Striker

If the Board are pleased with he way Jolley has gone about things, the way he seems to have a longer-term plan, his willingness to bring younger players through and getting them out of a hole with his classy style, then they should back him to get in the players (strikers) that demand a premium.

Failure to do so will just confirm that the Board expect Jolley not only to get them out of a hole but to do it with one hand tied behind his back.

The problem is, half the teams in the division will also be in need of a good striker. The ones that already have one will be desperately attempting to hold onto them. Of the top 12 scorers laat season, only 4 are still in this division, with one being on loan and doidges transfer to bolton falling through. It's all well and good saying push out the boat, but realistically, were is this striker coming from?

Quoted from Mariner93er

The problem is, half the teams in the division will also be in need of a good striker. The ones that already have one will be desperately attempting to hold onto them. Of the top 12 scorers laat season, only 4 are still in this division, with one being on loan and doidges transfer to bolton falling through. It's all well and good saying push out the boat, but realistically, were is this striker coming from?

Wise words I think.

There are probably only 3 or 4 "20-goal strikers" in this (or any) division at any one time. It's asking a lot for Grimsby Town to attract and afford one of these high-in-demand prospects.

The "20 goal striker" thing is becoming a bit of an over-used myth anyway. We've had successful teams before without having 20 goal strikers and it's possible to do so again if the team functions properly in and out of possession.

I'd like us to start creating more clear goalscoring chances and see if the strikers we already have could get more goals. Because despite the criticism of some of the strikers currently, we don't create many chances at all and many of our shots are only what I'd call half-chances.
(I know a counter argument to this is that better strikers could help us create better chances, but I don't think that's all the problem is)

Quoted from Mariner93er

The problem is, half the teams in the division will also be in need of a good striker. The ones that already have one will be desperately attempting to hold onto them. Of the top 12 scorers laat season, only 4 are still in this division, with one being on loan and doidges transfer to bolton falling through. It's all well and good saying push out the boat, but realistically, were is this striker coming from?

Sweden ?

Quoted from Tommy

Wise words I think.

There are probably only 3 or 4 "20-goal strikers" in this (or any) division at any one time. It's asking a lot for Grimsby Town to attract and afford one of these high-in-demand prospects.

The "20 goal striker" thing is becoming a bit of an over-used myth anyway. We've had successful teams before without having 20 goal strikers and it's possible to do so again if the team functions properly in and out of possession.

I'd like us to start creating more clear goalscoring chances and see if the strikers we already have could get more goals. Because despite the criticism of some of the strikers currently, we don't create many chances at all and many of our shots are only what I'd call half-chances.
(I know a counter argument to this is that better strikers could help us create better chances, but I don't think that's all the problem is)

The snag is Tommy that even in our "good" run in December, only Thomas of the strikers scored more than one goal the only other striker goal was Vernam and the rest came from midfield and defenders. I agree about the way we play though. Clifton got goals from midfield in December but midfielders in the opposition's area have been as few as hens' teeth since then. From set pieces Davies scored two and we look dangerous from corners but we do not have that poacher to finish the job when the ball is bobbling around. It's true as you say we need to create chances but they still need to be finished.

Some posters say where do we get a striker from if everyone is looking for the same thing. But where will they get theirs from? If it is true that we have one of the better budgets then surely those teams will be more worried than us about the costs of a striker. In any case I think the issue is one of scouting and contacts. Did we sign Gary Birtles because we offered him a sackful of loot?

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

If it is true that we have one of the better budgets then surely those teams will be more worried than us about the costs of a striker.

Ehh? Pretty sure it's the opposite!

Quoted from sam gy

Ehh? Pretty sure it's the opposite!

Makes more sense if you quote the sentences before and after, Sam.

We would all love a 20 goal a season striker but we know they are as rare as rocking horse crap, so I would rather see midfielders getting in the box and making runs beyond strikers so the goals are shared around the team.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Well they do if your side contains 6 or 7 brick sh!thouse sized players. I do agree with your other comment though, it is what I’ve been saying for weeks. We are slow to turn defence into attack. Wing backs turning inside and playing the ball square or backwards, mainly because the central midfielders do not get up with the strikers fast enough to outnumber the defenders. Another thing is the inability to carry the ball at speed. I feel Vernam can do it better than anyone and he should be used to do that. Other players should get up there to make room for him to use his speed.

But none of this will guarantee we score goals. We see the same happenings in the 6 yard box as we did with Slade’s side. Feet flying, legs swinging, players falling about,  ball pinging around and no good striker in there to make it count before a defender whacks it clear.

I think you hit on two pivotal points and I'm sure Jolley must be aware of these and trying to do do something about it:

1. Breaking more quickly when turning over possession using quick forward passes and...
2. Carrying the ball at speed.

Jolley's preferred general strategy is to play on the counter. Its absolutely evident that we are not using either of the above central aspects of that style, or haven't been doing that in recent games, which provokes obvious questions about bringing players in as well as coaching and selection challenges.

The other thing, IMO, that was a feature of our fairly recent successful run of games was the amount of balls into the box we were producing.
I'd say that has dropped in our fixtures in Dec/Jan. We have, of course, played some better teams in that spell.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

The snag is Tommy that even in our "good" run in December, only Thomas of the strikers scored more than one goal the only other striker goal was Vernam and the rest came from midfield and defenders. I agree about the way we play though. Clifton got goals from midfield in December but midfielders in the opposition's area have been as few as hens' teeth since then. From set pieces Davies scored two and we look dangerous from corners but we do not have that poacher to finish the job when the ball is bobbling around. It's true as you say we need to create chances but they still need to be finished.

Some posters say where do we get a striker from if everyone is looking for the same thing. But where will they get theirs from? If it is true that we have one of the better budgets then surely those teams will be more worried than us about the costs of a striker. In any case I think the issue is one of scouting and contacts. Did we sign Gary Birtles because we offered him a sackful of loot?

We look dangerous from corners when pringle takes them. But then he is one of the worst culprits for slowing us down on the break.