Who would you start with upfront on Saturday?

For all our, champion-esque, huffing and puffing yesterday (and in the middle of the park we looked amazing - our pace was unbelievable) we were as blunt as a hammer upfront.

Poor Mason didn't win a single header all night as far as I could tell, he kept jumping but almost as though he didn't expect to win anything. Although he is obviously a good finisher and makes some intelligent runs to get behind the back line, he is no good upfront by himself in my view.

Helgusson is done.

Bellamy - his shooting accuracy is really poor and is much better out wide.

Velcro - no point in seriously mentioning him as Malky has obviously written him off this season

Gestede - that leaves the young french men as our last and only option in my mind, for the formation that we are currently playing at least. He is fantastic in the air, he seems to effortlessly beat his marker to the ball time and time again and the accuracy of his headers are superb. For this reason, I would start with Rudy - I wouldn't expect him to score much from open play (we haven't been doing a whole lot of that anyway) but he would bring the rest of the squad in perfectly.

We are really missing Maynard and now Campbell this season and have been unlucky in that regard.

Who would everyone else start with?

Mason is the standout fit striker, but I agree that he doesn't fit te current 4-5-1 playstyle. Gestede is the best option in that sense.

I would toy with the idea of tweaking the formation. Mason is a very good striker with the right support, so maybe moving Bellamy up front to partner him would yield more success in the final third. Bellamy at least right now can't shoot, but his premiership pedigree has opened up defences regularly this season an might just give mason that extra second he requires to bury a shot. I'd then go with the midfield pairing of Kim and Mutch, with the wing pairing of Noone and Conway. Long term I'd like to go back to the 4-5-1, but you have to math the squad to the tactics and right now we lack a fitting striker.

Oh and yes, I did just recommend Conway starts, you heard me right.

Campbell, Campbell, Campbell, Velcro, Campbell

My only problem with Rudy, is not him necessarily - as I actually like him as a player and think he has plenty to offer - but how others react to him when he's on the pitch. The defence and midfield just stop playing and start hoofing balls up to him, even if a better option is available.

It happened against Watford and asks an awful lot of one player and let's face it, Rudy, for all his qualities, is no Bothroyd. A prime example was in the last ten minutes against Watford, Gunnar had two long throws in our own half. Instead of a short throw in to a nearer teammate he launched a long throw toward Gestede who was surrounded by 5 or 6 Watford players. He didn't win either ball as he was out muscled by the gaggle of players around him. It seems to be the default setting whenever he is on the pitch, which is a shame as he's actually pretty pacey and links up play on the deck quite well.

How long is Campbell out for?

Last rumour was he would be back for Forest.

I freakin' hope so...

Welshineire wrote:How long is Campbell out for?

Unconfirmed, Malky claims there's a chance he could play Saturday, but if not he's confident he will appear again before the end of the season.

My translation of that is he won't play Saturday at the very least. Malky's record for being truthful about the extent of injuries however means you can't really guarantee anything. Compare how long Mutch was supposed to be out for and how long he was actually out for, for example.

if i may quote cyncoed who has seen velcro play several times
"velcro may be more of a game changing sub"
my feeling is to stay with joe and if he is to be subbed then use velcro.
the problem lets face it is one of malky's manufacture as he has played hoof and hope football for most of the season. now he has been forced to change one expects other strikers who have been sidelined to perform wonders.
if he wants to play hoof and hope on saturday then play rudy and joe

We could stick with the current formation and put Noone in for Smith/Conway to add a goal threat. I'd then stick with Mason for the first hour and bring on Rudy for the rest of the game.

Kamuza wrote:We could stick with the current formation and put Noone in for Smith/Conway to add a goal threat. I'd then stick with Mason for the first hour and bring on Rudy for the rest of the game.

I think that is just right. Mason has been lacking game time and so a bit of sharpness, but there is always a chance that he can create something for himself, which I din't think our other options can.

Mason is a poacher and a player like that only needs a bit of confidence before they start hammering them in, so go with him.

Rhys, oh so negative!

Tommy Smith started life as a striker - he is an option.

What we must not do is disrupt the 4-5-1 formation and in particular the 3 in the middle.

Campbell was doing a decent job as lone striker before he got injured, but Mason has been less effective in this role. I don't think either Helguson or Smith have the legs any more to do this job, so if Campbell is still not fit, I think we need to revert to 4-4-2, which obviously disrupts the 3 in the middle. I would keep Mutch and Gunnar in there, with Kim on the bench, and Bellamy and Noone out wide.

The Tonker wrote:Campbell was doing a decent job as lone striker before he got injured, but Mason has been less effective in this role. I don't think either Helguson or Smith have the legs any more to do this job, so if Campbell is still not fit, I think we need to revert to 4-4-2, which obviously disrupts the 3 in the middle. I would keep Mutch and Gunnar in there, with Kim on the bench, and Bellamy and Noone out wide.

Who are your front two?

TDA wrote:

The Tonker wrote:Campbell was doing a decent job as lone striker before he got injured, but Mason has been less effective in this role. I don't think either Helguson or Smith have the legs any more to do this job, so if Campbell is still not fit, I think we need to revert to 4-4-2, which obviously disrupts the 3 in the middle. I would keep Mutch and Gunnar in there, with Kim on the bench, and Bellamy and Noone out wide.

Who are your front two?

Oh yes, that was the original question, wasn't it?! In Campbell's absence, I think I'd go for Mason and Rudy.

Has there been mason & Gestede together upfront this season?