Are we trying crooks out to check our striking target type

Jedi boro

Well-known member
I mentioned this last night but are we using crooks as a test to see how a big physical presence striker type player would fit into our match day squad esp along side Chuba and Forrs etc
 
Possibly, but Crooks isn't really a striker in that vein. He doesn't harry and move like a striker should.
I thought we lined up like that as a tactical move more than anything and despite Forss scoring and assisting I think he's been better through the middle.
 
I mentioned this last night but are we using crooks as a test to see how a big physical presence striker type player would fit into our match day squad esp along side Chuba and Forrs etc
He’s been one of our top scorers since he joined.

It’s almost like when Warnock said he could play as a striker.. that he actually knew what he was talking about.
 
I think it's more likely that he was looking at Forss out wide so needed someone to play Central. As Crooks is our player and Muniz isn't he seems to have gone with that and brought Muniz back to the bench as a backup. Does imply that we are serious about Stewart.
 
I thought he was poor and so was Forss despite them both getting goals and assists. There were lots of occasions where they made the wrong runs because they aren't used to those positions.

Off the top of my head there was one where Akpom got the ball on the break and instead of running, stretching the defenders and creating space for Akpom and an option for a through ball he dropped. Akpom played the ball to where a striker would've run and we lost it.

One for Forss was the opposite with Smith getting a loose ball and only having Forss and the full back ahead of him. A wide player would've moved right to free the space for Smith to drive forwards or put a cross in but Forss made a run towards goal which crowded Smith out.

Similar things happened multiple times. I like both players but I don't think either improved the team by playing out of position. I've definitely preferred Forss through the middle. Those forward runs occupy defenders and leave the space for Akpom.

I was saying I'd have swapped Forss and Crooks for Watmore and Muniz at half time and then they linked up for the goal within 1 minute haha
 
I think Carrick was seeing if Crooks could save him from spending money in January. I don't think Carrick sees him in our midfield so is looking for options for him. I don't think he let himself down but would need to improve for us to maintain a promotion push
 
I think he's just tying out a few options. Why not? The window is coming up and maybe trying to save a few quid. I'm not convinced he fancies Crooks in CM. Yet wants to get his clear goal scoring threat into the side.

Obviously he's seen something from Crooks in training that suggests he can play that role. I imagine he's more qualified to say if he can or can't than us😂

Crooks isn't a nailed on starter these days. It's mad to think that. Yet he's definitely a terrific option off the bench as a CM or big lad up top. 2 winning goals off the bench shows how valuable his skill set is.
 
Carrick was trying out different personnel in different roles.
Nothing to do with whether he can avoid buying a striker.
On that plain - he could turn Mowatt into a Michael Carrick or Akpom into Shearer......erm, hang on a minute
;)
 
It seems like Carrick is very keen on players in fluid positions.

Akpom, McGree, Giles, Crooks and Forss have all played in very fluid positions and it's great to watch, it pulls teams all over and allows them to pop up in spaces they wouldn't otherwise have.
 
It seems like Carrick is very keen on players in fluid positions.

Akpom, McGree, Giles, Crooks and Forss have all played in very fluid positions and it's great to watch, it pulls teams all over and allows them to pop up in spaces they wouldn't otherwise have.
Yeah, and teams can’t be 100 percent sure how we will line up when they see the eleven players named. The element of surprise can be a good thing at times and take a while for the opposition to work out.
 
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