NO - not a WU - our forward play was foooking rubbish

The six goals in our last two games have come from six different players, which suggests something different to what you are saying.

Go back and analyse all of our league games this season and you will find that every time we have used 4-4-2 the match outcome has worsened. If we start 4-4-2 we don't win. If we change to it during a match we go from winning to drawing or worse.

Both goals came about yesterday without the ball being at headed height. All four goals on Tuesday commenced with the ball at feet. So what you are saying is demonstrably untrue.

4-5-1 is not a negative system - the idea is that when attacking, the midfield players (particularly the wide ones) 'wrap around' the striker. When we are defending, they offer greater protection to the defenders.

The team as a whole is working incredibly hard - we couldn't really ask for more from them in terms of effort. No-one in that team is working harder than Tom Bradshaw. That is why he got a standing ovation yesterday.

Here are a few stats for you (according to the BBC website):

Tom Bradshaw
Goals 9 minutes played 1146 minutes per goal 127 shots on target 63%

Romelu Lukaku
Goals 10 minutes played 1260 minutes per goal 126 shots on target 68%

Marcus Rashford
Goals 7 minutes played 865 minutes per goal 124 shots on target 62%

Tom Bradshaw: One of the most improved players at our club; statistics which stand comparison with £150M worth of talent; Welsh international.

Now, tell us again, Nudge!

 

We've exposed and apparently seen off WUM#1. I'm starting to think WUM#2's days on here must be numbered.

 

What this attention seeking gentleman fails to understand , is that many of the so called long balls up towards Bradshaw are not passes but clearances & what he does is he tries to get on the end of them but if he can"t he immediately pressurises the opposition & in my opinion , he is very good at doing this & I doubt that a big target man would be as effective playing this role

 

Pathetic sad attention seeking post in my opinion.


Yours sincerely
The forum bully

 

This is a bit of an odd thread, even by the usual standards of the OP.

 

Who is the target man at Liverpool?

 

I do understand what he is saying. When you watch a proper target man play and then imagine how our midfield would work with that you can see how good we could be. Saying that if Bradshaw was taller and held off the defenders better add that to his other attributes then he would be worth millions and be playing at a bigger club than us. I thought when I've seen Chris Martin derby play that he bullied defenders held play up, linked up, worked hard and scored goals and was good to watch, that may be rubbish though as rat face gets in in front of him at Derby now but if we can find a player of that type it (not him) then that would be a good addition in January to our squad and give us more options. I'm still wanting Thiam to get a run but Bradshaw is doing well so chuff knows leave it to hecky.

 

And there lies the problem in a nutshell.
You have reinforced my point here LiverpoolRed.

Hecky has said we don't have the skilled players like some of the other Championship clubs have (never mind the players at clubs like Liverpool).
So our players often (not always) have to look for a target to hit when they are clearing the ball or moving forward - and at the moment there isn't one there.
Against Birmingham I didn't see Bradshaw once control the ball from a high ball and by doing so bring another Barnsley player into play - not once.
Much of the conversation during the match where I sit was centred on this - and yet many on here just can't see it.
Or can they ???

 

So had we played with a big target man and lost yesterday...........?

 

Call me picky but I'd rather have a striker who knew what to do in front of goal than a token 'target man. We have so much talent and energy in midfield that it would unbalance the team. I quite enjoy watching what we have now

 

Exactly. Not all long balls are intentional, nor do they indicate that we prefer a long ball game. Most of them are simply defensive clearances, from situations where playing the ball out would be risky or impossible. Situations where the only sensible course of action is to panic and hoof it. Everything's fine as it is.

 

And also aware that it’s absolute drivel.

 

My word

 

Again - reinforcing the point.
What you are describing here is that we are a defensive team that relies on break always - and good at it - but sometimes balls have to cleared up field.
Now then - imagine a player like say Trevor Aylott getting on the end of those clearances and holding the ball up while Isgrove, Potts, Moncur, Barnes arrive to join the attack.
This would completely change how teams set up against us - as we would hold more threat.
But clearly this is not happening at the moment - because as soon as the ball is cleared up field it's coming STRAIGHT BACK at us.
A clearance by Barnsley is usually the start of another attack by the opposition.

 

I can see the point you're trying to make, but it's difficult to take you seriously when you suggest we should try Ryan Hedges in that position. It would make more sense to try young Pinnock up there. The problem I have with your idea is that, if a player with all the attributes you are asking for exists, he would already be playing at a far higher level and we couldn't afford him anyway.

We won yesterday, kept a clean sheet, made them look garbage, should have had 4 or 5, possibly a pen or two. Can't fathom what there is to moan about it. Just enjoy it.

 

Were you actually at the game yesterday ?

 

Although not ideal - I suggested Hedges because I can't see anyone else that could come near filling that target man role - and that's only because he seems a bit taller than the rest.

As I've said - we are doing brilliantly at the moment - but I'm not a happy clapper - there's always room for improvement - especially when even I can see there's a glaring hole in the team.
A hole that's going to allow teams like Hull, Ipswich etc to beat us after we have absolutely battered them.

 

As others have posted, our record so far is similar to last season's, before we sold all the "star" players in January. Some people thought we could reach the play-offs with that team. Because of the transfer window system, we're stuck with the players we've got until New Year's Day, so I can't see the point in going on and on about it. Why not wait until February 1st and then see where we are?

 

I'm extending the discussion in the stands onto here.
Yer know - to get a debate going - which is what this message board is all about.

So - I don't think we will get relegated - but we are not going to get into the top 6 or even the top 10.
Which is a real real shame - because if Hecky had been given all the tools to do the job that he needed in the summer - then its become increasingly clear that we could have been up near the top again this season.
Another opportunity lost by the club.