In the past we have had hardworking strikers as a part of formidable partnerships, Andy Keogh and Ross McCormack in 2011/12, Luciano Becchio and Jermaine Beckford from 2008-2011 and it has been effective many times in football. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe have struck up a partnership on more than one occasion in their careers, Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips are a great example of this and even at his best Thierry Henry had Dennis Bergkamp to work off (I must add his assists were plentiful and his ability on the ground is second to none).
So what’s going wrong? Well we have had two hardworking strikers playing next to each other in Varney and Hunt, and it just can’t be that way. McDermott realised that and tried Poleon in one game, and in the last game opted to try El-Hadji Diouf in a striking role in an attempt to change the fortunes of our attack, but it was plain to see that we were in need of an out and out goalscorer. The kind of goalscorer who isn’t afraid to shoot from 25 yards, even if it induces groans from the crowd and his teammates, because one of those 25 yard shots will fly into the top corner or trigger some momentum. Ross McCormack is one of those strikers, but his ability on the ball and his eye for a pass means he is better utilised just behind the strikers, being more involved in the game and having a positive influence.
Matt Smith is a different proposition, and he offers a great physical presence, but he has so far only really been tested in a cup game and substitute appearances, and is still quite a raw talent. It also leaves us with the same problem of having hardworking strikers who will win balls in the air, but are perhaps not the most clinical of strikers. Dom Poleon is the other obvious option in attack, and he does look like he causes defences some trouble and puts defenders on the back foot, but his final ball isn’t quite clinical, and he is another raw talent. This leaves us in an awkward position, as Luke Varney has so far looked impressive in his role, but whoever is supporting him has tended to leave a lot to be desired and the other striking position is very much up for grabs. McDermott said himself that any one of the strikers could hit a hot streak and then this problem would solve itself, but in reality we don’t look like scoring more than the odd goal in games right now and it’s causing us problems.
I’d just like to reiterate the point that I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with the strikers we have, they all offer something to the team and their effort is unquestionable, but I think we need a striker who offers something different, just to give us that edge in matches, a player with a real eye for goal, who may not contribute much else to the side (a Beckford esque contribution perhaps).
Potential candidates for the job: Joe Mason (Cardiff City), Ricardo Vaz Te (West Ham United), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Luciano Becchio (Norwich City) and Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion.
Shane Long would be a very long shot and if we got him then it’d be some seriously good business, bearing in mind his £5 million move to Hull City on deadline day only fell through at the last minute. Vaz Te has publicly stated he wants out of West Ham and is a skilful and pacey forward, who would offer something different to what we currently have. We all know what Becchio offers but is he only being linked because he’s an ex player? He’s currently in the reserves or on the bench and would surely be open to a chance at first team football. Berahino is a young striker who plays for England U’21s and you’d presume it’d be a cheap loan due to the smaller wages as he is a young player, and the importance of competitive football so early in his development, but he is unproven and would be a risk, perhaps not what we’re currently looking for. Finally, Joe Mason has scored 15 goals in his 2 seasons at Cardiff, and at 22 he still has plenty of potential in him. The problem there is that 15 goals in 2 years is hardly prolific, but perhaps an extended run at first team football would bring out the best in him.
Brian McDermott will be firstly looking ahead to the Newcastle United match tomorrow and assessing the situation regarding strikers, as the maximum 93 day loan if taken up on Friday (to be registered in time for Saturday) will take the loan up to and including the 29th December, where we face Nottingham Forest, and leaves scope for a permanent deal to take place when the window opens on the 1st January.
Calum Archibald.
@calumarchie