Lack of goals from Strikers.....a concern?

[foxfanazer]

Now this might be seen as nit picking and so long as others are scoring people may argue it doesn't really matter but almost every promoted side from this division has a 20-25 goal a season striker. Now there's plenty of time for Nacho to do exactly that but early evidence suggests that might not be the case. 

 

Is it a genuine cause for concern or do we have enough goals from elsewhere to make up for it?

[Kierzz]

Nacho's assist yesterday was as good as a goal.

 

He will score a lot of goals this season at this level. Been unlucky so far but that will soon change.

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, Kierzz said:

Nacho's assist yesterday was as good as a goal.

 

He will score a lot of goals this season at this level. Been unlucky so far but that will soon change.

It was a superb piece of play. He really should blitz this league 

[The Doctor]

No. The way we're set up to play you would expect the two attacking midfielders and the wingers to be weighing in with the bulk of the goals rather than the traditional focal point striker. Look at Man City for example, yes, Haaland weighs in with an absurd amount because he's a Norweigan government experiment to create the ultimate footballing robot, but Gundogan was one of their top scorers multiple seasons in a row because the system is set up to create goals for the number 8s.

[StanSP]

It only really becomes a big concern when the goals dry up elsewhere. It's good the goals are being spread out by midfielders and wingers so far. It takes the reliance and pressure off the strikers. 

[Mike Oxlong]

It’s all about the W 

[adejo92]

If Nacho had a good partner up top, he'd be absolutely lethal.

[Ian Nacho]

The strikers role in this system is not just about scoring goals. It’s about creating space for others to score. 

[FrankieADZ]

17 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

Now this might be seen as nit picking and so long as others are scoring people may argue it doesn't really matter but almost every promoted side from this division has a 20-25 goal a season striker. Now there's plenty of time for Nacho to do exactly that but early evidence suggests that might not be the case. 

 

Is it a genuine cause for concern or do we have enough goals from elsewhere to make up for it?

Burnley didnt have one last season tbf, Tella was their highest scorer in the league with 17 and hes more a winger compared to a striker, and the highest a striker got for them was 10

 

while it is a little concerning, more of a concern in my eyes is the poor starts we are having to second halfs

[ARM1968]

The goals will come for Nacho or whoever. Just needs time. As long as they’re coming. 

[Chelmofox]

1 minute ago, adejo92 said:

If Nacho had a good partner up top, he'd be absolutely lethal.

That implies we should play a different system. I don’t see Enzo putting two up top. 

[adejo92]

4 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

That implies we should play a different system. I don’t see Enzo putting two up top. 

No, neither do i, and its a 100% record so it would be silly to change.

 

The point remains though, Nacho would be lethal with a good strike partner, whatever tactic or club that may be with. The amount of time's he has held the ball up brilliantly or created space out of nothing but has absolutely no one around him to feed.

 

Something like Nacho & Prime Vardy would be unreal.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Of course it's a concern. 

[Raj]

Only if we arent winning.

 

[Drink Water]

29 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

No. The way we're set up to play you would expect the two attacking midfielders and the wingers to be weighing in with the bulk of the goals rather than the traditional focal point striker. Look at Man City for example, yes, Haaland weighs in with an absurd amount because he's a Norweigan government experiment to create the ultimate footballing robot, but Gundogan was one of their top scorers multiple seasons in a row because the system is set up to create goals for the number 8s.

Not to mention the amount of times Bernardo Silva and Rodri came in clutch during big matches, where Haaland was not to be seen. 

[South Shire Fox]

No creativity in midfield and a striker that constantly drops deep doesnt help. No way in hell is anyone in this team getting above 20 this season..

A new CAM with composure is desperately needed or drop Iheanacho into the 10 and have a striker playing on the shoulder infront of him. KDH isnt the man to provide creativity, far too rash with his decision making in the final third

Edited 27 August 2023 by South Shire Fox

[ClaphamFox]

13 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

That implies we should play a different system. I don’t see Enzo putting two up top. 

Nacho would have thrived in the era when team’s typically played with a main striker and a support striker - Lineker/Beardsley, Shearer/Sheringhan, Owen/Heskey etc. He’s a classic support striker. Unfortunately few teams play that way any more, which means he doesn’t get to play in the role he’s most suited to.

 

[SouthStandUpperTier]

Chance creation is an issue across the whole team at the moment. If you look at the xG stats (cue rolling eyes) we've got a total of 4.8xG through 4 games (only good enough for 16th best in the league). Not great. Norwich have an xG of 9.1 (they've scored 13 goals to our 7) and Southampton have an xG of 7.5 (they have scored 10 goals). It's obviously not holding us back at the moment but we definitely need to create more chances, and we certainly we need to create more chances for the striker.

[TonyN11]

36 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

No. The way we're set up to play you would expect the two attacking midfielders and the wingers to be weighing in with the bulk of the goals rather than the traditional focal point striker. Look at Man City for example, yes, Haaland weighs in with an absurd amount because he's a Norweigan government experiment to create the ultimate footballing robot, but Gundogan was one of their top scorers multiple seasons in a row because the system is set up to create goals for the number 8s.

Agree with the point that if Enzo is setting us up to play like Man City prior to Haaland's arrival, the emphasis is on wingers getting a lot of goals like Sterling and of course Mahrez was top scorer for them, season before last. Jesus would score also but didn't concern them if he wasn't leading the goal charts. And our midfielders are getting goals - that should also continue whereas Manchester had significant contributions from Bernado Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Gundogan

[dbtcity]

As strange as it sounds I don’t think strikers bagging goals in this set up is their main priority… it seems to me that the striker in an Enzo team will be more of a provider some1 that will press the backline, hold up the ball and slot in the wingers/8s that are bursting past him… I’m sure goals will come like especially when we aren’t relying on creativity from our Nigerian attacking wizard Wilf 

[Fox92]

31 minutes ago, adejo92 said:

If Nacho had a good partner up top, he'd be absolutely lethal.

No he wouldn’t. He has never been lethal and never will be.

[Stadt]

The lack of good chances is the issue. So far we’ve primarily scored from low quality chances - Mavididi’s goal at Huddersfield should have been saved. Wanya’s goal was a nice hit through a crowd of bodies. Casadei’s goal against Cardiff was scruffy.

 

I think it will take time, Maresca is right we’re no way near up to speed but I’m also starting to think he’s overly structured with how we play.

 

We have better players than everybody else, more fluidity, more chaos in the final third plays tour strengths 

Edited 27 August 2023 by Stadt

[TonyN11]

6 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

Chance creation is an issue across the whole team at the moment. If you look at the xG stats (cue rolling eyes) we've got a total of 4.8xG through 4 games (only good enough for 16th best in the league). Not great. Norwich have an xG of 9.1 (they've scored 13 goals to our 7) and Southampton have an xG of 7.5 (they have scored 10 goals). It's obviously not holding us back at the moment but we definitely need to create more chances, and we certainly we need to create more chances for the striker.

Agreed, we need to create more chances, but for everyone and not just Vardy, Nacho or Daka. Enzo might even go with a 'false 9'

[whoareyaaa]

Nacho has scored and assisted twice if you include the cup game also hit the post in the Cardiff game, Vardy is a threat just being on the pitch.. I think the goals coming from the midfield we will be fine.

 

Could do with another forward though imo 

[BKLFox]

Burnley scored 87 goals last season and just 20 of them were split between their 4 CF’s, with Rodriguez scoring the lions share with just 10 of those.

I think it’s safe to say as long as goals keep coming from wide or central players then no our team isn’t reliant on Nacho getting 20-25 goals