Do we need to recruit a specialist attacking/finishing coach?

[Mala591]

Apart from Barnes (who doesn't seem to have 'got going' yet this season) our attacking play and our forwards are not improving. Our play in the final third is extremely disjointed and the lack of instinctive understanding between our forwards is a little bit worrying.

The addition of Vydra should improve the situation but I personally think we need to recruit a specialist attacking/finishing coach (6 months trial period?) to get the very best from our forwards who are definitely not playing up to their full potential.

[Vegas Claret]

wont make a difference if the manager plays 1 up top at home to Watford

[PutTheWheelieBinsOut]

You could have Neymar playing up front for us, he still wouldn't score, because you can't score goals without the ball. It's the midfield that needs to improve to create passes and chances for the forwards.

[kentonclaret]

I saw some comments on SSN, with quotes attributed to Dyche, stating that we need to improve our finishing and goals tally and as a team become more ruthless in front of goal.

Pretty obvious really but at least Dyche is publicly acknowledging the problem.

Are Brady and Defour even rated touch and go at the moment?

[Pstotto]

Yes. Disagree with your negativity, Vegas. On so many occasion they don't go the shortest distance to the back of the net, they'll try and shoot across the keeper to the far corner when the near post beckons. So many times I've seen that and also wanting too much time on the ball, notwithstanding blasting it, using emotion rather than technique, like Westwood on Saturday or Lennon shooting always instinctively. Those shots often go in but just as often and more often not.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Need to make sure the ball gets to them first.

[Vegas Claret]

Yes. Disagree with your negativity, Vegas. On so many occasion they don't go the shortest distance to the back of the net, they'll try and shoot across the keeper to the far corner when the near post beckons. So many times I've seen that and also wanting too much time on the ball, notwithstanding blasting it, using emotion rather than technique, like Westwood on Saturday or Lennon shooting always instinctively. Those shots often go in but just as often and more often not.

how is fact being construed as negativity ??

[piston broke]

Yes. None of the 3 are great or natural finishers.
This weekend Aguero and Murray scored goals at the nearpost by flicking it with the outside of their boot. When Sam had his late chance at Saints he played an airshot with his right foot.
Body shape is the key to finishing. Kane is the current best but before him it was Shearer. You know where you are, you know where the goal is(it doesn’t move), you know where the ball is coming from. Whether making a run or not just create an angle to get your attempt on target.

[Pstotto]

It would have made a difference if Westwood had shot like Cork did against Bazaksehir.

[jrgbfc]

No we just need to recruit a better forward or two. As popular as they are Barnes and Vokes just aren't good enough to be regular starters at this level.

[Pimlico_Claret]

There were more than a few decent balls landing in good areas on Sunday, just no-one near enough to capitalise

[GodIsADeeJay81]

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top ... oals?se=79" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a look at that list of goal scorers from last season.

Those who say we need to recruit better, look at the cost of those players...

[DCWat]

We could certainly do with better strikers, as plenty other teams would no doubt say, as well.

It’s the creativity that is lacking though. We don’t get the numbers up to attack effectively, often enough. Watford did it to good effect on Saturday (with some assistance from us) and also demonstrated some great work rate both offensively and defensively from midfield.

Love them or not, a midfield of Westwood, Hendrick and Cork isn’t particularly dynamic - industrious and effective when all playing to their best, lacking when they’re not.

Our width was very limited with Lennon and JBG coming narrow but little quality being provided on their outside by the full backs. Add this to having little through the middle and it’s no wonder we struggled.

If Lennon and JBG are coming narrow, they need to be doing more centrally. If they’re not doing, better then getting some chalk on their boots.

Hendrick had a good game on Saturday but we need more. Of the three, it’s only Cork that regularly and effectively influences both defence and offence.

Defour and Brady will make a difference but with both struggling for fitness, it’s a surprise we didn’t bring in reinforcements in both positions.

[tim_noone]

For a few years I've thought that tbh when teddy sheringham had a go at it ..not sure how it panned out...always had robbie Blake in mind.

[bfccrazy]

There were more than a few decent balls landing in good areas on Sunday, just no-one near enough to capitalise

Commented on this during the game to a mate.

We seemed to have people queueing up to put a ball into the box but nobody actually in the box to capitalise. Summed it up when one of their defenders took a cross down and then played a 1-2 and got it back to play out ..... whilst in his own box at during of our attacks.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Wood, Barnes and Vokes are all scoring low in the player ratings but, without a supply of good quality passes, they have no chance.

Defour and Brady and needed

[Colburn_Claret]

Yes
We don't have a 20 goal striker, and if we ever did he'd be gone first window.

I said on the player ratings on Sunday, we have a shape and a format in defence that we are very good at.
When it comes to attack we have no shape or format, almost everyman for himself, make it up as you go along. It results in efforts like Sunday when not once but twice, we had 3 players attacking an expected ball across the goal mouth, and when it's pulled back to the penalty spot nobody on hand. It's also why so many opportunities to put the ball in the box are spurned as players pass the ball backwards. We aren't good enough to walk the ball into the net, we need to put it into the danger zone as often and as quickly as we can, with a man outside the box to fall on any poor clearances.

[jurek]

Not sure the answer is to recruit a specialist attacking coach
although it might help.

If anything we need to recruit some specialist forwards who have
a little pace, energy and ability to get past a defender.

Those that we have do not possess pace, energy and ability to get
past players. Well, not very often.
Hopefully Vydra will add something and be able to make an impact
relatively quickly.

Ings has done so for Southampton as has Ricardilson for Everton but both those
were probably way beyond our budget.

[Bop]

They need a locally sponsored cheap car, an ironing board, some diving boots and a golf club.

[KRBFC]

Our wide players just aren't good enough to produce chances regularly and they can't score a goal between them either. We lack goals from midfield, how many league goals have Cork, Hendrick, JBG, Westwood and Lennon scored combined for us? I'd be surprised if it's more than 7 and some of them have been here for 2 years.

[Tall Paul]

Our wide players just aren't good enough to produce chances regularly and they can't score a goal between them either. We lack goals from midfield, how many league goals have Cork, Hendrick, JBG, Westwood and Lennon scored combined for us? I'd be surprised if it's more than 7 and some of them have been here for 2 years.

Each of our strikers scored more last season than the combined total of the midfield.

Cork has scored 6 league goals and 9 in total though.

[Quickenthetempo]

We're playing better football across the midfield and defence but when it comes to goal scoring passes we just aim into areas and play the law of averages.

We have played two teams recently who both played very well attacking and passing to each other.

[KRBFC]

Our wide players just aren't good enough to produce chances regularly and they can't score a goal between them either. We lack goals from midfield, how many league goals have Cork, Hendrick, JBG, Westwood and Lennon scored combined for us? I'd be surprised if it's more than 7 and some of them have been here for 2 years.

To follow up, Gudmundsson has scored 3 league goals (75 shots) in 57 appearances for us, goals per match ratio is 0.05, 306 crosses with only 8 big chances created.

Hendrick has scored 4 league goals for us (59 shots) in 68 appearances for us, goals per match ratio is 0.06.

Lennon still hasn't scored a goal in 15 league games. 1 big chance created, 2 assists (One I presume was the shanked shot at West Ham).

Westwood hasn't scored yet in 20 games, 1 assist.

Cork (since signing permanently) has scored 2 league goals for us (16 shots) in 40 league apps, goals per match ratio is 0.05. 0 big chances created.



Now you can make exceptions for Cork and Westwood not scoring many because that isn't their game, but there isn't much difference in end product in attacking areas between Westwood and Lennon. Also with JBG and Cork, in terms of goals, pretty similar strike rate, both score about 1 every 20 league games.

[KRBFC]

Each of our strikers scored more last season than the combined total of the midfield.

Cork has scored 6 league goals and 9 in total though.

6 league goals? Are you counting from his loan spell in 2010? He only has 2 since signing permanently.

[KRBFC]

Between the 5 of them (Cork, JBG, Westwood, Lennon and Hendrick) they have scored 9 league goals for us in exactly 200 appearances.

[theroyaldyche]

You could have Neymar playing up front for us, he still wouldn't score, because you can't score goals without the ball. It's the midfield that needs to improve to create passes and chances for the forwards.

Agreed. Too busy goin back or across to the wingers and then backwards again. Nobody wants to skin players anymore or have a strike from 20 yards out

[Spijed]

Everton last season showed we can do it with a brilliant team goal, but for some reason, not often enough.

[Likeavydra]

I played tennis to improve my finishing.. all about reaction.

[boatshed bill]

Goals cost lots of money at this level.

[warksclaret]

We only have ourselves to blame. Vokes has been with us since Eddy Howe and Barnes bought the year we got promoted the first time. So the coaches should know them well. That's two of our three regular strike force. We have got the best out of them, both have scored important goals but the PL moves on at a wicked pace. No disrespect to them but neither would hold a regular position in any of the lower placed PL teams-maybe Cardiff only.

It should have been our first priority to recruit. Numerous posters are hoping Vydra is the answer-only time will tell, but lets not put too much on his shoulders. When you rely on Hendrick to be your No 10 in the majority of games then you realise how little priority the club has placed on strikers. Incidentally Hendrick would be in my starting position in midfield. Continuously subbing him in a position he is clearly not at his best in, is reducing his confidence. We would have been better getting rid of Wells and Walters and if money seriously worried the Board got Nugent back cheaply. Not the long term answer but he would have been the best poacher on the books and better than Wells and Walters in the squad who have probably played less than 5 games between them in 14 months. I have not mentioned Wood -he has proved to be a useful goal scorer when partnered by Barnes but ineffective on his own, and far too injury prone for me

[Spijed]

We only have ourselves to blame. Vokes has been with us since Eddy Howe and Barnes bought the year we got promoted the first time. So the coaches should know them well. That's two of our three regular strike force. We have got the best out of them, both have scored important goals but the PL moves on at a wicked pace. No disrespect to them but neither would hold a regular position in any of the lower placed PL teams-maybe Cardiff only.

And yet a 34 year old Glenn Murray leads the line for Brighton but you say neither Vokes or Barnes would get in their side.

[warksclaret]

I am pretty certain that's the case with Brighton. The goal Murray got yesterday was one of the best finishes you will see. Sort of goal you expect from Aguero. Don't forget both these guys played for Brighton and they let both go

[Tall Paul]

I am pretty certain that's the case with Brighton. The goal Murray got yesterday was one of the best finishes you will see. Sort of goal you expect from Aguero.

Like some of Barnes' goals last season then?

[Spijed]

Like some of Barnes' goals last season then?

West Brom?

[DCWat]

I really don’t think strikers is the issue. They can all score goals with the right service, it’s service that is missing be that wide or centrally.

The season is early so there is plenty of time to sort things out. It’s just a little worried that in the majority of games played so far, we’ve not created enough.

[Tall Paul]

West Brom?

Yep and West Ham.