Giordano Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 (edited) Was just thinking if MP has done this exercise. Imagine Rickie breaks down with something serious and cannot play for six months. What do you do? At present we do seem very lightweight up front. Surely we cannot go into a new season with essentially three forwards - SRL. Jrod and Mayuka plus a couple who don't even train with the main squad as emergency cover ( ie Lee and Sharp)? The only way I can see us planning for that in the absence of a new recruit is by flooding the pitch with midfielders a la Barcelona. A rickie-less line up might have standard back four plus Jrod as the striker surrounded by a midfield perm 5 from these 6 : AL, Cork, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ramirez and Puncheon? Edited 5 August, 2013 by Giordano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 You forget we have Guly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pangy Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Spain won the euros that way,pretty much played 6 midfielders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 This happened to me in Football Manager. I played Ramirez false 9. He was mustard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Jon Parkin or Adebayo Akinfenwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Ramirez could do a job up there, but we defeinitely do need to sign someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted 5 August, 2013 Author Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Of course - my apologies. Guly is a like for like in terms of size and strength plus he can run faster. Not as good in the air though or at shooting I'd say. But would put a shift in at cf if asked in emergency im sure and he can hold the ball up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Presumably (without signing anyone else), we play with Mayuka up top and reap the benefits of Gaston having someone to pass to. Or we could use Rodriguez there - he's no kind of target man, but as the gameplan involves busting a gut to close down in the attacking third and rapidly transition the ball to players in scoring positions when the opposition is still out of position, you'd have to expect a hard-working and pacy runner in behind to have obvious benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Spain won the euros that way,pretty much played 6 midfielders We pretty much already do this on occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted 5 August, 2013 Author Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Spain won the euros that way,pretty much played 6 midfielders Yeah i still cant get my head around Fabregas as a centre forward though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 SRL getting a serious injury wouldn't worry me a jot. We might even score more goals; He's had a very average pre-season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastor Patrón Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 SRL getting a serious injury wouldn't worry me a jot. We might even score more goals; He's had a very average pre-season. Wasn't he the same last pre-season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Clearly we are in the market for a new striker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Sad to say, but I don't think losing Lambert would actually be our worst case scenario any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Wasn't he the same last pre-season? Probably, don't remember, didn't see a lot of last pre-season, seen 3 games this time round. I know Adkins dropped him for the openning game though, that seemed to spark him into life when he came on against Citeh. Got the impression that SRL needs a bit of a kick up the ass from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Sad to say, but I don't think losing Lambert would actually be our worst case scenario any more. I really hope we don't get to test this theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Ryan Seager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 This happened to me in Football Manager. I played Ramirez false 9. He was mustard! That's the ticket. Not ideal but workable. Signing a striker is my only 'wish' before the end of the window. While I'd love for Mayuka to step up, it seems a bit risky to rely on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 It would be Jay Rod's time to shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 SRL getting a serious injury wouldn't worry me a jot. We might even score more goals; He's had a very average pre-season. He's pish every Pre-Season to be fair, don't think he scored one in the Pre-Season before we got promoted from the Championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Was just thinking if MP has done this exercise. Imagine Rickie breaks down with something serious and cannot play for six months. What do you do? At present we do seem very lightweight up front. Surely we cannot go into a new season with essentially three forwards - SRL. Jrod and Mayuka plus a couple who don't even train with the main squad as emergency cover ( ie Lee and Sharp)? The only way I can see us planning for that in the absence of a new recruit is by flooding the pitch with midfielders a la Barcelona. A rickie-less line up might have standard back four plus Jrod as the striker surrounded by a midfield perm 5 from these 6 : AL, Cork, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ramirez and Puncheon? Loan him out to Pompey? Should still get a game that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 I'd be happy enough with JRod playing off the last man and Gaston in the hole for now. It's all a bit pointless debating this at the moment, we will sign another striker this month and he would probably displace Rickie as first choice striker anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Clearly we are in the market for a new striker. This. Until the transfer window shuts and proves me wrong, I'm confident that we will sign another forward. I'm sure we have lined up a few 'second-choices' if we can't land one of our first picks. And I'm sure there are probably some 'worst-case' options to back them up. We might well play the first few games without making any further additions, but I'd be surprised if we let the window close without bringing in the best player we can convince to join us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Has George WEAH got anymore cousins or nephews? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studentsaint Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 IMO its ridiculous to undermine Lamberts importance to our team. Ever since e has been here he has been the most prominent reason for our success. Last season people wrote him off and he proed them wrong. A team without rickie lambert, unless replaced with a quality striker, is significantly weaker. He has got us out of the brown stuff many a time. Plus, he shouldnt be judged on pre season form, he is working on fitness and always turns it on when it matters. I dot believe we have any other attacking player that can do that. Howeer I agree with the OP that a striker is needed but we still have a month to get our primary target, rather than worrying and going for a weaker option just because we hae entered august. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild-saint Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 i really donth think it matters. reading this forum it seems a fair few think he is immobile, a plodder, past it, average, too old etc etc. personally i think the man is mustard and will yet again show the watching football world that writing off sir rickie is just plain stupid. i kind of hope we dont sign an expensive striker with a view to easing him out of the team as i love watching him play football Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s0108787 Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 i really donth think it matters. reading this forum it seems a fair few think he is immobile, a plodder, past it, average, too old etc etc. personally i think the man is mustard and will yet again show the watching football world that writing off sir rickie is just plain stupid. i kind of hope we dont sign an expensive striker with a view to easing him out of the team as i love watching him play football This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Not sure how it works with registering the squad but if we don't end up getting another striker I'd bring Billy Sharp into the squad. He might not be quite prem standard but he does know where the goal is and would be well capable of doing a useful backup job for us. I'm sure he'd get a few goals too. Hopefully we'll get someone as it's looking as threadbare up front as it was in defence+goal this time last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s0108787 Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 i really donth think it matters. reading this forum it seems a fair few think he is immobile, a plodder, past it, average, too old etc etc. personally i think the man is mustard and will yet again show the watching football world that writing off sir rickie is just plain stupid. i kind of hope we dont sign an expensive striker with a view to easing him out of the team as i love watching him play football This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Rickie is expected to play second fiddle next season. Jay is expected to do great things and the new man will be our talisman. All this from a good source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreemantleSaint Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 I still have faith in Rickie. Who else is going to score 15 goals for us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Rickie is more of a second striker than a centre forward anyway - he's better with someone playing in front of him so he can drop deep or go wide to pick up the ball and make the play. Lambert's best games were always those when he had Connolly, Barnard or Sharp playing in front if him so he could find the space in he hole for the shot, drift to he back post for the header or make the killer through pass for the assist. If we don't sign mother striker I'd expect us to start this season with Rodriguez leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 using his pace and movement across the front - with Ramirez in the hole flanked by Lallana and Puncheon - or as the central striker in a 4-3-3 with Ramirez and Lallana alongside him and Cork as the holding midfielder with Morgan and Wanyama pressing and driving forward. Lambert will be our Plan B when we need to go more direct or use the long ball - using him as the second striker to recieve the ball from the back and link the play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints boy in Leeds Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 This happened to me in Football Manager. I played Ramirez false 9. He was mustard! I play with him as L striker and Damiao on the right, Benega as number 10 in Fifa 13, rip teams apart ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints boy in Leeds Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Rickie is expected to play second fiddle next season. Jay is expected to do great things and the new man will be our talisman. All this from a good source. Really ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS1980 Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 People just need to relax! We will sign a new forward before the window shuts. The situation we find ourselves in is that we are trying to sign players for which we may not be their first choice. Would u rather we just lower our targets and settle for someone not as good? If we buy too early we may then miss out on someone else who may become available later in the window because their club has signed someone else. We aren't Man U or City or Chelsea where if they want someone 99% of the time they get them. If Rooney goes to Chelsea then perhaps Torres Ba or Lukaku will be available. I'd take any of them but right now they aren't available. This is why so many deals happen right at the end of the window Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 We are buying a striker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Clearly we are in the market for a new striker.This. I don't for a second think we'll see the window shut on the 3rd September without another striker in the ranks and I'd quite happily put money on that. This is now a well run club that would not make a silly error like that, and looking at our aim of signing Damiao shows that we're interested in bringing another striker in. All the bedwetting about the striker situation is premature. We still have a couple of weeks before the season starts and a whole month before the window closes - as it stands we're fine for what we have, so even if we start the season with the current crop of strikers it won't be the end of the world. As per the OP's question, if Rickie got injured tomorrow, we'd still have JRod, Mayuka wouldn't be sent on loan, and Guly can play up top too. Worst case scenario we chuck someone like Jake Sinclair in there. If he DID get injured tomorrow though, I would expect we'd very swiftly pull a loan striker or quick transfer out of the hat. The time to panic over the OP's question is if it happens on the 4th September AND we didn't bring anyone else in. Then you can worry. I can't see that happening though. My thoughts on it are that football fans love a transfer in general, and as Wanyama signed quite some time ago, that we're all craving another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Someone else can take his place on the bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint si Posted 5 August, 2013 Share Posted 5 August, 2013 Sad to say, but I don't think losing Lambert would actually be our worst case scenario any more. Perhaps losing the new bus over a cliff on the way to WBA? Should have signed a better driver in july FFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 6 August, 2013 Share Posted 6 August, 2013 Sad to say, but I don't think losing Lambert would actually be our worst case scenario any more. Yes, unfortunately I would have to say this ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 6 August, 2013 Share Posted 6 August, 2013 Really ? Do you think we'd sign a striker for the sorts of fees discussed as a backup for Rickie Lambert? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 August, 2013 Share Posted 6 August, 2013 We pretty much already do this on occasions. Yup, and show that we arent very good at putting the ball away when we do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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