Please buy a striker with a bit of pedigree

[Hoover Attack]

RW has a set way of setting a team up and does not think outside the box tactics wise. Chances of him changing to playing a formation which uses a target men type centre forward are rather unlikely.

So he should think outside the box tactics wise and bring in a target man centre forward? Revolutionary, Sid.

[Beradogs]

Theo flying up and down one wing when he’s back from a long term serious injury and Graham flying down the other when he is more fit and recovers from his long term injury. Two big lumps in the middle getting on the end of the crosses with flying headers. Would defo bring the crowds back.

[Hoover Attack]

Theo flying up and down one wing when he’s back from a long term serious injury and Graham flying down the other when he is more fit and recovers from his long term injury. Two big lumps in the middle getting on the end of the crosses with flying headers. Would defo bring the crowds back.

Add a hard man centre half with an xINJ of 0.5 per game and a keeper with a tache, now you're talking.

[Mistadobalina]

Theo flying up and down one wing when he’s back from a long term serious injury and Graham flying down the other when he is more fit and recovers from his long term injury. Two big lumps in the middle getting on the end of the crosses with flying headers. Would defo bring the crowds back.

If it works. This is how jackett played and it was dire. The idea you just switch how we play to the 60s and everything will be dandy is nonsense.

[Mistadobalina]

Who was the last decent lump we had - maybe Alex Revell? Can only remember the absolutely dire forwards we brought in to go long to and could barely move/control the ball/do anything.

[redintheface]

Theo flying up and down one wing when he’s back from a long term serious injury and Graham flying down the other when he is more fit and recovers from his long term injury. Two big lumps in the middle getting on the end of the crosses with flying headers. Would defo bring the crowds back.

If it works. This is how jackett played and it was dire.

It was not how Jackett played at all. Some of the football that was played up until December ‘21 culminating in our win against Swindon was excellent and as good as anything we’ve played since imho.

[Mistadobalina]

We mainly played a 3-5-2 under him (sometimes a 3-4-3) and it was all about being direct, which is why Smith was banging them in. It worked for a short period and then was awful.

I'm not saying it can't work, it's all about how it's implemented, but just pointing out that saying if we only played x style is meaningless. Jackett played traditional wingers and a direct style, it didn't really work.

[redintheface]

We mainly played a 3-5-2 under him (sometimes a 3-4-3) and it was all about being direct, which is why Smith was banging them in. It worked for a short period and then was awful.

I'm not saying it can't work, it's all about how it's implemented, but just pointing out that saying if we only played x style is meaningless. Jackett played traditional wingers and a direct style, it didn't really work.

Yes I get your point but even though it’s true the level of play deteriorated that was in some part due to the horrendous injury crisis and missed games that we suffered in late December & January. I’ve absolutely no problem with “ direct” football but as you say it has to be implemented effectively.

[Mistadobalina]

We could go full Evans and satisfy your Sids or Bera's. But that isn't what Wellens does and it won't ever be. Wanting us to be more direct is basically saying we need to change manager, which of course people are entitled to say and be completely wrong about.

[Hoover Attack]

The idea you just switch how we play to the 60s and everything will be dandy is nonsense.

This is his life's mantra. You could break it to him a little bit gentler than that.

[redintheface]

We could go full Evans and satisfy your Sids or Bera's. But that isn't what Wellens does and it won't ever be. Wanting us to be more direct is basically saying we need to change manager, which of course people are entitled to say and be completely wrong about.

Not sure why you would say wanting to play more direct equates to wanting Wellens dismissed. Wellens is an experienced manager who is both intelligent and pragmatic enough to know that his teams need to play “ winning “ football and if he’s not flexible enough to moderate or amend a particular style of play to achieve that then no fans will need to worry about saying we need to change manager, the Board will do it for them. Professional football is about results , philosophy or style of play is subordinate to that.

[Sid Bishop]

RW has a set way of setting a team up and does not think outside the box tactics wise. Chances of him changing to playing a formation which uses a target men type centre forward are rather unlikely.

So he should think outside the box tactics wise and bring in a target man centre forward? Revolutionary, Sid.

It would be thinking outside of the RW tactics box !
Target man centre forwards do not tick his box.

[Sid Bishop]

We could go full Evans and satisfy your Sids or Bera's. But that isn't what Wellens does and it won't ever be. Wanting us to be more direct is basically saying we need to change manager, which of course people are entitled to say and be completely wrong about.

Not sure why you would say wanting to play more direct equates to wanting Wellens dismissed. Wellens is an experienced manager who is both intelligent and pragmatic enough to know that his teams need to play “ winning “ football and if he’s not flexible enough to moderate or amend a particular style of play to achieve that then no fans will need to worry about saying we need to change manager, the Board will do it for them. Professional football is about results , philosophy or style of play is subordinate to that.

100% correct.

[Sid Bishop]

Who was the last decent lump we had - maybe Alex Revell? Can only remember the absolutely dire forwards we brought in to go long to and could barely move/control the ball/do anything.

Dont have to have a massive lump at all.
Bonne was a wonderful centre forward, hard working and holding the ball up and scored quite a few goals as well.
After leaving Orient he did very well in his first season at Charlton but it went wrong for him when he was transferred for a big fee to QPR.

[Mistadobalina]

We could go full Evans and satisfy your Sids or Bera's. But that isn't what Wellens does and it won't ever be. Wanting us to be more direct is basically saying we need to change manager, which of course people are entitled to say and be completely wrong about.

Not sure why you would say wanting to play more direct equates to wanting Wellens dismissed. Wellens is an experienced manager who is both intelligent and pragmatic enough to know that his teams need to play “ winning “ football and if he’s not flexible enough to moderate or amend a particular style of play to achieve that then no fans will need to worry about saying we need to change manager, the Board will do it for them. Professional football is about results , philosophy or style of play is subordinate to that.

And his results have been mainly superb since he's been here. We've played plenty of winning football with his approach. He's not going to get canned cause he refuses to go long. We don't score enough because we aren't creative enough once we get into the final 3 (which we do plenty of). Playing hoofball wouldn't solve that nor suit our squad at all.

[Constanza]

I've been enjoying the way we are playing this season.
Just need to convert those chances. Even Lemmings has improved.

[redintheface]

We could go full Evans and satisfy your Sids or Bera's. But that isn't what Wellens does and it won't ever be. Wanting us to be more direct is basically saying we need to change manager, which of course people are entitled to say and be completely wrong about.

Not sure why you would say wanting to play more direct equates to wanting Wellens dismissed. Wellens is an experienced manager who is both intelligent and pragmatic enough to know that his teams need to play “ winning “ football and if he’s not flexible enough to moderate or amend a particular style of play to achieve that then no fans will need to worry about saying we need to change manager, the Board will do it for them. Professional football is about results , philosophy or style of play is subordinate to that.

And his results have been mainly superb since he's been here. We've played plenty of winning football with his approach. He's not going to get canned cause he refuses to go long. We don't score enough because we aren't creative enough once we get into the final 3 (which we do plenty of). Playing hoofball wouldn't solve that nor suit our squad at all.

Who said anything about playing “ hoof ball”? Past results will only take you so far and RW knows that. Your comment that fans suggesting a change of style equates to wanting Wellens sacked is the point in question!
I have no doubt that RW is intelligent enough to know what mode of play best suits our players and he’s smart enough to know that he won’t get “canned” for refusing to “ go long”. I also have no doubt he’s aware that results are the final arbiter and that he will be perfectly prepared to adapt and go long if he thinks that is what’s required to bring about an improvement in results. If, as you appear to suggest , that he’s so dogmatic that he cannot or will not make adjustments to reshape the style of play when necessary then perhaps that’s what will bring about a change of manager?

[gshaw]

It's an area we're really lacking in strength and depth for well over a year. When you go from 4 senior pro strikers down to 2 it will have an effect.

You got what you wanted, Kelman in for Ruel.

Yup and thus far Kelman is doing better on goals and far cheaper too, I'm glad we didn't waste £6k a week on keeping Ruel here.

What none of us wanted was two senior pros going out the door in the ST spot and a youth loanee coming in, basically repeating the Edwards mistake again. I find it hard to believe that was Richie's idea.

[Sid Bishop]

It's an area we're really lacking in strength and depth for well over a year. When you go from 4 senior pro strikers down to 2 it will have an effect.

You got what you wanted, Kelman in for Ruel.

Yup and thus far Kelman is doing better on goals and far cheaper too, I'm glad we didn't waste £6k a week on keeping Ruel here.

What none of us wanted was two senior pros going out the door in the ST spot and a youth loanee coming in, basically repeating the Edwards mistake again. I find it hard to believe that was Richie's idea.

Well Forde is not doing too great at Rovers either. Richie knew how to get the best out of Ruel and Forde but he is not getting a return in goals from Kelman as of yet, same does for O Neil and Dan A this season.

[Sid Bishop]

Theo flying up and down one wing when he’s back from a long term serious injury and Graham flying down the other when he is more fit and recovers from his long term injury. Two big lumps in the middle getting on the end of the crosses with flying headers. Would defo bring the crowds back.

Theo aint going to be flying down any wings this season and looks like Graham is going to take a long time to recover from his injury as well, thats if he ever does, he is an injury prone player. No way would Richie play in the way you suggest, he likes the Southgate style of sideways and backwards with not even one target man in the middle.

[DrWindy]

I actually think we are a lot more direct than we were in League Two and last season. We do seem much more inclined to hit a long ball now.

The problem with hoofball is that it will only ever get you so far and you have to have a decent target man to do it. It’s usually very easy to play against. High line and play the second ball. I am showing my age but I can only recall Niall Quinn and Duncan Ferguson being pretty much unplayable in the air. I don’t recall either of them winning much at the top level.

RW knows what he’s doing.

[Monkey Boy]

Big lump small lump it’s all irelavent who ever plays up front should have a strikers instinct neither of which Dan A or Kelman posses. May,Hoskins the small geezer from Bolton are neither quick or big but know where to run,turn,come to the ball,run off the shoulder and more importantly be-in the box at the right time. You can’t really coach that into a player it should come naturally and that’s where the chief scout comes in. Putting decent options to the manager who should then decide who he would like. Unfortunately imo Richie isn’t well blessed in in picking strikers considering he hasn’t really found a decent one in the years he’s been at the club.ps I’m off to golf so don’t bother with the usual abuse

[Hoover Attack]

Alfie May isn't quick?

Good shout though, we should have signed him instead of Kelman.

[faith1234]

sh*t loads in non league

[faith1234]

Agyei people say that he is not good enough up front but I seem to remember him scoring a few goals for crewe the year we went won the league and thats y we signed him but then we play the man as a winter