Personally I think they're different players. I haven't given Watters much of a hard time, because I just don't think he's the type of striker Duff likes, which kinda isn't his fault really. He's not a physical, pressing striker. He's a box striker that looks to get into spaces and pick up loose balls. In a different system he might do better, but I don't rate him in our system at all. And he's no way near as effective as Cole.
People were questioning signing him from the start because of his loan spell here years ago. He isn't a championship striker neither are any of the 4 we had this season. How many goals has Norwood got this season? Coles scored more than Lee Gregory and the bloke at Cambridge who many clubs are after. I'm all for discussion but the op is suggesting in another thread we should sign watters. Surely it's a wind up. Like I said I think forwards are a position we need to strengthen keep Cole and Norwood and get some competition for places.
Cole was the joint 6th highest score in league one and unlike most of the players who scored more than him he didn’t have a single penalty to take what with us only getting 1 pen all season. He’s a very good league one striker and more importantly a fantastic pressing forward who fits perfectly into our system.
We're always gonna be taking a bit of a punt. That's just where we are. We took a punt with Norwood, Thomas and Isted, and they paid off. We also took a punt with Tedic, Martin and Watters, and they didn't.
I think there's some truth there in the Bolton game at home when Bolton were playing the ball along the back 1 nil down Cole was pressing but not running in to get the ball he was just constantly closing the passing options down for the Bolton defender giving them nothing but a hoof. People near me were screaming at him get the ball etc but it was calculated we let their defenders have the ball and do jack **** with it. He still got criticised after that game when he pressed really well both legs and got a assist in the 1st game. Watters isn't a pressing striker he is just a box striker it would seem.
Cole is ok. If he can't get fifteen in the team we've had this season though he shouldn't be here. He did better than I thought he would but still doesn't do enough to give defences a hard time. We have to keep him because we can probably only afford one new striker. That striker has to be capable of 20 plus goals though if we want to challenge for automatic.
Some people dont understand that sometimes pressing a defensive line doesn't mean running straight at the bloke with the ball. It might work in Sunday league but any professional outfit will just pass around you and make you look a tit. When teams are passing about, it's about pressing the space to prevent easy out balls into midfield.
Agree with this totally. He's not that gifted but got results from effort. His best goal for us remains that one he scored in a crazy cup game against Barrow (was it?). If he could do that more regularly, jobs a good'un.
I do agree there. don't get me wrong, I don't think he's brilliant, I think he's ok. I also think we'll need more goals from somewhere next season, if we're to threaten autos. but he's been better than max watters, by some distance. he was our top scorer, he upped his workrate massively and has mostly been a presence even if he hasn't scored. there's no evidence whatsoever for me, that he should be played in midfield or as a winger. to me that makes about as much sense as playing Nicky Cadden up front.
I have never seen Cole receive one decent through ball to run onto all season ,how he got 15 goals is a miracle ,our midfield just do not pass the ball forward we’ll enough in open play
He's not a championship striker none of the ones we had this season are if we got promoted not one would have hit double figures. Like said he's scored more than lee Gregory more than smith at Cambridge. If he scored 20+ without taking pens chances are he wouldn't be here.
Yep. He's a striker or nothing. i just checked the goals to minutes stats. Cole is behind Norwood on those and significantly behind Watters. Duff knows what he wants and I know a lot of people haven't been impressed by Watters but I've a feeling that if Watters had spent the whole season as our main striker he'd have got at least 15 himself. Like you say though. To threaten automatic we need a better overall strike force than this season.
He's had a good season. Worked so hard. But I don't think he's a great player. Sorry if that makes me a ****. I like him, because he tries and he has some bits of skill, but I think to get promoted we need a better player in that position. Don't particularly feel good about writing that, but I can't imagine us getting above the play-offs if he's one of our two primary strikers.
