Lack of a striker isn’t our problem.

[Goat]

A Left back needs to be high up on priorities aswell.

Well again, it was a position that Koeman mentioned quite a lot.

But look at City, they went out and bought abar 20 FBs this Summer, oh how we all scratched our heads, the modern fullback is VITAL within the new systems teams play this "era".

Love the boy Baines, but hes not Baines 2010 no more.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The attack contributes to defence and vice versa - it's amazing how often people don't understand this. If the ball keeps coming back because our attack can't hold it up, our full-backs push on and are caught out of position when the ball turns over. Or if the attack doesn't move off the ball properly, so the defence can't hit them and get up in support and instead drop deep out of fear, inviting pressure and conceding goals.

It doesn't matter if our attack score five a game if they are part of a system with so little balance that we concede ten a game. The "attackers attack and defenders defend" mentality is far too simplistic.

We got 4th spot with Marcus Bent up front. Lets not get carried away.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Well again, it was a position that Koeman mentioned quite a lot.

But look at City, they went out and bought abar 20 FBs this Summer, oh how we all scratched our heads, the modern fullback is VITAL within the new systems teams play this "era".

Love the boy Baines, but hes not Baines 2010 no more.

They might have bought 20 lbs, but they're still playing Delph there.

 

[Goat]

They might have bought 20 lbs, but they're still playing Delph there.

FFS Bruce, youve totes ruined my point.

 

[Tubey]

We got 4th spot with Marcus Bent up front. Lets not get carried away.

Exactly? He was a channel runner, came deep to feet and also tried to get in behind, despite being limited at what he does. The balance of the entire side was right and he was right for it.

The problem now is we don't have that right balance. With Lukaku, we at least had a threat who forced teams to deal with him - this season, we have no perceived threat whatsoever, so teams are pushing on and creating chances almost at will, because the entire team is set up to play with a target man who can take a ball to feet and get us forward. Sigurdsson alone suggests as much, but you look at the signings under Koeman like Lookman, Bolasie etc. they were all tailored towards getting ahead of the target man in wide areas and delivering or cutting in to shoot or wing in the cross to the striker arriving late.

 

[jceverton]

Both positions that Koeman spent the last 6 weeks of the transfer window begging the Board to sign.

Not going there mate, it's been flogged to death.

 

[TraffordBlue]

lol Stopped reading after their repeated use of 'xG' as if it's actually a credible term. On a par with the RAWK alternative league table and boasting about possession stats when you've been easily beaten.

The problem is quite clearly a lack of a top quality striker. Look at the top 6 sides:

Jesus and Aguero, Lukaku, Kane, Morata, Salah, Lacazette/Sanchez/Giroud.

We came 7th last season because of Lukaku and the only one of those top sides who didn't have a top quality out and out striker was Liverpool who made up for it with goals from the likes of Firmino, Coutinho and Mane.

It's not our only problem though, but don't think anyone would say otherwise.

 

[Goat]

Not going there mate, it's been flogged to death.

The lack of a striker isnt our only problem, we need more than 1 Striker for a start, we need to bin off some people from the squad who are clearly just wingnuts and certain people in the squad who arent wingnuts need replacing.

We spent a vast fortune in the Summer and amazingly the squad needs ANOTHER vast fortune spunked on it to get it back to health, thankfully we have lots and lots of players to sell, but theres gonna be some mega loses taken on some of them.

 

[roydo]

The lack of a striker isnt our only problem, we need more than 1 Striker for a start, we need to bin off some people from the squad who are clearly just wingnuts and certain people in the squad who arent wingnuts need replacing.

We spent a vast fortune in the Summer and amazingly the squad needs ANOTHER vast fortune spunked on it to get it back to health, thankfully we have lots and lots of players to sell, but theres gonna be some mega loses taken on some of them.

Havnt heard wingnut for beards.

 

[kenada_blue]

The attack contributes to defence and vice versa - it's amazing how often people don't understand this. If the ball keeps coming back because our attack can't hold it up, our full-backs push on and are caught out of position when the ball turns over. Or if the attack doesn't move off the ball properly, so the defence can't hit them and get up in support and instead drop deep out of fear, inviting pressure and conceding goals.

It doesn't matter if our attack score five a game if they are part of a system with so little balance that we concede ten a game. The "attackers attack and defenders defend" mentality is far too simplistic.

I agree to some extend, but the defence is very unorganised, old, and slow. That's been pulled apart recently.

Also the midfield in front of them generally consists of a ball winner, a side ways passer, and a 19 year old whos not quite ready to be relied upon. It barely successfully crosses the halfway line.

We all agree that we need that one focal point up front. But I do feel we have a decent enough attack able to get 6+ goals each - Rooney, Vlasic, Siggurdson, DCL, Lennon, Mirallas. It's just missing a key substantial threat.

However that one player up top isn't going to fix the 7 players behind him.

The big problem is that midfielder that connects defence and attack, something Ross Barkley was key at. We've not replaced him.

 

[thesniffer1878]

Once Simeone arrives, everything will be bliss.

 

[Tubey]

I agree to some extend, but the defence is very unorganised, old, and slow. That's been pulled apart recently.

Also the midfield in front of them generally consists of a ball winner, a side ways passer, and a 19 year old whos not quite ready to be relied upon. It barely successfully crosses the halfway line.

We all agree that we need that one focal point up front. But I do feel we have a decent enough attack able to get 6+ goals each - Rooney, Vlasic, Siggurdson, DCL, Lennon, Mirallas. It's just missing a key substantial threat.

However that one player up top isn't going to fix the 7 players behind him.

The big problem is that midfielder that connects defence and attack, something Ross Barkley was key at. We've not replaced him.

Yeah but it's the difference between something that is broken and one that barely exists.

I don't think anyone would claim the defence doesn't need fixing, but if one has to be fixed first it's the striker for me, as that alleviates the problems the whole side has, not just the defence. We have a £45m playmaker in Sigurdsson when it's pointless even playing him as he has no willing striker to link with.

 

[kenada_blue]

Yeah but it's the difference between something that is broken and one that barely exists.

I don't think anyone would claim the defence doesn't need fixing, but if one has to be fixed first it's the striker for me, as that alleviates the problems the whole side has, not just the defence. We have a £45m "playmaker" in Sigurdsson when it's pointless even playing him as he has no willing striker to link with.

Fixed that for you.

I agree. It's very important.

But for me, that one key midfielder is the major factor. One who actually gets the ball and keeps things ticking.

Also, the whole original post is making out that saying a striker isn't the only problem is laughable. It really isn't.

 

[Zatara]

I said before/during/after the summer window we needed a left back and two centre backs.

Clearly obvious with limited pace we cant play a high line and if we cant play a high line our players will be further from the opposition goal.

Not rocket science....

 

[Groucho]

I actually think the lack of a striker is a huge part of the problem.