Adam Idah out for the season

[paddycanary 539]

1 hour ago, Fuzzar said:

If not, the spectre of relegation looms. 

Must be terrible for the spirit in the camp.

Serious note: shíte for Adam who was, for the first time in his senior career, looking like a regular starter. Shíte for Ireland as we've been hoping he'll be our main striker for the years ahead but he just can't catch a break. Shíte for NCFC as he was recently providing an important option supporting the often isolated Pukki, helping it stick up top and giving an out-ball. Options look thin up top. 

Makes the probable end of season outcome even more likely sadly. Poor Adam.

[Ulfotto 633]

I think sometimes we are just too nice. I would have had Hugill and Hernandez back if only to stick them on the bench if needed because of injuries to the players ahead of them in the pecking order.

[Gordon Bennett 783]

Complaining that we should have signed somebody is a waste of time, it was never going to happen. We were told that months ago. The joys of being self funded once again unfortunately. 

Somebody will notw get their chance and we need them to grab it firmly with both hands.

[shefcanary 2,408]

I believe Hugill and Hernandez have a no recall clause, so that is that, we go with what we have.  

Edited February 18, 2022 by shefcanary

[keelansgrandad 6,679]

I guess that is the end for now of 4-4-2.

What position does Rowe play?

[Grando 260]

It's Cody McDonald's time to shine!

[hogesar 9,673]

13 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Complaining that we should have signed somebody is a waste of time, it was never going to happen. We were told that months ago. The joys of being self funded once again unfortunately. 

Somebody will notw get their chance and we need them to grab it firmly with both hands.

We also have typically played with one striker all season until very recently, if we were going to sign anyone in the window it wouldn't have been a striker.

The few posters on here who wanted another striker in January then all agreed it wasn't necessary once Idah started showing he had ability.

Not just us, but pretty much no club in and around our position has 4 players able to play one position at a reasonable level in this league.

[TIL 1010 4,746]

There is a buffoon on a Facebook group saying we could play Kabak or Zimmo as emergency strikers ! The thing is it looks to be a serious comment FFS.

[shefcanary 2,408]

5 minutes ago, TIL 1010 said:

There is a buffoon on a Facebook group saying we could play Kabak or Zimmo as emergency strikers ! The thing is it looks to be a serious comment FFS.

How about Sorenson, Tilly, when he is fit again - always does a good job filling in?  😉

 

[TheGunnShow 5,940]

Shame that, Idah was beginning to look the part, and he and Sargent were proving a real handful for opposing defenders, meaning we had a bit more space further up the pitch.

[(Hoola)Han Solo 324]

My considered and thoughtful opinion is that we’re f ucked.

[......and Smith must score. 1,343]

Well that looks like that’s a definite ‘ Goodnight Vienna ‘  on our already slim chance of saying in the PL.

Pretty unlikely that Sargent will turn into Superman and poor old Pukki has had too much to do for far too long.

[Move Klose 303]

1 hour ago, Google Bot said:

Recall Onel, simple as that.  Don't even **** about - we cannot go the rest of this season with just Pukki and Sarge. Why take the risk when you can act now?  Gives us the option of energy and strength up top, and backup if Sarge came into the middle.

We have 4 keepers for one spot, and 3 center forwards for 2 (one of which is seemingly a wide player now).  The balance is just out of whack.

Gutted for Idah, too.

I wouldn't have thought we can, had to name a 25 man squad after the January transfer window closed and Hernandez wouldn't have been in that list as he went out on loan again.

[Yellowhammer 86]

Pukki gets injured then we have no real strikers great , 

[Danke bitte 965]

Feel for him. This will probably have an effect on where he stands next season too if that’s to be the Championship. Really unlucky with injuries. Though he has youth on his side and if Bryan’s rehab is anything to go by, he’s in the right place. 

Just wondered if anyone could tell me, is Rowe an out and out striker or an attacking mid??

[cambridgeshire canary 6,718]

Here's hoping for a quick and good recovery.

 

Now if Pukki gets injured we really are Farke'd

Edited February 18, 2022 by cambridgeshire canary

[WD40 720]

1 hour ago, Nuff Said said:

This is back to the “we need 5 (or even more) centre backs” argument. Who would come to us, for what we can pay, to be at best second choice after Teemu, and what impact would that have on the development of our younger strikers?

We had three strikers plus potential options like Rowe, plus we can use wingers more centrally. Spending extra - that we could afford - on a striker would have been wasted money and only seems like it should have been done with hindsight.

Three strikers that have all been on the pitch at the same time in recent games when fit! That’s exactly 0 reserve strikers in case of injury, and what’s happened. It isn’t the same as the 5 CB argument, which will also end it tears. 

[Google Bot 3,278]

1 hour ago, hogesar said:

We also have typically played with one striker all season until very recently, if we were going to sign anyone in the window it wouldn't have been a striker.

We typically had a different manager and play style before the start of the transfer window too.  If we're still assessing transfers based on Farke's philosophies then heads need banging together.

We were depleted in December, Playing two up top through Jan, Our only other centre forward is seemingly a wide player.  It was clear to many supporters that starting 3 players with no reserves was insane.

Idah arguably the least damaging to lose out of the 3, but that just shows how incredibly fragile we left ourselves.  Not to mention complete lack of goals coming in to Jan window - Last goal was Newcastle in November!

Hope we play Tzolis is the only shining light for me.  I think he would be best suited in the middle, you need to put trust in these players - that's why Idah started performing.

Edited February 18, 2022 by Google Bot

[NWC 240]

22 minutes ago, Yellowhammer said:

Pukki gets injured then we have no real strikers great , 

Can we get an emmergency loan?? - Not quite sure of the rules about this. 

[Uncle Fred 526]

Not sure he will be that big a miss as some are saying

he is not exactly prolific in front of goal.

Will give Rowe more of a chance to show his attacking prowess. I think he has something about him 

[WD40 720]

2 minutes ago, Uncle Fred said:

Not sure he will be that big a miss as some are saying

he is not exactly prolific in front of goal.

Will give Rowe more of a chance to show his attacking prowess. I think he has something about him 

Perhaps but more physical than Rowe, and whatever he’s doing was doing something for the team

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

Really feel for him, he must be gutted!

Failure to strengthen in the one area where we really needed to... games up.

 

[Mello Yello 2,293]

3 hours ago, Crabbycanary3 said:

Well, if our strikers can ghost in around the back, we may be lucky

That's the Spirit!.....

[Uncle Fred 526]

8 minutes ago, Kenny Foggo said:

Really feel for him, he must be gutted!

Failure to strengthen in the one area where we really needed to... games up.

 

At the time it looked a mistake even more so now 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,820]

38 minutes ago, NWC said:

Can we get an emmergency loan?? - Not quite sure of the rules about this. 

I think emergency loans are only allowed for goalkeepers if all senior ones are unavailable.

[Hank shoots Skyler 2,094]

2 hours ago, Nuff Said said:

This is back to the “we need 5 (or even more) centre backs” argument. Who would come to us, for what we can pay, to be at best second choice after Teemu, and what impact would that have on the development of our younger strikers?

Unfortunately it is far more stretched than the 5 centre backs argument though, as we have effectively had a front four in recent weeks, being Rashica, Pukki, Idah and Sargent, across the left wing, two striker positions and right wing.

Who then comes in to replace any one of these injuries? Placheta - miles off the pace. Dowell - has struggled physically. Rowe still very raw and Tzolis is behind Rowe… realistically there are no viable back ups and we have to change from the formation which had been bringing us functionality and success.

So it’s not akin to expecting 5 or more good options into 2 positions (I.e. the CB argument of old); but simply expecting more then 4 good options across 4 positions.

Imagine having 4 very good defender options across the back 4, but absolutely no decent back ups. It would be nuts!

Although we do have the back up option of returning to the 4-3-3, at least, but it’s still a massive shame to have to revert away from the 4-4-2.

Unfortunately the unexpected fall of Cantwel and the disappointment of Tzolis (in terms of his contribution to this season) has really ****ed us over.

God knows what happens now if Pukki, Rashica or Sargent get injured! Will we have to play 4 CMs and go full 2006 England? 

 

[Capt. Pants 4,234]

Oh well, at least that means we'll have to think again about hoofball tactics as we've no-one who can hold a ball up.

It's an opportunity for someone else, but unfortunately it looks as though it will be 4-3-3. The other issue is that's been highlighted is that with Sargent injured, not 100%, or playing down the middle, we are very weak on our right attacking and defending.

2 strikers needed for the summer as this is the 2nd season running Idah has been injured right when we need him.

 

[Ken Hairy 3,772]

This is just typical of our luck, as soon as the lad starts showing a bit of promise this happens 🙄

[Wings of a Sparrow 1,415]

3 hours ago, Crabbycanary3 said:

Well, if our strikers can ghost in around the back, we may be lucky

Where's Martin Peters when you need him.

[Hank shoots Skyler 2,094]

2 hours ago, hogesar said:

We also have typically played with one striker all season until very recently, if we were going to sign anyone in the window it wouldn't have been a striker.

The few posters on here who wanted another striker in January then all agreed it wasn't necessary once Idah started showing he had ability.

Not just us, but pretty much no club in and around our position has 4 players able to play one position at a reasonable level in this league.

I take your point but would say that we can’t really fully rely on Sargent as a striking option. He’s our first choice right winger by some distance before he is a striker, and playing him there up front means we sacrifice what he offers out wide. We all saw how much Sargent was missed in that spot versus Crystal Palace. 

I’d also be a bit more complimentary about our recent formation change, yes we had played with 1 striker most of the season, but the 2 up top system had really upped our levels of competitiveness - giving us options for a more direct style and also helping us create goal scoring changes. The Idah-Pukki relationship; with Rashica and Sargent either side, has been essential to this. 

So if we were planning on keeping the 4-4-2  (I can’t see why we wouldn’t have been save for the big team games) then we actually would’ve had our 1st, 2nd and ‘3rd’ choice strikers all on the pitch as starters, with no real back up (either up front or on the right wing). If that was the plan then it was pretty nuts not to try to find a replacement loan option for Gilmour or Kabak - so perhaps reverting to the 4-3-3 was always anticipated, injury-permitting or not?

But for all that’s been said about us having a bloated squad, we really are paper thin in the attacking positions right now, as a result of one injury!

Edited February 18, 2022 by Hank shoots Skyler