Sam's a goalscorer. Don't get me wrong his link play isn't bad, he can bring others into the game but his biggest asset is his ability to be a nuisance in the box & feed off knock downs, mistakes, crosses etc. Which makes me wonder why we won't play him in a two? For me he'd be perfectly suited playing alongside Smith but Johnson won't do it. He's kept playing him as a lone striker which doesn't make sense to me as Sam has neither the pace to run in behind (Bradshaw tonight) or the physicality to hold a ball up & battle 6 foot + defenders. And then tonight he's played him as a no. 10 which baffled me even more. Not suited to this role at all. He's not exactly known for his vision, passing & long range shooting is he? Crowley's not exactly pulled up trees since he joined but if you've signed him & believe in him surely you play him behind the strikers tonight? Anyway, I'd love an explanation why Winnall can't play in a front 2. I'm sure someone's going to point out a 20 minute spell in a game or a JPT game I didn't go to where he played in one but Johnson just doesn't seem to want him in a front 2
Tbh Django, I think you've answered your own question. He can't play with a big en (Smith) because he hasn't the pace to run off him. He can't play with a little en (Jackson) because he hasn't the strength/ball control to hold it up. He can't play as a no.10 because he hasn't the vision. The head and tail of it is that he isn't very good - certainly not based on tonight. He's a fox-in-the-box, a finisher and he does work hard when he has the energy to do so. Perhaps it would be best to use him as an impact substitute atm.
This league isn't rocket science. Play a big bloke and a finisher up top, 2 CMs (one defensive, one with licence to push on) and wingers. We've got all the pieces we just never play them all together in their proper positions
But I'm clutching at straws there because by saying that I'm implying we have someone better to start ahead of him - which err, we don't.
I disagree mate, strongly. On the "he isn't very good" bit. 23 goals in 45 games for Scunny in his first full season as a pro. 13 in 42 for us. He's a proper striker who knows how to score goals. They don't grow on trees, and when you have one, you do whatever you can to maximise their effectiveness. I don't think we've done that since LJ arrived.
When we signed Smith I genuinely thought that was LJs intention, I thought he'd seen what we're all seeing and was about to do something about it. I'm still waiting.
I have never read a post on any forum that I disagree categorically with more. Sam Winnall is by far and away our best player and is easily the best striker in this league when in a team that isnt build to detract from every single one of his strengths. Smith would be the perfect foil for him, winning headers in/around the box and Sam finishing them off, I'd be more than optimistic of him reaching 25-30 goals. Ive said it before but I'm convinced LJ would have got rid of Winnall had the fans not made it clear there'd be a riot, Smith was brought in because he fits more into LJ's system of one big tall striker but a mixture of fan pressure and Winnalls form has kept him from dropping Sam. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He can definitely play off a big lad for me. Doesn't need pace to do that, just a good reading of the game. I can't judge him harshly tonight because he's not suited to the position at all. I blame Johnson for playing him there in the same way I'd blame him if he decided to play Nyatanga as a central midfielder
