Last season we worshiped Mitro and couldn't imagine how we would get by without him, we valued him at £25m+.
Right now he is unlikely to be selected for our next match, inadequate strikers like Cav. or Kamara may well be ahead of him in the pecking order.
So what has gone wrong, more than just failure to recover from an injury surely.
What can we do about the problem:-
A further period of rest in the hope of recovery,
Take a sink or swim attitude and put him on from the start against Brighton
Give up and sell him in the next couple of days to make space for a replacement.
I have been calling for a recall but after his Burnley performance am full of doubt.
He was so good for us, we really need to know what the problem is.
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
I didn't think he was that bad - he got the ball in the net.
Burnley had their first choice cb playing - Tarkovsky, and i think Mitro found it tough, and definitely thought he wasn't getting ref protection, with little support.
When he 'scored' i thought we were just getting into the game with some good pressure from him and BDR - denied a really strong, much stronger than Burnley's, pen shout.
The main problem with Mitro i think, is that his style and attributes aren't suited to the way Scott now wants to play.
But I hope he features v Brighton, and scores.
Quote from: PaulJ123 on January 25, 2021, 03:41:49 PM
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
What has Mitro done this season to even get selected
We need to start giving him the ball even if its a hoof upfield
He cant do anything if he isnt getting the service
Quote from: sunburywhite on January 25, 2021, 03:57:03 PM
We need to start giving him the ball even if its a hoof upfield
He cant do anything if he isnt getting the service
So if we play Lookman, Reid and RLC around him against Brighton will there be hope of a goal or two.
Quote from: sunburywhite on January 25, 2021, 03:57:03 PM
We need to start giving him the ball even if its a hoof upfield
He cant do anything if he isnt getting the service
He doesn't even try to win the headers or receive the ball though
Honestly, Mitro is far below expectations this season. Counter-attacking tactics have always brought good results to teams that play that way, but for something like that we would need a new striker who would fit into that style. If we can't get such a striker, Parker will have to find a way to wake up Mitro and get him back to life. Also in that case Parker will have to work hard with the team to practice attack variants and improve crosses accuracy. Tete has shown that he is able to find Mitro, but Robinson, Aina, Cavaleiro, Kebano and Brian should practice crosses and long passes day and night. Also, Tete showed in his early games that it worked best when crosses are done immediately instead of holding the ball and passing it back hundred times.
Also, I understood the urgency for the high ball possession tactics - when your defense is abysmal you have to hold the ball as much as possible. But now when we have much better defense we should be more brave with more creative key passes and crosses.
I think it interesting when a small number of posts over the last couple of years about Mitro's limitations, or, unsuitability for certain styles get dismissed. (Mine included)
If you play Mitro as the sole striker and the opposition deny the supply and/or (usually both) mark him out the game, he looks really ineffective.
But you come on here after a game last season when he was kept quiet and people say he didn't look interested nd its in someway down to his state of mind or state of fitness. However, if he is your sole focal point and you're in the championship, there will be days that he gets a bit of supply and/or the defence just can't handle him. Lets be honest, usually not the best defenders and on those days he will get you goals. Nearly 30 of them last season. But this comes at a price. Your other attacking players won't get the chances and will feed off long range worldies.
All the above happened. This isn't my fanciful view.
The other downside is that when the other team has the ball at the back, you may as well give Mitro a seat on the side and just say tae a breath and wait there until we will the ball back.
I happened to think last season (and I said it on here) that there is a place for Mitro, I preferred him as our plan b, as I thought we lose to much with him playing sole striker.
Clearly, Scott Parker feels the same. We play a more aggressive style, fighting to win the ball back, sitting back and breaking fast.
Mitro couldn't do that any season and he can't do that now. It doesn't mean something is wrong or he is not trying (although he does look particularly fed up).
He offers something unique and he is the best at it and we all love him but the defenders in the premiership are quick and strong.
Looking at the championship, I think out the top 6, only Reading and Watford would take him and guarantee him a starting spot. I just don't think Norwich, Brentford, Swansea or Bournemouth would.
If you take this as a post as me saying he is no good, you're not reading it.
I agree that Mitrovic isn't suited to our current tactics but cannot accept this argument that he's too limited to play against "quick and strong" PL defenders.
On his day he offers not just power but cracking finishing and skill, no less than what Zamora offered when he bullied Cannavaro (among other world class defenders) in 2008/09/10. Every player has his limitations - Pele for example wasn't particularly strong. It doesn't mean they can be snuffed out by a certain calibre or type of opponent.
At the end of the day, Mitrovic's record speaks for itself. Plenty of Championship defenders are PL quality (Tosin was one of them last season) and their coaching teams do their research. It's the fifth best league in the world. So if there was a simple way of snuffing Mitro out, he wouldn't be scoring that many goals. Even his PL record last time around was respectable for a club of our stature - 11 goals.
Going back to the Zamora comparison, personally I'm starting to think that if the cost of our present set-up is not getting the best out of Mitro, and we're not going to sign another striker of his calibre, then we should consider changing the set-up on that basis alone. Under Roy we played off a fairly static target man, but were still defensively solid and managed to squeeze 1-0 wins out of games against far superior opposition. Good managers at small clubs like ours pick tactics to suit the players at their disposal, not the other way around.
STOP WITH THE MITRO NONESENCE ,He will be good when we get relegated...
Quote from: filham on January 25, 2021, 03:33:43 PM
Last season we worshiped Mitro and couldn't imagine how we would get by without him, we valued him at £25m+.
Right now he is unlikely to be selected for our next match, inadequate strikers like Cav. or Kamara may well be ahead of him in the pecking order.
So what has gone wrong, more than just failure to recover from an injury surely.
What can we do about the problem:-
A further period of rest in the hope of recovery,
Take a sink or swim attitude and put him on from the start against Brighton
Give up and sell him in the next couple of days to make space for a replacement.
I have been calling for a recall but after his Burnley performance am full of doubt.
He was so good for us, we really need to know what the problem is.
Play him regularly . He needs to feel the love.
Play him and give him support
I think our team should have the ovaltine & cool downs after the game.
Quote from: Statto on January 25, 2021, 05:12:14 PM
I agree that Mitrovic isn't suited to our current tactics but cannot accept this argument that he's too limited to play against "quick and strong" PL defenders.
On his day he offers not just power but cracking finishing and skill, no less than what Zamora offered when he bullied Cannavaro (among other world class defenders) in 2008/09/10. Every player has his limitations - Pele for example wasn't particularly strong. It doesn't mean they can be snuffed out by a certain calibre or type of opponent.
At the end of the day, Mitrovic's record speaks for itself. Plenty of Championship defenders are PL quality (Tosin was one of them last season) and their coaching teams do their research. It's the fifth best league in the world. So if there was a simple way of snuffing Mitro out, he wouldn't be scoring that many goals. Even his PL record last time around was respectable for a club of our stature - 11 goals.
Going back to the Zamora comparison, personally I'm starting to think that if the cost of our present set-up is not getting the best out of Mitro, and we're not going to sign another striker of his calibre, then we should consider changing the set-up on that basis alone. Under Roy we played off a fairly static target man, but were still defensively solid and managed to squeeze 1-0 wins out of games against far superior opposition. Good managers at small clubs like ours pick tactics to suit the players at their disposal, not the other way around.
The problem is Statto although you make some fair points,football has changed dramatically since Roy was at the club. Just about every team in th PL is now playing a back 3 with wing backs and players quick in press. Even Roy is trying to offload Bentecke for that reason, and saha is his main striker. Not even Burnley base their strategy on pumping balls into the opponents box to get the big men on the end of it.
So at this level I bow to bennitez s judgement that Mitro is not a plan A and at best a plan B,as anattacking option ,sadly.
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Quote from: filham on January 25, 2021, 03:33:43 PM
Last season we worshiped Mitro and couldn't imagine how we would get by without him, we valued him at £25m+.
Right now he is unlikely to be selected for our next match, inadequate strikers like Cav. or Kamara may well be ahead of him in the pecking order.
So what has gone wrong, more than just failure to recover from an injury surely.
What can we do about the problem:-
A further period of rest in the hope of recovery,
Take a sink or swim attitude and put him on from the start against Brighton
Give up and sell him in the next couple of days to make space for a replacement.
I have been calling for a recall but after his Burnley performance am full of doubt.
He was so good for us, we really need to know what the problem is.
I didn't worship him last season. He wasn't as good as even the season before in terms of his all round game, certainly nothing on the beast we saw when he joined on loan.
He was a great finisher granted, but he no longer holds up the ball effectively and offers nothing linking up play with the other players. He's basically an old school target man for a team that don't play long ball and even when we do play a long ball he often loses it.
If we don't sign anyone we need to see more movement both in attack and in linking up play. He also needs to improve his fitness because he was definitely quicker in the past.
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Quote from: Arthur on January 25, 2021, 08:07:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Wait...I didn't know it was that bad.
Some players can make the jump...some can't.
Quote from: Arthur on January 25, 2021, 08:07:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Who else have we got?
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 25, 2021, 10:05:49 PM
Quote from: Arthur on January 25, 2021, 08:07:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Wait...I didn't know it was that bad.
Some players can make the jump...some can't.
But he has also found the back of the net 13 times in his last 45 starts in the Premier League, which suggests he can make the jump
Quote from: sunburywhite on January 25, 2021, 03:57:03 PM
We need to start giving him the ball even if its a hoof upfield
He cant do anything if he isnt getting the service
He needs to do more to get the service, especially in the penalty area, where (to my eye) he is not making enough attempt to find half a yard of space, but relies entirely on his bodily strength and ability in the air to beat the defender. Outside the box, his work rate and body language are lamentable, and he could do a lot more for the team and his own game, but I could forgive him that if he was doing his job inside the penalty area.
Hes had zero service but he's been crap anyway, this leagues all about speed and Mitro is slow as it gets, he looks so out of shape, he looks like how I feel when I get out of bed in the morning after a night out and I'm 50
Can he still finish, I believe so yes, he's one of the best in the league with his head, maybe we should use 2 strikers, a fast one and sluggish Mitro
I've still not completely written him off yet he just NEEDS a goal, all strikers are confidence players he needs to get his mojo back
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 25, 2021, 10:05:49 PM
Quote from: Arthur on January 25, 2021, 08:07:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Wait...I didn't know it was that bad.
Some players can make the jump...some can't.
What makes statistics an interesting topic for debate, in my opinion, is that they are factual information and yet open to interpretation.
And this is my interpretation. I appreciate that you (and, perhaps, others reading this) will decide whether you think it's reasonable to say it supports the view that Mitrovic lacks sufficient attributes to be expected to be an asset to a struggling P.L. team.
2018-19:
Opening 6 games - 5 goals
Remaining 31 appearances - 6 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
2020-21:
8 starts (+ 6 substitute appearances) - 2 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
At a rough calculation. Mitrovic has now played more than 2000 minutes of Premier League football since he last scored a goal in open play with his feet.
Suspect he will come off the bench in both of our next two games - which will be his main role in our current setup. I also think (or perhaps hope) he will score one, a sothers have said, that might be all thats needed to get his mojo back.
Tete and Bryan will suit him better than Reid and Robinson
Last 15 minutes only "emergency we need goal now!" striker. He runs as fast as he can for 15 minutes max, and if it doesn't work, oh well I guess we get relegated....again. :dead horse:
Quote from: perry geyton on January 25, 2021, 10:54:21 PM
Hes had zero service but he's been crap anyway, this leagues all about speed and Mitro is slow as it gets, he looks so out of shape, he looks like how I feel when I get out of bed in the morning after a night out and I'm 50
Can he still finish, I believe so yes, he's one of the best in the league with his head, maybe we should use 2 strikers, a fast one and sluggish Mitro
I've still not completely written him off yet he just NEEDS a goal, all strikers are confidence players he needs to get his mojo back
Mmmm. Mitro and Kamara
Quote from: Arthur on January 26, 2021, 12:01:42 AM
What makes statistics an interesting topic for debate, in my opinion, is that they are factual information and yet open to interpretation.
And this is my interpretation. I appreciate that you (and, perhaps, others reading this) will decide whether you think it's reasonable to say it supports the view that Mitrovic lacks sufficient attributes to be expected to be an asset to a struggling P.L. team.
2018-19:
Opening 6 games - 5 goals
Remaining 31 appearances - 6 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
2020-21:
8 starts (+ 6 substitute appearances) - 2 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
At a rough calculation. Mitrovic has now played more than 2000 minutes of Premier League football since he last scored a goal in open play with his feet.
I started reading this post and raised an eyebrow at the suggestion the "opening 6 games" should be treated separately as if they don't count. "Were they just practice games then?" I chuckled to myself.
Then I saw penalties are also excluded, as if strikers' scoring stats don't always include penalties. "Wow", I thought, "this guy really is thinking creatively to find ways to undermine Mitro's record."
Then I read the last line, 2000 minutes since he last scored "with his feet." "So we're excluding headers?!!!!!" I exclaimed to myself...
Then the penny dropped. I realised the post was ironic. A joke. I have to admit Arthur, you had me going for a minute there. I thought you were being serious until I read that last line.
082.gif
Quote from: perry geyton on January 25, 2021, 10:54:21 PM
Hes had zero service but he's been crap anyway, this leagues all about speed and Mitro is slow as it gets, he looks so out of shape, he looks like how I feel when I get out of bed in the morning after a night out and I'm 50
Can he still finish, I believe so yes, he's one of the best in the league with his head, maybe we should use 2 strikers, a fast one and sluggish Mitro
I've still not completely written him off yet he just NEEDS a goal, all strikers are confidence players he needs to get his mojo back
There are examples of slow players being effective in the Premier League, case in point Giroud and Dzeko when he was playing for Man City. Charlie Austin was decent a few years back too and he was pretty slow.
However, if you're slow then you need to be bringing goals and link up play to the team and Mitrovic is doing neither.
He was quicker the last time we were in the Premier League, so if he works hard in training he should be able to get quicker and he also seems worse at holding the ball up, maybe lacking a bit of strength. He needs to improve on both to get games, as we can't afford to carry him whilst he gets match fit.
Quote from: Statto on January 26, 2021, 01:27:18 AM
Quote from: Arthur on January 26, 2021, 12:01:42 AM
What makes statistics an interesting topic for debate, in my opinion, is that they are factual information and yet open to interpretation.
And this is my interpretation. I appreciate that you (and, perhaps, others reading this) will decide whether you think it's reasonable to say it supports the view that Mitrovic lacks sufficient attributes to be expected to be an asset to a struggling P.L. team.
2018-19:
Opening 6 games - 5 goals
Remaining 31 appearances - 6 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
2020-21:
8 starts (+ 6 substitute appearances) - 2 goals (inc. 1 penalty)
At a rough calculation. Mitrovic has now played more than 2000 minutes of Premier League football since he last scored a goal in open play with his feet.
I started reading this post and raised an eyebrow at the suggestion the "opening 6 games" should be treated separately as if they don't count. "Were they just practice games then?" I chuckled to myself.
Then I saw penalties are also excluded, as if strikers' scoring stats don't always include penalties. "Wow", I thought, "this guy really is thinking creatively to find ways to undermine Mitro's record."
Then I read the last line, 2000 minutes since he last scored "with his feet." "So we're excluding headers?!!!!!" I exclaimed to myself...
Then the penny dropped. I realised the post was ironic. A joke. I have to admit Arthur, you had me going for a minute there. I thought you were being serious until I read that last line.
082.gif
Seeing as my post acknowledges it is no more than my interpretation - and that mine is not the only possible interpretation - your attempt to trivialise my motive for posting seems, to me, more of an act of desperation on your part.
I shall, however, do my best to address your effort to dissect my post.
If the opening games didn't count, I wouldn't have counted them. But I did: 6 games - 5 goals. Maybe our subsequent Premier League opponents did their homework on those early games and worked out how to negate Mitrovic's strengths. (And, in reference to your earlier post, while there may be P.L.-quality defenders at Championship clubs, none has an entire defence of P.L. quality. Tosin played against Burnley, but he couldn't keep out our opponents' uncelebrated forward line single-handedly.) Whatever it was, there his scoring run ended - never (yet) to be repeated. A 'false dawn' is, perhaps, an apt description for this 6-game spell; the harsher reality, in my opinion, is the ongoing 39-game spell since then.
Nor did I exclude penalties; on the contrary, they are
included in his number of goals. (If they were excluded, I would have put 'exc.' But I put 'inc.'). As Mitrovic has now relinquished the role of penalty taker, it is valid to indicate how many of his goals were penalties; any future projection as to how many goals he might score would need to be adjusted accordingly.
Excluding headers? Yes, I can see there is a theme running through your post that, from a literary point of view, links the paragraphs together nicely. As an argument in Mitrovic's favour, however, it doesn't have the same impact.
If, in the aforementioned 2000-plus minutes of football, Mitrovic had a dozen headed goals, it could be argued (very likely, strongly) that his heading prowess alone is sufficient to earn a place in the starting XI. But he's scored just 3 headed goals in this time. He's never going to be a 15-goal a season striker for us at this level if he can't score with his feet.
My post did not rule out that Mitrovic could suddenly start scoring freely this season; I said the statistics suggest it cannot be expected; that it is unlikely to happen. You've had a go at picking holes in my interpretation and I've not shied away from answering your every criticism. I suggest we leave it at that.
If we dont get in a good striker this window, then we need to find a way to get Mitro playing - I think its pretty much that simple. Otherwise we will draw our way to relegation.
Lookman has an eye for goal, as does BDR but Cav, RLC have shown they do not thus far. We can only play it safe with known quantities for so long
Quote from: Statto on January 25, 2021, 10:14:40 PM
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 25, 2021, 10:05:49 PM
Quote from: Arthur on January 25, 2021, 08:07:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on January 25, 2021, 06:09:31 PM
He'll never score if we don't let him play.
Not a convincing argument considering Mitrovic has failed to find the back of the net in 40 of his last 45 appearances in the Premier League.
Wait...I didn't know it was that bad.
Some players can make the jump...some can't.
But he has also found the back of the net 13 times in his last 45 starts in the Premier League, which suggests he can make the jump
Mitrovic has scored goals in the Premier League and for Serbia against France and Croatia in a 4-3-3 formation that is his level. Mitrovic is quality striker that can put good service into the back of the net and hold up the ball bringing people into play in the EPL or Interbationals, don't expect much more.
Mitrovic is not at the level he can score in a 7-2-1 formation as required by Parker. Tony Khan has found 7 defenders and a goalkeeper that can play the 7-2-1 formation, but failed to find strikers in our price range that can play this formation in premier league.
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 06:41:59 AM
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Completely agree that if we're not bringing another striker in, & that ,depressingly is starting to look more & more likely then we have to find a way with Mitro
When the ship needed to be steadied & the new defenders were being bedded in I can see why he wasn't being played. We were looking to counter & defend from the front & with all the will in the world Mitro is not going to be comfortable in that system, he actually said that himself about his final days at Newcastle
Now we have to start winning games & quickly ,so as the only player with a history of scoring goals, he really has to be persevered with , either that or get another quality striker in, but can't see that happening. We can't keep drawing our way to safety
My worry and this is speaking as a big Mitrovic fan, is it's pretty evident something is not right with the player, he doesn't look as fit or as sharp as he was, body language not always great either, he now seems to cut a forlorn figure. I know it's not always easy for out of form ,low on confidence players to come in & shine when they're not regularly starting,but even last season, despite all the goals there were times where he was very quiet
As I said I love him & desperately want to see him firing again but I do worry
Statistics are not facts unless they are given meaningful context.
As an example the number of appearances a player may make during his/her career may include last second substitutions where the player concerned does not even touch the ball before the final whistle. As another example you may say that one hundred thousand people tested positive for an antigen but you cannot say those same people were infected by that antigen unless the test concerned was proven to be 100% accurate i.e. always correct. You may find it disturbing that tests are very, very seldom perfect and statistics share that same tendency to confuse us because their meaning is elusive without explicit context.
A good factual statistic about FFC is that we are not scoring enough goals with or without Mitrovic. A follow up fact is that the last time we scored three or more goals in a game Mitro was playing and our current crop of decent defenders were not. If you want to reason out what has gone wrong then look at the players who have been used in place of Mitrovic, tell us who the direct replacement for him was, and tell us when he last scored twice in a game for us. Then I will believe you have put a statistic about Mitro v. alternative in meaningful context.
Quote from: sunburywhite on January 25, 2021, 03:57:03 PM
We need to start giving him the ball even if its a hoof upfield
He cant do anything if he isnt getting the service
While thats true, he could go looking for the ball as well.
On Sunday we did hoof a few upfield, thats Hectors number one tactic, and he didnt get on many or go looking for them.
Love mitro he has been great for us but he is just not the player from the last few seasons at present, hopefully something ignites in side him and he hit those heights again. The mitro we had in the prem last time would be enough to help us out of the bottom 3 in my opinion
I don't think we can start Mitro at the moment, not until he is in better shape. I also don't really trust our defence to be as solid with a back 4.
Mitro needs to make an impact off the bench and earn the right to start games, he shouldn't be given it based on his goalscoring record last year. I also feel Lookman can chip in with more goals so long as he plays as our main striker, rather than playing as a left winger.
His head is totally screwed after missing that penalty for Serbia v Scotland and unless he sorts it out he is no use to FFC
Quote from: HillingdonFFC on January 26, 2021, 08:19:45 AM
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 06:41:59 AM
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Completely agree that if we're not bringing another striker in, & that ,depressingly is starting to look more & more likely then we have to find a way with Mitro
When the ship needed to be steadied & the new defenders were being bedded in I can see why he wasn't being played. We were looking to counter & defend from the front & with all the will in the world Mitro is not going to be comfortable in that system, he actually said that himself about his final days at Newcastle
Now we have to start winning games & quickly ,so as the only player with a history of scoring goals, he really has to be persevered with , either that or get another quality striker in, but can't see that happening. We can't keep drawing our way to safety
My worry and this is speaking as a big Mitrovic fan, is it's pretty evident something is not right with the player, he doesn't look as fit or as sharp as he was, body language not always great either, he now seems to cut a forlorn figure. I know it's not always easy for out of form ,low on confidence players to come in & shine when they're not regularly starting,but even last season, despite all the goals there were times where he was very quiet
As I said I love him & desperately want to see him firing again but I do worry
Agree with all that pretty much, but id still play him
Quote from: PaulJ123 on January 25, 2021, 03:41:49 PM
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
+1 - it's purely a tactical decision if Kamara and Cav are ahead of him and in my opinion it's the wrong decision. Mitro has more than enough to offer this team, especially if the other two attacking players are Lookman and BDR. At this point if we go down it'll be because of Parker in my view. He's being too stubborn and conservative. That and the fact TK doesn't seem to want to get players through the door in time. It's so frustrating as we've got what could be a very good first team 11 in the building and we're throwing it away.
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 09:25:59 AM
Quote from: HillingdonFFC on January 26, 2021, 08:19:45 AM
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 06:41:59 AM
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Completely agree that if we're not bringing another striker in, & that ,depressingly is starting to look more & more likely then we have to find a way with Mitro
When the ship needed to be steadied & the new defenders were being bedded in I can see why he wasn't being played. We were looking to counter & defend from the front & with all the will in the world Mitro is not going to be comfortable in that system, he actually said that himself about his final days at Newcastle
Now we have to start winning games & quickly ,so as the only player with a history of scoring goals, he really has to be persevered with , either that or get another quality striker in, but can't see that happening. We can't keep drawing our way to safety
My worry and this is speaking as a big Mitrovic fan, is it's pretty evident something is not right with the player, he doesn't look as fit or as sharp as he was, body language not always great either, he now seems to cut a forlorn figure. I know it's not always easy for out of form ,low on confidence players to come in & shine when they're not regularly starting,but even last season, despite all the goals there were times where he was very quiet
As I said I love him & desperately want to see him firing again but I do worry
Agree with all that pretty much, but id still play him
Just putting it out there as a conversation piece, more than something I particularly think, but is there a chance that he is a bit of a flat track bully that has kinda been sussed out. Cut out the crosses, don't give him space, don't fall into the trap of giving him easy "diving" opportunities and you're going to thoroughly frustrate him.
But the more I think about it, I do think his first touch is not as good, which is normally a sign of confidence.
I am still hopeful we'll have a striker in
Quote from: 70sPimlico on January 26, 2021, 10:14:25 AM
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 09:25:59 AM
Quote from: HillingdonFFC on January 26, 2021, 08:19:45 AM
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 06:41:59 AM
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Completely agree that if we're not bringing another striker in, & that ,depressingly is starting to look more & more likely then we have to find a way with Mitro
When the ship needed to be steadied & the new defenders were being bedded in I can see why he wasn't being played. We were looking to counter & defend from the front & with all the will in the world Mitro is not going to be comfortable in that system, he actually said that himself about his final days at Newcastle
Now we have to start winning games & quickly ,so as the only player with a history of scoring goals, he really has to be persevered with , either that or get another quality striker in, but can't see that happening. We can't keep drawing our way to safety
My worry and this is speaking as a big Mitrovic fan, is it's pretty evident something is not right with the player, he doesn't look as fit or as sharp as he was, body language not always great either, he now seems to cut a forlorn figure. I know it's not always easy for out of form ,low on confidence players to come in & shine when they're not regularly starting,but even last season, despite all the goals there were times where he was very quiet
As I said I love him & desperately want to see him firing again but I do worry
Agree with all that pretty much, but id still play him
Just putting it out there as a conversation piece, more than something I particularly think, but is there a chance that he is a bit of a flat track bully that has kinda been sussed out. Cut out the crosses, don't give him space, don't fall into the trap of giving him easy "diving" opportunities and you're going to thoroughly frustrate him.
But the more I think about it, I do think his first touch is not as good, which is normally a sign of confidence.
I am still hopeful we'll have a striker in
That touch you mention is spot on, when he first joined he was immense, he would kill it , hold off defenders with his strength & lay it off practically every single
I don't know if it's because premier League defenders are quicker & cuter to intercept & get a foot in or because he's not as physically sharp? But the ball doesn't seem to stick like it once did
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 09:25:59 AM
Quote from: HillingdonFFC on January 26, 2021, 08:19:45 AM
Quote from: MJG on January 26, 2021, 06:41:59 AM
We stay up with a proper striker in the team or we dont without one.
I see it as simple as that. Parker has built his ultimate defensive team to start games now....we saw much of it in his plan b subs last year when he went to 3 cbs....but in those games we were under pressure and rode our luck at times holding out. We are now doing it for game after game.
Mitro is the best striker we have in the squad. He simply should play because we will only stay up winning games, and goals win games, and he's the best long term (rest of season) option we have. If your banking on Cav getting another 5 goals this season then go sit down and contemplate that and let me know how he will do that?
Completely agree that if we're not bringing another striker in, & that ,depressingly is starting to look more & more likely then we have to find a way with Mitro
When the ship needed to be steadied & the new defenders were being bedded in I can see why he wasn't being played. We were looking to counter & defend from the front & with all the will in the world Mitro is not going to be comfortable in that system, he actually said that himself about his final days at Newcastle
Now we have to start winning games & quickly ,so as the only player with a history of scoring goals, he really has to be persevered with , either that or get another quality striker in, but can't see that happening. We can't keep drawing our way to safety
My worry and this is speaking as a big Mitrovic fan, is it's pretty evident something is not right with the player, he doesn't look as fit or as sharp as he was, body language not always great either, he now seems to cut a forlorn figure. I know it's not always easy for out of form ,low on confidence players to come in & shine when they're not regularly starting,but even last season, despite all the goals there were times where he was very quiet
As I said I love him & desperately want to see him firing again but I do worry
Agree with all that pretty much, but id still play him
The problem is that its not the defense ,that has been fixed its the whole team ,system tactics and how we press both with a low line and offensively from the front. Our effectiveness of late has also been our ability to play on the counter. Sitting deep and countering at pace enables the team to create chances that we simply dont get back having Mitro in the team. If we want to keep possession and get the ball out wide in order to put balls into the box ,then mitro has to play. But so many saying that Mitro would have scored cavaleiros chances when the simple answer is that he would never have been in that position to start with. Mitro was great when we had alot of posession in the opponents final third and we could fir the ball into his feet and play off him. We simply dont have the team to play that football in this league, and byt the way losing the ball there leaves you wide open to the counter ( as Palace showed very clearly). The risk is that we start shipping more goals if Mitro plays as we lose out in press. Agree that Cavaleiro is not the attacking answer (although he has been nowhere near as bad as some have made out ), but lookman could be with BDR as the two wider front men as we have been playing.
Once Robinson is back cav wont get a game if you ask me. Mitro coming off the bench at the end of the games could still be important for us ,but he looks a million miles away from the player he was. If we have to rely on Mitro to get the goals we really will go down in my opinion.
Quote from: General on January 26, 2021, 10:07:10 AM
Quote from: PaulJ123 on January 25, 2021, 03:41:49 PM
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
+1 - it's purely a tactical decision if Kamara and Cav are ahead of him and in my opinion it's the wrong decision. Mitro has more than enough to offer this team, especially if the other two attacking players are Lookman and BDR. At this point if we go down it'll be because of Parker in my view. He's being too stubborn and conservative. That and the fact TK doesn't seem to want to get players through the door in time. It's so frustrating as we've got what could be a very good first team 11 in the building and we're throwing it away.
I absolutely concur with the view that Parker is very nervous about conceding lots of goals when we are beaten. His salvation as a head coach has come from organising his team to be harder to score against, playing well against good sides, and suffering some poor decision making by officialdom. But against Burnley he threw Mitrovic into a team which was not organised defensively, not thought through in midfield, and largely inept in attack for whole periods of a game at Craven Cottage where the visitors looked like the side playing at home.
That, IMO, shows Parker's true flaws as a tactician and does not suggest he has even touched upon solving the conundrum of how you set up a side that uses their only true strike force as a weapon and not just one of eleven players selected to meet the obligation of having to play out a game. By leaving out Mitrovic for so long Parker has created the problem for himself. The defence was fixed via the quality of Andersen as a defender and a natural leader who takes pride in his work. Parker says he wants quality from Mitrovic but what true strikers need are chances. How can Mitrovic be sharp when he gets so little game time? Doesn't he deserve the same tender loving care given to those who Parker apparently thinks are worthy of him? What is Parker's problem with Mitrovic?
Mitrovic would also be able to take pride in his work if he can lead the frontline in the way he once did for us, and not be just another player in a squad that looks attractive but cannot score enough goals to win games. And that is Parker's problem ... he has to win games ... and we are not scoring the goals necessary to achieve that without Mitrovic.
It is not the management that should be looked at, it is the Crack Recruitment Unit led by our Leader assuming he is not still sleep walking.
Perhaps the run out that Mitro had on Sunday is the loosener needed for Mitro so that Scott can unleash him on an unsuspecting Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow. Assuming of course that Mitro is not carrying any injuries that we don't know about.
Also it keeps the opponent guessing who Fulham will select, as I am sure Dunk and his Merry men won't look forward to Mitro putting himself about.
With so much at stake for both teams there will be a few mind games and plans Alpha to Zebra during preparation time. Also if necessary substitutes if brought on earlier enough could make a big impact.
Not a game for faint hearts, only a game for Warriors plus some quality which we have in abundance.
Quote from: toshes mate on January 26, 2021, 11:06:47 AM
Quote from: General on January 26, 2021, 10:07:10 AM
Quote from: PaulJ123 on January 25, 2021, 03:41:49 PM
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
+1 - it's purely a tactical decision if Kamara and Cav are ahead of him and in my opinion it's the wrong decision. Mitro has more than enough to offer this team, especially if the other two attacking players are Lookman and BDR. At this point if we go down it'll be because of Parker in my view. He's being too stubborn and conservative. That and the fact TK doesn't seem to want to get players through the door in time. It's so frustrating as we've got what could be a very good first team 11 in the building and we're throwing it away.
I absolutely concur with the view that Parker is very nervous about conceding lots of goals when we are beaten. His salvation as a head coach has come from organising his team to be harder to score against, playing well against good sides, and suffering some poor decision making by officialdom. But against Burnley he threw Mitrovic into a team which was not organised defensively, not thought through in midfield, and largely inept in attack for whole periods of a game at Craven Cottage where the visitors looked like the side playing at home.
That, IMO, shows Parker's true flaws as a tactician and does not suggest he has even touched upon solving the conundrum of how you set up a side that uses their only true strike force as a weapon and not just one of eleven players selected to meet the obligation of having to play out a game. By leaving out Mitrovic for so long Parker has created the problem for himself. The defence was fixed via the quality of Andersen as a defender and a natural leader who takes pride in his work. Parker says he wants quality from Mitrovic but what true strikers need are chances. How can Mitrovic be sharp when he gets so little game time? Doesn't he deserve the same tender loving care given to those who Parker apparently thinks are worthy of him? What is Parker's problem with Mitrovic?
Mitrovic would also be able to take pride in his work if he can lead the frontline in the way he once did for us, and not be just another player in a squad that looks attractive but cannot score enough goals to win games. And that is Parker's problem ... he has to win games ... and we are not scoring the goals necessary to achieve that without Mitrovic.
I tend to agree with you here tosh, IMO Mitro really misses the crowd, I have always felt he plays his best when he feels loved, you could always see his smile when we sung Mitros on fire.
Quote from: General on January 26, 2021, 10:07:10 AM
Quote from: PaulJ123 on January 25, 2021, 03:41:49 PM
If Cav and Kamara are ahead of him, it's the management we need to be looking at.
+1 - it's purely a tactical decision if Kamara and Cav are ahead of him and in my opinion it's the wrong decision. Mitro has more than enough to offer this team, especially if the other two attacking players are Lookman and BDR. At this point if we go down it'll be because of Parker in my view. He's being too stubborn and conservative. That and the fact TK doesn't seem to want to get players through the door in time. It's so frustrating as we've got what could be a very good first team 11 in the building and we're throwing it away.
The thing is though, we're 12th in the league when ranked for expected goals, and also joint 12th for shots taken per game, meaning that based on creating good scoring opportunities AND shooting in general, we're nowhere near worst. That's based on the supposedly conservative system we've been using to mostly good effect since playing Leicester. We know Mitro and Cav aren't a like for like so if you swap the two out, it instantly makes a huge difference to the way we play.
There's no guarantee that we suddenly start scoring because we swap the two, because Cav plays in a way that stretches teams, and Mitro isn't mobile and wants to be a focal point. He couldn't even do it against a Burnley B team with Tarkowski marking him, that shows that he's not likely to be the saviour that everyone wants him to be. What we need is someone with Cav's pace that's able to finish a bit better, which is a multi million pound question because every team wants that sort of player. Perhaps swap Cav and Lookman and try and keep him as the guy to finish chances, but swapping out a quick player for a target man doesn't really do much for us because they system is working, it's just being let down by not having a clinical finisher
Fulham should have scored 20 Goals if you used Xg, we only have 14.
Mitro should have 4 goals he only has 2, but his Xg per 90 mins is by far the best in the squad.
Mitro 0.46
lookman 0.31
Cavaleiro 0.27
Reid 0.22
kebano 0.22
Kamara 0.19
RLC 0.16
I go back to my point, hes best striker in the club and should play. Hes only played 8.8 games in reality
He has the best expected assists as well over 90 mins.
I'd add that for all the rave reviews of how our defence is better, last 14 games our expected goals against is 1.64 per game, the first 4 it was 1.63. We are still giving the same quality of chances up.
Stats dont say much to me . we are competetive now which we were not at the start of the season.Besides we have played all the top 7 in the last nine games which hasnt ben taken into Count.
At the end of the day the only important stat. is goals scored.
The problem is that Mitro is not looking at his best and the important stat. is that he is not scoring goals. However none of the other strikers are scoring and I feel that Mitro is more likely to score than any one else.
Interesting to see who Parker selects to start tomorrow, surely he can't continue with Cav. up top.
Quote from: colinwhite on January 26, 2021, 02:53:39 PM
Stats dont say much to me . we are competetive now which we were not at the start of the season.Besides we have played all the top 7 in the last nine games which hasnt ben taken into Count.
Yep there's no way you can compare our first 4 games, when we conceded 11 goals, to our last 14, when we conceded 10. If a stat or metric tells you our defence was comparably good in both periods, that says more about the imperfections with the stat being used, than it does about our defence
But with Mitro it's backed up by other numbers rather than contradicting them. Goals, assists, domestic, international, xG all point to a top quality player (unless you do something mad like exclude headers)
I think the penalty miss for us then followed up by the Serbia penalty miss against Scotland has wrecked his head. Even thinking back to QPR when he made a run but the ball went to Kebano and he scored, Mitro's response of putting his hands on his head and I have watched that back he continues to do so even after turning around and seeing Kebano and others celebrating (Watch the highlights back if you like). This I think was because he is so desperate to score. I however don't see the rest of his game that we are used to seeing, like the 30 yards thumps, the dropping deep and linking play. Also he is so static in the box when balls do come in, which makes defending him so much simpler for the opposition defenders.
He to me seems to be sitting on the last defender shoulder hoping for an easy goal to get him back on form rather than trying to have an impact on other areas of the game. I would love to see him banging them in again, but it won't happen unless he plays himself out of this rut.
I have posted this video of the highlights from the 2018 season where he seems to have it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZZhFIquAJo&ab_channel=ScoutingFootball
This was only 2 and a bit years ago, there is no physical reason unless there is a long term injury we are not aware of so it must be in his head.
I also know Parker plays us different to how Slav did, but he is still part of a front 3 in Parkers system and I feel like he can do more to get involved in play and I don't think this is all down to a lack of service as the video proves he has the ability he just doesn't seem as hungry as he once was. I mean the guys 26 years old, hes hardly slowing down as he is reaching the end of his career.
This is of course all my opinion, but this is what I am seeing.
Let's also not forget that RLC needs to up his game and score some goals, we have goals in this team, Lookman, BDR, Cairney if he was playing and Cav of course 🤣. !!!! Keebano and AK Etc.
Quote from: filham on January 26, 2021, 03:54:07 PM
At the end of the day the only important stat. is goals scored.
The problem is that Mitro is not looking at his best and the important stat. is that he is not scoring goals. However none of the other strikers are scoring and I feel that Mitro is more likely to score than any one else.
Interesting to see who Parker selects to start tomorrow, surely he can't continue with Cav. up top.
Actually Filham you can score as many goals as you like but if you concede all the time your not going to win any games. Of course we want to score more goals ,but its even more important we are solid.
Speaking of Cav what happened to Cav's finishing? I seem to remember him banging them into the far post after cutting in for fun when he first joined. :023:
Imo...he doesn't score enough goals at this level for us to rely on him the way we did in the Championship. Even in 18/19 (https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=67457&season_id=151) he "only" scored 11 goals in the EPL. I think he played 37 games... and he was completely healthy for most of that season (unless I'm not remembering it correctly).
He had a good start...then he would go a long run of games without scoring a goal.
By comparison, Bamford has scored 10 goals this season. Obviously a lot of that has to do with the style of play.
It may be unfair to put all that weight on him...but in the Championship he embraced having that weight on his shoulders.
Now he's up against better defensive setups and better defenders.
He's our best scoring option, yes...but we need another option to play off him to relieve some of that pressure.
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 26, 2021, 08:24:10 PM
Even in 18/19[/url] he "only" scored 11 goals in the EPL. I think he played 37 games... and he was completely healthy for most of that season (unless I'm not remembering it correctly).
He had a good start...then he would go a long run of games without scoring a goal.
By comparison, Bamford has scored 10 goals this season.
Worth noting Bamford's team are on course to get twice as many points and twice as many goals this season as we did in 18/19
11 goals for a crap team is respectable, make no mistake about that.
People expecting someone to get 20 goals for us are dreaming. 20 goals a season players in the PL are worth £40m. Any player that scores 20 goals for us in a PL season will be leaving at the end of that season, guaranteed.
For a bit of perspective, McBride's best was 10 and Zamora's was 8. Even Saha and Berbatov, 13 and 15 respectively.
Can we use Mitro in a Bobby Zamora type play?Where he holds up and brings in the midfielder's and Wingers.Maybe he's not as mobile but maybe a thought to change it about a little.
Quote from: Statto on January 26, 2021, 10:22:11 PM
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 26, 2021, 08:24:10 PM
Even in 18/19[/url] he "only" scored 11 goals in the EPL. I think he played 37 games... and he was completely healthy for most of that season (unless I'm not remembering it correctly).
He had a good start...then he would go a long run of games without scoring a goal.
By comparison, Bamford has scored 10 goals this season.
Worth noting Bamford's team are on course to get twice as many points and twice as many goals this season as we did in 18/19
11 goals for a crap team is respectable, make no mistake about that.
People expecting someone to get 20 goals for us are dreaming. 20 goals a season players in the PL are worth £40m. Any player that scores 20 goals for us in a PL season will be leaving at the end of that season, guaranteed.
For a bit of perspective, McBride's best was 10 and Zamora's was 8. Even Saha and Berbatov, 13 and 15 respectively.
I think that's my point. Why I said relieving pressure by having someone else as a goal scoring threat as well.
Quote from: Black, White and Fred on January 26, 2021, 04:56:13 PM
I think the penalty miss for us then followed up by the Serbia penalty miss against Scotland has wrecked his head. Even thinking back to QPR when he made a run but the ball went to Kebano and he scored, Mitro's response of putting his hands on his head and I have watched that back he continues to do so even after turning around and seeing Kebano and others celebrating (Watch the highlights back if you like). This I think was because he is so desperate to score. I however don't see the rest of his game that we are used to seeing, like the 30 yards thumps, the dropping deep and linking play. Also he is so static in the box when balls do come in, which makes defending him so much simpler for the opposition defenders.
He to me seems to be sitting on the last defender shoulder hoping for an easy goal to get him back on form rather than trying to have an impact on other areas of the game. I would love to see him banging them in again, but it won't happen unless he plays himself out of this rut.
I have posted this video of the highlights from the 2018 season where he seems to have it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZZhFIquAJo&ab_channel=ScoutingFootball
This was only 2 and a bit years ago, there is no physical reason unless there is a long term injury we are not aware of so it must be in his head.
I also know Parker plays us different to how Slav did, but he is still part of a front 3 in Parkers system and I feel like he can do more to get involved in play and I don't think this is all down to a lack of service as the video proves he has the ability he just doesn't seem as hungry as he once was. I mean the guys 26 years old, hes hardly slowing down as he is reaching the end of his career.
This is of course all my opinion, but this is what I am seeing.
Nice post.
I think as you rightly point out, he is trying to get a cheap goal to restore his confidence and form.
He definitely needs to try and get involved in some link up play, and make sure he's pressing the opposition defenders, hitting the targets with his passes. You do the basics right, and the goals will come.
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 26, 2021, 10:41:22 PM
Quote from: Statto on January 26, 2021, 10:22:11 PM
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 26, 2021, 08:24:10 PM
Even in 18/19[/url] he "only" scored 11 goals in the EPL. I think he played 37 games... and he was completely healthy for most of that season (unless I'm not remembering it correctly).
He had a good start...then he would go a long run of games without scoring a goal.
By comparison, Bamford has scored 10 goals this season.
Worth noting Bamford's team are on course to get twice as many points and twice as many goals this season as we did in 18/19
11 goals for a crap team is respectable, make no mistake about that.
People expecting someone to get 20 goals for us are dreaming. 20 goals a season players in the PL are worth £40m. Any player that scores 20 goals for us in a PL season will be leaving at the end of that season, guaranteed.
For a bit of perspective, McBride's best was 10 and Zamora's was 8. Even Saha and Berbatov, 13 and 15 respectively.
I think that's my point. Why I said relieving pressure by having someone else as a goal scoring threat as well.
I think you make a hugely important point which hinges upon moving or multiple threats that occur from regularly switching the point where the threat is coming from. When Jokanovic modelled his teams around possession the games where it worked as intended demonstrated how quickly a team could move the point of threat around and he did this long before Mitrovic arrived. Parker, in his own way has, in the minus Mitrovic period, attempted to emulate this but the -alt. regular goal scorers simply haven't materialised. That is why I have stuck fully behind Parker during his attempts to play the way he has. What I don't understand is why he cannot also play that way with Mitrovic by adjusting and /or setting the team up to be more mobile in possession and use player quality to keep possession rather than counter all the time. We have some terrific passers in the team but often our downfall is poor decision making by individuals.
You certainly need more than one regular goal scorer but I don't see any likely looking regular clinical finishers in the side. It all reminds me of Knockaert and Cavaleiro from last season.
Quote from: Statto on January 26, 2021, 10:22:11 PM
Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 26, 2021, 08:24:10 PM
Even in 18/19[/url] he "only" scored 11 goals in the EPL. I think he played 37 games... and he was completely healthy for most of that season (unless I'm not remembering it correctly).
He had a good start...then he would go a long run of games without scoring a goal.
By comparison, Bamford has scored 10 goals this season.
Worth noting Bamford's team are on course to get twice as many points and twice as many goals this season as we did in 18/19
11 goals for a crap team is respectable, make no mistake about that.
People expecting someone to get 20 goals for us are dreaming. 20 goals a season players in the PL are worth £40m. Any player that scores 20 goals for us in a PL season will be leaving at the end of that season, guaranteed.
For a bit of perspective, McBride's best was 10 and Zamora's was 8. Even Saha and Berbatov, 13 and 15 respectively.
This is why I don't understand the clammer by some to move him on. Christ, he has 52 goals in 118 apparencies in all completions. He's been on the pitch for 92% of all those games he has actually played in.
He's 27 this year and still has loads to offer.
We have to keep Mitro for more than one reason, I hope he plays tonight as we need him to batter down Brighton's door, and then West Brom and so on, as who else is there we can look to in the squad for goals.
Also Brighton's defenders will have their hands full if Mitro has the flavour. They will not look forward to marking him.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on January 27, 2021, 12:57:23 PM
We have to keep Mitro for more than one reason, I hope he plays tonight as we need him to batter down Brighton's door, and then West Brom and so on, as who else is there we can look to in the squad for goals.
Also Brighton's defenders will have their hands full if Mitro has the flavour. They will not look forward to marking him.
Spot on
Really peed off tonight.
Not with Mitro, not with the players, not with our DOF but with Parker.
Mitro has certain attributes. We all know what they are. If it isn't working, changing the players around never makes a difference.
Parker has shown time and again that he doesn't have the answer when Mitro isn't being effective by keeping him on the pitch. Thats fine. I can live with that. Not sure what that answer is, maybe go long ball and feed off him, maybe.
But, then change it.
I don't believe there is a manager in the top 2 divisions that wouldn't have taken him off today. That team that beat Leicester a few weeks ago pressed them all over the park, especially up front, won the ball back and broke fast and looked dangerous.
How can you play the same tactics with Mitro? I felt sorry for the attacking players around him tonight. He is the slowest player in the premiership.
I never come on here and scream player out or all the other stuff and I'm not doing that now but I just pray that we are not going back to those tactics again.
Don't go down with a slow predictable whimper