possession or the man on the ball runs out of ideas and hoofballs it up the field in hope.

get in the ground an hour before kick off and watch the warm up - shooting practice - some players seem to struggle to score in a shooting practice session - repeatedly kicking the ball off target in a controlled environment - what really goes on in training ?[/QUOTE]


You're pretty spot on with the above post R.L football is a simple game really when applied correctly pass and move we have not been able to do it for the last 2 seasons at least, as you say the man with the ball has to do it himself they stand still ball watching instead giving the player with the ball an outlet.

I also as already said see no tempo.
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Re: Strikers
 

[QUOTE=John Neals Dynasty;2250665]You're pretty spot on with the above post R.L football is a simple game really when applied correctly pass and move we have not been able to do it for the last 2 seasons at least, as you say the man with the ball has to do it himself they stand still ball watching instead giving the player with the ball an outlet.

I also as already said see no tempo.
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And do you ever get the impression that we appear to go through the motions until half time - not arsed whether we go in at the break with a lead or not.
Hardly ever score in the first half that it's now the accepted normal service.
Do we try and win each half ? is it important from the managers viewpoint or tactically do we just have a kick about and decide to have a go second half.
I really don't know anymore - for the first time this season I have felt myself virtually nodding off in my seat with the skull numbing boredom of attending through season ticket loyalty rather than an urging desire to watch what I used to hope was entertainment.

Re: Strikers
 

Its not a striker problem as the stats prove, and our defence is one of the best despite all the shuffles around the back 4.

We need a big tank, someone who can boss the midfield and then a playmaker next to him, something we have not had since Fergie Jnr.

Re: Strikers
 

Said it before the season started and it's still true. Our system of play and midfield is the problem not the strikers.

[QUOTE=Red Light;2250669]And do you ever get the impression that we appear to go through the motions until half time - not arsed whether we go in at the break with a lead or not.
Hardly ever score in the first half that it's now the accepted normal service.
Do we try and win each half ? is it important from the managers viewpoint or tactically do we just have a kick about and decide to have a go second half.
I really don't know anymore - for the first time this season I have felt myself virtually nodding off in my seat with the skull numbing boredom of attending through season ticket loyalty rather than an urging desire to watch what I used to hope was entertainment.[/QUOTE]


I was like that last season as well as this, no urgency in their play.

A lot of the problem is a lot of these players know they are only on loan until season end and those out of contract not offered new ones know they are gone so ain't arsed. Same last end of season.
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Re: Strikers
 

One other thing...

Just had a look at the contenders for goal of the season. What struck me was how many of the players aren't actually here anymore. Fondop, Pyke, Maguire Drew, Tollit. How many others have we had in that we haven't given a proper chance?

Re: Strikers
 

I’ve been thinking about this (since we’ve been in this league most probably). I think it’s far too simple to say ‘Wrexham ruin strikers’ etc. Part of the reason that strikers score less here is tactics but the biggest reason for me is how the opposition set up. For example, it’s easy for someone to score in a team that plays against an ‘open’ opposition, they probably get 2 to 3 good chances a game. Against a tight opposition (which let’s face it every team we’ve played at home this year, barring Salford, have been) it’s much harder to create chances and our strikers are feasting off half chances.

Our biggest scorers in this league have been those with an X factor (Moult for example who could score out of nowhere). The other option is to have a team that wears the opposition down with lost of passing and moving (Harris/Keates were very good at this) and we capitalise in the last 20 minutes.

Teams are going to come to the racecourse play 4-5-1 and waste time from minute 1. I guess you beat that with pace, strength or pass pass pass. We don’t really tick any of those boxes at the moment.