Jon Forte

[jackal2]

What a frustrating player Jon Forte is!

In the last home game, he came on as sub and worked his backside off for 20 minutes, despite picking up a knock, and undoubtedly played a significant part in getting us back from 3-0 down.

Today, he earns his first-team start on the back of that performance and shows nowhere near the same level of work rate, rarely running the channels and generally just waiting for the ball to come to him. His body language got worse as the game went on, and the only person in the ground who could have been surprised when he was substituted was him. Young Callum then came on and did everything Forte hadn't.

The life of a striker is that you'll get games when the ball never drops for you or you're not getting the right service, so you might not score that day, but you can still show so much aggression and work so hard that the manager will keep you on the pitch if only to annoy hell out of the opposition defenders.

I hate hearing the old "He's not that sort of player" excuse. There should be no other "sort" of player. As far as I'm concerned, you can't control the amount of natural talent and pace you're blessed with, but there isn't a footballer anywhere at any level who is not capable of showing hard work, aggression and sheer desire. These attributes do not require God-given talent, and there are a fair few otherwise limited players who have reached even the Premier League level through sheer week-in, week out application. It's all about how much you want it.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are blessed with phenomenal talent, but they've got the desire and hunger to go with it, which is why they are absolute world class.

[irishpete]

Maybe he isn't fully fit

[jackal2]

Maybe he isn't fully fit

Possibly, but he didn't look injured when he came off. And besides, this isn't the first time the above criticisms could be applied to him. He has become known as a player who only seems to produce his best coming off the bench, and he has drifted from one club to another throughout his career. I'm afraid the lower leagues are littered with these types of player, they show enough ability to persuade a club to sign them, but then ultimately don't show enough to be retained. Forte should be top class for this level, but I'm not sure he wants it enough.

[irishpete]

Possibly, but he didn't look injured when he came off. And besides, this isn't the first time the above criticisms could be applied to him. He has become known as a player who only seems to produce his best coming off the bench, and he has drifted from one club to another throughout his career. I'm afraid the lower leagues are littered with these types of player, they show enough ability to persuade a club to sign them, but then ultimately don't show enough to be retained. Forte should be top class for this level, but I'm not sure he wants it enough.

Don't forget Notts are a lower league club,maybe thats why we have him at present.

[JoePass]

What a frustrating player Jon Forte is!

In the last home game, he came on as sub and worked his backside off for 20 minutes, despite picking up a knock, and undoubtedly played a significant part in getting us back from 3-0 down.

Today, he earns his first-team start on the back of that performance and shows nowhere near the same level of work rate, rarely running the channels and generally just waiting for the ball to come to him. His body language got worse as the game went on, and the only person in the ground who could have been surprised when he was substituted was him. Young Callum then came on and did everything Forte hadn't.

The life of a striker is that you'll get games when the ball never drops for you or you're not getting the right service, so you might not score that day, but you can still show so much aggression and work so hard that the manager will keep you on the pitch if only to annoy hell out of the opposition defenders.

I hate hearing the old "He's not that sort of player" excuse. There should be no other "sort" of player. As far as I'm concerned, you can't control the amount of natural talent and pace you're blessed with, but there isn't a footballer anywhere at any level who is not capable of showing hard work, aggression and sheer desire. These attributes do not require God-given talent, and there are a fair few otherwise limited players who have reached even the Premier League level through sheer week-in, week out application. It's all about how much you want it.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are blessed with phenomenal talent, but they've got the desire and hunger to go with it, which is why they are absolute world class.

Very good post and spot on, I agree with every word.

[BigFatPie]

Yeah, disappointed with him today, don’t know whether he’s fully fit, but he kept making his runs after the ball had been played rather than anticipating anything.

Only denied a goal by a great save though.

[jackal2]

Yeah, disappointed with him today, don’t know whether he’s fully fit, but he kept making his runs after the ball had been played rather than anticipating anything.

Only denied a goal by a great save though.

Absolutely! The goal scoring instincts are there and he's capable of nicking a few even without pushing himself, but it just re-emphasises how good he could be if he had the sort of firey determination and work rate someone like (e.g.) Luke Rodgers used to offer.

[durhampie]

Yeah, disappointed with him today, don’t know whether he’s fully fit, but he kept making his runs after the ball had been played rather than anticipating anything.

Only denied a goal by a great save though.

He would have been flagged offside if he had mad them runs. The linesman was sticking his flag up every time we passed the ball forward.....Also, he was the only one offering any sort of goal threat. Some of the balls to him were either over hit, or went to one their players.. You are only as good as the service you get....

[Elite_Pie]

He would have been flagged offside if he had mad them runs. The linesman was sticking his flag up every time we passed the ball forward.....Also, he was the only one offering any sort of goal threat. Some of the balls to him were either over hit, or went to one their players.. You are only as good as the service you get....

Forte was flagged offside a few times simply because the Vale defence moved forward and Forte was too lazy to look across the line and do likewise. Also, what goal threat did Forte offer today? He poked one ten yards wide when their keeper rashly committed himself early, the other chances he had bounced off his boot with less power than I could manage. Any who think Forte is the answer to our lack of strength in the striking department are probably the same as those who thought Aborah was a world-beater.

[Thordardaughter]

Forte was flagged offside a few times simply because the Vale defence moved forward and Forte was too lazy to look across the line and do likewise. Also, what goal threat did Forte offer today? He poked one ten yards wide when their keeper rashly committed himself early, the other chances he had bounced off his boot with less power than I could manage. Any who think Forte is the answer to our lack of strength in the striking department are probably the same as those who thought Aborah was a world-beater.

I never said and don't think Forte is the answer but he's better than the "kids" we have available.