Jesus was never an out and out striker, always plays wide for Brazil.
Last edited:
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Are we clearly suffering from a lack of striker this season? Have midtable sides figured us out?
- Thread starter Agueroooo9320
- Start date
Thoughts on Jack since his arrival?We obviously need a striker but it isn't as simple as having a kane/Haaland solves everything. Pep has collected and moulded a group of players that are very similar, I would argue way too similar.
We've slowly phased out pace from the side, theres practically zero movement off the ball that isnt the underlapping 8 to the byline, everyone of our front players wants the ball to feet and comes towards the ball to receive it, most of them want it in the same areas, and want to play the same ball, a decently organised defensive can shut us out comfortably now.
we've got a team full of creators that are creating fuck all because we have nobody willing to be the runner to create for. A striker would give us a target in the centre but we would still be struggling to create for him too unless we went a lot more direct which isn't likely. I can't remember the last time whoever was playing false 9 missed a glorious chance where a lack of striker becomes clear.
More than simply getting a striker, we lack movement and off the ball running. since Sanes departure, we've relied heavily on sterling for it, it's why he was indispensable to the side even when he was in dogshit form, and why he got us so many goals, we had 3/4 players and he was essentially the only real target for them most of the time. Then he decided he too wanted to be one of the creators, let it get into his head that he can play too, started coming deep for the ball offered nothing unique which ultimately lead to him being dropped as if he isn't offering something the rest of the side can't, his woeful technique will never get him games.
2 capable runners in this side and the lack of striker becomes almost a non-issue.
I was called out for saying this but a system is only successful in Prem for 1 season, the next, you have to change, because Prem is that good, sides figure you out, and you can't repeat it all over again. Applies to every season we've won, it's because we've changed and had the unpredictability factor, not just in terms of player quality but how we play. Currently, backlines sit a lot more comfortably because we don't have a presence of a number 9, so it's easier to mark out whoever's taking the central role, or unless they have a blinder playing false 9, it's all dependent on goals from elsewhere. We also lack a lot of pace, sometimes it's what it takes to break these sides sitting back. Now we have a plan A and plan A only, it's not the way we are under Pep usually. I'm sure we'll find a fix soon, but that said, the fix isn't permanent until we get a striker (hope that's in January).
Jack needs time. It's as simple, but because of his price tag people don't believe he deserves time, and so the complaints. Takes a lot to be a Pep player.Thoughts on Jack since his arrival?
Exeter Blue I am here
Well-Known Member
We obviously need a striker but it isn't as simple as having a kane/Haaland solves everything. Pep has collected and moulded a group of players that are very similar, I would argue way too similar.
We've slowly phased out pace from the side, theres practically zero movement off the ball that isnt the underlapping 8 to the byline, everyone of our front players wants the ball to feet and comes towards the ball to receive it, most of them want it in the same areas, and want to play the same ball, a decently organised defensive can shut us out comfortably now.
we've got a team full of creators that are creating fuck all because we have nobody willing to be the runner to create for. A striker would give us a target in the centre but we would still be struggling to create for him too unless we went a lot more direct which isn't likely. I can't remember the last time whoever was playing false 9 missed a glorious chance where a lack of striker becomes clear.
More than simply getting a striker, we lack movement and off the ball running. since Sanes departure, we've relied heavily on sterling for it, it's why he was indispensable to the side even when he was in dogshit form, and why he got us so many goals, we had 3/4 players and he was essentially the only real target for them most of the time. Then he decided he too wanted to be one of the creators, let it get into his head that he can play too, started coming deep for the ball offered nothing unique which ultimately lead to him being dropped as if he isn't offering something the rest of the side can't, his woeful technique will never get him games.
2 capable runners in this side and the lack of striker becomes almost a non-issue.
Yeh, good post. The lack of pace and energy across that midfield is a real burning issue when it comes to circumventing parked buses. Moving the ball quicker would help, but when a ’bus’ is as narrow and deep as Palace’s was yesterday, then the ability to fashion half a yard and the strength to hold opponents at bay, might also be useful.
I know they didn’t all play yesterday, but there’s a lack of genuine variety when it comes to particular attributes. Rodri, no change of gear. Fernandinho, 36 years old and no change of gear. Gundogan, 31 years old and no change of gear. Bernie (in great form, but….) no change of gear. Mahrez, 31 years old, built like a twiglet, no change of gear. Kev, 30 years old and (due to current lack of fitness….) no change of gear. Grealish (pretty lively yesterday, but….) no change of gear. Palmer (and please understand I’m not knocking the lad in any way - I’m just highlighting a squad issue), no change of gear.
The only players with the pace to test the opposition and to require them to double up and leave gaps elsewhere, are Foden and Sterling, and one of those has control issues that render him a waste of time on days like yesterday.
From the moment Palace scored, 5 minutes in, everyone in the ground knew the game was gone. 10 men or not, I think the last time we came from behind at half time to win was 4 years ago at Huddersfield. We didn’t lack resolve yesterday, in fact I thought the players gave it a decent go after the break, but physicality, pace, movement, we just don’t have it, which is why we are so easy to frustrate. Move the ball sideways multiple times, fail to work an overload, cut in and either float over a cross to no-one or scuff a shot into a forest of legs, and rinse and repeat.
Lack of a centre forward is an undeniable issue as we all knew it would be, but I agree those midfield runners you refer to are the bigger problem
Bluesince1979
Well-Known Member
But maybe we arent creating the chances for a striker to miss because the striker isnt there to create the chance for?It's like last October all over again..
Although in the spirit of the thread, we're not really creating the chances for a striker to miss. If a striker is on the pitch the chances that fell to Rodri would still fall to Rodri for instance.
This isn't me arguing against a striker per se, but if there is something going on that will cause us issues I don't think it's the lack of a true striker.
(If that makes any sense at all)
porkchopsaplenty
Well-Known Member
We deffo need a striker & one with height too.
It's not just finishing it's a focal point.
Yesterday Palace pressed well & at times we struggled to pass out from the back & beat the press. This stopped us from creating more chances, definitely in the first half. That's how we play & it's brought us a lot of success.
But sometimes when it's not working like Yesterday it needs to be changed.
But we cannot do that because we don't have a striker to bring in.
If we did Yesterday we could have played longer passes down the channels or in the air so he could head it on or back to Midfielders making runs. I'm not saying play hoofball but it gives us a different dimension.
We were too predictable Yesterday & against West Ham & Southampton. Its gonna happen more unless Pep finds a way.
Like some have suggested playing Gundogan & pace on the flanks would help rather than grealish etc who just cut back a lot.
Also how many times this season have we seen good passes fly across the 6 yd box & no ones there to prod them in?! A CF would do that.
Everything went Palaces way yesterday they played at their top level, we weren't at our best & missed chances.
The ref was very poor too. The stars aligned for them & everything went their way.
Part of me thinks are we over reacting & it was one of those days in footy that happens. Palace beat us at home the season we won the treble. They are one of those teams that are perfect to play against City.
Pace & power on the counter, like Utd. Bad day at the office etc
But my brain tells me it is an ongoing problem that will cost us not having a striker.
Like others on here I thought not getting a striker would cost us once the window was over, it already has cost us this season in games. I hope me & others are wrong. Maybe once Delap is fit we could play him?
Hopefully Pep can find a way like he did last season when we started worse than this season, we have to trust him after what he has achieved.
It's not just finishing it's a focal point.
Yesterday Palace pressed well & at times we struggled to pass out from the back & beat the press. This stopped us from creating more chances, definitely in the first half. That's how we play & it's brought us a lot of success.
But sometimes when it's not working like Yesterday it needs to be changed.
But we cannot do that because we don't have a striker to bring in.
If we did Yesterday we could have played longer passes down the channels or in the air so he could head it on or back to Midfielders making runs. I'm not saying play hoofball but it gives us a different dimension.
We were too predictable Yesterday & against West Ham & Southampton. Its gonna happen more unless Pep finds a way.
Like some have suggested playing Gundogan & pace on the flanks would help rather than grealish etc who just cut back a lot.
Also how many times this season have we seen good passes fly across the 6 yd box & no ones there to prod them in?! A CF would do that.
Everything went Palaces way yesterday they played at their top level, we weren't at our best & missed chances.
The ref was very poor too. The stars aligned for them & everything went their way.
Part of me thinks are we over reacting & it was one of those days in footy that happens. Palace beat us at home the season we won the treble. They are one of those teams that are perfect to play against City.
Pace & power on the counter, like Utd. Bad day at the office etc
But my brain tells me it is an ongoing problem that will cost us not having a striker.
Like others on here I thought not getting a striker would cost us once the window was over, it already has cost us this season in games. I hope me & others are wrong. Maybe once Delap is fit we could play him?
Hopefully Pep can find a way like he did last season when we started worse than this season, we have to trust him after what he has achieved.
melrose40yarder
Well-Known Member
The lack of pace is a big worry.However i think things may change for the better when Gundogan is fully fit as he is the one with a bit of the strikers instinct.The rest do not have it.Yeh, good post. The lack of pace and energy across that midfield is a real burning issue when it comes to circumventing parked buses. Moving the ball quicker would help, but when a ’bus’ is as narrow and deep as Palace’s was yesterday, then the ability to fashion half a yard and the strength to hold opponents at bay, might also be useful.
I know they didn’t all play yesterday, but there’s a lack of genuine variety when it comes to particular attributes. Rodri, no change of gear. Fernandinho, 36 years old and no change of gear. Gundogan, 31 years old and no change of gear. Bernie (in great form, but….) no change of gear. Mahrez, 31 years old, built like a twiglet, no change of gear. Kev, 30 years old and (due to current lack of fitness….) no change of gear. Grealish (pretty lively yesterday, but….) no change of gear. Palmer (and please understand I’m not knocking the lad in any way - I’m just highlighting a squad issue), no change of gear.
The only players with the pace to test the opposition and to require them to double up and leave gaps elsewhere, are Foden and Sterling, and one of those has control issues that render him a waste of time on days like yesterday.
From the moment Palace scored, 5 minutes in, everyone in the ground knew the game was gone. 10 men or not, I think the last time we came from behind at half time to win was 4 years ago at Huddersfield. We didn’t lack resolve yesterday, in fact I thought the players gave it a decent go after the break, but physicality, pace, movement, we just don’t have it, which is why we are so easy to frustrate. Move the ball sideways multiple times, fail to work an overload, cut in and either float over a cross to no-one or scuff a shot into a forest of legs, and rinse and repeat.
Lack of a centre forward is an undeniable issue as we all knew it would be, but I agree those midfield runners you refer to are the bigger problem
So your thoughts on playing Phil on the left (as a starter) rather than JackJack needs time. It's as simple, but because of his price tag people don't believe he deserves time, and so the complaints. Takes a lot to be a Pep player.
Exeter Blue I am here
Well-Known Member
The lack of pace is a big worry.However i think things may change for the better when Gundogan is fully fit as he is the one with a bit of the strikers instinct.The rest do not have it.
Yeh, hopefully. We’ll always win more than we lose against the bus parkers, but when the margin for error is so tight at the top, we certainly need something resembling a solution