20 Goal Striker isn't necessary

[Stevie Wonder 0]

There is a lot of nonsense being spouted about how we must have a 20 goal a season striker. A look at our history will tell you that a lot of our most successful seasons have not involved having a prolific striker in the team. Take all of promotion seasons to the top division and the top league scorer;

• 71-72 Kenny Foggo 13 goals
• 74-75 MacDougall 17 goals
• 81-82 Bertschin 12 goals
• 85-86 Drinkell 22 goals
• 03-04 Huckerby 14 goals

Our most sucessful top division seasons;

• 86-87 (Finished 5th) Drinkell 16 goals
• 88-89 (Finished 4th) Fleck 10 goals
• 92-93 (Finished 3rd) Robins 15 goals

Seasons in the last 30 odd years where someone has managed 18 or more league goals;

• 75-76 (finished 10th in old Div1) MacDougal 23 goals
• 80-81 (finshed 20th & relegated in old Div1) Fashanu 19 goals
• 82-83 (finished 14th in old div 1) Deehan 20 goals
• 93-94 (finshed 12th in prem) Sutton 25 goals
• 98-99 (finished 9th in champs) Roberts 19 goals plus Bellamy with 17 goals
• 06-07 (finished 14th in champs) Earnshaw 19 goals

This shows that in our 5 promotion seasons and our 3 best ever league finished only once has someone managed 20 goals. The secret to most of our successful seasons is having goals from all over the pitch with at least one player generally getting 12-17 goals. Whilst we have struggled for goals so far this season I feel that we have the makings of a decent side and in players such as Cureton, Lupoli, Hoolahan, Bell & Russell we have players capable of getting at least 5-10 goals apiece - whilst I am one of Curo''s biggest critics I still think he will get into double figures this year. In addition, the likes of Croft and Chadwick should be capable of contributing a few goals too. Clearly, we need at least one striker to compliment what we have and to be the player who gets 15 goals - preferably I would like to see 2 further strikers arrive perhaps Iversen and Bishop to share the load. So far at least Koroma looks like he will need some time to settle in.

[Time to go Delia 0]

Doubt you do need a 20 goal a season striker if your forwards get a decent return and you get goals from midfield and a few from the centre backs at set pieces , thats not really happening here right now is it , our 3 strikers look weaker than you would usually expect up front Cureton simply is not good enough , Lupoli has never scored many and Koroma has no experience whatsoever .Goals from midfield ummmmm i see you say Croft and Chadwick can contribute a few , i doubt Croft would even if we made him the spot kick taker , there just is not a Damian Francis type of scoring midfielder in our squad, Russell comes closest to that type but Roeder does not see him as a starter.Hoolahan has never scored many , Fozzy and Clingan dont scream goals at you .To be honest i think we could do with two proven goalscorers and not the one we seem to be looking for .

[BunnyB 0]

good post BUT these teams where all top class and we had goals coming in from all areas of the pitch, we havn''t had that for a while.

[William Darby 0]

It''s all well and good not having a 20+ striker if the rest of the team chips in.  Our problem is none of our first 11 can hit a donkey''s arse with a banjo,  so yes IMO we do need a striker capable of getting 20 goals. 

[Canary Wundaboy 1,423]

[quote user="Thirst Wizard"]It''s all well and good not having a 20+ striker if the rest of the team chips in.  Our problem is none of our first 11 can hit a donkey''s arse with a banjo,  so yes IMO we do need a striker capable of getting 20 goals.  [/quote]Hits the nail on the head.

[Hooleyfan 0]

For anyone that knows anything about coaching at this level, (which I dont!), would the squad be deliberately played out of position during training sessions to give them the confidence and skill to perform when they find themselves in the foreign territory, ...that is, within 10 yards of goal with a scoring chance?

It just seems to make sense that the likes of Crofty and others need the confidence and ideas of what to do within the last third to ensure that we do get more goals across the team, rather than relying on Curo and the other new strikers.

To quote that great Canarycaller, Barry... " But are we doin it on the training field Neil?, tell me are we?

[Show Me What You Gooot! 0]

[quote]20 goal striker isn''t nessessary[/quote]

Yes it is.

Right thats that discussion over then....[:P]

[Mello Yello 2,572]

Re: 20 Goal Striker isn''t necessary........

No, it''s paramount.

[Stevie Wonder 0]

[quote user="Mello Yello"]

Re: 20 Goal Striker isn''t necessary........

No, it''s paramount.

[/quote]

Try reading my post and understandinge point I am trying to make.

In the last 35 years there have only been something like 5 seasons when someone has managed 20 league goals in a season. We obviously need a further striker (maybe 2) but I feel there are some goals in the squad we have - Curo and Lupoli are capable of getting into double figures (Cureton has managed at this level in the last 2 years & Lupoli got 7 playing as a winger for Derby). Bell has a useful scoring record and Hoolahan looks capable of knocking in a few. Russell can be a very effective player when he decides to get forward and Chadwick if he ever gets fit provides a decent goal threat.

I completely agree that we need to get goals from all over the pitch but I am not going to go overboard because we haven''t scored in the first 2 games. At least we have been creating chances which is something that we have generally struggled to do over the last 3/4 years.

[Mello Yello 2,572]

[quote user="Stevie Wonder"][quote user="Mello Yello"]

Re: 20 Goal Striker isn''t necessary........

No, it''s paramount.

[/quote]

Try reading my post and understandinge point I am trying to make.

In the last 35 years there have only been something like 5 seasons when someone has managed 20 league goals in a season. We obviously need a further striker (maybe 2) but I feel there are some goals in the squad we have - Curo and Lupoli are capable of getting into double figures (Cureton has managed at this level in the last 2 years & Lupoli got 7 playing as a winger for Derby). Bell has a useful scoring record and Hoolahan looks capable of knocking in a few. Russell can be a very effective player when he decides to get forward and Chadwick if he ever gets fit provides a decent goal threat.

I completely agree that we need to get goals from all over the pitch but I am not going to go overboard because we haven''t scored in the first 2 games. At least we have been creating chances which is something that we have generally struggled to do over the last 3/4 years.

[/quote]

I tried reading your post, and I just don''t agree with it, ok? If it wasn''t for the likes of Iwan previously and then Earnshaw - we would have more than likely struggled pre-prem and 2 seasons ago.

Yes, a regular contribution from all outfield players in the goal tally would be wunderbar.....(or over the bar in the present situation).

We need someone to hold the ball up, hustle, bustle and harry defences - and give a release and outlet and bring others into the game......We also need an icon (or 2) and a man/ that are feared by the opposition.....Who''s gonna bang in the goals left right and centre.

I''m also not entirely convinced we have a strong squad.

[Stevie Wonder 0]

[quote user="Mello Yello"][quote user="Stevie Wonder"][quote user="Mello Yello"]

Re: 20 Goal Striker isn''t necessary........

No, it''s paramount.

[/quote]

Try reading my post and understandinge point I am trying to make.

In the last 35 years there have only been something like 5 seasons when someone has managed 20 league goals in a season. We obviously need a further striker (maybe 2) but I feel there are some goals in the squad we have - Curo and Lupoli are capable of getting into double figures (Cureton has managed at this level in the last 2 years & Lupoli got 7 playing as a winger for Derby). Bell has a useful scoring record and Hoolahan looks capable of knocking in a few. Russell can be a very effective player when he decides to get forward and Chadwick if he ever gets fit provides a decent goal threat.

I completely agree that we need to get goals from all over the pitch but I am not going to go overboard because we haven''t scored in the first 2 games. At least we have been creating chances which is something that we have generally struggled to do over the last 3/4 years.

[/quote]

I tried reading your post, and I just don''t agree with it, ok? If it wasn''t for the likes of Iwan previously and then Earnshaw - we would have more than likely struggled pre-prem and 2 seasons ago.

Yes, a regular contribution from all outfield players in the goal tally would be wunderbar.....(or over the bar in the present situation).

We need someone to hold the ball up, hustle, bustle and harry defences - and give a release and outlet and bring others into the game......We also need an icon (or 2) and a man/ that are feared by the opposition.....Who''s gonna bang in the goals left right and centre.

I''m also not entirely convinced we have a strong squad.

[/quote]

Fair enough. I guess my glass is half full and it takes more than 2 games for me to decide that our entire squad is useless and that we will never score again. I suppose the point I''m making (and not very well it seems!!) is that a 20 goal a season striker is not the be all and end all - it doesn''t guarantee you promotion but I will give you that it will probably mean you won''t get relegated (although Fash did get 19 when we were relegated in 80-81!). Many posters on here have pointed that having an Earnshaw in your team can cause as many problems as he sometimes solves. I agree with you entirely on the need for a hold up player but he won''t be a failure if he doesn''t get 20 goals this season - Iwan never managed 20 league goals in a season (I am being pedantic here I realise as he managed 19 and 18).

I also agree that we need that icon or focal point for the fans. With so many new players it will be a while before one is established although Hoolahan looks a favourite. Sadly, it is probably Cureton at the moment which probably sides this argument with you[;)]