Beckford.

[Carter The Boss]

Beckford still has 11 goals in 33, not a bad return

J-Becks could still finish the season on 15 goals which isn't bad, especially given how useless he was at the start of the season. I think a proper pre-season with Nige, and the occasional rocket up his arse and he'll be class for us.

[mhs123]

when he signed for us i said he would get 20 goals this season people laughed at me but you never know, fingers well and truly crossed.

[Carter The Boss]

I think he'll get 20 with a fair wind, 15 at least. Can't remember the last time we had 2 strikers who could potentially bag 20 goals each in a season?

[Captain...]

I think that's stretching it. Certainly, he'd be credited with the "assist" against Watford and Coventry, but he wouldn't against Norwich, although arguably his contribution there was far more important than the Watford and Coventry goals.

Why not, he got on the end of a long ball headed it to Nugent, drew away one defender go give Nugent the space to score.

The Watford goal was a nice header, which Nugent then controlled on his chest and volleyed in from 20 yards. That really is pushing the boundaries of the phrase "set-up".

Not really, no more so than people crediting Mills with the assist for Dyer's goal against Barnsely (I think).

The fact remains that despite the ravings about his brilliant partnership with Nugent, he has a grand total of 3 assists this season (source: Soccernet).

I had my doubts about their partnership at the start as I think they both try and play in the same space, and at the start it wasn't working they are getting better and I see a lot more link up play between the 2 but they are both number 9s in my eyes it's like playing with 2 Matt Fryatts (both better players than MF but that type of player). If you look at the stats since Forest when they started to click they will look a lot better than from the start of the season when they just didn't seem comfortable playing together. I think they both preffered playing with either a target man or a number 10 playing a bit deeper to feed off and it has taken them a while to adapt their game. Also our crossing is poor which is another source of goals that dries up when you can't get a decent ball in.

If Beckford scores 20 league goals a season, then fine. But I think that is the absolute minimum requirement for a centre-forward who offers nothing to the team in terms of work-rate or hold-up play. I have absolutely no problem with a player who only scores goals, providing that they are actually scoring them.

For the record, I really rated Yakubu here last season. I thought he was a completely different kettle of fish to Yakubu, not least because he scored at twice the rate. But you also need to factor in his routinely superb hold-up play, which gave us the "out" ball for much of the second half of last season (provided it was accurate enough that he didn't have to run after it!)

Yakubu was quality and would have been a better signing than Beckford in my opinion, but I still think that if we can play to Beckford's and Nugent's strengths we have a potent strikforce, if we keep on lumping balls up to them then they become passengers and they both, but Beckford more so, get frustrated when they don't get any service.

[Thorpie45]

Wonder if any of you have changed your opinion after Tuesday?? Agree with Happy Fox, play to his strengths and he is lethal.

[Mission Unlikely Promotion]

Beckford has been an awful signing FULL STOP

i bet you are regretting those words

[Bert]

Only 3/4? Goals behind Nuge too.

He's a great asset to have. Imagine if that was Steve Howard running onto that ball for the third goal on Tuesday night.

[Guest Col city fan]

Only 3/4? Goals behind Nuge too.

He's a great asset to have. Imagine if that was Steve Howard running onto that ball for the third goal on Tuesday night.

It would appear that Beckford love is the order of the day at present on here.

I hope he gives the Chelski back four something to think about on Sunday.

I think he'll do ok against them cos the centre backs aint that quick.

Fingers crossed n all that.

[Milton Keynes Fox]

Only 3/4? Goals behind Nuge too.

He's a great asset to have. Imagine if that was Steve Howard running onto that ball for the third goal on Tuesday night.

Was about to say, do people realises he's only 3 goals behind nugent on 11?

[Kitchandro]

Was about to say, do people realises he's only 3 goals behind nugent on 11?

I think the problem is he's got a bunch of them at once (5 in 2 FA Cup games) but has gone long periods without scoring.

Not that I'm encouraging slating him though.

[Bert]

I think the problem is he's got a bunch of them at once (5 in 2 FA Cup games) but has gone long periods without scoring.

Not that I'm encouraging slating him though.

True.

But more importantly he's scored goals at vital times for us.

Boro at home when he rescued a point. Cov at home when they were looking to get back into the game and Tuesday night to get us back into the game.

Tuesday was his best performance for us so far. At one point he'd covered sol and was at centre back. Chased down balls, put his foot in and linked up with the rest of the lads.

[Guybino]

Think it's 9 goals in 16 games.

4 in 12 in the league.

surely this is a clear sign of improvement?

no matter what anyone says Beckford is quality, give him time and he will only get better.

[Kitchandro]

True.

But more importantly he's scored goals at vital times for us.

Boro at home when he rescued a point. Cov at home when they were looking to get back into the game and Tuesday night to get us back into the game.

Tuesday was his best performance for us so far. At one point he'd covered sol and was at centre back. Chased down balls, put his foot in and linked up with the rest of the lads.

Yeh as I said, I don't want to slate him because he's been much better in 2012. From the games I've seen he doesn't deserve much stick at all. I think the last 2 away games where apparently he didn't perform well have blotted his copybook as he's otherwise been pretty decent his calender year.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Becks is a fine player, no question.

[Guest Col city fan]

Yeh as I said, I don't want to slate him because he's been much better in 2012. From the games I've seen he doesn't deserve much stick at all. I think the last 2 away games where apparently he didn't perform well have blotted his copybook as he's otherwise been pretty decent his calender year.

Let's get some balance....

I fully agree that Beckford has quality.

We've seen it in fits and starts and this calendar year he has shown more effort.

Can anybody answer why he was often so pants (because he was, let's be real) for the first half of the season?

Was it Sven? Or the tactics? Or 'confidence'? I find it hard to believe it would be confidence as he seems a happy, sometimes even arrogant bloke on the pitch.

I genuinely believe that if Beckford had performed how he has recently been performing, for the bulk of the season, we would probably be fourth/fifth in the table.

Which is a real bloody shame...

[Mission Unlikely Promotion]

Let's get some balance....

I fully agree that Beckford has quality.

We've seen it in fits and starts and this calendar year he has shown more effort.

Can anybody answer why he was often so pants (because he was, let's be real) for the first half of the season?

Was it Sven? Or the tactics? Or 'confidence'? I find it hard to believe it would be confidence as he seems a happy, sometimes even arrogant bloke on the pitch.

I genuinely believe that if Beckford had performed how he has recently been performing, for the bulk of the season, we would probably be fourth/fifth in the table.

Which is a real bloody shame...

Cant disagree with you Col city fan, i think the first couple of times i saw Beckford play (early in season) he was awful in all honesty, but like you say in this last 10-15 games it is almost like having a completely new player - and long may that continue

[Lobsterboyuk]

I wish he had a song - pump him up and let him feel a bit of man love for his recent efforts - I've chanted for much worse players over the years

[dannythefox]

I'm looking forward to Sunday now Beckford always performs when the games on TV!

[lcfc49611]

he is awsome he has learnt his lesson cmon

[Bilbo]

It doesn't matter who we have as a striker, some of our fans will always find a way to slate them. Yakubu is a prime example, when everybody moaned about him being lazy and now he is tearing up the Premier League.

Look at Torres, he is in absolutely shocking form at the minute but Chelsea fans cheer his name every game he plays and when he comes on from the bench. Why? Because they know that overall he is a quality player and picking out all his faults does nothing to help.

For what it's worth I think Beckford is a great player to have in the team. He isn't perfect because if he was he would be playing for Barcelona.

[The Padster]

I genuinely believe that if Beckford had performed how he has recently been performing, for the bulk of the season, we would probably be fourth/fifth in the table.

Which is a real bloody shame...

Although I agree, you've also got to say that if perhaps the whole team played how they have done recently we'd be there or thereabouts. Without wanting to single people out but these 2 are the 'dividers', Dyer and Wellens, both been playing admirably lately but were as shocking as Beckford in the first half the season. Perhaps if we think about it, it may just have been Svens fault all along.

[Milton Keynes Fox]

I wish he had a song - pump him up and let him feel a bit of man love for his recent efforts - I've chanted for much worse players over the years

Just can't get enough is normally sung for him

[L4EV]

As a Leeds fan I know Beckford all too well, he is a quality striker when he is happy, but when he is sulky is incredibly frustrating. Key tip: keep him happy

[Guest ttfn]

Only 3/4? Goals behind Nuge too.

He's a great asset to have. Imagine if that was Steve Howard running onto that ball for the third goal on Tuesday night.

If Steve Howard was running on to the ball on Tuesday he wouldn't have made it true. He might have got close though, it was as if the Birmingham defender was treading through treacle.

We could of course turn the tables and ask, "what if Steve Howard had been fed any of the balls played in to Beckford's feet over the last six months which have rebounded off his shins straight to an opponent?". I don't think Howard is the answer by any means, but we'd defend a lot better as a team if he was in the side than Beckford, partly because we'd be able to retain possession.

True.

But more importantly he's scored goals at vital times for us.

Boro at home when he rescued a point. Cov at home when they were looking to get back into the game and Tuesday night to get us back into the game.

Tuesday was his best performance for us so far. At one point he'd covered sol and was at centre back. Chased down balls, put his foot in and linked up with the rest of the lads.

But what about all the times when he hasn't scored important goals for us? Scoring at home to Coventry (relegation zone) when we're (almost certainly) forlornly chasing a play-off spot is hardly an "important" goal. Rescuing 1 point at home to MIddlesbrough is extremely unlikely to be important either. He's gone missing when it matters, from Millwall at home to Reading away. Big games - season-defining games - when he hasn't shown up. When the pressure's off (cup games, Coventry at home [when apart from his goal he offered little], Middlesbrough at home [season down the pan already], Birmingham at home [most have given up on play-offs]). He looks alright. Where was he when it mattered?

surely this is a clear sign of improvement?

no matter what anyone says Beckford is quality

I'll ask again, and I know I even disagree with Col City fan on this point. How is Beckford "quality". It is long established that he is a goalscorer, and only a goalscorer. Yet at the age of 28, he has never scored more than 10 league goals in a season above League One level. How is that the mark of a "quality" player?

I could maybe see the argument for him being a competent Championship player. But he is not, and never will be, the superstar people are making out.

he is awsome he has learnt his lesson cmon

1. See above

2. What lesson? That if you play like you don't give a shit then you won't be selected? Seriously? We're praising him for that now? Has it really come to that?

Although I agree, you've also got to say that if perhaps the whole team played how they have done recently we'd be there or thereabouts. Without wanting to single people out but these 2 are the 'dividers', Dyer and Wellens, both been playing admirably lately but were as shocking as Beckford in the first half the season. Perhaps if we think about it, it may just have been Svens fault all along.

I am neither Dyer not Wellens' biggest fan. But that is grossly insulting to the pair of them.

Somebody also mentioned the fact that he had 9 in 16 as an improvement (4 in 12 in the league). Half that goalscoring rate was an improvement on the first half of the season, and it is still hardly mind-blowing.

I agree that he has improved, but I believe now we are seeing the limits of his ability. An inconsistent and middling Championship striker, who will score a couple one week and then go weeks without scoring, like most of the strikers in the division.

Anybody who thinks he's going to score 20 league goals either this season or next is absolutely barmy, and I'd like to know what evidence they're basing that on. If it's a hunch - fair enough - we all have our gut instincts, but I wish people would stop slating others for pointing out the obvious.

This emperor has no clothes (unless you count the "what shirt am I wearing bruv" t-shirt).

[Daggers]

Wonder if any of you have changed your opinion after Tuesday??

Stacks of posters here change their opinions on a thread by thread basis, let alone giving them the headache of remembering what they thought of him a few days ago.