Forwards who can't score goals

[go-nads!]

One of the issues we face is a total disregard to planning. We should identifying how the team is going to play and then buy players to suit the various rolls in the team.

if we look at Assombalonga for example it seems pretty clear that he is an out and out poacher with very limited skill and no ability to link play or assist.

If you are going to pay £15 million plus for a player like that, you set up the team to play to his attributes - we never really have.

when we had Braithwaite, Fletcher, Assombalonga, Bamford and Gestede in the squad, where was the vision for how we would play and where the various forwards would fit into that system.

We base our club philosophy in a scatter gun approach to signings, there is no vision or plan. It’s simply a case of throwing money at it and hoping something pans out.

It almost make me want to give up supporting the club when I think of the sale of Bamford, it was obvious to anyone with a football brain that he was the best forward at the club. Look at the sale of Stuani are more than capable striker at this level.

Look at the rubbish we have signed. I’d love to know how much influence Orta had on our signings because Leeds seem to be doing ok with his input and by the sounds of it are investing heavily for the future.

We have a chairman who cannot be faulted for his commitment to the club, but his decision making and who he puts faith in are mediocre to say the least.

 

[Piccadilly Day Tripper]

I really can't get my head around this. It baffles me. I played most of my years as a centre forward. In my early years, I used to be o miss a lot of chances, snatching at shots, shooting too early or overthinking. I didn't play at much of a level, but a coach at county league gave me some very simple words and techniques to improve. From my mid-twenties I began scoring much more heavily, and that only really reduced proportionate to chances being reduced at the higher levels against better defenders.
I really don't understand how so many forward players, normally in a Boro shirt it seems, have such dreadful technique when it comes to finishing chances. You have to expect they spend hours a week working on the way technical element, so I can only surmise it's down to their losing their bottle at the key moment.
Saville's feeble effort was also down to his right foot only being useful to stand on, but even so, they should not have such blatant weaknesses. They can be overcome with practise.
Makes be boil

Out of interest, what were the words of advice that helped you?

 

[Borotommo]

A few things, really, which were then practiced until they became second nature:

When running in behind and effectively one on one, check the shoulder to make sure there's no imminent tackle coming, but then to trust that I had enough pace to only have to worry about the finish ie relax.
Pick your spot early and if the keeper is not central, hit the widest part of the goal hard and early using the side foot.
If the keep is coming out to narrow the angle, decide early which side to go round him and, again, do it early.
If he's not had time to set his position, but is central, you can always look past the nearest post and then hit the opposite side to wrong-foot him.
If in doubt use your laces.
If you know you haven't got time to take a touch, hit the ball hard, low and early with whichever foot is available. I tended to hit most left footed shots with the laces, as that was my weaker foot, unless he'd given me a nice big target to hit.

Sounds like a lot of stuff, but the coach was an ex-pro (Cheltenham, Coventry) and really knew his stuff. We just did 20 minutes every session on top of the team practise.
I still missed a lot, but scored over 20+ most seasons from mid 20's to mid 30's. Wish I'd received better coaching much earlier, as I might then have played a level or two higher.

 

[Borotommo]

One of the issues we face is a total disregard to planning. We should identifying how the team is going to play and then buy players to suit the various rolls in the team.

if we look at Assombalonga for example it seems pretty clear that he is an out and out poacher with very limited skill and no ability to link play or assist.

If you are going to pay £15 million plus for a player like that, you set up the team to play to his attributes - we never really have.

when we had Braithwaite, Fletcher, Assombalonga, Bamford and Gestede in the squad, where was the vision for how we would play and where the various forwards would fit into that system.

We base our club philosophy in a scatter gun approach to signings, there is no vision or plan. It’s simply a case of throwing money at it and hoping something pans out.

It almost make me want to give up supporting the club when I think of the sale of Bamford, it was obvious to anyone with a football brain that he was the best forward at the club. Look at the sale of Stuani are more than capable striker at this level.

Look at the rubbish we have signed. I’d love to know how much influence Orta had on our signings because Leeds seem to be doing ok with his input and by the sounds of it are investing heavily for the future.

We have a chairman who cannot be faulted for his commitment to the club, but his decision making and who he puts faith in are mediocre to say the least.

Agree with most of that, but Assombalonga is no poacher. I'd be a happy rabbit if he was in charge to stopping me doing my business

 

[Craggsy2]

Fewster was supposed to develop - is he at Whitby now? I have no confidence in either Walker or ONeil making it, sadly

As I mentioned Kavanagh is the one I think has a great chance. When we will see him who knows?

He first needs to step up to the U23's before he'll get anywhere near the first team

 

[newyddion]

A few things, really, which were then practiced until they became second nature:

When running in behind and effectively one on one, check the shoulder to make sure there's no imminent tackle coming, but then to trust that I had enough pace to only have to worry about the finish ie relax.
Pick your spot early and if the keeper is not central, hit the widest part of the goal hard and early using the side foot.
If the keep is coming out to narrow the angle, decide early which side to go round him and, again, do it early.
If he's not had time to set his position, but is central, you can always look past the nearest post and then hit the opposite side to wrong-foot him.
If in doubt use your laces.
If you know you haven't got time to take a touch, hit the ball hard, low and early with whichever foot is available. I tended to hit most left footed shots with the laces, as that was my weaker foot, unless he'd given me a nice big target to hit.

Sounds like a lot of stuff, but the coach was an ex-pro (Cheltenham, Coventry) and really knew his stuff. We just did 20 minutes every session on top of the team practise.
I still missed a lot, but scored over 20+ most seasons from mid 20's to mid 30's. Wish I'd received better coaching much earlier, as I might then have played a level or two higher.

It looks to me when Britt has the ball that all of that is running through his head.. trouble is the opportunity has already gone by then. The goal doesn't move, a shot at pace on target always has a chance staring at the floor or needing to take two or three touches before having the confidence or even the thought to score is stuff of the U7s/U8s. From anywhere in and around the box Britt should be finishing.. it should be on target.

a 28yo captain who cost £15m should not need to be told 'pick your spot' 'laces' 'side foot' or any of that, there's all this about confidence and having the right conditions and being in the right head space.. but when it comes down to it Britt should take a long hard look in the mirror and give himself a big slap in the face. be strong, be quick and shoot.

 

[changingman]

It must be mental rather than technical?

Apart from a limited few at the top of the game who can do things with the ball which are beyond most other players most strikers in the professional game must be able to finish with "no pressure".

I'd love to see what their strike rates are like in training.

That said, a particular bugbear of mine has always been players not playing into the best possible position to score a goal. Easy for me to say having never played the game but it is frustrating watching a player take a shot when someone else is in a much better/unmarked position. Obviously helps if you have intelligent players who are read the game well but could you train players to almost always look for a better option?

Pep's Barcelona/City and Wenger's Arsenal were two of the best proponents of this, literally passing it until someone was about 2 yards out with an open goal.

 

[Alzi]

That’s the problem Boro always seem too reluctant to give them a chance. Could he honestly be any less effective than Britt? It’s as if they’re too reluctant to break up good youth teams.

The step up to the first team from the Under 23s is HUGE just look at how Wood has fared against seasoned Champo pros and a rookie striker is very likely to get bossed by some of the monster centre backs at this level.

Britt is typically a 1 in 3 striker so yes they would likely be much less effective.