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It’s a bit quiet on here, so I thought I’d introduce a new topic. Our potential goal scorers are Delap, Szmodics and Hutch, in my opinion.

What does the team need to do to get these players in scoring positions, and what other players can contribute to scoring goals?

Primary goal scorers:
Delap
Szmodics
Hutchinson

Potential goal scorers:
Clarke
Chaplin
Taylor?

If he get’s the same game time Jack Clarke will score as many if not more goals than Omari Hutchinson. I have no idea why you have him in the potential category with Jack Taylor, this make no sense.

There are many more that can fit in the potential category depending on their minutes played eg, Hurst, Broadhead & Burns for starters and from what I’ve seen so far Greaves will probably bag a couple each season as will Morsy and Tuanzebe.

We have enough players capable of scoring goals where we’re struggling is creating chances.

Maybe the thread should have been who’s going to create our scoring chances as far Leif Davis is pretty much on his own and in doing so has often abandoned his defensive duties.

Agree apart from Taylor, Burns maybe I though.

I agree Clarke will and should be a primary goal scorer, but it hasn’t happened yet. Taylor has the ability to score from distance, but he also has not proven that yet. Burns is certainly a potential goal scorer, but hasn’t came close yet.

Delap and Szmodics have already scored, and Hutch has came very close.

I think once the new players have adjusted to their new surroundings / regime, we will have firepower all over the team.

There’s been much debate on where Hutch is most effective, on the right or in the center. If Hutch plays his position when he’s in the center, he’ll be in a better position to receive the ball in scoring positions. He’s programmed to go and get the ball, so he frequently gets pulled out of position. I think Rossi has commented in the past that Burns doesn’t track back, and I agree Burns needs to drop back and receive the ball and pass to Hutch in the center.

Szmodics is very good at one touch passes and pivoting to move forward. He doesn’t have the crossing ability of Burns, but this set up should work better when Hutch is in the center.

Charnwood mentioned Davis creating chances, and he’s absolutely right. But as I’ve said before, Davis is most effective when he’s running on to the ball. Clarke is the perfect player on the left to go and get the ball and feed Davis on the wing.

So for me the strongest line up is Clarke, Hutchinson, Szmodics.

If you play Hutchinson in the centre where in my opinion he's not great then there is no place in the Team for Szmodics

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 8:04 pm

If you play Hutchinson in the centre where in my opinion he's not great then there is no place in the Team for Szmodics

Ok. What if Hutchinson and Szmodics are given the direction by KM to rotate when necessary? That way you’ve got two primary goal scorers on the pitch at the same time?

I think that Jacob Greaves will score a few, the goals need to come from several players the same as last season, we just don't have a experienced goal scorer at premier level.

I think the link up play between Szmodics and Hutchinson could create more scoring chances for us.

ITFC2024 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 7:25 pm

I agree Clarke will and should be a primary goal scorer, but it hasn’t happened yet. Taylor has the ability to score from distance, but he also has not proven that yet. Burns is certainly a potential goal scorer, but hasn’t came close yet.

Delap and Szmodics have already scored, and Hutch has came very close.

So far Jack Clarke has only made three sub appearances and been on the pitch for 68 minutes so don’t expect too much.

Charnwood wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 8:15 pm

ITFC2024 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 7:25 pm

I agree Clarke will and should be a primary goal scorer, but it hasn’t happened yet. Taylor has the ability to score from distance, but he also has not proven that yet. Burns is certainly a potential goal scorer, but hasn’t came close yet.

Delap and Szmodics have already scored, and Hutch has came very close.

So far Jack Clarke has only made three sub appearances and been on the pitch for 68 minutes so don’t expect too much.

Yep. Trust me I want Clarke starting! Don’t know why he isn’t to be honest.

Cabanas Blue wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 8:13 pm

I think that Jacob Greaves will score a few, the goals need to come from several players the same as last season, we just don't have a experienced goal scorer at premier level.

Oh yeah, I agree completely.

As best I recall Hutchinson played one blinder of a game in the centre when he stood in for Chaplin when he was injured. Other than that his speed and talent is wasted as a No 10 and is far more effective playing down the right. Never was this more apparent than last season when he was often used as an impact sub and come on and terrorised the opposition.

Also as Mike has said if you move him into the centre there’s no position for Szmodics. If this happened I guess Ogbene or Burns would come in down the right and Szmodics would become the impact sub.

TBH I can’t see McKenna dropping Szmodics unless he really starts to struggle or pick up an injury.

You'd like to think Hirst and Chaplin will still chip in with a few, I definitely think all our goals will be spread throughout the squad.

Like I said, if Szmodics and Hutchinson have the directions to rotate when necessary they will both create better scoring chances. Why do Burns or Ogbene have to start? If Szmodics and Hutchinson aren’t connecting, make a sub.

From what I’ve seen so far, it doesn’t really matter if we have someone on the right who can cross into the box because we rarely have players in position to do anything from it.

Szmodics and Hutchinson linking up, making one touch passes and moving into space will create more scoring chances than crossing the ball to what is usually Delap covered by 3 defenders!

We got away with Burns on the right running at defenders and cutting inside sometimes scoring goals in the Championship, but It ain’t gonna happen with premier league defenders, so we need to go with Szmodics and Hutchinson making one touch passes and creating scoring opportunities at the top of the box.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:04 pm

You'd like to think Hirst and Chaplin will still chip in with a few, I definitely think all our goals will be spread throughout the squad.

I think that’s the only way it’s likely to happen Mike. I don’t think we have many players who will be scoring into double figures.

ITFC2024 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:26 pm

Like I said, if Szmodics and Hutchinson have the directions to rotate when necessary they will both create better scoring chances. Why do Burns or Ogbene have to start? If Szmodics and Hutchinson aren’t connecting, make a sub.

From what I’ve seen so far, it doesn’t really matter if we have someone on the right who can cross into the box because we rarely have players in position to do anything from it.

Szmodics and Hutchinson linking up, making one touch passes and moving into space will create more scoring chances than crossing the ball to what is usually Delap covered by 3 defenders!

We got away with Burns on the right running at defenders and cutting inside sometimes scoring goals in the Championship, but It ain’t gonna happen with premier league defenders, so we need to go with Szmodics and Hutchinson making one touch passes and creating scoring opportunities at the top of the box.

If you read what I said Burns or Ogbene would be the obvious choice if Szmodics doesn’t hold his position in the middle of the three behind Delap. I just don’t see McKenna using Szmodics down the right with Hutchinson in the middld of the park. I just don’t think it will happen and of course this is nothing more than discussing opinions.

Fine, I don’t think I’m right about everything. I just enjoy debating what can make us better. If I’m wrong, I’ll always raise my hand. We have to start scoring goals though, if we wanna survive.

I'm struggling to see the logic of playing Szmodics on the right.
As has already been stated, he is not a particularly good crosser of the ball.
If, as has been suggested, you play him on the right purely to play short one-touch passes with Hutchinson (in the middle) then you take away the threat of an attack from the right hand side and we become extremely narrow.

With the 4-2-3-1 formation that KM is almost certain to stick with throughout the season, then on current form the best lineup for the 3 behind the striker is (left to right) Clarke, Szmodics, Hutchinson - I hope it will not be long before that is given a try as the starting lineup.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:04 pm

You'd like to think Hirst and Chaplin will still chip in with a few, I definitely think all our goals will be spread throughout the squad.

I would start both of them on Sunday to be honest. Szmodics is trying to hard and is snatching at chances and Delaps hold up play is poor.

I reckon it'll be similar to the last two seasons, the goals will come from all around the squad rather than out and out strikers. Doesn't seem to be the way McKenna sets up his teams.

mendipblue wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 26, 2024 9:12 am

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:04 pm

You'd like to think Hirst and Chaplin will still chip in with a few, I definitely think all our goals will be spread throughout the squad.

I would start both of them on Sunday to be honest. Szmodics is trying to hard and is snatching at chances and Delaps hold up play is poor.

Yes, I agree. We haven't as yet had thd usual front line thst served us so well in thd promotion years, mainly because Hirst has been injured.

I'd go

.....................Hirst...............

Clarke. ...... Chaplin....... OH

Then try SS instead of Chaplin if it's not working. But I'd give the striking old guard a chance at this level. We haven't seen it this season yet.

It seems to me we’re all pretty much aligned in our thinking which is pretty unusual. 3 more days and we’ll see if our leader is on the same page. I have a feeling he might be, at least when it comes to the attacking threat.

The only reason I can think of for McKenna not starting with Clarke on the left is because he's worried about protecting Davis. I don't know how true that is, or whether Szmodics has been doing a better job in that regard than Clarke might.

But Clarke Cajuste Davis is an inexperienced lineup to defend that side of the pitch. Hopefully as we continue to get up to speed McKenna can let the reins out a little and take some risks.

KMc didn't buy Clarke to use mainly as a sub so I suspect once all the new men are bedded in the first choice starters will include Clarke ,Szmodics and Omari left to right in that order with back up Burns on right and Chaplin for Szmodics

Actually based on performances so far there could be an argument for Clarke Szmodics Ogbene because Hutchinson needs to step it up. No way would I be starting with Hirst over Delap by the way, we need goals and while Hirst brings good things to the team I don't really see goal threat being one of them, Delap scored a cracker against Fulham and narrowly missed a second with the header, he then smacked a cracker off the post at Brighton so the goal threat is definitely there despite a lack of supply to him.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:17 pm

Actually based on performances so far there could be an argument for Clarke Szmodics Ogbene because Hutchinson needs to step it up. No way would I be starting with Hirst over Delap by the way, we need goals and while Hirst brings good things to the team I don't really see goal threat being one of them, Delap scored a cracker against Fulham and narrowly missed a second with the header, he then smacked a cracker off the post at Brighton so the goal threat is definitely there despite a lack of supply to him.

Yea when you think about it Mike, Liam Delap’s two best efforts have come from him collecting the ball himself almost on thd halfway line and running like a greyhound holding off defenders with no support whatsoever. The last time we had a No 9 anywhere near as strong as him was Paul Mariner.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:17 pm

Actually based on performances so far there could be an argument for Clarke Szmodics Ogbene because Hutchinson needs to step it up. No way would I be starting with Hirst over Delap by the way, we need goals and while Hirst brings good things to the team I don't really see goal threat being one of them, Delap scored a cracker against Fulham and narrowly missed a second with the header, he then smacked a cracker off the post at Brighton so the goal threat is definitely there despite a lack of supply to him.

I get what you are saying about Hutchinson, but thus far he has been deployed more in the middle. And I've not been impressed enough by Ogbene to say that he deserves a starting place, so I'd be tempted to start Hutchinson on the right and persist with that for a bit.
Yeah, I was a bit dubious about Delap at first, but he definitely has something about him. What I'd really like to see is a 4-4-2 with Delap and Hirst as strikers - would have happened under Joe Royle of course, but I'm not holding my breath now.

Yeah I would stick with Hutchinson but on the right for sure. As for Delap and Hirst together, now that would be appetising but alas........