Forwards for Next Season

[Clinton Baptiste]

We have several strikers who maybe score 5-6 a season when I think we need one striker in the 15-20 area with a better range of goals around the rest of the team. Take away the goals scored by Bim and Gus and we are very very poor in that respect.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

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.

That's the thing, they aren't the 'best' the recruitment team can come up with. They were the best available at the time. We tried to get Dallas, Pearce, Kelly and many others, but the circumstances prevented all of those from signing. Nevertheless, they were the types of players Kev wanted, and probably still does.

There seems to be a narrative that Kev has purposely chosen players that can't score goals above players that can. This simply isn't the case. He has tried to get the better players but has been hindered. Of course he wants goal scorers at the club.

It's why I'm excited to see what happens in the summer with those constraints gone.

 

[dusterman]

Can’t we just get Bim back? Lure him with a plane ticket to World Cup so sure are we that is 45 goal season will lead to a call up?

 

[blues exile]

That's the thing, they aren't the 'best' the recruitment team can come up with. They were the best available at the time. We tried to get Dallas, Pearce, Kelly and many others, but the circumstances prevented all of those from signing. Nevertheless, they were the types of players Kev wanted, and probably still does.

There seems to be a narrative that Kev has purposely chosen players that can't score goals above players that can. This simply isn't the case. He has tried to get the better players but has been hindered. Of course he wants goal scorers at the club.

It's why I'm excited to see what happens in the summer with those constraints gone.

It's always the best of what is available at the time as it is for every club. There is no point in signing someone who no one else wanted.

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

Clearly we are struggling to score goals across the whole team.Forwards lack the killer touch and midfield and defence dont contribute hardly any.Think it says it all when GSM is the leading goal scorer.
The problem is two fold we were hampered at the start of the season to recruit those players firstly identified who went elsewhere and ended up with those we have which aren't good enough.
Cant see us progressing much further with those we have next season better recruitment is a must if not we will languish in the NL

 

[Estratford]

It's not about the system or lack of service. Pepple proved that a good striker in this team can make something out of nothing and maintain a consistent scoring record.

And....am I the only person who feels we have an insane amount of corners every game? If you look at our play and general possession, we get into loads of good positions but we don't have a striker who can unlock a game or make something out of nothing. Goal scoring records matter for a reason and our strikers have terrible records.

Maher seems to love the big target man, which is fine if he's next to someone who can score. For me, the only way to solve our goal problem is to pay proper £££ to bring in a name. Waldron actually has the best record of any of our strikers but doesn't get a sniff....Not surprised we didn't have much upfront on Saturday.

Hopper has scored 5 goals in 68 appearances at Col U. Bonne scored 6 in his last 66 appearances!!! It's hardly rocket science as to why these guys aren't catching fire and banging in the goals every week!

 

[annie1954]

It's always the best of what is available at the time as it is for every club. There is no point in signing someone who no one else wanted.

I think it would be a great idea to ask Phil Brown for his recommendations on players no one else wanted

 

[WestyReturns]

That's the thing, they aren't the 'best' the recruitment team can come up with. They were the best available at the time. We tried to get Dallas, Pearce, Kelly and many others, but the circumstances prevented all of those from signing. Nevertheless, they were the types of players Kev wanted, and probably still does.

There seems to be a narrative that Kev has purposely chosen players that can't score goals above players that can. This simply isn't the case. He has tried to get the better players but has been hindered. Of course he wants goal scorers at the club.

It's why I'm excited to see what happens in the summer with those constraints gone.

As I've stated before no manager gets all the players they want all the time ever. To make that an excuse defies logic. Whether a manager gets his 1st, 2nd or 10th choice he still has to take responsibility for it. What choice strikers do you think Alan Devonshire gets at Maidenhead? Maher's choice pool would be an extreme luxury over the past 12 months in comparison. Maher has been allowed to significantly increase the budget and strengthen the team over the last month without question!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

For me, the only way to solve our goal problem is to pay proper £££ to bring in a name. Waldron actually has the best record of any of our strikers but doesn't get a sniff....Not surprised we didn't have much upfront on Saturday.

Hopper has scored 5 goals in 68 appearances at Col U. Bonne scored 6 in his last 66 appearances!!! It's hardly rocket science as to why these guys aren't catching fire and banging in the goals every week!

But Bonne and Walker were big name signings (both have been prolific at this level) and are invariably at the top end of our salary structure. Whenever we’ve spent big money on forwards they’ve almost alway flopped.

Take a look at all the strikers we’ve spent six figures on in our history since Stan: Billy Paynter, Alex Revell, Jereon Boere, Richie Foran, Andy Thomson, Jason Lee, Tommy Mooney, Barry Conlon(?), Dave Regis, Andy Rammell - they had one 15 goal season for us between them. Brett Angell is the only six figure signing who reached 20 goals in a season for us and he was signed 35 years ago!

Whereas the likes of Pepple, Cardwell, Matt Dennis, Hopper (first spell), Assombalonga, Barnard, Eastwood, Constantine etc who actually scored goals for us all came in unheralded with no goalscoring record at our level behind them.

We can pay big money (wages and/or a fee) for a Dallas and get another Walker.

Or we can take some speculative punts. I’d far rather buy three unheralded strikers trying to make their name than one big name striker trading off of past glory.

If you want a 20 goal a season forward find an ascending forward who is a breakout candidate who plays to your strengths and feed them. Don’t overpay someone who scored in a different system several years ago. Players rarely score 20+ for two different teams.

 

[Supershrimper]

Quite agree, I'd sooner pluck a couple of well scouted forwards who could fit into our style and that would then turn them into a 15 goal a season forward like Cardwell and Pepple (If his loan was extended i'm sure he would have bagged a few more goals)

1 or 2 "experienced" bodies at this level in the forward line up to bring the newbies along

I do feel that we may well see the majority of the action in the summer aimed at our forward line up (although additions will be needed all over except for maybe goalkeeper)

 

[Estratford]

But Bonne and Walker were big name signings (both have been prolific at this level) and are invariably at the top end of our salary structure. Whenever we’ve spent big money on forwards they’ve almost alway flopped.

Take a look at all the strikers we’ve spent six figures on in our history since Stan: Billy Paynter, Alex Revell, Jereon Boere, Richie Foran, Andy Thomson, Jason Lee, Tommy Mooney, Barry Conlon(?), Dave Regis, Andy Rammell - they had one 15 goal season for us between them. Brett Angell is the only six figure signing who reached 20 goals in a season for us and he was signed 35 years ago!

Whereas the likes of Pepple, Cardwell, Matt Dennis, Hopper (first spell), Assombalonga, Barnard, Eastwood, Constantine etc who actually scored goals for us all came in unheralded with no goalscoring record at our level behind them.

We can pay big money (wages and/or a fee) for a Dallas and get another Walker.

Or we can take some speculative punts. I’d far rather buy three unheralded strikers trying to make their name than one big name striker trading off of past glory.

If you want a 20 goal a season forward find an ascending forward who is a breakout candidate who plays to your strengths and feed them. Don’t overpay someone who scored in a different system several years ago. Players rarely score 20+ for two different teams.

I hear you but I'm not convinced that Bonne and Walker are in-form goal machines who have recently proved themselves at our level or above.

IMO Bonne and Walker just haven't been prolific in their careers. I don't know why people keep saying they have. I don't know what your definition of prolific is but this is Bonne's last five years - 23 goals in 167 appearances....yes, he was on fire at Leyton Orient but that was a long time ago. We all know what Charlton thought of him....It's not a dig at him as i think he adds a lot but we need goals! We need players who know how to score, and that means signing players who have had recent success at this level or above. I know a Paul Mullen type is completely unrealistic..but look at the impact he had at Wrexham.

Walker: 37 goals in 168 games over the last 5 or so years - prolific? are you sure?

Assombalonga and Pepple were loan signings - I loved them, but as soon as they catch fire they get recalled. Big names doesn't mean big names from 5+ years ago...I'm talking about top scorers in our league, or league two/national league south/north who are on fire now. Yes, Waldron hit that brief, but he hasn't had a proper run in the team.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

I wonder if we might take a look at Eastbourne's George Alexander who seems to fit the profile we should/would go for age-wise. From what I have seen looks a natural poacher which we could do with.

 

[blues exile]

I wonder if we might take a look at Eastbourne's George Alexander who seems to fit the profile we should/would go for age-wise. From what I have seen looks a natural poacher which we could do with.

Just got two consecutive hatricks and third top goalscorer in NL South. Probably attracting interest higher up the food chain. Cautionary note: Kendall was also prolific in his Eastbourne days.

 

[Fairport]

I wonder if we might take a look at Eastbourne's George Alexander who seems to fit the profile we should/would go for age-wise. From what I have seen looks a natural poacher which we could do with.

I saw him at Chelmsford a few times last season where he scored in 50 per cent of games. Other than that he didn't look technically that good but to be fair his goal scoring record is fine. After watching plenty of NLS games over the past years I do think there is a gulf between that standard and the NL. Charley Kendall may be finding that out although to be fair I wouldn't give up on him yet.

 

[WestyReturns]

There isn't a written rule of how to bring in a striker who is going to do really well. If there was everyone would be doing it. It's down to our management/recruitment to make the right judgement on the player and then getting the best out of them. Money clearly is an advantage as teams who bring in the most expensive strikers tend to do better throughout all levels of football but there is no guarantee.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

I saw him at Chelmsford a few times last season where he scored in 50 per cent of games. Other than that he didn't look technically that good but to be fair his goal scoring record is fine. After watching plenty of NLS games over the past years I do think there is a gulf between that standard and the NL. Charley Kendall may be finding that out although to be fair I wouldn't give up on him yet.

Yeah he doesn't look particularly technical, more a right place right time stick a boot on it and it goes in. May well be too big a gulf but he's a couple years younger and may have more space to grow.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I hear you but I'm not convinced that Bonne and Walker are in-form goal machines who have recently proved themselves at our level or above.

IMO Bonne and Walker just haven't been prolific in their careers. I don't know why people keep saying they have. I don't know what your definition of prolific is but this is Bonne's last five years - 23 goals in 167 appearances....yes, he was on fire at Leyton Orient but that was a long time ago. We all know what Charlton thought of him....It's not a dig at him as i think he adds a lot but we need goals! We need players who know how to score, and that means signing players who have had recent success at this level or above. I know a Paul Mullen type is completely unrealistic..but look at the impact he had at Wrexham.

Walker: 37 goals in 168 games over the last 5 or so years - prolific? are you sure?

Assombalonga and Pepple were loan signings - I loved them, but as soon as they catch fire they get recalled. Big names doesn't mean big names from 5+ years ago...I'm talking about top scorers in our league, or league two/national league south/north who are on fire now. Yes, Waldron hit that brief, but he hasn't had a proper run in the team.

Why on earth would a top scorer in L2 want to join us instead of a L1 or Championship side?

Our options are basically

1) unproven EFL youngster with traits
2) successful NLN/S player but unproven at NL level
3) NL player hasn’t quite put it together at NL level yet (eg Kendall or Will Davies last season)
4) former NL star who are available as their career has stalled (eg Bonne and Walker)

I would steer well clear of 4) but they are the “names”.

Sign a couple of 22 or 23 year olds who are primed to breakout. Don’t worry about what they did last season but look at whether they have the touch, strength and movement for how we play. You won’t get every signing right but you’ll hit at a better rate and you won’t pay a premium for production they won’t match. Future stars not former stars is the key here.

 

[Estratford]

Why on earth would a top scorer in L2 want to join us instead of a L1 or Championship side?

Our options are basically

1) unproven EFL youngster with traits
2) successful NLN/S player but unproven at NL level
3) NL player hasn’t quite put it together at NL level yet (eg Kendall or Will Davies last season)
4) former NL star who are available as their career has stalled (eg Bonne and Walker)

I would steer well clear of 4) but they are the “names”.

Sign a couple of 22 or 23 year olds who are primed to breakout. Don’t worry about what they did last season but look at whether they have the touch, strength and movement for how we play. You won’t get every signing right but you’ll hit at a better rate and you won’t pay a premium for production they won’t match. Future stars not former stars is the key here.

Disagree - these are the options that you think are realistic. I’m saying we need to break out of this mindset. Why an earth would a top striker in L2 or
NL join us?
1) money - if we throw a proper compensation structure at them
2) support - a proper crowd for a club that is L2/1 level.
3) long term ambition and story - comes down to the owners and the manager to convey that message
We need to start thinking big.

 

[Shrimper]

2024/25:
Hopper 1 in 6
Bonne 1 in 27
Pepple 7 in 19
Walker 3 in 24
Kendall 1 in 12
Cardwell 1 in 5
Waldron 0 in 9

14 in 102 = 7.28 games per goal

2023/24:
Kanu 4 in 6
Dackers 1 in 17
Sandat 2 in 15
Cardwell 18 in 39
Waldron 3 in 15
Powell 2 in 13

30 in 105 = 3.5 games per goal

2022/23:
Dackers 3 in 6
Hyde 4 in 18
Cosgrave 0 in 10
Murphy 2 in 11
Wreh 4 in 27
Cardwell 5 in 23
Sandat 1 in 12
Powell 8 in 40

27 in 147 = 5.44 games per goal

2021/22:
Kimpioka 0 in 1
Dalby 7 in 33
Dennis 7 in 22
Murphy 4 in 11
Cardwell 3 in 14
Rush 0 in 7
Powell 2 in 17

23 in 115 = 5 games per goal

In the league only since Maher joined. Updated with our last four games.

Comparing us to other teams forwards. This is based on transfermarkt so there may be some players not correctly attributed as forwards. These are sorted by ratio and % of team goals.

 

[Shr1mperBlue]

They often say that nothing in football is as difficult as putting the ball in the net, and that’s proven by the transfer fees paid for those who can do it on a regular basis.

Our strikers are not currently and have never been (or at least not for many seasons) been big scorers. I can understand the Bonne signing - the big strong player who was meant to replace Cardwell with his hold up play and winning balls in the air. I can understand the Kendall signing - the replacement of Powell who lead the press from the front. Those two make sense and I back Maher and the board on both regardless of how they worked out.

Hopper was a strange choice. A striker who never has scored many goals, ageing and coming into his last professional contract. He does not solve an issue we had. Likewise, Walker was signed for his running of the channels and in behind onto low level balls played through. We already had Waldron for that whose record was more than decent before joining, but we don’t really play that style. Walker and Waldron feel like square pegs in round holes. I believe these three are poor signings by Maher.

Keep:
Bonne and Kendall

Release/Pay off/List:
Hopper
Walker
Waldron


Perhaps a summer cheeky bid for Conn-Clarke whose move up to Peterborough seems to have turned a little sour. Proven scorer at this level. Probably a few ££ too far.