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

[LCFCJohn]

3 hours 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.

All I would say is Norwich and Southampton did somewhat help each other with those stats 

[Guest nathan.]

I hope we bring in a striker especially if Daka is finished here.

 

Im not confident Nacho will get the goals and Vardy is done.

[dmayne7]

3 hours ago, South Shire Fox said:

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

But Iheanacho is playing the role that this system needs. For us to get a proper 9 in the team would require a tactical rethink which we're certainly not going to get for a while

[Dan]

I think part of it is the lack of creativity from others simply. I think when you have Yunus / Casadei starting every game rather than Ndidi and one of the youngsters you're going to be able to really pile on teams, where I think currently we still have a lot of square pegs in round holes. Don't get me wrong, we need to improve.

[Oldblueyes]

The system we are trying to play and like a lot of other teams, the system does not rely on an old fashion center forward.

[StriderHiryu]

It's not like our strikers are missing gilt-edged opportunities so that part is not a concern.

 

A slight concern of mine is missing some of our 1 on 1's and good scoring opportunities. Praet against Cardiff, Mavididi against Rotherham. Anyone can miss a 1 on 1, but both were pretty pathetic attempts. It can be coached, but some players don't have natural composure.

 

Maybe a concern is our overall lack of creativity. So far we are bang on for goals scored to xG. A 2-1 scoreline wins every game, but it doesn''t feel like we are making countless chances per game. However, this is a new manager, with tons of changes to the starting XI, playing a brand new style of football and the window is still open. If we are winning now, it's hard not to see us handing out a few spankings later down the line.

 

I do think we will drop points quite soon though, as in reality we probably should have done already. But it's all good, we are waiting for the team to hit their stride and the signs are that it will come in time.

 

 

Edited 27 August 2023 by StriderHiryu

[Chelmofox]

4 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

I do think we will drop points quite soon though, as in reality we probably should have done already. But it's all good, we are waiting for the team to hit their stride and the signs are that it will come in time.

Party pooper alert. I think we don't win the next 3 league games. I think we draw Hull and lose to Southampton and Norwich. The latter 2 games away worry me, especially with the opponents looking strong.

 

But then, maybe we get out of 3rd gear against a better side when we need to. Its still all very unknown.

[James_lcfc]

No.

 

The concern is the lack of really good chances being created.

 

Who actually puts the ball in the net is of zero relevance to me.

 

[Sir Shep]

Well we need another striker that's for sure especially as Daka isn't rated/leaving. Nacho injury we are up the creak as I don't think Vardy is up to it nowadays. 

[Chelmofox]

1 minute ago, Sir Shep said:

Well we need another striker that's for sure especially as Daka isn't rated/leaving. Nacho injury we are up the creak as I don't think Vardy is up to it nowadays. 

Nacho is going to AFCON as well. And no one can convince me that towards the end of the season Nacho's performances aren't going to be affected by running his contract down. We need Daka out and another option (unless we think one of the wingers can play the false 9 role).

[Leeds Fox]

5 hours ago, Drink Water said:

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

Gundagon was the man for them after Haaland too! 

[Beachyboy]

2 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

Party pooper alert. I think we don't win the next 3 league games. I think we draw Hull and lose to Southampton and Norwich. The latter 2 games away worry me, especially with the opponents looking strong.

 

But then, maybe we get out of 3rd gear against a better side when we need to. Its still all very unknown.

There won't be a low block against Southampton and Norwich away they will back themselves to beat us, so it's a different challenge, which also creates opportunities.

Edited 27 August 2023 by Beachyboy

[Ric Flair]

It is a concern for me, a system is flawed in my opinion if the striker is restricted in their goal scoring opportunities. 

 

Before I get lynched, what I mean by that is, why would you create a system that doesn't try to create a multitude of chances for the best finisher/s at the club. The answer is, you wouldn't. At the minute, we're a huge work in progress and I'd hope this will improve in the coming weeks, but maybe not guaranteed and in which case would be something to scrutinise.

 

In the meantime we battle on and find ways to win regardless.

[Benji]

One of the biggest problems for me is the lack of a killer final ball.  I know people are saying Vardy is done but I’ve seen a number of missed opportunities this season when he’s made the run.  Unfortunately KDH or others haven’t seen the pass or aren’t confident enough

to try it.  Casadei has shown it so maybe with more game time we’ll create more chances.

[Beachyboy]

32 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

It is a concern for me, a system is flawed in my opinion if the striker is restricted in their goal scoring opportunities. 

 

Before I get lynched, what I mean by that is, why would you create a system that doesn't try to create a multitude of chances for the best finisher/s at the club. The answer is, you wouldn't. At the minute, we're a huge work in progress and I'd hope this will improve in the coming weeks, but maybe not guaranteed and in which case would be something to scrutinise.

 

In the meantime we battle on and find ways to win regardless.

Good point, I've not seen enough to know whether it's the movement patterns of Nacho. Watching the Praet chance against Huddersfield back you'd want Praet laying it back to Ricardo and Nacho running through on goal. The overall chance creation seems low though. I thought one of the ideas was to get it wide, an cut the ball back which would bring the striker more into play. We seen that in the 2 goals v Burton of which Nacho scored 1 of those. We haven't really seen that in the 4 league games. With Norwich and Southampton, I don't think they will sit as deep at home, so there may be a chance to see this in those games with the space left in behind.

Edited 27 August 2023 by Beachyboy

[Drink Water]

2 hours ago, Leeds Fox said:

Gundagon was the man for them after Haaland too! 

Exactly

[Dan]

8 hours 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.

It has been for years. I do think it will pick up with the new signings though.

[desertfox2]

At the moment, every team we play is treating it like a cup game and trying to keep the score down and nick a goal. This system catches them late as it's exhausting to play against, which is why we seem to be scoring late. As the season  progresses and everyone has injuries and fatigue to deal with, we could start smashing some sides with the strikers scoring for fun.

[foxile5]

My argument would be to look at the successful O'Niell team.

 

They didn't have a 20 goal a year man - I think Cottee was our top scorer for a few years with less than 15 each season - but that relied on a midfield and a center back pairing chipping in with upwards of 5/6 each as well as Muzzy scoring close to ten.

 

Goals are needed and if they're spread out then so be it. This team seems to have that RIGHT NOW but the only test that'll tell is the long one. If we do this all season then we'll be fine. For too long we've relied on Vardy doing the business.

[jim5000]

Nacho isn't an out and out striker, Vardy is sadly finished and the team don't play to the strengths he once had, and Daka has been frozen out and it was questionable whether he was ever up to it.

[Collymore]

Sick of hearing Vardy is finished. As others have said, the system at the moment isn't generating chances for any strikers. It's not as if he's missing guilt edged chances and is being bossed by any defenders. If anything I've thought he's looked quite sharp recently, definitely still got pace and will be a weapon at some point this season. 

 

I watched Haaland yesterday and he might as well have not been playing for the vast majority of the game, interesting that was against Sheff Utd (similar type of level difference we're facing this season) it was interesting that Man City just found a way to win but their world renowned system that we're mirroring didn't particularly generate too many chances, especially for Haaland against one of the league's poorer teams.

 

I've heard a few people mention that they're a bit anxious in facing the better teams such as West Brom, Leeds, Southampton etc. I reckon this is where we could really see the system work when we play teams that perhaps are a little more confident against us. We surprised Liverpool that first part of the match and by the time we play better teams later in the season, we'll be stronger and more used to it. 

 

It'll be Maresca's job to find a way (if he even wants to) to get the strikers firing. I remember Man City at times choosing to play no striker at all and wasn't there a bit of a fall out at times with Aguero, even though he looked world-class? 

Edited 28 August 2023 by Collymore

[Bryn]

Think in this system the goals will come from the wide attackers. If we did need a centre forward I'd sign one who links play well rather than an out and out goalscorer.

[whoareyaaa]

15 hours ago, Benji said:

One of the biggest problems for me is the lack of a killer final ball.  I know people are saying Vardy is done but I’ve seen a number of missed opportunities this season when he’s made the run.  Unfortunately KDH or others haven’t seen the pass or aren’t confident enough

to try it.  Casadei has shown it so maybe with more game time we’ll create more chances.

Casadei and Akgun should add that much needed creativity 

[HighPeakFox]

22 hours ago, FoxFossil said:

Vardy to go on a record breaking 12 goal a game run. The young lad just needs a  run in the team.

That would be quite something...

[ARM1968]

13 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

That would be quite something...

Possibly a little optimistic?