Ultra Posted 4 August 2008 Posted 4 August 2008 Leicester fans have had a problem with target men for years. Does my head in. Mine too. We haven't had a consistently decent one since Sir Les in 2003. That's where the problem stems from.
Flynny Posted 4 August 2008 Posted 4 August 2008 Without having read half the thread: 1. Jumps half-heartedly for headers. 2. Can't/doesn't direct headers (McAuley upstaging him in his 5-minute cameo up front against Colchester) 3. Can't/doesn't power any headers (looping, always) 4. When laying off the ball, lacks the pace to get into the box. These limitations make him obselete as a target-man. He's got a fantastic foot on him but often isn't mobile enough to use it too often. If we use him he should be attempting to lead the line and get a shot at goal from the floor, nothing else.
Raj Posted 5 August 2008 Posted 5 August 2008 Not many scored a hat-trick at The Hawthorns last season. For my part, I am frustrated by Howard. Give him the right service, and he will score, but he never really got it and for that, I could forgive him. But then there were other occasions when he would be in the wrong place at the right time, and whether or not it was his doing, I don't know. But the times when he looked like he couldn't be bothered. I don't know. So what you sayinG Dave???? Okay....so we've all decided he is a big fat waste of space who has mental health issues??? yeah???? Good....
Daggers Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 I have hopes for Howard that go beyond simply netting goals. He'll be good for us this season. Well done me.
JoeyB Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 I'm prepared to broaden this to Goals & Assists.Howard isn't alone, the whole team have something to prove - the ones who got us relegated, the kids coming through and the new ones. We will meet success or failure as a team and Howard plays a key role in that end - his ability to hold the ball and include pace players joining the attack will prove to be key in unlocking the tight defences we'll meet week in week out. Not just that but look at the flack the Leeds front-line had during the season they went down and compare it to how they started off last season banging them in for fun. I have hopes for Howard that goes beyond simply netting goals. He'll be good for us this season. Well done me. You were spot on matey! Well done
Webbo Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 Well done me. You were spot on matey!Well done Get a room.
Father Ted Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 I think some of our fans are confused. They are expecting something from Steve Howard that they aren't going to get. There will be no turn of pace, no get the ball and beat a man ala Gradel. And there lies the problem. The old fashioned centre forward has no place in the modern game from a fans point of view. If players don't have pace or an abundance of skill, they are called crap and lazy. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Howard has been as good as he should have been for us, but then again hardly anybody was for us last season. Because of the way Howard plays, people assume he's un-interested and couldn't give a fook. I seriously doubt that very much. What i'm trying to say is, perhaps if fans realised the limitations in Howard's game, they might not get so worked up about it when he plays. It's still plain to see from his goal scoring record that if we play to his strengths, then he'll score goals for us, especially in the league we are in. But that's all he is, a goal scorer. He does his business in the box, usually from crosses. When he doesn't score, fans will moan. I'm not going to get on his back, there isn't any alternative we have amongst our ranks better than him right now. Fryatt is appearing to be re-discovering his form and that's encouraging, but DJ is as much a disappointment as Howard has been to many. Please try to distinguish between a lack of pace and being a lazy, mardy 32 year old footballer who doesn't want to be here. Perhaps if Howard took his boots off every so often and did a little wave, there would be a bit more leniency from our fans. I gather, there was a section of our fans telling him to 'fook off' when he got substituted on Saturday, marvelous. The thing that I will continually say is name a player who would come to us and can play in the Howard role?? I can only think of one player and that's Ricky Lambert and to be overly honest - he was crap against us. BTW, is that Alan Kimble in your dp?
MC Prussian Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 You'd expect much more goals from a player like Howard - especially given his credentials and the price tag he came along with when we signed him. Maybe it's not the goalscoring that's so valuable this season, rather the way he tears up opposing defences and letting more spare room for Fryatt?? (That is my theory)
Thracian Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 While we keep winning and scoring I prefer to see the good in Howard and there's plenty of it. Were we not scoring and not winning his continued lack of goals might be worrying. But Howard's goal famine may well be to do with the role he's playing anyway. With far more scorers in the side than last year Howard is expected to shield and control the ball, allowing others to make their runs off him. This tactic seems to be working admirably. We've scored 36 goals in 20 matches with Howard's strike partner getting 22 and midfielders Dyer, King and even Oakley chipping in quite well. Howard got another assist today which makes him top of our assists chart with seven, not an insignificant number before Christmas. Furthermore we seem to be able to score almost at will when we do commit to attack and so often Howard takes on the role of attacking general when that happens. Looking at our results since November I cannot imagine why Pearson would seriously consider leaving the bloke out.
RowlattsFox Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 While we keep winning and scoring I prefer to see the good in Howard and there's plenty of it. Were we not scoring and not winning his continued lack of goals might be worrying. I think thats a key point. If Fryatt left and we failed to replace him with a regular goalscorer then Howards lack of goals would become under the microscope. At the minute we can afford to appreciate Howards hard work and importance to the side but he needs to add more goals to his games, I'm not saying he should be prolific but the odd goal wouldn't go a miss. The worrying thing for me is that he rarely looks like scoring, I can't comment on today but in recent weeks too much of his work is done outside the box. I know there's a lot of ifs and buts in there regarding if Fryatt leaves and if we replace him but Howards needs to contribute more on the goalscoring side of things and I'm sure he knows that more than anyone.
Ultra Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 Absolutely. It's a good job that Fryatt has been so prolific in recent weeks, otherwise Howard's goal drought (12 games and counting) might receive a little more attention. Let's hope he's been saving the goals for the Posh and Leeds games.
lildave3 Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 Without Howard, I GUARANTEE we would not be in the automatic promotion spaces.
Bert Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 Without Howard, I GUARANTEE we would not be in the automatic promotion spaces. Same with Fryatt.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 13 December 2008 Posted 13 December 2008 Who cares who's scoring? We haven't got anyone else like Howard and he was absolutely key to this victory. Has set up two goals in two games and generally been a complete nuisance for the opposition defenders. I've not been his biggest fan in the world but I don't dislike him either. At the moment he's playing well.
Granno Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 Without Howard, I GUARANTEE we would still be in the Championship
C-man Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 Who cares who's scoring? We haven't got anyone else like Howard and he was absolutely key to this victory. Has set up two goals in two games and generally been a complete nuisance for the opposition defenders. I've not been his biggest fan in the world but I don't dislike him either. At the moment he's playing well. I know ffs, we've only won 7 out of our last 8 games. Clearly Howard's goal famine is costing us lots of points and games.
Corky Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 His goal drought is worrying, I'm sure he's worried, but he's contributing. Played a great ball out to Gilbert in the first half, and every chest down found a team-mate. Set up the winner as well. He's made contributions in other areas. I do hope he scores more goals though.
Tilley Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 Agree with what everyone has been saying, he is a great contributor & as LD3 says, without him, we probably wouldn't be top. However, would be nice if he could pop up with a goal now & again.
Corky Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 Agree with what everyone has been saying, he is a great contributor & as LD3 says, without him, we probably wouldn't be top.However, would be nice if he could pop up with a goal now & again. Andy King does that. And nothing for the rest of the game
Tilley Posted 14 December 2008 Posted 14 December 2008 Andy King does that. And nothing for the rest of the game Long may it continue.
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