It seems to be almost a ritual at Leicester City that someone starts complaining about a new striker very soon after they arrive. Certainly we've had some dross over the years - the likes of Carl Cort immediately springing to mind as someone that very few if any would disagree over.
However, it isn't always lack of goals that tends to grind our gears around here as much as a perceived lack of effort. Take Yakubu for instance - he split opinions last season as he scored goals but often didn't look like he was putting the hard yards in, much to many fans' frustrations.
I doubt we can expect an awful lot different from Beckford. I've already heard suggestions (from some places, not all) that Beckford will be a hard worker, that he's the kind of player that will defend from the front. This concerns me. I don't believe this to be the case and my experience of Beckford is that he's happiest, and probably most effective, when he's hanging around looking for goals to poach or at least to go on the attack. If we're looking for someone to hound centre backs and chase lost causes then I believe we'll be sadly disappointed.
I can hear the sounds of "He's not even trying" now, along with accusations that he's not worth anywhere near £4m. "He's just arrogant. You should have gone all out for Maynard, Sven!" So should we all take stock before he turns out with a foxes badge on his shirt and make sure that our expectations are in line with what he can deliver, and indeed what he's been bought for? After all, would it really help to get on his back about not sprinting after the in-possession opposition right back 20 minutes into his home debut?
On the other hand, only weak people feel pressure...
Beckspectations
posted on 7/9/11
Is it true that Nadine Dorris is putting forward a Parliamentary amendment to make it illegal for clubs to get rid of Earnshaw without talking to a faith-based independent counsellor first?
posted on 7/9/11
Can I just remind everyone that he actually cost £2.5 million not 4
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Everton rejected a £3 million bid earlier in the summer. He cost us 4. It's not a ridiculous amount for a player with his pedigree by any means, but it's still a significant outlay for this division.
posted on 7/9/11
Andrew Neville has confirmed that we paid £2.5m for him.
posted on 7/9/11
He'll do great in left midfield or maybe left back with the space to run into!
posted on 7/9/11
True_blue,
you forgot to add to your comment that Sven is rubbish or needs sacking
posted on 7/9/11
"Everton rejected a £3 million bid earlier in the summer. He cost us 4. It's not a ridiculous amount for a player with his pedigree by any means, but it's still a significant outlay for this division."
The first bid was rejected by Everton before Kenwright's 'we need money plee' so it wouldn't surprise me if they accepted less afterwards when near enough anything would have done for them.
As for Beckford himself, I think Yak last season was playing on his own so we were right to expect a decent amount of work-rate from him because the system required him to run channels and close down the defenders in possession. Granted, it wasn't his natural game but you still need to adapt to the requirements of the system and the team and I don't think he did that and deserved some of the criticism he got (that said I didn't and wouldn't criticize him during the match).
I think Jermaine will play as part of a two up front with, let's say, Vassell for arguments sake and I think Darius could be the one who does run the channels and closes down defenders whilst Beckford can stay up front and always be occupying the two CB's and be that 'fox in the box' type player without harming the team defensively. So I think with a two we can be more tolerant with Beckford for lack of work-rate but if he plays on his own, I think we're right to expect more from him in terms of work-rate, closing down etc.
I've been quite vocal in my support for the diamond and I hope Sven plays that against Barnsley because it will suit the players we have and they seem to be playing better in it.
posted on 7/9/11
Everton have also confirmed the deal was for £2.5m. £4m was lazy media talk
posted on 7/9/11
He's a good player. Work rate is not as bad as some say, but he is a poacher not an extra defender on the edge of his own penalty area.
He's used to idiot fans criticising him for the wrong reasons, so nothing your more enlightened fans throw at him is likely to bother him.. (A benefit of spending some time at Leeds )
He operated best at Leeds in partnership with Becchio, who is not such a goal scorer (though he's not bad) but is very good at holding the ball up and creating for others. Thats what he needs, its pointless criticing him for not being good as a lone front man, you might as well criticise a lion for not being vegetarian.
Can you afford 4-4-2? Thats what he needs to be at his best.
posted on 7/9/11
It's an ongoing argument here, 2020. Fans split between 4-3-3 (on paper – perhaps too often 4-5-1 when actually applied on grass) and 4-D-2. Not many takers for a flat midfield 4 rather than a diamond.
posted on 7/9/11
Please listen to 2020 Sven - he has vision !
We dream of 90 minutes of 4-D-2. That's when we play our best football and as soon as we start to look good, the Tincker-man goes and changes it.