davieG Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Merc Nigel Pearson says striker Jermaine Beckford is desperate to be a success at Leicester City. Beckford has struggled to find his best form since joining City from Everton for around £2million in August, scoring just twice in 13 appearances. • • He had to be sacrificed after just half an hour by Pearson last week at Hull after captain Matt Mills' red card. But Beckford is expected to start in attack for City tomorrow against Peterborough United, and Pearson, right, believes the striker can still find his goalscoring form this season. "Unfortunately for him, he was a casualty last week, based on having to make the change, but I still think there is more to come," said Pearson. "I am sure, after speaking to him, he desperately wants to be a success here, and we will do everything we can to help him achieve those goals. "Time will tell, but the important thing is he has shown some encouraging signs. "Like every striker, he needs to be scoring goals, and I don't think he is different to any other striker in that respect. "We will do everything we can to be a success as a group and, if we are winning games, it means people are playing their part in that, and we have to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible." Pearson said it was important City made an immediate return to winning ways tomorrow against Posh after their first defeat last week at Hull since he took over. "We got beat last week, which was the first defeat, but I have seen some encouraging signs, even in defeat, and you learn more about your players," he said. "The lads have been good all week and haven't been dwelling on what happened. "It is important to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible now. "The preparation in terms of us is how we go about the game ourselves. We have to make sure the focus is on our own performance. "We have played some good football, but also made some mistakes. We want to get the consistency. "I have been pleased with how the players have gone about training and preparing for games since I returned."
Matt Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Only he can change things. Gotta say though, he has improved and is getting into better positions under Pearson, Just gotta sort his finishing out, 1 on 1 in the Blackpool game (?) must score....
Green-Fox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 I agree, since pearson has came back beckford has certainly improved not to his best but getting better finally runs round and looks like he actually wants to play I believe he can be a 'GREAT' play for us in the near future!
Raj Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Well that beats Becks saying he wants to be a total and utter failure at LCFC!!!
marbelladave Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 NFP 'bigging up' Beckford in the vain hope that something will change and he will become an effective player for us. Got to be tried I suppose, but Beckford is such a poor fit for us that I do not think it has the faintest chance of working. Either we have to completely rebuild our team so that we can play an effective 4-4-2 or let him go. Trying to accomodate him in our current setup us not going to work, even with the changes NFP will make in January, sad but true......
THEFATBASTARD Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Well we know he talks a good game, "only weak people feel pressure" etc, but having seen most of his performances he ain't got me hard yet.
shilton_fox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Think he will probably score against posh! would have scored against blackpool if it werent for some brilliant keeping and at hull cant really blame him as didnt really have time to influence the game
Matt Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 NFP 'bigging up' Beckford in the vain hope that something will change and he will become an effective player for us. Got to be tried I suppose, but Beckford is such a poor fit for us that I do not think it has the faintest chance of working. Either we have to completely rebuild our team so that we can play an effective 4-4-2 or let him go. Trying to accomodate him in our current setup us not going to work, even with the changes NFP will make in January, sad but true...... Tough situation for "NFP" though. He could just stay quiet and not say anything about Beckford but it's worth a try, stroking his ego and saying he's got belief Beckford will come good. "NFP" has been lumbered with (Albiet I was happy with the signing but not exactly extatic) a so far poor Sven signing, he cost what? £4m is that right? and probably feels obliged to play him, the owners havn't forked out that money for him not to play, that said we shouldn't feel obliged to play anyone, if they're going through a poor vain of form they shouldn't play, sit a few games out, and also yes the owners have forked out the money for him but what would they rather? Play someone who is playing poorly but cost alot, or play someone that will play better and create or score goals. Hopefully things will change and as I have already said I think there is improvement in Beckford already but he's still got a long way to go.
davieG Posted 9 December 2011 Author Posted 9 December 2011 Tough situation for "NFP" though. He could just stay quiet and not say anything about Beckford but it's worth a try, stroking his ego and saying he's got belief Beckford will come good. "NFP" has been lumbered with (Albiet I was happy with the signing but not exactly extatic) a so far poor Sven signing, he cost what? £4m is that right? and probably feels obliged to play him, the owners havn't forked out that money for him not to play, that said we shouldn't feel obliged to play anyone, if they're going through a poor vain of form they shouldn't play, sit a few games out, and also yes the owners have forked out the money for him but what would they rather? Play someone who is playing poorly but cost alot, or play someone that will play better and create or score goals. Hopefully things will change and as I have already said I think there is improvement in Beckford already but he's still got a long way to go. £2 million according to the article
Charl91 Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 I say we keep playing him. He is improving and was unlucky not to score vs. Blackpool. Not his fault for what happened in the Hull game. Plus if we don't play him, and he goes on to be good somewhere else, then it's going to be like the Gradel thing all over again, and we'l never hear the end of it.
marbelladave Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Tough situation for "NFP" though. He could just stay quiet and not say anything about Beckford but it's worth a try, stroking his ego and saying he's got belief Beckford will come good. "NFP" has been lumbered with (Albiet I was happy with the signing but not exactly extatic) a so far poor Sven signing, he cost what? £4m is that right? and probably feels obliged to play him, the owners havn't forked out that money for him not to play, that said we shouldn't feel obliged to play anyone, if they're going through a poor vain of form they shouldn't play, sit a few games out, and also yes the owners have forked out the money for him but what would they rather? Play someone who is playing poorly but cost alot, or play someone that will play better and create or score goals. Hopefully things will change and as I have already said I think there is improvement in Beckford already but he's still got a long way to go. I don't think 'form' has much to do with it. In some ways Beckford is a very old fashioned sort of player, a budget Owen or Defoe if you like. These guys are all throwbacks to the classic 'big man - little man' setup that ruled football for so many years, but the game has moved on and this, along with the 4-4-2 system that it dictates has virtually disappeared from the modern game.
burni Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 hes a quality player just having a bit of a poor patch, he will come good im still happy for him to start everygame. By us fans giving him the backing which everyone seems to be doing to an extent i think he will only get better. Some of his goals for everton last season were sublime im excited for when he hits that form here
Dan Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 I don't think 'form' has much to do with it. In some ways Beckford is a very old fashioned sort of player, a budget Owen or Defoe if you like. These guys are all throwbacks to the classic 'big man - little man' setup that ruled football for so many years, but the game has moved on and this, along with the 4-4-2 system that it dictates has virtually disappeared from the modern game. Not really though, has it?
Guest Col city fan Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 hes a quality player just having a bit of a poor patch, he will come good im still happy for him to start everygame. By us fans giving him the backing which everyone seems to be doing to an extent i think he will only get better. Some of his goals for everton last season were sublime im excited for when he hits that form here We are only going to go up if we get an in form strike partner for the excellent nugent. Beckford has failed to impress and if he is only going to score goals 'by us playing a certain way' it makes him a very limited striker. Against the Posh he should have plenty of chances and I expect him to start scoring. If he doesn't I expect Nige to get someone else in.
MPH Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 I don't think 'form' has much to do with it. In some ways Beckford is a very old fashioned sort of player, a budget Owen or Defoe if you like. These guys are all throwbacks to the classic 'big man - little man' setup that ruled football for so many years, but the game has moved on and this, along with the 4-4-2 system that it dictates has virtually disappeared from the modern game. You Have it so wrong there.... he certainly is not a target man and neither is he a little man like Owen... He is neither of the traditional little or big man.. Don't get me wrong he is big ( 6ft 2 i think) But he is very mobile and possesses technical ability. In fact he is very much the modern day striker and that could be the problem for Pearson... knowing how to get the best out of him...
Guest Basildon Fox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 If he can score goals in the Premiership then he can certainly do it at Championship level too.
CountesthorpeFox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 If he can score goals in the Premiership then he can certainly do it at Championship level too. Agreed. I know some people on here have seemingly already made up their mind up on Beckford but I think there is alot more to come. For the first time in quite a while, we have a player who has a streak of fearlessness when concerened with attacking. He is very self confident and doesnt mind picking the ball up and running at defenders. He did this away at Portsmouth in the second half and he frightened the defenders who backed off and got a block in. We havent had a player like that since . . . . Heskey? Managed correctly I think he could be scoring an average of one in two at least. I think Pearson knows this (or rather thinks this aswell) and its why he is persisting with him rather than just pleasing the owners . . .I dont think Pearson is that type of manager. I've got a feeling he is going to shine tomorrow.
NewburyFox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 I liked his attitude vs Hull. He didn't really get into the game in the first 30 minutes, but when he was replaced by SSL he ran off and clapped the fans. Amazing when you consider just 6 games previously, he was having staring contests with the fans when substituted. I fancy him to get a fair few goals this season.
marbelladave Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Not really though, has it? At the highest level it is gone, if you play 2 men up and 2 men wide you will routinely get stuffed. The opposition will push onto your wingers and go 3 against 2 in the center and more often than not it will work.
CountesthorpeFox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 At the highest level it is gone, if you play 2 men up and 2 men wide you will routinely get stuffed. The opposition will push onto your wingers and go 3 against 2 in the center and more often than not it will work. You're correct in what you're saying but there are also a few variables. Newcastle, Stoke and Liverpool are three teams that use wide men and two up front effectively. In fact this style has really benefitted Stoke in europe. I would however agree that its been pretty much "phased out" since the 90's. Could you also argue that there is more flexibility in the game now? As players are fitter they can cover more ground and often RM or LM are asked to come central and vice versa, while CF's wil often alternate between LW/RW/CF. Having said that in the past there was less "tactical discipline" so maybe not.
marbelladave Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 You Have it so wrong there.... he certainly is not a target man and neither is he a little man like Owen... He is neither of the traditional little or big man.. Don't get me wrong he is big ( 6ft 2 i think) But he is very mobile and possesses technical ability. In fact he is very much the modern day striker and that could be the problem for Pearson... knowing how to get the best out of him... Physical size is not the point, Beckford is a poacher who needs to play off a big man, he is the 'little man' in that sense (even if he is 6ft). The 'modern day striker' needs to be more of an all rounder than Beckford, he needs to be able to play up front on his own, hold up play with his back to goal, challenge in the air and keep possesion, none of which Beckford is good at. As I said elsewhere, playing Beckford virtually forces you into a 4-4-2, fine if you have the right players, but we don't. We would need a completely new midfield for that to be the case.
marbelladave Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 You're correct in what you're saying but there are also a few variables. Newcastle, Stoke and Liverpool are three teams that use wide men and two up front effectively. In fact this style has really benefitted Stoke in europe. I would however agree that its been pretty much "phased out" since the 90's. Could you also argue that there is more flexibility in the game now? As players are fitter they can cover more ground and often RM or LM are asked to come central and vice versa, while CF's wil often alternate between LW/RW/CF. Having said that in the past there was less "tactical discipline" so maybe not. Flexibility is the key as you so rightly point out..... Having a second striker that drops off into midfield is one way to make it work, wide men who are prepared to 'tuck in' and help out is another, neither are 'proper' 4-4-2 though. NFP tried to play a 'classic' 4-4-2 during his first Championship season with us, a great start but we were soon found out with Wellens and King in the center being routinely outplayed by teams prepared to go 3 vs 2 against them. You may recall that this was when Oakley was brought in to play that horrid 'narrow right' position that was universally hated. Modern strikers need to be more flexible and have a wider range of skills than ever before and I feel it is highly unlikely that Beckford will aquire enough of those skills to be really effective.....
shilton_fox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Well we know he talks a good game, "only weak people feel pressure" etc, but having seen most of his performances he ain't got me hard yet. hahahahahahaha
CountesthorpeFox Posted 9 December 2011 Posted 9 December 2011 Flexibility is the key as you so rightly point out..... Having a second striker that drops off into midfield is one way to make it work, wide men who are prepared to 'tuck in' and help out is another, neither are 'proper' 4-4-2 though. NFP tried to play a 'classic' 4-4-2 during his first Championship season with us, a great start but we were soon found out with Wellens and King in the center being routinely outplayed by teams prepared to go 3 vs 2 against them. You may recall that this was when Oakley was brought in to play that horrid 'narrow right' position that was universally hated. Modern strikers need to be more flexible and have a wider range of skills than ever before and I feel it is highly unlikely that Beckford will aquire enough of those skills to be really effective..... I was thinking the other day about Pearson and "tactics". Do you think Pearson is a big tactician or do you think its more the other staff who focus on that? He seems to do his homework on upcoming teams and working on lateral defending as Hobbs used to explain . . . but I wondered if maybe you could argue his area where he is . . not weak . . . but not so strong . . . is tactics. His football is quite . . no nonsense . . . by that I dont mean boring, unattractive, hoof etc . . . Its just a relatively basic set up with well drilled motivated individuals doing their individual and team tasks really well. When someone asked me recently "are you much better now than under Sven?" I said basically that we were more reliable, positive on the ball and organised. I did say though that under Sven we did in some games, see alot of the ball as he played a narrower passing game. Im not one of the fans that hated Svens style, I liked the way we played on occasions but where Pearsons tactics are effective and efficent, Svens were not so. He seems to be more the Mr motivator type. Like Ferguson. Sometimes when Ferguson comes up against a really well drilled, tactically intelligent side, United struggle. His motivation skills though are so great that this only happens occasionally, similar to Pearson. I think if we got the premier league we'd be more of a Norwich than Swansea, if you catch my drift. Just my thoughts anyway.
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