I think that come summer a striker coach should be one of the first bits of business we do. We have a great manager and clearly some good coaches - especially in the goalkeeping department.

We have done well with strikers for a number of years, especially at Championship level. But the effort yesterday from Gray is a familiar sight. He didn't expect that chance and when it came he lacked the coolness to finish it. As a striker playing on the shoulder he should expect every ball to drop to him. He has got the natural / physical talents, just needs coaching in the right areas to take him from a good striker to a top one.

I think if we had a top striker coach that would help develop Gray as well as bringing on our younger players. It would be a wise investment.

Billy Mercer has clearly done a great job with Heaton and hopefully Pope. I suspect Robinson will have had a positive impact too.

At the back experience of the likes of Duff and Shackell has helped Keane and Mee.

We haven't had an experienced striker in a long time so a good coach is essential if we want Gray and co to push to the next level. He has the ability and potential to be as good as Vardy, Deeney and co.

The first person to say Andy Payton, get's a cyber slap.

Ian Moore?

Doesn't Gray go and see a striking coach regularly?

I'm sure I saw pictures/articles of him with a man that a few strikers go to for "finishing practice".

Diesel wrote:The first person to say Andy Payton, get's a cyber slap.

Well he knew how to finish thats for sure.

But it doesn't have to be an ex player. The best man for the job should be it. Someone who has played at the very top as a striker would be ideal but naturally these are going to be commanding big fees and / or in top jobs already.

Someone like a Cole, Fowler, Sheringham. Someone who was a top striker in their day but not managing or in a high profile media job.

Lets get Gifton in !!

Just looked it up - He trains with Alan Russell who runs Superior Striker and is the "worlds number 1 striker specific coach" according to their intagram.

A lot of the top strikers were classed as natural finishers, they may not make the best coaches though.

Diesel wrote:The first person to say Andy Payton, get's a cyber slap.

Sidney1st wrote:A lot of the top strikers were classed as natural finishers, they may not make the best coaches though.

I've seen Andy coaching youngsters quite a bit and he definitely gets the best out of them finishing wise. For all his troubles, the one thing he does do well is know how to score a goal.

He was relentless with the drills he was doing with youngsters and you could see a massive improvement quite quickly.

Didn't our erstwhile loanee Sir Patrick of Bamford go to finishing school?

bfccrazy wrote:I've seen Andy coaching youngsters quite a bit and he definitely gets the best out of them finishing wise. For all his troubles, the one thing he does do well is know how to score a goal.

He was relentless with the drills he was doing with youngsters and you could see a massive improvement quite quickly.

Can vouch for that. Although coaching adults is completely different.

the main disadvantage Gray has is something he has no control over, his inexperience. He's risen through the footballing ranks and it's almost a different game at the highest division(s). A chance you have in the Prem which is often squealed as 'golden' by a commentator usually requires more anticipation and occurs with a smaller time 'window' than he's ever known. In the Watford match he was often on his heels, not expecting the ball to end up where it did.

I think he'll have learned a lot this season and will get his timings right, next season I sense he'll be far sharper.

scamander wrote:the main disadvantage Gray has is something he has no control over, his inexperience. He's risen through the footballing ranks and it's almost a different game at the highest division(s). A chance you have in the Prem which is often squealed as 'golden' by a commentator usually requires more anticipation and occurs with a smaller time 'window' than he's ever known. In the Watford match he was often on his heels, not expecting the ball to end up where it did.

I think he'll have learned a lot this season and will get his timings right, next season I sense he'll be far sharper.

Exactly the same with the chance he had yesterday. It was his only real chance and he wasnt expecting it. The top strikers would anticipate that every time. He was in the perfect position so he knows that part.

bfccrazy wrote:I've seen Andy coaching youngsters quite a bit and he definitely gets the best out of them finishing wise. For all his troubles, the one thing he does do well is know how to score a goal.

He was relentless with the drills he was doing with youngsters and you could see a massive improvement quite quickly.

I've seen his progress on FB, he seems to be really enjoying what he's doing to be fair to him.

The main problem yesterday was that he really didn't expect the pass from Barnes to reach him, and in fairness it shouldn't have. It was only a poor bit of defending that allowed it through and he then snatched at the chance a bit.

Standout bus.

I can't help but feel he should have gone for it with his left foot. The time it took to adjust his body to hit it with his favoured right foot allowed their 'keeper to get further towards him and shut the angle down.
It's not as though he's not good with his left either. He scored a few belters with it last year, and used it to great effect against Liverpool earlier in the season.
I guess he just made the wrong choice. That's often the difference between being the goal scoring hero, and ruing a missed chance.

"Just looked it up - He trains with Alan Russell who runs Superior Striker and is the "worlds number 1 striker specific coach" according to their intagram."

Well, it aint working too well.

KeighleyClaret wrote:The main problem yesterday was that he really didn't expect the pass from Barnes to reach him, and in fairness it shouldn't have. It was only a poor bit of defending that allowed it through and he then snatched at the chance a bit.

The thing I found odd about his chance yesterday was that he took it first time. He's always seemed more of a snapshot type finisher and not looked as comfortable when he has had tkme to think on the ball (Robbie Keane could fall into this category at times).

Gray seems to usually take that touch and cut inside a little to shoot which might have helped yesterday - but he chose not to do it this time.

Funkydrummer wrote:"Just looked it up - He trains with Alan Russell who runs Superior Striker and is the "worlds number 1 striker specific coach" according to their intagram."

Well, it aint working too well.

Could be argued otherwise with his return so far for goals in his debut prem season which has included off field problems which must have also knocked confidence.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Can vouch for that. Although coaching adults is completely different.

It is very different - but his goal scoring credentials should be enough to earn the respect of a fellow striker. Alan Russell who Gray trains with currently can't have the same gameplay experiences and knowhow surely.

CarlesTheClaretPuyol wrote:Didn't our erstwhile loanee Sir Patrick of Bamford go to finishing school?

Yes, but he can't get in the Middlesbrough 18 now

Striking is simple. Follow the golden rules.
1. The goal never moves.
2. Know where the goal is without looking.
3. Know where the keeper will be, with regards to where you are.
4. Put it where the keeper can't, reach it.
SIMPLES.
Yesterday's should have been dinked into the top right corner as Gray looked.

Sounds like a job description for Stan Ternent

There's no doubting that it was the sort of gilt edged chance that needs to be put away and should have been put away. There really aren't too many excuses for not scoring from that sort of opportunity.

I don't buy that it's harder to finish in this division (that type of chance) than it is the Championship. There was plenty goal to aim at and a striker should always be anticipating that an opportunity might arise.

Those sort of chances from that sort of position are nothing new to a striker at any level and I've no doubt that Gray himself would have been massively disappointed not to have scored.

The chance yesterday looked so much easier than it was, the ball was played at so much pace, and it was a little behind gray (had to be or it wouldn't have reached him) . He struggled to get the power behind it AND divert it Into the opposite corner.

Ideally he'd have used his left foot to take the touch and bring the ball forward, then run onto it and belt it in.

Frankly I think Gray's finishing is quite good, he's a snapshot kind of guy, does better when he has less time to think about it.

Everyone can and should learn to use their weaker foot though. No reason not to in professional football.

Personally think Gray is a great finisher. He misses very few chances.

He missed one yesterday, all strikers do.

Although some strikers are two footed,(andre)its still in the back of their mind,that their favoured foot is going to be the one they will prefer to shoot with.Imo if he would have let the ball run on to his left peg yesterday,it would have given him more of the goal to aim at.

Id rather we got a player than coach. I believe Robinson, albeit contributed minimul on the pitch will have helped Heaton massively, I think Heaton has gone to that next level since Robinsons arrival. I'm sure Jay said Akinbiyi helped his game a lot and taught him things. Robbie Keane could have been a good signing, 4th choice striker but by being part of the group he brings the experience and rubs off on other strikers.

Agree Keane would be a brilliant signing on and off the field.

Gray today lacked composure again. It is like when he has time to think he is unsure what to do.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Agree Keane would be a brilliant signing on and off the field.

Gray today lacked composure again. It is like when he has time to think he is unsure what to do.

He never seems sure what to do. He is too intent on watching the man rather than the ball and
he is always that split second too late to do anything. I am sorry, but I haven't seen any improvement
in him since he arrived. Some may disagree, but that's how I see it.

As for his ability to stay onside, that's pretty poor too.

Simply not good enough, as a guy behind me suggested today, offer him for sale and start the bidding war. Although we really didn't have any right to win today because we simply didn't do enough nor deserve it, gray had 2 pretty decent chances and failed with both against non league opposition.