Forwards for Next Season

[Holy Joe]

We would be better discussing who of the coaching staff should be let go and replaced.

You should start a thread on that

 

[overseas shrimper]

Doesn't matter who is retained or signed, the problems stem from lack of decent chances created and predictable tactics. We would be better discussing who of the coaching staff should be let go and replaced.

The same coaching staff that got a tune out of Pepple (who's numbers prior to coming to us weren't stellar) and improved Cardwell no end?

I'm guessing we recruited what we could from what was available due to that takeover/embargo and our limited finances.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

It’s almost like we were restricted in some way from signing players

Not in January we weren’t

 

[Simon Templar]

All this let’s get rid of DW. Whens the last time he started and played for at least 70 minutes or so. Coming on with 5/10 minutes to go is not a fair way to judge a player’s performance. I would start him for the next few games and see what happens. What we do know is, that he can hardly produce less goals than our current so called strikers, because they ain’t producing much are they.
The stats don’t lie apparently!

 

[Chrisb]

Thinking the same here. Would lean more towards keeping Bonne than any of the others, just based on bringing others into p

All this let’s get rid of DW. Whens the last time he started and played for at least 70 minutes or so. Coming on with 5/10 minutes to go is not a fair way to judge a player’s performance. I would start him for the next few games and see what happens. What we do know is, that he can hardly produce less goals than our current so called strikers, because they ain’t producing much are they.
The stats don’t lie apparently!

I would love to see Danny be given a proper chance but don't think that will happen.

 

[Shrimper]

All this let’s get rid of DW. Whens the last time he started and played for at least 70 minutes or so. Coming on with 5/10 minutes to go is not a fair way to judge a player’s performance. I would start him for the next few games and see what happens. What we do know is, that he can hardly produce less goals than our current so called strikers, because they ain’t producing much are they.
The stats don’t lie apparently!

Average minutes per game last year; 959 minutes in 15 games for 63.9 minutes per game.
Average minutes per game this year; 237 minutes in 9 games for 26.3 minutes per game

He has had two games this season above 70 minutes vs Barnet and Boston. 0 goals. Last year he had 9 games above 70 minutes and had 3 goals.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Personally I think we should sign a quality specialist striker coach before we think about rotating out forwards who have plenty of potential (IMO) for others who are likely to have similar potential at best.

Our coaches are great in general, but getting strikers into hot scoring form appears to be a weak spot in our coaching armoury IMO.

 

[ace]

Keep Kendall. Give Bonne 1 year. Out the other 3.

 

[WestyReturns]

Personally think our slow build up football will never score enough goals as a team to challenge for auto promotion and get the best out a large majority of forward players. With the current setup any of our forwards will play a large percentage of their time with their back to the goal. That only suits a certain style of player and even many of those still like attacking the final ball. Mo Salah or Haaland wouldn't be able to get on one of Ralph's sliced crosses clearing the South Stand.

 

[RobB11]

Maher clearly has a problem with Waldron and he’s too stubborn to back down now, if he started playing him and he was to bang goals in then Maher would be crucified for not playing him sooner. He’d rather just let him rot than be proved wrong. There is no other explanation now he is fit. Imagine being as gutless in front of goal as the current mob, bonne has had 27 games and scored 1!!! If I was Waldron I’d be looking at getting my contract mutually terminated and going somewhere where I am wanted rather than have 4 wasters ahead of me that can’t do their jobs properly.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Maher clearly has a problem with Waldron and he’s too stubborn to back down now, if he started playing him and he was to bang goals in then Maher would be crucified for not playing him sooner. He’d rather just let him rot than be proved wrong. There is no other explanation now he is fit. Imagine being as gutless in front of goal as the current mob, bonne has had 27 games and scored 1!!! If I was Waldron I’d be looking at getting my contract mutually terminated and going somewhere where I am wanted rather than have 4 wasters ahead of me that can’t do their jobs properly.

He might do, he might not. It’s not the certainty you present it as.

What is certain though is your vehement dislike of Kevin Maher, which any Zoner can see for themselves by spending one click and a few seconds looking at your recent posts which call him ‘arrogant’, ‘delusional’, ‘a jerk’ and more.

 

[Strykr]

It does beg the question if waldron is so abysmal in training then why did we court and sign him.?

And how can he be possibly worse then our other forwards who seem to miss absolute sitters week in week out.

Dw may be mr bang average nl forward, but i expect mr bang average nl forward to net at least 10 out of a whole season, our current crop are laughably below 10.

More to this then meets the eye i feel....

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

It’s a shame but our play style this year alongside a struggling midfield, I don’t think it would matter even if we had Haaland up top.. any striker at this level if given enough creativity and the proper service to score, they will do so.

 

[Strykr]

It’s a shame but our play style this year alongside a struggling midfield, I don’t think it would matter even if we had Haaland up top.. any striker at this level if given enough creativity and the proper service to score, they will do so.

I agree to a large extent, but that doesnt change the fact that every match thread has a post along the lines of "how the f did he miss that"

Maybe im just old fashioned but every time i read "bonne adds a lot' etc id trade all that blair sturrock type thinking for a striker that does nothing else but be ruthless and accurate in front of goal.

 

[stewart]

Couldnt see the sense in signing Hopper another past player , will we never learn , and so many on here saying hes just the man we need, myself i think the cowens or whatever there name is at Col Ewe have put one over Maher and co, was never going to be the answer to our striker problems ,I would like to see Waldron given a run of games before i judge him , Kendall another waste off time sorry, Preseason Walker was doing well until he got that injury., Kendall has pace but thats about all, We need someone like Dennis when he was here pace and a finishing touch, in Fact we need to bring in some wide players with pace and decent ability to cross a ball, think Bonne is our best at that at present , sorry Bridge aint what we need ,

 

[CrippsCorner]

Keep Kendall. Give Bonne 1 year. Out the other 3.

Pretty much there with this.

Understand why Bonne had (and sometimes still does) get a hard time... 1 goal for a striker is of course poor, but he does setup others, more assists this season than any other player I think? He seems to have a good attitude and passion so I'd definitely keep him at least another 12 months.

Kendall, also 1 goal is it? He's still finding his feet, so again I think he needs another season to bed in.

Walker might be worth keeping as a backup. Waldron who knows! Hopper, is unknown to me really, but it seems most want rid, and if that was for the opportunity to get someone better, then sure.

Alternatively, can we do a trade in deal, all 5 for Pepple!?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

This type of debate demonstrates why fans should be nowhere near footballing decisions, as we are all guilty of leading from our hearts and not our heads.

If one was to take a step back, as scathing as it would be, there is a legitimate argument to suggest the entire frontline isn't good enough, especially if we want to challenge next season. Cardwell is on the bench for FGR's and he walks into our team. That's how wide the gap is between where we are, and where we want to be.

We can all like a player because they work hard, give their all or have some likeable attributes. The fact is though, the goal return is absolutely abysmal from the collective. People don't like to admit it, but we do create chances, really good ones. So many of them have been missed and I can't see how that's suddenly going to change. People talk about formations and tactics, but that doesn't change what attributes a player does or doesn't have.

My opinion of the players is this. Kendall works hard and that's why fans like him. However, his touch is absolutely awful. That's not down to the manager or tactics. That's just the ability of the player. He does have time on his side though, and may get better. Hopper has never scored a lot of goals and never will, it's not his game. Bonne hasn't scored for years and that doesn't look like changing. Yes, he's got a few assists and shows glimpses, but we need goals. Walker was always more of an inside right or left type of player and will never score the amount of goals we need. He needs to play in a front 3 to be effective. Waldron just isn't up to this level, end of.

The reality is, if we'd been able to sign one of Josh Kelly, Dallas or Pearce, we'd be having a totally different conversation. It's why I'm so intrigued what irons we have in the fire in the summer. But there is absolutely no way we will achieve anything if we retain that entire front line. I don't care if Klopp was to come down here, they won't score enough goals. We need to be patient and let's assess what happens in the summer. I do think a few of our players could do better alongside a better strike partner, so let's see if we go and get that. I really hope we do.

 

[Smiffy]

The reality is, if we'd been able to sign one of Josh Kelly, Dallas or Pearce, we'd be having a totally different conversation. It's why I'm so intrigued what irons we have in the fire in the summer. But there is absolutely no way we will achieve anything if we retain that entire front line. I don't care if Klopp was to come down here, they won't score enough goals. We need to be patient and let's asses what happens in the summer. I do think a few of our players could do better alongside a better strike partner, so let's see if we go and get that. I really hope we do.

Yep. I'm hoping COSU find a few quid from somewhere and go back in for the likes of Andy Dallas and Josh Kelly in the summer. Both have a year left on their respective deals at Barnsley and Wombles. These are the quality of signings we need to give us the best chance of getting out of the division.

 

[blues exile]

Dismal record by all of them. Bonne and Hopper best days behind them, Kendall works hard like Powell did but his goalscoring record apart from his time at Eastbourne does not suggest he will ever become prolific at this level. Waldron seems out of favour, rightly or wrongly. Walker flatters to deceive. If these signings are the best that the recruitment team can come up with then something is wrong.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Personally I don't think any of the five are going to get us promotion or even play-offs next season. Hopper will stay and I'd probably keep Kendell as he has potential. Walker however is useless and Waldron just hasn't worked out. Bonne is a difficult one as he's made the odd impact or two lately coming off the bench but its a cut throat business and one or two goals just isn't good enough so I'd have to release him too. We can't have five, strikers who combined, have well below our right back. Quite embarrassing for all of them to be honest.

That all being said there's quite a few other players in the squad I wouldn't miss either, most notably the midfielders. All of that is on the basis that we sign improvements, something we failed to do this year for one reason or another.