I don't intend for this article to take away from what was a great result for us yesterday, but I think the game highlighted a big problem for us: Sergio is the only reliable striker that we have.
Obviously taking Tevez out of the equation, here's how I see the other two:
Dzeko - I have alwasy sung this lad's praises, even last season when he struggled to get going. I thought that his performances at the start of the season had proved me right. However, I don't think it's unfair to say that since around the Napoli home/Bayern Munich away games, Dzeko has been pretty poor (and it's been a good few months now). He looks slow, he's not taking up the right positions around the 6-yard box (why did he make the same run as Ageuro yesterday, hence getting in his way?), his touch is painful to watch and he often makes the wrong decisions. His passing and finishing have also been sub-par. Everyone will remember Savic's gaff for Defoe's goal, but I can't forget how cheaply and stupidly Dzeko gave away possession in the lead-up.
Balotelli - Clearly a much, much better player than Dzeko, but a loose cannon. Even before the 'stamp' he looked like he was going to do something stupid. He looked angry, and when he's angry he doesn't play well (he was awful yesterday, bar the penalty).
So, we have Dzeko playing like a drunk Ade Akinbiyi, and it seems we can't rely on Mario to fill his boots responsibly. Contrast them to Aguero, who combines a brilliant attitude with superb ability. Thank **** we have him, because I can't trust the other two!
One reliable striker
posted on 23/1/12
Aguero is a class act, when he and silva have the ball for you, you know somethings going to happen. It can be hit and miss with the others
posted on 23/1/12
Look at the goals from the Spurs game at WHL and you'll see 2 of Dzeko's goals were tap ins and one was a header from a cross. In recent weeks he's been used as more of a target man, playing deeper, with Sergio as the main striker and this is why I think Edin's goals and confidence have dried up.
posted on 23/1/12
bobby admitted last week that we maybe shouldn't have let Ade go on loan....do think we need another striker..but who?
posted on 23/1/12
comment by Boris "Inky" Gibson (U5901)
Look at the goals from the Spurs game at WHL and you'll see 2 of Dzeko's goals were tap ins and one was a header from a cross. In recent weeks he's been used as more of a target man, playing deeper, with Sergio as the main striker and this is why I think Edin's goals and confidence have dried up.
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It's strange, though, that this has happened as earlier in the season it was Aguero dropping deeper with Edin pushing on, which I think suits them both. The WHL game showed Edin at his best; gambling on balls into the box and busting his gut to get infront of his marker. He's just not doing that anymore. He doesn't have the skill to use the ball in deeper positions like Ageuro does, hence why he gives it away in those areas so often.
posted on 23/1/12
We are inclined to play the ball on the ground, rather than put high balls into the box. We do this because we have got a lot of very skilful ball players who can find their way through even a packed defence. And it works - look where we are!
Hoever I think Dzecko would score more if we varied it a bit and put the occasional cross over.
posted on 23/1/12
I completely agree with your assessment che. We were better with Aguero a little deeper linking up with Silva, and Dzeko pushing on, but at the moment that's not much use if Dzeko is going to balloon it over the bar every time he gets a chance. We need reliable players at the moment while we're a little stretched, and you just can't rely on Dzeko to do the business at the moment.
His first touch was as bad as I have seen it yesterday, and for a big lad he struggles to hold the ball up. Mario was just as poor when he came on, but the advantage with him is that he can pull a goal out of pretty much nowhere, which he did.
posted on 23/1/12
che i think if you look at the 1st chance where it appeared Dzeko got in aguero's way, it seems to me that when the ball was crossed Dzeko was the nearest player and reacted 1st. Aguero came in from behind and should probably have called. Dzeko has spent more time on the bench which in all honesty does not help his confidence. I do think he should just try to calm down a wee bit when a chance appears , as twice yesterday and especially in the Sunderland game he tries to leather the ball to kingdom come, which results usually in him leaning back and blasting skyward. He should imo brush up on a bit of composure.