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The stats say we have had more shots than any other side, so clearly we are getting in the right positions. I just think our strikers should be better, it's that simple. Their shots to goal ratio isn't as good as the other contenders and we also have no-one at the club who can take consistently good set pieces. I'm sure we also lead the league in the amount of corners won but very rarely does anything come of them.

Yes a decent striker signed last summer would have helped enormously but, a BIG but, even a Hearn would struggle to find too many chances with the midfield Town have. Very rarely the centre of midfield has come together and that's when there have been good team performances like Barnet. Most often centre midfield has been short of ideas, failed to demand the ball from defenders and so failed to make things happen. It doesn't help that the wingers tend to position themselves as auxiliary full backs first and attackers second but there is still not enough creativity in the centre of the park. It is fair to point out that Disley has scored important goals. My answer to that would be that a decent midfield and a good striker would have made his goals a bonus not an essential.

Centre midfield is also one reason why McKeown has been beaten from distance several times. Look at the highlights videos and anyone can see how much space the opposition are given to run at the back four and how slow centre midfield is at getting out of the area when we defend corners. In the games where they have been quick to close down we have looked a decent side but it does not happen often enough.

I'm not picking on individuals because it applies to all the players who have been signed and used there. I don't know what the manager tells them but to me there is no consistent  production line operating in midfield to use the ball when we have it and to block the ball when we don't. His preference to use Parslow in that position as sub even when midfielders were fit and on the bench maybe says something about what the manager wants from his midfield. Wherever we are next season this weakness has to be dealt with by at least two quality signings.

Quoted from ginnywings

I'm sure we also lead the league in the amount of corners won but very rarely does anything come of them.

That's not true, I remember Kidderminster scoring from one

I don't think the midfield is too much to blame if we are creating more opportunities than any other team. That tells me that our strikers just don't convert enough chances and the stats bear that out. Our main striker has about a dozen goals from open play. It simply isn't enough.

Quoted from ginnywings

I don't think the midfield is too much to blame if we are creating more opportunities than any other team. That tells me that our strikers just don't convert enough chances and the stats bear that out. Our main striker has about a dozen goals from open play. It simply isn't enough.

Chances vary though. You can have a relatively easy chance or a half chance, the stats don't show that. Our strikers might be getting lots of half chances and not scoring as opposed to others who may get less but they're easier.

The set pieces and corners ARE a real concern to me and should be to Hurst I have become used to the fact a corner means very little to us ?? Why should this be don't they practice any routines?

I also think we give player's to much time outside the box to measure up a shot invariably this results in Macca left struggling to deal with it.

I don't like pointing fingers but if a striker needs half a dozen chances before he even gets a effort on goal........................

Say no more.  

Quoted from ginnywings

I don't think the midfield is too much to blame if we are creating more opportunities than any other team. That tells me that our strikers just don't convert enough chances and the stats bear that out. Our main striker has about a dozen goals from open play. It simply isn't enough.

I definitely go along with you about the striker business but midfield is where the pace, the creativity and the passion of the game happen. That's what people have been saying is so lacking especially in home games.

I'm always amazed that we don't have a player standing on the edge of the 'D' whenever we are defending corners. Just have a man sitting there and, if it is half-cleared out the middle (as it often is), there's surely a good chance the ball can be further cleared or at the very least any shot from the centre blocked?

As for attacking corners, our delivery tends to be average at very best and too often we fail to beat the first man. Should certainly do a bit better in this respect.

The striker situation was known by hurst in pre season but failed to strike and get one in, so put all his eggs in one basket with LJL and I would say it's not back fired on him but it's not worked out as he might have hoped.

As Ginny said in his post, 12 goals from open play is not good enough for our main striker that's played nearly every minute of every game .

It just makes you wonder what could've been had we had a better main forward that can convert some of the chances that's been created again this season. It's got to be said that we have missed some sitters again this year which has cost us a fair few points again too

Bristol Rovers' main striker's got 12 goals in open play this season (although this too, could not be enough)