Lack of strikers...

[Nick]

Back to back wins can do a lot for morale of both players and supporters.

Most of us agree that the squad is very nearly good enough to compete strongly for a play-off place.

Where do we have to strengthen ? Its the familiar problem - our strikers.

We have some good and very good attacking players with Booty, Deacon and Patterson, but getting goals from these forwards is very few and far between.

Other than Luque who looks good for 12-15 league goals over the season, nobody else looks remotely close to achieving double figures.

Although great to see Sam Corne's shining performance last night.

Not saying we should move on any of the named 3 for a moment, def not, they have real quality, but given his role, Christie has to stick some chances away, sooner rather than later.

Strange thing is when you look carefully at the cv's of the out and out strikers recruited this season, only Alfie Pavey really stands out as a proven goal-scorer at this level.

For whatever reason, presumably match fitness, Alfie doesn't get a look in these days, which is disappointing.

So if Alfie is not going to turn the corner or be given an extended run in the team, Hak will have to go into the market again for a player who knows where to find the onion bag.

[Deleted]

Corne and Luque scored our two goals in the match at Hungerford, and all three last night.

That means they are the only two players to have scored since September 25th when Taylor Curran got one at Bath. As of tomorrow that will be two months and ten matches ago.

Great that we've got seven points from the last three games but this is a problem that cannot be swept under the carpet, or hidden by this recent success.

As I stated on a different thread yesterday, we surely need to be looking to try another new face, perhaps a leading scorer from a step below hungry to move up. I'd go for that option over a crap loanee any day.

FL clubs are always awash with reservists who once scored ten goals for some non-league club and got signed due to their 'promise' before the realisation they actually aren't very good, whereupon they get sent down the tree-lined cul-de-sac to permanency in the reserves, with the option to loan them out for a bit if someone wants them. If they are young, they eventually get released. Not all these players are rubbish, but a good many are. I'd leave that route well alone personally. 

[Harry]

Not all loanees are crap, take Fowler for example.
But for strikers it never seem to work.
Can't understand why we've given so much playing time to second raters when Alfie Pavey hasn't been given any sort of run to get match fit.
Whatever, Hak has to find a solution.

[daveu]

Nov 24, 2021 17:01:59 GMT Harry said:

Not all loanees are crap, take Fowler for example.
But for strikers it never seem to work.
Can't understand why we've given so much playing time to second raters when Alfie Pavey hasn't been given any sort of run to get match fit.
Whatever, Hak has to find a solution.

Because Pavey has looked a long way short of the mark so far. I really wanted him to do well but how long do you give him. Maybe a spell in the 23s would boost his confidence and get him back up to speed.

[swampy]

Nov 24, 2021 16:55:03 GMT @jayser100 said:

Corne and Luque scored our two goals in the match at Hungerford, and all three last night.

That means they are the only two players to have scored from open play since September 25th when Taylor Curran got one at Bath. As of tomorrow that will be two months and ten matches ago.

Great that we've got seven points from the last three games but this is a problem that cannot be swept under the carpet, or hidden by this recent success.

As I stated on a different thread yesterday, we surely need to be looking to try another new face, perhaps a leading scorer from a step below hungry to move up. I'd go for that option over a crap loanee any day.

FL clubs are always awash with reservists who once scored ten goals for some non-league club and got signed due to their 'promise' before the realisation they actually aren't very good, whereupon they get sent down the tree-lined cul-de-sac to permanency in the reserves, with the option to loan them out for a bit if someone wants them. If they are young, they eventually get released. Not all these players are rubbish, but a good many are. I'd leave that route well alone personally. 

Max Watters hasn't done to bad.

[headstone]

And Jack Powell seems to be excelling for Crawley - assuming it’s the same Jack Powell who didn’t excel for us!

[holysmokes66]

Tough one for Hak to call on Saturday with the following weekend off - does he give those who haven't appeared much a run out or reward those who performed so well on Tuesday with another game to keep the momentum going?

For me, Pavey and Grant need to be given a chance at the very least. Grant looked lively off the bench Tuesday and I think there's the kind of striker we're looking for in him. I think Pavey should start so he can prove he's still got a goal or two in him. If either can get a couple against an already poorly performing Billericay side, it would do wonders for their confidence.

[61666]

On current form, Corne and Luque need to play up front, because despite looking promising every game, Pattison hasn't delivered. Phillips, Booty, Gallagher and Deacon can handle midfield between them.
I know Luque and Corne aren't the tallest (though Corne wins a lot of headers in midfield), but let's face it, we don't do decent high crosses and our corners rarely if ever, come to anything.
Tuesday's goals came from good open play, while Pavey is never going to do well with the service currently on offer.
With two weeks off after Saturday, I wouldn't change a winning side, but if we can go two or three goals up, then might be the time to give fringe players the last half hour to prove themselves.

[jackster]

Christie Patterson is a decent, hard working, skillful footballer and has not got a goal in him.
Which if you are an out and out striker, is a bit of a problem.
He has been Hak's preferred choice to lead the line, but enough is enough.
If he played every match between now and the end of the season, he would be lucky to gather a handful of goals.
Imo either or both Reece Grant or Alfie Pavey need and deserve a proper run in the team.
If they don't turn appearances into goals, fair enough, move them on, but they need to be given a fair chance.

[7oaks]

I tend to agree with Jackster. Hak obviously knows more than we do though.
Alfie Pavey is a puzzle to supporters it seems. If he lacks match fitness then perhaps a game or two with the U23s would help, as might more time off the bench than he has been getting. If he is not fit or fully recovered from his injury last season then should he even be on the bench? Hak signed him, he must give him the confidence to put the ball in the net.
Still no sign of Jake Gallagher? It must be 4 or 5 weeks since he has been in the squad, despite having been an integral part of the midfield up to the Dorking game. No mention of him in the recent Squad Update post on the club website.

[Rob]

Disappointing that the club hasn't updated supporters on Jake Gallagher.
He wasn't on the list of injured players put out recently, but it seems weeks since he last turned out for the team.
It's a mystery.

[sword65]

During the summer Hak took a major chance on signing players who had a history of fitness problems so the law of averages say that one or two of those signings would backfire so maybe Pavey is one of those who needs much more time to regain his fitness.

[Nick 2]

I see Alfie Pavey has gone to Dover on loan for a month

[pwoodstone]

Yeah. He will get game time there as they are threadbare.

Not often does a player go out on loan only to return and be part of the plans going forward.

In my opinion, this is the club saying Alfie isn't in our plans and isn't really up to it.

Even more so if we see a new face come in

[61666]

Gone to a higher league after failing to convince here.
Hmmm...