Strikers - Tactics

[KeelansGlove 0]

I was at Arsenal on Saturday and thought we played really well and but for Mr H clearly losing his mind and swapping Tettey for Hoolahan we may have got something out of the game, BUT

I am no great tactician but does anybody recall any of our Strikers having what could be classed as a productive game in the last 45+ games ?

To stay up we need a couple of strikers threatening double figures not a few midfielders chipping in with 4 or 5.

Do we point the finger at Morison , Jackson , Holt , Becchio , Kamara , RVW , Hooper and Elmander ?

There is clearly something wrong and it needs to be put right and quickly. We need to get the ball to our striker in a position where he can threaten the opposition goal.

This either means strikers are not in the correct areas or that they are not getting the correct service. It really doesn''t matter which, sort it out.

Once again a game where we looked good but our striker barely touched the ball.

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 1,557]

In the Man U game RvP was passed to 25 times, in the Norwich game Hooper was passed to 22 times. Strikers in the system Norwich are playing are never going to be on the ball a lot, and neither should they be - if they drop deep to collect the ball they are in the wrong place.

 

In a lone striker system you want your striker to bring other players into the game - mainly by providing movement along the defensive line creating space in other areas - for the Norwich goal versus Stoke RvW moved to the ball dragging a midfielder over, which allowed Howson to get space for the shot.

 

What does it matter if 2 players score 10 goals a piece or 4 players score 5 goals each? They all count the same.

[KeelansGlove 0]

It doesn''t matter who scores but you would hope we spent 13M on players most likely to convert chances (if they ever got any)

[Salopian 1]

The strikers have good records, and they must be nearly "acclimatized" by now, that is settled in.

 

I can offer three possible reasons why they are not scoring:

1) Not enough practice is going on between matches to show how to supply chances. I don''t believe this. They train together and practice.

2) We lack players with vision to supply defence splitting passes like Leroy''s in the cup - our particular strikers like balls on the ground rather than chest high, and beyond defenders so the strikers can run on to them.

3) Our wingers are not getting to the by-line and pulling the ball back to oncoming strikers - much easier for the strikers to meet a ball from in front. Instead the wingers are trending to cut inside and supply passes from behind the strikers. We need pacy strikers who will take on fullbacks, and get behind them.

 

There may be other reasons - Pilks is not yet fully match-fit, and Snoddy seems to be struggling a little. I hope that Redmond is given a larger role, and that Benno''s absence is not too long.

[Dubai Mark 0]

Moving away from Norwich City,but on the same general subject. Until Last night Spurs had only scored six goals in the league despite spending huge money on Soldado, and being in a position to have Defoe on the bench and Adebayor in reserve....thats how tough this league is! Just saying...

[Citizen Journalist Foghorn 0]

--- Dubai Mark: Until Last night Spurs had only scored six goals in the league despite spending huge money on Soldado, and being in a position to have Defoe on the bench and Adebayor in reserve....thats how tough this league is! Just saying..

Villa, Swansea and Everton aren''t having a hard time scoring... Just saying. Things could be worse, Stoke have only managed 4 goals this season.