January Transfer Window - The Verdict.

[Dave]

Who was the last midfielder/defender we could rely on to score a few? Adomah did well as a winger but apart from that you have to go back years.

I'd guess that Hourihane's Championship scoring record for us was probably as good as Adomah's.

[paul_e]

Who was the last midfielder/defender we could rely on to score a few? Adomah did well as a winger but apart from that you have to go back years.

Ramsey did ok last season, McGinn and Chester all did well in the promotion season. Hourihane was a great source of goals before we came up.

It really depends on what you mean by a few. For a defender I reckon 4-5 a season is good going and 7-8 for a midfielder.

In the premier league it's tougher, Luiz is on for a decent return this year though.

[brontebilly]

Martin Laursen maybe? Mings and Konsa rarely look like scoring from a set piece. Laursen was like a human cannonball in comparison in the opposition box..Gareth Barry (maybe from penos mostly), Taylor, Hourihane, Young.

Need more from our current crop, Ramsey has all the ability to do it more often.

[pauliewalnuts]

Laursen was fucking awesome in the air. What a player he was.

[Footy-Vill]

One season El Ghazi 10 goals in 28 games. And one of the best penalty takers in the league!

[N'ZMAV]

I don't think we've ever had a midfielder in the premier league get into double figures

[N'ZMAV]

One season El Ghazi 10 goals in 28 games. And one of the best penalty takers in the league!

His stats were pretty good, I didn't really rate him in general, however, his penalties were excellent.

[mrfuse]

I'm quite happy with our transfer window. Obviously would have liked our main targets, but if we can get them in the summer then it shows we have a clear plan for a certain type of player rather than just spending the money on squad players.

Ings wanted away so despite leaving us a little short up top It was probably a good deal in getting half decent money for him.
Bailey can fit in if Ollie gets injured and perhaps Duran can get more game time than we are currently expecting.

Obviously if we have a bad summer transfer window then all this is a moot point but I trust Emery will get who he wants in the summer.

[N'ZMAV]

The manager is the best signing we've made this season.

[paul_e]

All of this really highlights the fact that we've spent too many seasons relying on 1-2 players to score the goals, we need to change that. If it so happens that Duran/Archer/Wilson/whoever evolves into a 20 a season striker then fucking fantastic, no one would be upset by that but we need to stop praying for a unicorn and start working on getting more players into goalscoring positions regularly.

[pauliewalnuts]

Why would we use ourselves as an example of what we need to do to get into the top 6? It's almost like the idea is to be better than we have been so we finish higher in the table. Also, in case you haven't noticed buying a striker isn't an option now until the summer so we can either carry on bitching and moaning about what we didn't do last month or we can get over it and talk about how the squad we have neds to perform to get us where we want to be.

Alright Paul, calm down. I know the window is closed, I am just pointing out that relying on midfielders is not going to be as likely to deliver as buying a striker would have been. The reason I am using ourselves is an example is because it's something we almost never seem to manage, so I doubt it's going to change any time soon.

I know the window is shut. I'd also suggest moaning about people going on about it and bitching and moaning still now the window is closed is a bit much as you seem to have spent the entire day arguing about it (although I am impressed with your perseverance).

However, now I've got the snark out of the way,

That's more like it

our best season in 12 years was 19/20 when 4 players got 37 between them, which is pretty decent but the goals were a bit overloaded in the first half of the season which meant we fell away.

Who were those players, and how many of those goals were in our (long) cup run?

[Footy-Vill]

I don't think we've ever had a midfielder in the premier league get into double figures

David Platt was hitting 18 and 19 goals a season
Barry hit 9
Milner 7
Hendrie 6
Taylor 6

David Platt must have been quite something.

[Lastfootstamper]

He was, Footy, he was. Very good at everything. Apart from heading. When it came to that, he was on a different level to mere mortals. The best header of a ball I've watched wearing claret & blue.

And he had his own fan club.

[paul_e]

Why would we use ourselves as an example of what we need to do to get into the top 6? It's almost like the idea is to be better than we have been so we finish higher in the table. Also, in case you haven't noticed buying a striker isn't an option now until the summer so we can either carry on bitching and moaning about what we didn't do last month or we can get over it and talk about how the squad we have neds to perform to get us where we want to be.

Alright Paul, calm down. I know the window is closed, I am just pointing out that relying on midfielders is not going to be as likely to deliver as buying a striker would have been. The reason I am using ourselves is an example is because it's something we almost never seem to manage, so I doubt it's going to change any time soon.

I know the window is shut. I'd also suggest moaning about people going on about it and bitching and moaning still now the window is closed is a bit much as you seem to have spent the entire day arguing about it (although I am impressed with your perseverance).

However, now I've got the snark out of the way,

That's more like it

our best season in 12 years was 19/20 when 4 players got 37 between them, which is pretty decent but the goals were a bit overloaded in the first half of the season which meant we fell away.

Who were those players, and how many of those goals were in our (long) cup run?

This is literally the first post I've made all day about people moaning about a lack of another striker.

I agree it's something we almost never manage, that's literally my point, we need to change how we think about attacking play. 1 forward scoring 20 goals a season is a dying version of the sport, some elite freaks (like Haaland and Kane) are still churning out goals like that but most of the best teams spread the goals out better, if we want to be one of those teams then we need to adapt, not try to resurrect the corpse of the old meat and potatoes 4 4 fucking 2.

37 goals, all in the league Watkins(14), ElGhazi(10), Traore(7) and Grealish(6). Yes Watkins got a few more and Grealish was a little light (but only made 26 appearances) but the concept holds true. The 2 big problems that season were Barkley not being another in the picture (when his role was to get goals from midfield) and Grealish missing so many games but it was undeniably our best season since mon left and was the only season in that period (in the premier league) where we scored a decent amount of goals.

[Footy-Vill]

He was, Footy, he was. Very good at everything. Apart from heading. When it came to that, he was on a different level to mere mortals. The best header of a ball I've watched wearing claret & blue.

And he had his own fan club.

I've seen Italia 90 documentary though alot was focused on Gazza and other players. Platt was up and coming wasnt he . And that goal against Belguim was amazing. Never really see goals like that from an English player.  Great technique! Seemed like a more professional Dele Ali or something?