Striker

[aglee]

Not sure I necessarily agree with this regarding Walcott like. I mean, he can make the odd defensive contribution, but Richarlison has already shown that he's the more willing to put the graft in dropping back. It's probably for that reason why I'd be a tad concerned at putting Richarlison up front as we'd lose that.. unless Bernard manages to form a good understanding with Digne that is.

For me the options are either Richarlison plays up top with Bernard on the left and Walcott on the right... or Walcott up top with Richarlison on the left and Bernard on the right. In fact.. we would probably have the flexibility to interchange them throughout games.

I'd much rather see Bernard at 10 in a Zola / Juninho role. Siggy can fight it out with Gomes for 8 and Gana /Snides for 6. Next season unless we successfully get a top striker we could look at Onyekuru (assuming work permit obtained) and Walcott on the wings and Richarlison up top, with those 3 forming a dynamic interchangeable front three.

 

[ToffeeTim]

It will say a lot about standards at the club if this joker retains his place after two of the most lethargic, non-productive number 9 performances I've seen in a long time.

I'd love to see his number of sprints yesterday. His quality was dire and that can happen. But to stand still for long periods is completely pathetic.

 

[Nymzee]

Need someone up top that’s 6ft+, strong and quick.

Someone filter FIFA for 70+ on speed, strength and finishing.

 

[Parker]

It will say a lot about standards at the club if this joker retains his place after two of the most lethargic, non-productive number 9 performances I've seen in a long time.

I'd love to see his number of sprints yesterday. His quality was dire and that can happen. But to stand still for long periods is completely pathetic.

Totally agree, this was Tosun's worst game for us. Looked like he didn't want to be there and offered nothing to the team.

 

[Carlito]

I'd give Calvert-Lewin a run of games with Richarlison, Walcott and Bernard behind him. If he can operate as an effective target for those three to work off, it won't matter if he's only scoring one in three or four.

 

[Bungle]

Need someone up top that’s 6ft+, strong and quick.

Someone filter FIFA for 70+ on speed, strength and finishing.

My brief Fifa scouting tells me that Han Kwang Song is the man we need. Lots of potential and should be easy to come up with a cringey chant for his name.

 

[blulouie]

He's not.

He's quick, makes intelligent runs, strong and has a good touch.

He's wasted on the wing and was poor yesterday. His finishing needs to improve but he wasn't guilty of missing any sitters yesterday unlike Tosun and Niasse.

If used up front to stretch defences he's a real asset. He is very quick.

Look at the run he made and nearly got on the end of that pass from Gana yesterday, just before the first goal.

Unfortunate not to bring a difficult ball down, but he had the West Ham defence left for dead.

Any half decent striker brings that ball down and buries it.

 

[yakublue]

My brief Fifa scouting tells me that Han Kwang Song is the man we need. Lots of potential and should be easy to come up with a cringey chant for his name.

Adapting Song sung blue by Neil Diamond probably our best option

 

[BlueToff]

Any half decent striker brings that ball down and buries it.

Most players don't even get there.

It was about a yard in front of him. It wasn't a bad touch.

Do you think Rom would have taken that ball in, given his first touch??

 

[Brennan]

Because it opens up space for others. And I'd rather have Richarlison cutting in from the left and filling that space.

Can we also stop pretending Richarlison has never played up front?

He played there 6 or 7 times last season for Watford during his five-month spell without a goal.

I know there's caveats to that and if he does start up top I'll be fine with it, but I can see us going with DCL, and personally I think it could work.

So we’re reduced to playing somebody as a striker who doesn’t score, just so he can make space for other players ?

All of the top sides have strikers who score goals, as do most of the crap sides in fact.

 

[Bungle]

Adapting Song sung blue by Neil Diamond probably our best option

Han Kwang Song
Everybody knows one
Han Kwang Song
Every garden grows one

I like it mate

 

[blulouie]

Most players don't even get there.

It was about a yard in front of him. It wasn't a bad touch.

Do you think Rom would have taken that ball in, given his first touch??

Yes I do actually.
It was a peach of a ball that any half decent striker thrives off.
Watch it again he never looks like he's going to score and there is the difference.

Edit
More significantly , if he buries that against a very fragile West Ham we go on to beat them quite easily.
As the saying goes " if you dont take your chances" And that is the difference between our forwards and most other teams.....Nowhere near good enough.

 

[Neiler]

I'd persevere with Tosun if im honest, sometimes strikers need a bit of time, loyalty and belief.

 

[yakublue]

Han Kwang Song
Everybody knows one
Han Kwang Song
Every garden grows one

I like it mate

Welling up here

 

[Bungle]

Welling up here

Weeping like a willow?