Our first choice front two

Is Connolly an out-and-out striker? Have only seen short video; he looked more like a winger with a penchant for goals.
 
Connelly and Balogun for me, I think they've both been signed to start (potentially included as a clause in the contract?)

That said there will be plenty of rotation given the work we expect the forwards to get through.

We genuinely have four interchangeable strikers now though - all very similar players who will play the role demanded of them.
 
It is a really good question - I haven't seen enough of Connolly or Balogun yet to know how they play, but at first glance seems to be two types where Connolly and Watmore have similarities as do Balogun and Sporar (possibly more typical number 9s). CW seems quite set in his formation and style of play, so I suspect we will see a bit of a mix and match, but likely with one from each pot at any one time, so:

Connolly and Balogun
Watmore and Sporar
Connolly and Sporar
Watmore and Balogun

And then subs to keep that type of mix up front as required. As others have mentioned he likes to swap his forwards at the hour mark in order to keep the intensity and he now has the mix of 4 to allow us to do that without disrupting the style. Imagine being a defender chasing Watmore for an hour and then see Connolly coming on with fresh legs or vice versa.

I could, however, be talking out of my hoop.
 
samizdat said:
Is Balogun good in the air?
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I don't think so, but arguably none of our CFs are (Uche aside who probably won't be playing)

Crosses with Wilder tend to be on the deck - this was a big part of his system with Sheff U and he seems to be replicating it at Boro...keep the ball in the wide areas until the ball can be fed to the by line and cut back on the floor.
 
Balogun will be under pressure to justify his wages, both from fans and from lower paid teammates. It's not like PL 2. It's risky, but then again, if you don't take risks...
 
changingman said:
Connelly and Balogun for me, I think they've both been signed to start (potentially included as a clause in the contract?)

That said there will be plenty of rotation given the work we expect the forwards to get through.

We genuinely have four interchangeable strikers now though - all very similar players who will play the role demanded of them.
Click to expand...

I'd be surprised if there was a clause saying either had to start (particularly Connelly).

Balogun is maybe more likely given the competition for his services and and his rep. But he's totally unproven at first team level so again, would be surprised Wilder would agree to have his hands tied in that way.

If everyone is fit I think it's Sporar and Watmore for now. The other two will have a chance to force the issue coming on as subs. There'll be an element of rotation too as others have said.
 
CW is a creature of habit.

vs. Swansea. Both strikers subbed 73rd minute.
vs. Stoke. One striker subbed 74th minute. One subbed 89th.
vs. Bournmouth. One striker subbed 74th minute. One subbed 90+4.
vs. Forest. One striker subbed 65th minute. One subbed 90+2.
vs. Blackpool. One striker subbed 62nd, and one subbed 73rd.

He's going to stick with Sporar for at least the next few games, and will probably start Connolly on Saturday...
...but between Sporar/Balogun/Connolly it'll be... The two who play the best / score the most, keep starting games.
The third out of those three will be the 73rd/74th minute substitute.

Unfortunately for Watmore, the fact he's starting Hernandez with Sporar shows he's out of favour, so he'll stay as the last minute "run around as much as you can" wild card substitute.
He might even be shipped out with Hernandez taking that spot... which would be a shame.
 
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