A new striker has to be as good, if not better, than Earnshaw

[Northern Canary 0]

Maybe i am wrong, but i think if we are to get a new striker, it should be one to challenge Earnie for that lone striker position, rather than a partner. If we got him a partner then we would lost a midfielder, and would almost be playing a 442 formation. This would leave us very weak in midfield and i think that the 3-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation could be extemely effective if we had a player like Ashton playing up front. But can we afford a striker as good as Earnshaw? Perhaps Eastwood, but he isnt that tall. Or do you think we should buy him a partner and go 442?

[Hardhouse44 289]

A strike partner is what Earnie needs and I would say wants. Robinson would be the natural player to make way. If this makes our midfield week then that is and damming indication that our other midfielders aren''t good enough. Most teams play with 2 central midfielder and the are good enough to do that job if we need 3 and more importantly that 3rd one is Robinson then god help us all. Strikers score goals, goals win games crappy midfielders who can''t run, miss place passes constantly (with one bloody exception in 8 months which somebody is bound to point out) and look to get rid of the ball a quickly as possible are a waste of a player. As you can probably tell I think we should play 2 up front and drop Robinson!

[lucky green trainers 0]

now - don''t get me wrong, i''m happy thus far with the improvement i''ve seen this season, but having watched motd last night, i''ve gleaned a few tips from the prem that could be useful for the city squad and playing staff to employ in future games.

1. memo to hucks and crofty:  keep up the good work boys, but please try to keep crosses on the floor as much as poss because poor earnie is usually the only city player in the box and he''s sandwiched between 2 strapping 6 footers.  also, putting a low ball roughly between the backline and keeper for earnie to run onto would be good, as 9 times out of 10 he''s going to be quicker than lumbering centre backs.  numerous prem teams on motd last night enjoyed great success from putting a low cross into/along the 6 yard box for gleeful strikers to pounce on and burst the old onion net.  even better, would be to pass to a city player who has made space for himself in the box and is crying out for the ball (i know - doesn''t happen too often).
2. memo to earnie:  pleased so far earnie - you are a natural finisher blessed with great pace, balance and lighting reflex''s.  carry on getting between the central defenders pairing when they are high up the pitch, or on the edge of the box, because hopefully a midfield collegue will eventually pass one to you or dink one over for you to run onto for a ''one on one'' with the goalie - something that should happen at least once a game - we used to do it when bellamy played up front, it can be done.  however, when in the box, it must be frustrating for you to see the ball sail over your head from crosses.  when the coaches aren''t around, try to suggest your wing collegue play it to you along the floor, preferably along the 6 yard line - where you could nip in to score.  also - please try to make near post runs when you see collegues attempting to cross from the byline - you''re bound to steal a march on leaden footed central defenders. 
3. memo to safri: when the crowd shout ''shoot'' try it - you never know.
4. memo to robbo & dicko:  at least one of you should be joining earnie up front in our attacks, probably through making late runs into the box into space where your clued up wing collegues will be waiting to send over a precise pass to feet for your to shoot hole (as in sidwell, reading - francis, watford - & gilberto, arsenal).  dicko - you''re a tall geezer, arriving late to the back post appears to bring great rewards, becuase mostly you''ll be playing against a smaller left/right back.  also, when you have space in front, and just the backlike left, just run like a startled gazelle straight at them - they will either freeze like rabbits in headlights or have to challenge you - either way you should sow enough confusion to place a well weighted pass beyond them for earnie to run onto and score.
5. memo to hunter and worthy - glad to see your new management partnership has got off on the right foot (although they ran out of pies at half time in the lower barclay worthy - please order more in next match assuming this duty now falls within your remit) and that city are beginning to play like a top 6 team and potentially promotion candidates.  i can highly recommend motd with the incisive comments of gary, shearer & hansen - make sure you watch to every week.  we need a top partner for earnie up front - we can''t play 4-3-3 (4-5-1) every game - as most the prem teams proved last night, you need players in the box to make chances and score. 
6. memo to leon:  nuff said.

have i  missed anything?

[Chris Meadows 0]

i like 4-4-2 but Huckerby just cannot play on the wing in it because he leaves Drury exposed and also we get then get dominated in the midfield

[Huddy 0]

The worry with the 4-4-2 is that with Croft and Huckerby in midfield our full backs would get over exposed. The problem we have is that if we play a targetman the likelyhood is that either croft, earnshaw or huckerby would have to make way if we want to be solid at the back. On the other hand, we could see some very exciting rugby scores at Carrow Road.

[Barry Brockes 157]

The fact is that most teams who have finished in the top two in the last few seasons end up having scored an average of about two goals a game. We are already behind that schedule and will continue to be until we play another goal scorer. I believe the midfield three have scored three goals in about seventy games for us so we won''t get much from there. We can expect Hucks to chip in with 12-15 and with, say, ten from Croft, half a dozen from defenders and a few from those who occasionally get a game, eg McVeigh, that will leave Earnie needing to score about 45 for us to get into the top two! Without another proven goalscorer Saturday''s result is likely to be the first of a number of 0-0s both home and away and, if we mean business this year, I won''t buy that 0-0 away to Derby is a good result. New manager. 20 players used already. Three different formations tried. Three goalkeepers played. No, if we have serious ambitions that should have been a three-pointer.