Having looked at our defence and midfield performance during the season, I am left thinking about how our forwards performed and what we might hope for next season.
The first thing we have to acknowledge is that there will be new striking options come August. We featured six out-and-out forwards during 2012-13, in Wright-Phillips, Kermorgant, Fuller, Haynes, Hulse and Obika. I think I am right in saying that only Yann Kermorgant remains a Charlton player today. Wright-Phillips was let go to Brentford as his contract expired, Hulse'e loan was not renewed and he featured for Millwall where he struggled. Fuller and Haynes have been released at the end of the season and Obika has returned to Spurs.
Looking through the programme, we featured 15 different striking combinations during the season. Some of that was enforced tactical changes when we chose to play an extra midfielder, especially away from home, but it was surely too many and a result of not having clear first choice strikers and reflective of the fact that Fuller and Haynes both suffered from repeat injuries and absences.
In short we can do much better next season and Kermorgant deserves two partners whom we might expect to cement a more consistent and productive strike-force. I would love to see Jonathan Obika as one of those but he remains a hot prospect for Spurs (he played in the U21 final at Old Trafford last night) and he still has personal ambitions for the Premier League.
I am not forgetting 21 year old Michael Smith but I don't think the eight games he played for Colchester United will have equipped him to start next season. I would like to see a Premier League experienced striker as well as a proven Championship goal-scoring joining.
The first thing we have to acknowledge is that there will be new striking options come August. We featured six out-and-out forwards during 2012-13, in Wright-Phillips, Kermorgant, Fuller, Haynes, Hulse and Obika. I think I am right in saying that only Yann Kermorgant remains a Charlton player today. Wright-Phillips was let go to Brentford as his contract expired, Hulse'e loan was not renewed and he featured for Millwall where he struggled. Fuller and Haynes have been released at the end of the season and Obika has returned to Spurs.
Looking through the programme, we featured 15 different striking combinations during the season. Some of that was enforced tactical changes when we chose to play an extra midfielder, especially away from home, but it was surely too many and a result of not having clear first choice strikers and reflective of the fact that Fuller and Haynes both suffered from repeat injuries and absences.
In short we can do much better next season and Kermorgant deserves two partners whom we might expect to cement a more consistent and productive strike-force. I would love to see Jonathan Obika as one of those but he remains a hot prospect for Spurs (he played in the U21 final at Old Trafford last night) and he still has personal ambitions for the Premier League.
I am not forgetting 21 year old Michael Smith but I don't think the eight games he played for Colchester United will have equipped him to start next season. I would like to see a Premier League experienced striker as well as a proven Championship goal-scoring joining.
Simeon Jackson please!
ReplyDeleteKEVIN PHILLIPS CAN STILL PLAY A BIT AND DO SOME DAMAGE
ReplyDeletePhillips would be a good signing and is on a free
DeleteWhat was the score of the Spuds v Man U U21 game?
ReplyDeleteI agree with sim Jackson or Harry Kane Sam bulldock Ben afobe from arsenal
ReplyDeleteMan U 2-1.
ReplyDelete3.2 Man U having been 2 down!
ReplyDelete