Changing his game - Southend United striker Macauley Bonne
(Image: Daniel Hambury)
By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter
SOUTHEND United striker Macauley Bonne feels ‘old fashioned number nines’ are becoming far less common in football.
Bonne has featured as a targetman for the Shrimpers since signing in September.
But he feels it is important for strikers to be versatile with their game and has learnt to develop his own performances throughout his career.
“In my younger days I was just thrown in left side, right side,” said the 29-year-old.
“I was a runner which I still am but over my career I’ve learnt how to be better in the air, how to use my size and I feel like I’ve had to adapt to that side of things.
“If you only play one way you become too predictable.
“I don’t want to just be a striker who runs in behind.
“I want to be an all-rounder and I class myself as a bit of an old school number nine.
“There’s not many of us about anymore but I just love heading the ball and I don’t know why.
“I’ve found myself being quite good at it in the last few years and it’s second nature for me now.
“I’ve had to evolve but it’s helped me.”
Bonne has yet to score for the Shrimpers this season.
But he will not let his head drop after missing goalscoring opportunities.
“When I’ve been on a run of scoring a few goals I’ve missed a few chances but because I’d scored I knew I’d get another chance,” said Bonne.
“I’ve scored goals and this has happened to me so many times in my career, don’t worry about it.
“OK I’m getting to get a few boos and a bit of stick but I’ll take that I’m a fully grown man.
“At the end of the day my job is to put the ball in the back of the net and if I’m not then people are going to be annoyed.
“Now, if I miss a chance I’ll take a breather, I’ll have 10 seconds to myself and a bit of a talk.
“But after that if it comes to you, you need to be tidy.
“It used to affect me for days but you can’t waste time on a pitch thinking about a chance you missed.”
