Forwards for Next Season

[overseas shrimper]

Our forwards, currently Bonne, Hopper, Walker, Kendall and Waldron have a pretty poor hit-rate (to put it mildly). Some may point to the lack of quality / scarcity when it comes to service... others might highlight the lack of finishing ability.

Now, looking ahead to next season's squad and its forward line, who would you keep and who would you move out?

Which of our forwards do you think could have a part to play next season assuming we address the supply to them?

He may not score many, but I think Bonne is worth considering retaining for his link up play, aerial ability and experience. Other than that, I'm struggling to see who else should be kept. Maybe Hopper as a Bonne back-up?

I think we need mobile players around them that can actually finish a few chances.

 

[Barry.C]

Much depends with Bonne on his “ other activities “ and whether we consider that extra year worth it
He’s certainly improved and as we know you can have a really carp season, so would be very surprised if he didn’t have a much better run on the goal front
Funnily enough Hopper has the best goal to appearances record currently and tons of experience
Kendall offers something different we
need and maybe still being moulded and learning his trade from the 2 above

Maybe time for The 2 Ws to move on? Walker and Waldron, allowing space for more incoming, some of which just might be Pepples on loan?

 

[Holy Joe]

Hopper, Kendall and Walker I think are all contracted for next season - I expect they'll all still be here.

Bonne and Waldron are out of contract - I wouldn't extend as it will allow 2 new faces in

Might be abit harsh ( baring in mind 2 players are relatively new signings) but at this stage I wouldn't be disappointed if all 5 left.

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

I just don't get how Waldron has not been given a chance.

He was rigously scouted.
He was improving all of the time last season.
He is a natural finisher, just check out his highlight reel.
We put alot of effort into securing him.

Oh, and our forwards have less than 10 goals between them this season! Give him a run of games.

Shame.

 

[Smiffy]

Bottom line, none of them are goal-scorers or look like being so. We are about 20 goals short of where we need to be, to be challenging at the top. COSU need to go all out to find at least one capable of those numbers in the summer.

Waldron will depart I suspect.

I’d rather give Bonne a new contract and try and offload Hopper, who IMO was given too long a deal.

Walker and Kendall both work hard and show glimpses of quality, but both like all of our strikers have missed far too many golden chances. I’d perhaps keep one of those two if we can get offers for them.

We need to be shopping in Waitrose for a top striker this summer. Not Aldi as we have been, for obvious reasons. Our current clutch of “strikers” are unfortunately miles off the quality needed to get out of the division, but are a reflection of where we were shopping at the time. No excuses this summer….

 

[Strykr]

I wouldnt be dissapointed if they all went tbh. Utterly toothless. Out of all of them I'd probably keep kendall for his work rate.

 

[Cricko]

I wouldnt be dissapointed if they all went tbh. Utterly toothless. Out of all of them I'd probably keep kendall for his work rate.

I agree with you, none of our strikers have shown what we need upfront, albeit they do not get enough support from the midfield which is Donkey slow, but the return of goals from appearances is shocking and invariably when they do get chances they squander most.

Hopper in particular IMO was given far to long a contract.

 

[shrimperjon]

Kendall Hopper and Walker all contracted into next season so we can only move them on if someone else wants them

Waldron has been given little time and clearly Maher can’t fancy him based on the fact he has hardly used him and our other forwards havnt been scoring

Bonne, cant deny his work rate and I really want him to succeed but unless he goes on scoring streak between now and the end of the season I’d be surprised if we kept him. You don’t need him and Hopper and we surely will be able to do better in the transfer market this summer

 

[Southend Elvis]

Unfortunately none of them are what we need, cannot fathom why DW isn't given more of a chance, can't do any worse.
Big thing is, do you think KM is the man to identify what striker we need, 5 miss firing players suggests he doesn't!

 

[BigCol]

I would move them all on. No goals and not looking like scoring. Need a natural finisher like FE. None of these are anywhere close to him. Very disappointed with them all.

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

What I will say our strikers look like strikers when we play on the front foot. 6 months of rubbish service would take the wind out of anyone's sails.

Between now and the end of the season, with Parillon driving through the middle and the belief to attack quickly hopefully they can show us they are up to it.

We just need those reigns to be well and truly let off.

 

[meerkat54]

The forward recruitment department has been dire. Personally don’t think this data bollocks has improved things at all.
Think I would get rid of Bonne and Walker.
I think Gus has been our saviour this season, without him we would be in serious trouble,
Perhaps Gus should be coaching the forwards?

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Depends

Will Maher still be around ?
Can a new coach get a better tune out of these forwards ?
Will it be 2 or 3 upfront ?

If he is probably none of them. His style right or wrong he needs a player like pepple who creates and scores and maybe a hold up forward

Bonne maybe can do the latter

None of these forwards can do the former.

 

[thenobster]

do, we want a big, old fashioned #9? then we need to be sending in crosses for him to score from, or to set the #10 or incoming midfielders to score from. (do any of our current strikers fit that bill?) from what ive heard, Bonne maybe the one.
Then, who would fit the #10 role? Kendall maybe? Walker seems to have no idea where the goal is?
Or do we want a fleet of Pepples/Collymores? no real CF but attacking from outside 18yd box... It doesnt seem we've got that in our squad.

We are, as we're all aware, DIV 5, and to get someone who hits the net regularly will cost, and probably wont be here for long.

So, midfielders, its up to you to step up.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Bonne is the wileiest, has great movement, coaches the other forwards and his sh*thousery is top class.
His hold up play and pass to Gus yesterday for our goal was top drawer.

His goal ratio, like the rest of the strikers is lacking but his other attributes are enough for me to want him at the club next season.
Get him a full pre season and who knows what he could produce

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Danny Waldron. So many injuries and time out. Even when he finally catches up, we still don't know if he can cut it in this league.

Macauley Bonne. Much better of late. As davewebbsbrain said, he has other attributes to his game. I would see if he improves further for the rest of this season, hopefully actually scoring goals, which is the main reason he is here, before saying he should stay or go.

Josh Walker. A strange one as he is a busy bee of a striker, and certainly tries hard every game. So many times his first touch takes the ball away from him, and he misses the most sitters out of the strikers. But then that goes back to him being busy and getting in those positions to miss. I think we could do better when the time comes.

Tom Hopper. I never understood why they put so much effort into signing him, as if he would be a good replacement for Bim Pepple. He is not, as he's too slow, and can't beat a man with the ball. I said from the start his goal ratio won't be that good. It's a goalscoring main forward we need, not a good technical player.

Charley Kendall. I like him. He gives his all. He has some trickery, and can beat a man. His shots are a bit off at the moment, but not by much. I think his goalscoring will get better, as he's a work in progress. Another to judge on after the whole season. And yes, I understand the contract situation with him, Walker and Hopper. So it's just judging them for now. Like most on here, I'd be very happy to be proved wrong by these strikers.

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Get rid of the lot of them.

They've failed miserably at what they were signed up for and that's scoring goals.

Yes our defence might be top notch but everything else is miserable especially the forwards

 

[Shrimper]

Bonne and Waldron are out of contract. Released and let go. Not done enough to warrant a new contract

The rest are under contract, would try and move on from Walker though.

Was not a huge fan of the Hopper signing and think the contract is too long

Sign 3 new strikers to replace them

 

[Fairport]

Danny Waldron .....I have always had the impression that he just hasn't settled down here although when I have seen him am not convinced.

Josh Walker.....I like his workrate and some of his goals come from in and around the six yard box where at least he often arrives unlike many others.

Macauley Bonne.....Certainly has attributes but doesn't seem to be a natural goalscorer. Could be OK alongside another striker who hits the net regularly.

Tom Hopper.......Seems genuine but is slow and has never been a regular scorer. Like Bonne could be OK alongside someone more prolific but we don't need both MB and TH in the squad.

Charley Kendall.....His pace is an asset but what I have seen of him the step up from NLS has been a bit to steep for him.

Atthe end of the day we just have to Hooe that the coaching staff/recruitment people can sign players from various positions that can contribute goals as this has cost us dearly this season.

 

[Shrimpet steve]

None are good enough and I'd bin the lot! Forget trying to scout a forward from the isthiamen league and pay good money for a proven league 1 or 2 striker! We have enough investors to dip there hands in their pocket! They wanted to own southend now run southend the way it should be and give us supporters what we want.