Dzeko has scored 24 goals this season, this is there 2nd choice striker, may even be 3rd. I can't help but think we have been similar in a lot of games for a set period, we either deliver a ball into the middle where no one is around, or the striker can't hold it up with their aimless dribbling, or can't lay it off.
But do you honestly think Dzeko would score as many goals if he played for us?
Yeah, probably more. We would play him in more games compared to all these other strikers here. Our creativity stats are not bad, 2nd to City's. I honestly think a top CF will make a huge difference.
But how often do you see our fullbacks making an overlapping run and putting in a good delivery?
Almost never. Azpi rarely crosses with his left foot and the less said about Ivanovic's crossing the better. They offer almost nothing offensively. In the modern game you need your fullbacks to do a bit more than just defend.
Well I'm not saying we are offensively better or as good as City, just like they're not defensively better than us. But I do think we have been in many goal scoring opportunities this season, that any of the strikers from City would take advantage off.
Against Norwich many times we broke through their last midfielders, hitting straight arrow balls on the floor to Ba, where he failed to lay it off properly, or produce any solid movement to make space for himself to shoot, after holding it up well.
Absolutely. When we set the goals record in 2010, a lot of our goals came from Cole overlapping Malouda on the left. They had a great partnership.
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
As much as a striker's potency in-front of goal is from their own technical ability it's also from the general attacking play of your team.
Plenty of average strikers score butt-load in great teams. Just look at Mario Gomez. The guy needed like 5 chances a match just to score. But he still managed over 40 in a season. Not due to his brilliance but to the amazing wing-play of Ribery and Robben.
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
comment by Kevin De Bruyne #ETO'OOOOOO (U14678)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True but he essentially played to the effect of a fullback for that goal as it was Willian who initially got the ball and Azpi made an overlapping run. Something any decent full back should be doing in a match.
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
There is a balance, and I believe with a solid striker up top our balance would be near perfect between attacking and defending. We may not be as offensive as City even with a new striker, but we will win a lot of games that we didn't this year, keep a strong defence and pick up points. I think our goal would be to get playing to something like Bayern did last season, or RM under Mourinho in 2nd season.
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
---------
City's passing is more crisp. Most passes are weighted correctly. The close control of their players is much better, movement is better. Nothing to do with strikers. However they have a much older team, more experienced. We need to match them in their attacking play next season. I dont wana see slow lethargic play from our players anymore. 4 years of watching us play like this is too much.
I still hoe we bring luke shaw in barkley and costa that should make for a complete squad
Barkley? I'd like Fabregas tbh, not sure how likely that is. But I guess we have to increase the amount of English players we have in the squad.
While I agree with some of the comments about our build play often being too slow and lethargic I think that City have a much better strikeforce.
Jose was linked with Dzecko last summer and I think he would have made quite a big difference.
If our build up play is ponderous then it could have a lot to do with how little faith our attcking midfielders have in our strikers - especially Torres.
If we had a top class striker at the peak of his game I'm sure our midfielders would be doing a lot more to get the ball to him in goalscoring positions.
With Torres you know you're wasting your time even trying to do that as 9 times out of 10 he'll just fack it up.
ive watched us very closely this season and its really simple 1.our full backs/wingers more then often did not play in the ball quicker from the wider areas into the opposition box then they should have 2.On ocassions when they did that we had no body in the box trying to attack the ball
So one we need to tell our fullbacks/wingers to play in the ball early and two we need to buy a striker who has a sense of urgency in the box because the ones we have now clearly lack that instinct,lampard was massive for us in fullfilling that role during his peak years so we didnt require as much assistance from the strikers as we do now
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posted on 7/5/14
Dzeko has scored 24 goals this season, this is there 2nd choice striker, may even be 3rd. I can't help but think we have been similar in a lot of games for a set period, we either deliver a ball into the middle where no one is around, or the striker can't hold it up with their aimless dribbling, or can't lay it off.
posted on 7/5/14
But do you honestly think Dzeko would score as many goals if he played for us?
posted on 7/5/14
Yeah, probably more. We would play him in more games compared to all these other strikers here. Our creativity stats are not bad, 2nd to City's. I honestly think a top CF will make a huge difference.
posted on 7/5/14
But how often do you see our fullbacks making an overlapping run and putting in a good delivery?
Almost never. Azpi rarely crosses with his left foot and the less said about Ivanovic's crossing the better. They offer almost nothing offensively. In the modern game you need your fullbacks to do a bit more than just defend.
posted on 7/5/14
Well I'm not saying we are offensively better or as good as City, just like they're not defensively better than us. But I do think we have been in many goal scoring opportunities this season, that any of the strikers from City would take advantage off.
Against Norwich many times we broke through their last midfielders, hitting straight arrow balls on the floor to Ba, where he failed to lay it off properly, or produce any solid movement to make space for himself to shoot, after holding it up well.
posted on 7/5/14
Absolutely. When we set the goals record in 2010, a lot of our goals came from Cole overlapping Malouda on the left. They had a great partnership.
posted on 7/5/14
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
posted on 7/5/14
As much as a striker's potency in-front of goal is from their own technical ability it's also from the general attacking play of your team.
Plenty of average strikers score butt-load in great teams. Just look at Mario Gomez. The guy needed like 5 chances a match just to score. But he still managed over 40 in a season. Not due to his brilliance but to the amazing wing-play of Ribery and Robben.
posted on 7/5/14
*due to the
posted on 7/5/14
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
posted on 7/5/14
comment by Kevin De Bruyne #ETO'OOOOOO (U14678)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True but he essentially played to the effect of a fullback for that goal as it was Willian who initially got the ball and Azpi made an overlapping run. Something any decent full back should be doing in a match.
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
posted on 7/5/14
There is a balance, and I believe with a solid striker up top our balance would be near perfect between attacking and defending. We may not be as offensive as City even with a new striker, but we will win a lot of games that we didn't this year, keep a strong defence and pick up points. I think our goal would be to get playing to something like Bayern did last season, or RM under Mourinho in 2nd season.
posted on 7/5/14
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
---------
City's passing is more crisp. Most passes are weighted correctly. The close control of their players is much better, movement is better. Nothing to do with strikers. However they have a much older team, more experienced. We need to match them in their attacking play next season. I dont wana see slow lethargic play from our players anymore. 4 years of watching us play like this is too much.
posted on 8/5/14
I still hoe we bring luke shaw in barkley and costa that should make for a complete squad
posted on 8/5/14
'Hope
posted on 8/5/14
Barkley? I'd like Fabregas tbh, not sure how likely that is. But I guess we have to increase the amount of English players we have in the squad.
posted on 8/5/14
While I agree with some of the comments about our build play often being too slow and lethargic I think that City have a much better strikeforce.
Jose was linked with Dzecko last summer and I think he would have made quite a big difference.
If our build up play is ponderous then it could have a lot to do with how little faith our attcking midfielders have in our strikers - especially Torres.
If we had a top class striker at the peak of his game I'm sure our midfielders would be doing a lot more to get the ball to him in goalscoring positions.
With Torres you know you're wasting your time even trying to do that as 9 times out of 10 he'll just fack it up.
posted on 8/5/14
ive watched us very closely this season and its really simple 1.our full backs/wingers more then often did not play in the ball quicker from the wider areas into the opposition box then they should have 2.On ocassions when they did that we had no body in the box trying to attack the ball
So one we need to tell our fullbacks/wingers to play in the ball early and two we need to buy a striker who has a sense of urgency in the box because the ones we have now clearly lack that instinct,lampard was massive for us in fullfilling that role during his peak years so we didnt require as much assistance from the strikers as we do now
Page 1 of 1