In, Out, Shake It All About: January 2025 Transfer Window

[Bijou Bob]

I disagree somewhat that we don't have a natural striker. Vic could be that man for me. If we play with wide men and get them to deliver early balls into the box, he's proven he can score goals at this level. We've never yet played to his strengths.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I disagree somewhat that we don't have a natural striker. Vic could be that man for me. If we play with wide men and get them to deliver early balls into the box, he's proven he can score goals at this level. We've never yet played to his strengths.

We did for a bit but it felt like less than a month.

He's willing to play at 9, attract two men and hold the ball up. I can see Collins at 11, Randall at 10 and maybe Tutu at 7 playing off him; or if we play 4-3-3 rather than 4231 it'd be Randall dropped to get say Morley-Thomo-Sheehan behind him. It's not a bad front 6, with refreshments off the bench from McAtee, Schon, Randall if not starting, maybe Lolos, CMG if he's not fallen down the back of the sofa.

[Worthy4England]

I have a problem with this Attackers set-up. Not at an individual level, per se but still no one has shown me how they all fit together consistently and perform and just having the talented, technically able lads is probably not good enough in itself to drive top 2/3 consistency that I assume was envisaged when we collected the bag o bits. - we have Collins, Vic, Mcatee, Nlundulu and CMG at the moment listed as "attackers" obvs with Dan on holiday, I have no idea how they're meant to fit together - I had little idea, the minute Collins arrived. If we were changing them on 70 minutes then you need two sets of working partnerships. I'm not seeing combos work regularly enough to say much other than a bag o bits. New fella is going to need to assemble the puzzle so the rest of us can work it out.

[BWFC_Insane]

I have a problem with this Attackers set-up. Not at an individual level, per se but still no one has shown me how they all fit together consistently and perform and just having the talented, technically able lads is probably not good enough in itself to drive top 2/3 consistency that I assume was envisaged when we collected the bag o bits. - we have Collins, Vic, Mcatee, Nlundulu and CMG at the moment listed as "attackers" obvs with Dan on holiday, I have no idea how they're meant to fit together - I had little idea, the minute Collins arrived. If we were changing them on 70 minutes then you need two sets of working partnerships. I'm not seeing combos work regularly enough to say much other than a bag o bits. New fella is going to need to assemble the puzzle so the rest of us can work it out.

Agree with this. It’s almost like just throwing three talented lads onto the pitch in positions that are alien to them and saying ‘make it work’ doesn’t work.

Whatever system we play and I’m far from sure two up front makes sense but whatever we do play we need people in roles they can play and ideally with others that suit their games to form a collective that works.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Perhaps of interest to those who would us to get a six-foot defensive midfielder who's also played centre-back and right-back:

[Bijou Bob]

Agree with all of the above. We seem to have bought half a dozen number 8/10's at the same time as we got rid of JDB, the only point man we had (Albeit we rarely if ever, played him as such).

Will the new guy bring in a 'Big unit' to play two behind and if he does, are we just a Forino off losing Plan A after two matches?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Will the new guy bring in a 'Big unit' to play two behind and if he does, are we just a Forino off losing Plan A after two matches?

Playing two behind one and adding Forino pretty much *was* Evatt's plan for August, but it didn't survive contact with jarsh reality

[Prufrock]

There are a lot of variables. Part of the reason we had to change both strikers every game was we were trying to press high with a 352 which demands so much of them.

Saturday we played 352 but we didn't engage as high regularly. Play like that and you can get a lot more minutes out of the front two (you can change if you want to, but you don't have to). Equally different shape and you don't need to change as often. Saka, Salah and Haaland three who jump to mind you play pretty much every game, for 90 minutes in teams you wouldn't describe as passive. (Saka injured now but after basically 4 years of ongoing every game). Obviously depends on the player, but Collins seems to be able to go pretty consistently.

[GhostoftheBok]

Perhaps of interest to those who would us to get a six-foot defensive midfielder who's also played centre-back and right-back:

One of the only players to put the ball past Trafford this season. Looks like you've identified our natural striker.

[Worthy4England]

There are a lot of variables. Part of the reason we had to change both strikers every game was we were trying to press high with a 352 which demands so much of them.

Saturday we played 352 but we didn't engage as high regularly. Play like that and you can get a lot more minutes out of the front two (you can change if you want to, but you don't have to). Equally different shape and you don't need to change as often. Saka, Salah and Haaland three who jump to mind you play pretty much every game, for 90 minutes in teams you wouldn't describe as passive. (Saka injured now but after basically 4 years of ongoing every game). Obviously depends on the player, but Collins seems to be able to go pretty consistently.

Agree there's a lot of variables - them's the things that need considering when turning bits into finished puzzles - I know we changed both strikers on 70 because of the demands of the press, but collectively they need to also be able to satisfy their parts in the demands of the "goals for" column and since Jan last year, I have no idea what our notional "best starting XI" would be upfront...

[Prufrock]

Aye, in hindsight I think it's safe to say that idea didn't work. Couldn't tell you what our most starting front two this year is. Suspect it involves Collins but not Vic. But a lot of chopping and changing. When they're all flying and fresh and that's great, when they're not it looks a mess.

[Bertie Wooster]

There were a couple of comments last night saying that the big Cardiff lad was at the game - if its him or nothing before the window closes then its a no brainer, he could turn out decent or then again he could be injured after a game or two - but its a different option up front and we need more height in this team.

[sonicthewhite]

There were a couple of comments last night saying that the big Cardiff lad was at the game - if its him or nothing before the window closes then its a no brainer, he could turn out decent or then again he could be injured after a game or two - but its a different option up front and we need more height in this team.

Aye, Tom Eaves proved that when he came on for Northampton. He looked huge compared to our back line, in fact most of the team.

[BWFC_Insane]

There were a couple of comments last night saying that the big Cardiff lad was at the game - if its him or nothing before the window closes then its a no brainer, he could turn out decent or then again he could be injured after a game or two - but its a different option up front and we need more height in this team.

Pretty sure he was there and looks massive. The trouble is he’s not meant to be much use in the air. For me I think looking at how Darby is setting us up another channel runner with a bit of presence would be preferable. A better Vic if you like. Vic ran the channels well and was a good outlet he just struggled at times on the ball. Another player who can do that would be good.

[Bertie Wooster]

There were a couple of comments last night saying that the big Cardiff lad was at the game - if its him or nothing before the window closes then its a no brainer, he could turn out decent or then again he could be injured after a game or two - but its a different option up front and we need more height in this team.

Pretty sure he was there and looks massive. The trouble is he’s not meant to be much use in the air. For me I think looking at how Darby is setting us up another channel runner with a bit of presence would be preferable. A better Vic if you like. Vic ran the channels well and was a good outlet he just struggled at times on the ball. Another player who can do that would be good.

Perhaps the Cardiff lad could do that but do it better than Vic, because let's be honest it wouldn't be hard to be better than Vic - he was shocking with the ball last night, really bad.

[BWFC_Insane]

There were a couple of comments last night saying that the big Cardiff lad was at the game - if its him or nothing before the window closes then its a no brainer, he could turn out decent or then again he could be injured after a game or two - but its a different option up front and we need more height in this team.

Pretty sure he was there and looks massive. The trouble is he’s not meant to be much use in the air. For me I think looking at how Darby is setting us up another channel runner with a bit of presence would be preferable. A better Vic if you like. Vic ran the channels well and was a good outlet he just struggled at times on the ball. Another player who can do that would be good.

Perhaps the Cardiff lad could do that but do it better than Vic, because let's be honest it wouldn't be hard to be better than Vic - he was shocking with the ball last night, really bad.

Maybe. I thought he had a good game though Vic. Accepting he’s limited on the ball he got in behind a fair few times and made good runs. Like you say if we found someone who did that but had a little more composure on the ball we’d be stronger.

[TANGODANCER]

Perhaps the Cardiff lad could do that but do it better than Vic, because let's be honest it wouldn't be hard to be better than Vic - he was shocking with the ball last night, really bad.
[/quote]

We must see things from different perspectives, Bertie. Vic was all over the pitch at times. He used his pace in defence, couple of times from left back position. If he can just get a couple of goals he won't need replacing. He's a true White for me.

[dave the minion]

Perhaps the Cardiff lad could do that but do it better than Vic, because let's be honest it wouldn't be hard to be better than Vic - he was shocking with the ball last night, really bad.

We must see things from different perspectives, Bertie. Vic was all over the pitch at times. He used his pace in defence, couple of times from left back position. If he can just get a couple of goals he won't need replacing. He's a true White for me.


[/quote]

This - lets not underestimate the work and effort Vic puts in for the team - rarely for personal reward. When he plays like he has the last couple of games he must be horrible to defend against.....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

lets not underestimate the work and effort Vic puts in for the team - rarely for personal reward. When he plays like he has the last couple of games he must be horrible to defend against.....

Last night's win took our record this season when Vic starts to W10 D3 L2. That's 2.2PPG, which is 101pts over a season.

Our record when he doesn't start is W8 D4 L10 - 58pts over a season.

Clearly things are far more complicated than that but we do seem a better team with him in it.

[Bertie Wooster]

I don't doubt that Vic works hard, but he has no composure with the ball at his feet - at times he looks like his feet are on the wrong legs - the majority of his passes go nowhere near a white shirt.