Strikers

[HoustonFox]

• Vardy and Okazaki - proven to work
• Vardy and Slimani - has worked sometimes but not seen it enough - Man City 4-2 anyone?  Believe Slim played a big part in some of the goals 
• Vardy and Iheanacho - looked pretty tasty for the 5-6 mins vs BMG
• Slim and Iheanacho - I think this would work nicely
• Slim and Shinji - this would work - team would have to change style slightly for more crosses as both are players that feed from them (Shinji gets on the end of a lot of crossses, watch him closely)
• Shinji and Iheanacho - I think this could work too - they would need to coordinate dropping deep but I think Kelechi would go to more of a traditional #9. 

I left Leo out, sorry but (a) I don't think he cuts it for more than a get him on and get it in the mixer, or hold up play with maybe a last minute go mental goal (see Norwich) and (b) I think these 4 between them are enough

 

What we really need is to mix up our style a bit more:

• Vardy obviously gives us the through ball option and can stretch the play but he's also a very clever fox in the box finisher, a lot more of his goals are from crosses and first time finishes and we needn't be so one dimensional with it
• Mahrez (if he stays) or Gray could drop in as 10 in a 4321 if we get short on striking options, as could Iborra.  There's also 433 if only one of the main four strikers are available, and we could adopt that - 3 in the middle might also make us more compact, channel the ball out wide and force the opposition to make crosses that can (should?) be easily cleared like in the title winning season 
• Weirdly if Mahrez goes, I see us being more of a 90s Man U with flying wingers and whipped crosses as we'll increase the number of early balls into the box
• We have the players for options and I'd like to see CS mix us up more, and remove some of the predictability that was a potent and unstoppable threat, to now more of a "it's great when it comes off but no surprise" 

[volpeazzurro]

I admit to being in the keep Slimani camp. Firstly, despite all his criticism, I think there's a really good striker in there that hasn't stood out because he's been asked to play in a role which is not his forte. How would Vardy fair in that role? Makes you wonder the thinking behind his signing in the first place.

The talk is mainly of what would happen if Vardy got injured and whilst not wishing to sound too pessimistic, lest we forget, Iheanacho is a very young player without a full season behind him and may this year be a little inconsistent. I think he's going to be a quality signing but we do need to cut him some slack.

Just in case though, we have a quality international striker as back up in Slimani who, if played in his correct position, offers something quite different certainly in the second half of games, we should know this from last week when Giroud came on to great effect. With a long season ahead, cup games and for the good tactic of having something different up your sleeve coupled with a supposed ambition of aiming very high in the table, I think it wise to keep hold of Slimani.

 

Whilst Ulloah has been a good servant, he is just not of the same pedigree and quality and I don't see Musa stepping up to the mark any time soon. Do we really need the money? For me if he's happy to stay and fight, his sale would signal a lack of ambition unless they have someone else in mind to purchase.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Swan Lesta said:

So people seem happy to let Ulloa go for a fee and others happy to sell on Slimani as he really doesn't fit the way we play.

 

That said if the unthinkable happened and Vardy got injured - Yes we could play Icheancho and Okazaki but there really wouldn't be any strength in depth the way we play and I genuinely believe we'd be stuffed.

 

I don't necessarily mind selling both Ulloa and Slim (though I'd not be disappointed to keep Slim) but we'd need a fourth striker and somebody who fits... the more I think about it weirdly, Deeney actually seems like a good option if we got money for our two big lads.

 

Keeping strikers happy is a nightmare but I do think that competition for places makes a difference - take a look at Shinji's performance last week. Can't help but think he was extra good because he was fighting for his starting place.

 

Id like four strikers that fit our style. We currently have three. Most managers seem to like 5 strikers for a campaign to cope with injuries and the amount of games but I can't see a way of keeping that many happy!

I don't like to disagree with you Swan but this idea of strikers fitting "the way we play" is wrong and the idea that Okazaki is a striker let alone the starting striker in a club that wants to finish top 6 is ridiculous.

 

We have the proof from last season that when Vardy isn't "on" or "bothered" then we had no attack. Okazaki is not an attacker he's a glorified midfielder who runs around well and falls over a lot. He was magnificent against Arsenal but that was one game, he is not the way forward.

 

Vardy can be "world class" and our entire team philosophy is based on him, and for that reason he is our number 1 attacker. If he is out then the only replacement we have for playing the same way is Musa. Which I believe is why we bought Musa (thinking Vardy was on his way to Arsenal).

 

We need an alternative approach and that was why we bought Slimani. Slimani is a class player but seems to have been bought injured and not yet over it. Do we have a problem with our medical team - Slim, Mendy, James ...?

 

Vardy is our best attacker, Slimani is our alternative best attacker.

 

Iheanacho looks like he could be incredible, but we don't know yet. For me he's our number 3.

 

Musa is an alternative for Vardy, Ulloa is a poor alternative to Slimani, which makes him the back-up to the alternative system.

 

Okazaki is a compliment player to Vardy when Vardy is scoring but he isn't an alternative striker.

 

I'm happy with Vardy starting alongside Iheanacho, Slimani or Okazaki. I'm happy with Slimani starting alongside Iheanacho. I'd be unhappy with Ulloa getting anywhere near the team, Okazaki being the main striker and to a lesser extent Musa being the main attacker (because I still believe as a CF Musa could actually work).

 

We need 4 strikers - Vardy, Slimani, Iheanacho are definites. Okazaki, Musa and Gray are possible sidekicks. Let's get rid of Ulloa and use the money towards getting an RB or CB in. I'm also happy to let Musa go out on loan to Hull. Leaving us with Vardy and one of the other three or if Vardy is injured then Slimani and Iheanacho together. Gray can be an emergency striker if needed.

 

edit: and hell no to Deeney.

[Daggers]

7 hours ago, Swan Lesta said:

 

Some people write considered and differing responses not just post the same old rhetoric in every thread.

 

I'm glad somebody appreciates my now once in a blue moon contributions.