Forward line

[Peterdev]

I know we seem short of players up front.
It looks like for now, Obika will feature up front on a regular basis, unless injured.
Mackie has to feature I would imagine although his goals return doesn’t look amazing.
Then there’s Owen James, who has made an appearance at the end of the season. I haven’t seen him play but he looks to have everything we would want. Still only young and from Oxford, and knows where the goal is. Question is will we will be playing him ahead of Mackie and putting a lot of faith in his scoring abilities. May be a hidden gem.
I’m still yearning for a striker to be signed and we don’t have long to get another one in. We seem to have about ten players who are great midfielders suggesting we are going to pack the midfield.
We are looking good at the back, but it looks like we might be relying on a lot of goals from the likes of Brannigan and Henry. I’m sure Henry will get ten over a season, and that’s a good return. I also have a feeling that Tony McMahon will provide some delightful crosses from corners for our forward line too.
I’m cautiously optimistic this season and that good football will be seen too.
Hopeful of making the play offs but think that too two places will be occupied by Sunderland and one other, Coventry or Luton. Many will expect Burton won’t do well, but they showed fight last time, and I think will near the top. I’d expect Bradford City and Portsmouth to be top six too.
Great season I hope

 

[Foley]

I am not sure that I agree with a lot of that.
Obika will start upfront but not on a regular basis unless he plays very well.
James is very much work in progres and will be an U23 player.
In the next two weeks we will get in one or 2 strikers at least one of whom will be expecting to start ahead of Obika.

 

[Peterdev]

It’s all very late with signing one striker, maybe two. I think we will get goals from all positions, but like so many clubs at this level we are crying out for a striker that will get goals

 

[uptheus]

It’s all very late with signing one striker, maybe two. I think we will get goals from all positions, but like so many clubs at this level we are crying out for a striker that will get goals

We struggled to score goals Friday!

 

[tatabanya]

We struggled to score goals Friday!

Ah yes - in that case we will definitely to struggle to score goals.

Obika, Henry, Hall, Browne will all chip in. We need a striker, maybe two, but think the style we play will mean goals are fairly evenly spread rather than a 20 goal man.

 

[Mellowyellow]

What forward line??

 

[Marked Ox]

Considering how pre-season has gone, I would think Lopes is ahead of James should they be needed at any point.

 

[Jackinthebox]

Would you say that Lopes is more a secondary striker in a 4-4-2 formation or even a No10, rather than playing the lone striker role?

 

[tatabanya]

What forward line??

For Saturday, I would guess Hall - Henry - Carruthers playing off Obika.

Or does that not fit the agenda?

 

[bazzer9461]

I am not sure that I agree with a lot of that.
Obika will start upfront but not on a regular basis unless he plays very well.
James is very much work in progres and will be an U23 player.
In the next two weeks we will get in one or 2 strikers at least one of whom will be expecting to start ahead of Obika.

Let’s hope

 

[spmox]

(posted on Franchise friendly thread but now more relevant here)

Absolutely right dabigfella re4231.

And I also think it is potentially a great system if we want to be solid in defence and get the skilful 3 on the ball and be able to attack in numbers.
It does depend ( maybe more than traditional old 442? ) on getting the right players in the right positions. Critically the full backs, who will often be wide attackers and.... wait for it!..... the one most forward. (NB not our "only forward"!).
That's why Tyrone Barnet was seen to be important to MAPP and why now, a fit and on form, Obika is a big plus.

Yes he needs to stay largely fit and on form.... like other players. But don't think it's fair or realistic to expect him to more more fit or more on form every game than e.g. Dickie or Henry. And stats from other play off/promoted, teams (as pointed out on this forum) demonstrate he doesn't need to be 20 goals a season. They are v rare.

And of course like every other potential first team starter there does need to be a good quality alternative. Which is why KR has been trying to get Sam Smith.

In KR we trust. COYY!

 

[bazzer9461]

It’s all very late with signing one striker, maybe two. I think we will get goals from all positions, but like so many clubs at this level we are crying out for a striker that will get goals[/QUOTE]


Been saying that for a while now ?

 

[Jackinthebox]

I know he has been unlucky with injuries but Ryan Taylor was the best bet for our system!

 

[Scotchegg]

For Saturday, I would guess Hall - Henry - Carruthers playing off Obika.

Or does that not fit the agenda?

And at our level, that is a pretty decent start. Hall, Henry and Carrathers would get into most teams in league 1 as a no.10 or in a wide role, and Obika has shown what a little fitness, form and confidence can do.

 

[Scotchegg]

I know he has been unlucky with injuries but Ryan Taylor was the best bet for our system!

That may well be the case but unfortunately he left 16 months before KR arrived!! You could argue that Billy Hamilton would have been pretty good there too, but still a little irrelevant!

 

[BigCrompy]

I know he has been unlucky with injuries but Ryan Taylor was the best bet for our system!

I know (and don't necessarily disagree with) the point you're making - but feel that Obika could do the same job as Taylor, but is probably worth twice the goals himself over a 46-game league season - I think Obika could bag ten whereas you wouldn't back Taylor for many more than five.

Nonetheless if either did their cruciate in the first game then we're absolutely sunk; so with this being an 18-man game these days, with a need to have several variable systems available to e.g. chase, or to close out a game; and with United likely to feature in 55+ games in all competitions - we need as many as four players who COULD play up front if required.

 

[Marked Ox]

Would you say that Lopes is more a secondary striker in a 4-4-2 formation or even a No10, rather than playing the lone striker role?

Not the way KR has been playing him. He has come on to replace Big John in the Psf games. He certainly played as the lone striker when he came on against Palace.

 

[Jackinthebox]

I know (and don't necessarily disagree with) the point you're making - but feel that Obika could do the same job as Taylor, but is probably worth twice the goals himself over a 46-game league season - I think Obika could bag ten whereas you wouldn't back Taylor for many more than five.

Nonetheless if either did their cruciate in the first game then we're absolutely sunk; so with this being an 18-man game these days, with a need to have several variable systems available to e.g. chase, or to close out a game; and with United likely to feature in 55+ games in all competitions - we need as many as four players who COULD play up front if required.

Ryan Taylor scored 6 in 22 games last season with 5 assists.

 

[bazzer9461]

Ryan Taylor scored 6 in 22 games last season with 5 assists.

Wow....... he doesn’t play for us he plays for Plymuff, ffs move on

 

[cecantena]

Still in with a chance for Smith.................................................

Clement refused to be drawn on a name for the incoming centre-forward, but would not deny when asked if it was Sam Baldock.

He also revealed that Sam Smith, Royals' top scorer in pre-season, will more than likely leave on loan once a new striker comes in.
Clement concluded: "It's a good possibility he'll go out on loan. He's had a good pre-season and worked hard, he's scored a couple of goals.
"But it's time for him to go and play regular football now and show that he can make the step up to this level and play regularly."