Chris Long

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Bruce Wayne said:
There's also Henen, and maybe even the young Irish lad we signed from United at the start of the season.
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It would be nice if a couple of these could make it as invariably its 9's and 10's that cost the most. Get as many as we can out on loan for at least 6 months preferably to the Championship and see who can make it. Failing that we may get some money for them if they aren't up to our standards but catch someones eye.
 

messymascot said:
It would be nice if a couple of these could make it as invariably its 9's and 10's that cost the most. Get as many as we can out on loan for at least 6 months preferably to the Championship and see who can make it. Failing that we may get some money for them if they aren't up to our standards but catch someones eye.
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It has been a failing of our academy for a while now that whilst we produce great defenders and holding midfielders, the front 4 have never been good enough.

Hopefully martinez will try and change that.
 
Eggs said:
...I do think it's more difficult for a forward to come through because the skill set is so different. That's why they cost more. If they come through and establish themselves they have to be very good, can think of Vaughan and Anichebe as near misses since Rooney.

We need to manage expectation.
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I have to disagree a bit on this point Eggs mate. I think it is much easier for attacking players to break through. What you tend to find with young players is they have lots of strong points but also prone to mistakes which tends to suit more attack minded players.

I think Long suffers because of the type of striker he is. Most clubs now play with 1 up front which requires a very particular build/set of attributes.
 
messymascot said:
Long is more suited to number 10 role when we want another striker so is probably battling with Naismith and ahead of McAleny. Unfortunately his chances may be limited as Martinez tends to like midfielders like Barkley and Osman in that role. If he could play wide maybe an opportunity would open up for him. Duffus looks more of a number 9 so if we keep him on and he recovers well from injury he may be ready to take Kone's place as 3rd choice number 9 when his contract runs out at end of next season. I hope we get another number 9 this summer.
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From what I've seen of him Long is much more a number 9. He was as an under 18 anyway and had a bit of the Jeffers about him.

I think Longs problem is football has changed quite considerably and the "poacher" has really gone out of the game. Most sides play with 1 centre forward as opposed to two, and then past wingers. Long to me is a classic number 9 who plays off a target man. He doesn't really have the strength or link up skills to play up front alone, nor does he have the pace to play wide.

Duffus does have a more natural build and is stronger and quicker. I don't think Duffus will make the grade either though in all honesty. Dyson is an interesting prospect as he's a really big lad and Brewster is highly thought of but has stalled this season.
 

I think Long's been playing as a lone forward at Brentford and he's been doing quite well. He was brought in as competition for their other striker (Andre Gray) and they are never on the pitch at the same time. I've heard him say before that he bases his game on Michael Owen, where he tries to shoot quickly before the keeper can set themselves. It's seems to be working in the Championship, not sure how he'll fair in the prem though.
 
Coffee and TV said:
I think Long's been playing as a lone forward at Brentford and he's been doing quite well. He was brought in as competition for their other striker (Andre Gray) and they are never on the pitch at the same time. I've heard him say before that he bases his game on Michael Owen, where he tries to shoot quickly before the keeper can set themselves. It's seems to be working in the Championship, not sure how he'll fair in the prem though.
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Unfortunately I don't think he has the physique to play as a lone striker in the Premiership. He could play off a big man like Lukaku but we would have to change the system to accomodate him.
 
tsubaki said:
He is better than Kone.
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Its a fair point, but Martinez builds trust with players over a period of time and with that comes a reputation of being able to build players from a different aspect than youth - Sherwood won't be at Villa in 12 months, vault me.
 
messymascot said:
Unfortunately I don't think he has the physique to play as a lone striker in the Premiership. He could play off a big man like Lukaku but we would have to change the system to accomodate him.
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Yeah I think you could be right, I hope he does obviously but you don't see many lone strikers with his build at this level.

Like here, he scores the first 2 Brentford goals, but I doubt he'd be able to turn premier league defenders as easily as he does with his first one. I mean he knows where the net is though, he could probably be a good 'plan B' type player when we want to try something different.
 
Coffee and TV said:
I think Long's been playing as a lone forward at Brentford and he's been doing quite well. He was brought in as competition for their other striker (Andre Gray) and they are never on the pitch at the same time. I've heard him say before that he bases his game on Michael Owen, where he tries to shoot quickly before the keeper can set themselves. It's seems to be working in the Championship, not sure how he'll fair in the prem though.
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Well he has a bit of the Micheal Owen abut him. He plays on the shoulder and is a natural poacher like Owen was. He does lack Owens devastating pace though. As I've said above though, you can't under estimate the importance of Owen playing in a front two as was the norm in those days. Whether Shearer for England, or the likes of Fowler/Heskey for Liverpool all helped Owen. I am not sure how he would have faired in the current football system of a predominately 3 man attack, he' have probably been a winger.
 

Mikey_Fitzgerald said:
I want to see both him and McAlney getting a chance next season

Send one of Hope, McAlney or Long on loan and have the other two as first team back up
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Do believe Hope is no longer with us.
" On 1 January, despite Hope not scoring in his 7 appearances for Bury that season, he signed permanently for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year deal starting at the end of his loan. Manager David Flitcroft said "His potential is frightening and I love working with him".[16] Hope's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came two days later, in a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.[17]"

I used believe because I read it on Wiki, where I once read we'd signed Messi.
 
catcherintherye said:
I have to disagree a bit on this point Eggs mate. I think it is much easier for attacking players to break through. What you tend to find with young players is they have lots of strong points but also prone to mistakes which tends to suit more attack minded players.

I think Long suffers because of the type of striker he is. Most clubs now play with 1 up front which requires a very particular build/set of attributes.
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...ok, we'll have to agree to disagree. We do agree, though, that it would be great if he can come through.
 
Long is not better than Kone as a centreforward at present...he may well be in time.

At present he doesn't have the experience or the strength to play centreforward in the premiership.
I think a full championship season with Brentford or some other club would benefit him hugely.We must remember how young he is and only the absolute cream of players breakthrough before they are twenty years old.
 

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