Drop Lassoga

There were a few people who questioned whether we really needed Lassoga, (me included), and I think what's happened since points to them being correct in having reservations. What was really excellent during our good run was the interchangeability of our forward play, it was unpredictable and fluid, as evidenced by the number of different scorers. And added to that, not having a defined centre forward meant we had in effect six midfielders in front of our back four, which gave us more strength when we didn't have the ball. Yeah I know Lassoga has scored a few, but I'd suggest goal scoring wasn't our issue before he arrived, and going back to having a target man has changed the psychology of the rest of our team, (maybe Saiz excepted), instead of taking individual responsibility for getting into goal scoring positions, the rest of our creative players are now, sub-consciously or not, focussing on working around Lassoga.

I think a lot of this hype about us being 'soft' is masking the real issues - I mean are we seriously saying that Bolton weren't trying to get at us, in their first home game after promotion, or that Sunderland and Forest are powder-puff teams at home ??? I suggest TC has the courage of his convictions and gives the approach of no target man another go - it was working great four weeks ago.

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Originally Posted by OldWhiteTaff

There were a few people who questioned whether we really needed Lassoga, (me included), and I think what's happened since points to them being correct in having reservations. What was really excellent during our good run was the interchangeability of our forward play, it was unpredictable and fluid, as evidenced by the number of different scorers. And added to that, not having a defined centre forward meant we had in effect six midfielders in front of our back four, which gave us more strength when we didn't have the ball. Yeah I know Lassoga has scored a few, but I'd suggest goal scoring wasn't our issue before he arrived, and going back to having a target man has changed the psychology of the rest of our team, (maybe Saiz excepted), instead of taking individual responsibility for getting into goal scoring positions, the rest of our creative players are now, sub-consciously or not, focussing on working around Lassoga.

I think a lot of this hype about us being 'soft' is masking the real issues - I mean are we seriously saying that Bolton weren't trying to get at us, in their first home game after promotion, or that Sunderland and Forest are powder-puff teams at home ??? I suggest TC has the courage of his convictions and gives the approach of no target man another go - it was working great four weeks ago.

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An interesting idea - i can see your point. I think maybe the hope was he would be another mobile forward. In his first couple of games he did seem to offer that kind of mobility you're talking about, and the other players played around him and off him really quickly and skilfully, but he does seem to have become more static in the last couple of games and that does remind you of the old days of the reliance on a target man.

Fair point as we've become disjointed as a fluid unit but what's the 'ideal' ?
Fitness certainly comes into our game plan in a big way as does/did a solid team unit.
Soooooooo -
Pure Striker ?
Pace,Quickness,Dribbling and Finishing.

Poacher ?
Quick, Finisher, Poacher/"Nose for the goal" (right place right time).

Centre Forward ?
Size, Pace, Ariel threat, Ball control/hold up, Through ball threat and Finisher.

Target Man ?
Very Tall, Physical/Size, Plays with back to goal and makes passes and Brings down the ball well.

Number 10 Goal Scorer ?
Often drops into midfield, scores a lot of goals and good finisher.

Number 10 Playmaker ?
Often drops into midfield, vision, passer, assists etc

So type wise who would fit our bill as fluidity is the TC mantra it appears ...... ?

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Originally Posted by MrsORichSenior

Fair point as we've become disjointed as a fluid unit but what's the 'ideal' ?
Fitness certainly comes into our game plan in a big way as does/did a solid team unit.
Soooooooo -
Pure Striker ?
Pace,Quickness,Dribbling and Finishing.

Poacher ?
Quick, Finisher, Poacher/"Nose for the goal" (right place right time).

Centre Forward ?
Size, Pace, Ariel threat, Ball control/hold up, Through ball threat and Finisher.

Target Man ?
Very Tall, Physical/Size, Plays with back to goal and makes passes and Brings down the ball well.

Number 10 Goal Scorer ?
Often drops into midfield, scores a lot of goals and good finisher.

Number 10 Playmaker ?
Often drops into midfield, vision, passer, assists etc

So type wise who would fit our bill as fluidity is the TC mantra it appears ...... ?

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Why a "one club (golf club)" approach, isn't that precisely why we keep getting "found out

OWTs suggestion might be coupled with any/all of Mrs Os during a game, with the players we have now?

as much as I actually enjoy watching "traditional CFs" ive got to agree, we were playing much better stuff before the big German got involved.

So in this statement WTF11 - what does the Judge (TC) deduce for remedy ?
For our fluid,quick fire style of play to succeed again do we bench him or try and accommodate him at the cost of losing our early season mix of *****ity and flair that may also have been found out and if not maybe indeed at some stage burn out injuries could have interrupted what was in effect 'gung ho' football,albeit very effective and entertaining.
ALAW

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Originally Posted by MrsORichSenior

So in this statement WTF11 - what does the Judge (TC) deduce for remedy ?
For our fluid,quick fire style of play to succeed again do we bench him or try and accommodate him at the cost of losing our early season mix of *****ity and flair that may also have been found out and if not maybe indeed at some stage burn out injuries could have interrupted what was in effect 'gung ho' football,albeit very effective and entertaining.
ALAW

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That's what I'm saying, why an either/or rather than both as the needs demand?

I don't think we have gone back to the target man approach since Lasogga joined, problem has been that he hasn't received the supply he needs in the last few matches. I think he's a good signing and will give us options throughout the season; I don't think he's been at fault in last few (barring the one he should have scored on Sunday).

Going to throw something else into the mix about Lassoga, another reason why he should not be playing at the "moment"

He has just become a Dad, his wife and child are in another country and he has had no real time off. Maybe and in hindsight, it would have been better to give him a week or 2 to be at home, adjust, get his head right and then come back all fired up?

The biggest change in your life, imo, is when you have your first little bundle of joy, things aren't the same afterwards. People can debate this, but there is no way he can be fully focused on football at the moment no matter how professional he is expected to be.

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Originally Posted by Silentman

I don't think we have gone back to the target man approach since Lasogga joined, problem has been that he hasn't received the supply he needs in the last few matches. I think he's a good signing and will give us options throughout the season; I don't think he's been at fault in last few (barring the one he should have scored on Sunday).

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Agree with this. I thought he was still making runs and looking to get into creative positions. And the team as a whole still looked competitive enough when going forward. Is it just me that sees the major issue being defensively irresponsible? That's why teams are bullying us and making us look ordinary in recent games. We're giving the opposition way too much possession and freedom to run at us. That's where I personally think we are coming unstuck. 😐