Our front line....goal threat?

[hallamblue]

Delap is a young phenomenal striker, and he's our current major source of goals. This fact in itself kind of masks the shortcoming of how he's being played by McKenna atm I feel.

He doesn't lead the line. The best player we have for that is Hirst, who is brilliant at holding the ball up and bringing other forwards into the play, and " occupying" two CB's, which is why I feel Hirst needs to be re- installed as the number 9.

Delap scored most of his goals for Hull playing wide right. I think a front line of Hirst , Clarke, Szmodics, Delap could be dynamic and bring a wider spread of threat. Burns atm doesn't (for me) offer much threat. Omari loses possession playing in the number 10 roll and I do wonder if Szmodics could offer more atm.

My post is in no way intended to demean any of our players. It's just my take on how things might benefit from being tweaked.

What do others feel about how we can become more of an attacking threat?

[Bluemike]

Not sure how Szmodics or Chaplin are supposed to score while sitting on the bench.

Broadhead been injured all season and Hirst only just back but minutes are short.

Hutchinson being played out of position so not creating anything.

Factor in our opponents, can we really expect to have scored many against Man City, Liverpool, villa and Brighton?

We are still learning and are a work in progress, it's gonna take time for sure.

I honestly think we've done ok, West Ham aside, gradually we are creating more chances with each passing game.

[hallamblue]

Lol, I'm not sure why all thiose posts were copied...I'd only intended to copy over my post ( the last one).....

I'll now go and delete the others....sorry about that.

[ITFC2024]

I think the Everton match may be a good time to play Hutch on the right like many of you suggested. It's time Szmodics got a few games in the center to see if he can regain his Championship form of scoring regularly. I still wouldn't mind if Hutch started the match on the bench, and maybe comes on in the second half since that is how he was most productive in the Championship. I certainly hope J. Clarke regains his form because I can't think of anyone better on the left. For me, Delap starts every game when healthy.

We obviously really need a win, so regardless of the line up I hope the players come out firing and keep silly errors to a bare minimum!

COYB!!

[arana peligrosa]

Wouldn't we be more attacking threat if McKenna didn't play one leading forward position each and every game we take on. Isn't that a solution or at least something else to try. May have worked by and large in the Championship and League One but going to be hard to replicate success at the highest level if we continue as we are. Haven't won a game as yet back in the EPL and into October, there's obviously a void someplace or something requires attention.

not sure what forward players we got out through injury or suspension right now but last looked there seemed an abundance of attacking potential. Smodzics needs to start from the off as regular as able, why bench the player in recent games after all the trouble of getting him in, taking away another teams most valuable commodity etc Simple math here we deploy at least two forward attacking players namely Smodzics and Delap, or say Hirst if the former doesn't quite fit in but you can at least play around with those three names there and give it a go. For all the plaudits you can award McKenna and what he's doen for us last 2, 3 years, he just doesn't seem to select the right players or formation particularly if the team is crying out for it.

go for wins from here on, put out a more attack minded side, fill the forward positions with more veracity particularly when facing off with lesser more beatable club names this league has to offer. Only trouble being McKenna just won't go for it, he's resolute in his ways and in a certain sense it's holding us back. You can only address the immediate issues here that time will allow.

[hallamblue]

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

Clarke......Szmodics.......Delap/ Omari

[Bluemike]

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

Clarke......Szmodics.......Delap/ Omari

Never gonna happen while Delap is fit

[hallamblue]

I don't see why not Mike. He scored all his goals for Hull playing wide right.

Hirst leads the line, Delap doesnt. With Hirsts guile and ability to bring other forwards into play, and occupying CB' and Delaps strengths and current scoring form that's not to like like about having both in the same team?

McKenna is missing a trick if he doesn't consider that front line.

[Bluemike]

To be honest I don't agree, I think Delap is leading the line superbly so far and us drawing plaudits for his performances from everyone, he's the one constant in our team that is functioning really well and improving with every game. Where McKenna is getting it wrong is with his using of Hutchinson and Szmodics.

I also have my doubts Hirst will cut it as a starter in this higher level, for me he is the one that will be most effective coming on for 15/20 minute cameos against tiring defences, he certainly wouldn't have scored the goals Delap has.

As a side note, I would love to see them both on the pitch at some time, but both as strikers.

[shabba]

Nobody to come on and replace them if they are both starting though.

[Bluemike]

Yeah I Wouldn't have them both starting but one normally replaces the other, keep them both on.

[hallamblue]

Nobody to come on and replace them if they are both starting though.

Omari or Burns wide right

[hallamblue]

To be honest I don't agree, I think Delap is leading the line superbly so far and us drawing plaudits for his performances from everyone, he's the one constant in our team that is functioning really well and improving with every game. Where McKenna is getting it wrong is with his using of Hutchinson and Szmodics.

I also have my doubts Hirst will cut it as a starter in this higher level, for me he is the one that will be most effective coming on for 15/20 minute cameos against tiring defences, he certainly wouldn't have scored the goals Delap has.

As a side note, I would love to see them both on the pitch at some time, but both as strikers.

Atm Delap is our only goal threat. His goals, whilst absolutely stunning, in most cases
(are usually with him running at the defence onto a forward ball), and kind of mask what his game ATM, does not include ie He doesnt really hold the ball up, or bring others into play,
so the front line is working independently of each other.

Whilst Hirst is not the power house, striker Delap is, what he offers is a phenomenal high press work rate. He occupys the central defenders, pulls them all over the place which creates space for the other front men to score goals, and frankly, tires them out!! These effects has been notably absent since Hirst has been absent. If Delap doesnt get a worldie, no one else looks like scoring. Delap is in a rich vein of form but is definitely WIP.


We dont know how well Hirst would do at PL level because he's not yet been playing. But you need guile at this level, as well as goals.

I'm not saying drop one for the other, I'm saying have both threats in the same front line, and play Delap wide right where he scored loads of goals, but you also have Hirsts influence centrally which may well bring into play additional goal threats from Clarke and Szmodics.

For me, it's got to be worth a try. Mix it up a bit. Opponents will very quickly work out Delaps game, what else can he currently offer.... we need to give them additional threats to think about I think.

[Bluemike]

The additional threats would be Hutchinson and Szmodics playing in their natural, and best, positions.

[hallamblue]

Question for people now....
Broadhead or Clarke v Everton?

[Cabanas Blue]

Clarke for me at his best no contest especially as Broadhead has been injured and can't be match fit.