Skip to main content

The Centre Forward Conundrum

The Centre Forward Conundrum

V

veracruz

Joined
Feb 13, 2013
Messages
104
While it’s way too soon to suggest that we’ve turned the corner, with the tentative emergence of Nmecha (if continued), the return of Maguire and with Robinson starting to chip-in as a goalscorer, not to mention the divided opinion on Moult, is there still a general view that the priority is to find a replacement centre forward in the mould of Hugill or should we turn attention to the defence which by any standard has been shipping far too many goals since the season started.

It would be nice to think that we can do both and more but as the evidence is that funding will continue to be tight we may need to focus on one area or the other. Whatever the prevailing view is now, it will be interesting to see if it changes come Christmas time and if it does, doesn’t it just prove how difficult it is to decide where the money should be spent.
 
veracruz said:
While it’s way too soon to suggest that we’ve turned the corner, with the tentative emergence of Nmecha (if continued), the return of Maguire and with Robinson starting to chip-in as a goalscorer, not to mention the divided opinion on Moult, is there still a general view that the priority is to find a replacement centre forward in the mould of Hugill or should we turn attention to the defence which by any standard has been shipping far too many goals since the season started.

It would be nice to think that we can do both and more but as the evidence is that funding will continue to be tight we may need to focus on one area or the other. Whatever the prevailing view is now, it will be interesting to see if it changes come Christmas time and if it does, doesn’t it just prove how difficult it is to decide where the money should be spent.
Click to expand...

Providing Nmecha continues to play as he did on Saturday then with Moult as back-up and Maguire freed up to play a more mobile role there will be no need for another centre forward in January. What we will need is cover at right-back. Whether we will need another central defender will depend on how Huntington in particular and Clarke play in the meantime. Again depending on circumstances we may need some more strength-in-depth in central midfield but providing Pearson stays out of trouble and Ledson continues to develop then that may not be necessary.
 
Last edited:
You're right in saying we haven't turned a corner, but the attack is certainly clicking right now. Therefore, you're right, the defence needs totally addressing. Cover and competition for Fisher's place is imperative as if he's injured I simply cannot handle Clarke at right back and it's been readily acknowledged that his poor early season form was down to no one chasing him for that spot.
I think we can leave the attack, especially if Nmecha can start bagging a few goals. Moult is useful despite all of the opposition, and Maguire is much more than just a striker, he can operate those wide channels.
Neil needs to turn his attention to organising our defence and making sure we can keep 11 players on the field at all time- we've had a stupid amount of suspensions this season and it simply has to change.
Storey is looking like a real find, with some proper nurturing him and Davies could very well be our centre back pairing come the turn of the year.
 
veracruz said:
While it’s way too soon to suggest that we’ve turned the corner, with the tentative emergence of Nmecha (if continued), the return of Maguire and with Robinson starting to chip-in as a goalscorer, not to mention the divided opinion on Moult, is there still a general view that the priority is to find a replacement centre forward in the mould of Hugill or should we turn attention to the defence which by any standard has been shipping far too many goals since the season started.

It would be nice to think that we can do both and more but as the evidence is that funding will continue to be tight we may need to focus on one area or the other. Whatever the prevailing view is now, it will be interesting to see if it changes come Christmas time and if it does, doesn’t it just prove how difficult it is to decide where the money should be spent.
Click to expand...
.
A centre forward needs signing full stop & has done since hugill was sold let's not start a this all again because we won Saturday
 
I think a focal point up top would still be high on the list of priorities, and a centre half not so high if at all. I think we need a right back first and foremost.
 
Last edited:
Moult isn’t that good, Robinson and Maguire are best played off a loan striker and Nmecha is a young lad and be inconsistent.

We still need a striker but I think we were quite right to not buy one whose wage demands or clubs fee were stupid values
 
We need to have eyes open, even if it isn't the top priority. After all, Nmecha won't be here next season and Maguire's fitness is no guarantee. Gotta think beyond the short term.
 
bowlandwhites said:
.
A centre forward needs signing full stop & has done since hugill was sold let's not start a this all again because we won Saturday
Click to expand...

Absolutely, people still making the same old mistakes, we need another Centre forward as we are certain to sustain further injuries and we will be back to a couple of weeks ago. Wake up folks we need quality plus strength in depth to get out of the mess we are in.
 
One_of_our_own2 said:
Moult isn’t that good, Robinson and Maguire are best played off a loan striker and Nmecha is a young lad and be inconsistent.

We still need a striker but I think we were quite right to not buy one whose wage demands or clubs fee were stupid values
Click to expand...

Correct we were right not to pay stupid wages or valuations, nobody wanted that. What was wrong was that we wouldn’t even pay reasonable fees for our level (especially considering how we’ve benefitted in the market from selling) to get a striker.

AN’s first choice Moore would easily have slotted into our wage structure and the fee of £1.5-2m quoted in June / July really wasn’t that daft considering we got £9m for Hugill. Moore will probably move for a lot more than what we could’ve signed him for in the next window or two.

That said, if Nmecha can play most weeks like he did at Villa and vs Wigan we’ll be fine. He’s only on loan though and as you say to be very consistent at his age is never easy, despite how talented he is. I still fully expect a physical, nuisance of a centre forward on a permanent to be something the manager wants to do in January, but I doubt it will be someone very experienced. Probably Surridge from Bournemouth or someone or that ilk.
 
ernest said:
Providing Nmecha continues to play as he did on Saturday then with Moult as back-up and Maguire freed up to play a more mobile role there will be no need for another centre forward in January. What we will need is cover at right-back. Whether we will need another central defender will depend on how Huntington in particular and Clarke play in the meantime. Again depending on circumstances we may need some more strength-in-depth in central midfield but providing Pearson stays out of trouble and Ledson continues to develop then that may not be necessary.
Click to expand...

I think we still need the target man Alex Neil has been wanting since Hugill's departure. If Nmecha continues to improve and Maguire stays fit for the rest of the season, fine, but both scenarios are by no means certain. As Neil clearly doesn't rate Moult, Nmecha is the only real physical presence we have up front, though he isn't a target man and it's unfeasible to ask an inexperienced youngster to play week in, week out.
 
bowlandwhites said:
.
A centre forward needs signing full stop & has done since hugill was sold let's not start a this all again because we won Saturday
Click to expand...

But don't forget we haven't replaced Cunningham.

We're scoring plenty of goals and letting in too many which suggests defence is the priority.
 
One_of_our_own2 said:
Moult isn’t that good, Robinson and Maguire are best played off a loan striker and Nmecha is a young lad and be inconsistent.

We still need a striker but I think we were quite right to not buy one whose wage demands or clubs fee were stupid values
Click to expand...

Inconsistent is the wrong word - he's developing and in the right direction. He'll come good for us this season, with Robinson and Maguire behind him we'll do OK up front with Moult on the bench.
 
Nishtar36 said:
Nmecha is the dogs bollocks. Been clear since his debut.

Now he’s had time to settle in, he will be great.
Click to expand...

He was class on Saturday, he really deserves a goal and once he gets one they'll come thick and fast.
 
Nishtar36 said:
Nmecha is the dogs bollocks. Been clear since his debut.

Now he’s had time to settle in, he will be great.
Click to expand...

Probably will. But not for us in the near term.
The situation has to be addressed as it is still so very uncertain. Maguire I guess does have a history of injury which would n
Be no surprise if he had future problems, moult is utterly useless being kind and that's really about our lot
January cannot come quick enough for me to right the wrongs of the last transfer window
 
LostinSpace said:
I know, but he's not in the same class. Played OK against Wigan though.
Click to expand...

Picture yourself as a new left back at a club. Keepers dropping clangers weekly and the first choice has been changed by October. Numerous different centre back pairings to your right in just two months. Yourself being dropped in and out of the team when you've not really done anything wrong (Bolton in - Reading out)

What this team is screaming out for is a settled defensive unit. Then will be the time to judge Hughes.

Nice One.
 
Back
Top