Worst attacking options since January 2000

[Hoop Blah]

Your dead right that Church misses too many good chances, but unfortunately so does Long. They both failed to hit the target with simple headers against Swansea. Where Long is better is when he's on the run and has the opportunity for an instinctive finish, then he's probably our most reliable finisher.

Like you say, we're not playing to his strengths and that's exactly why his record, and for me his performances, are being criticised. It's not all his fault, it's hardly ever the players fault if they aren't up to the job being asked of them.

[RoyalBlue]

McDermott has the cheek to tell Dellor that 'strikers who can score twenty goals don't grow on trees you know!'

No shyte you bald sherlock!! That's why you siding with the Mad Cloth Cutter and persuading The Sig that he had to leave for the good of the club was so criminal! Not much better was your compliance in off-loading Rasiak. Then you just join in with the RFC Manager's mantra 'there is no one available out there who is better than we have got (isn't that right Mr Chairman)'.

[howser]

There can be all the comments about which of our strikers should be picked and how we miss Sigs, but we are just going have to live with it ! Madejski, Hammond will not budge and as long as we keep our heads above the bottom three the status quo will remain, despite all his, albeit now rare, comments about ambition and determination to get back to the Premiership, we have now our third season back in the Championship, three managers and still no sign of any positive ambition. Firstly it was SSC who, alledgedly, wouldn't spend, BR who wasn't allowed to spend and BMcD who will never be allowed to spend any.

Well done to McD for doing the best with what he is permited to have and I can see him being here for a long while, who the hell else would be prepared to work under such, frugal conditions.

[Svlad Cjelli]

In Church, Long & Hunt we have 3 absolutely superb "support" strikers - who could do the running and create the chances for the "main" striker to put away.

Unfortunately none if them is that "main" striker - if we had someone like Rob Hulse we'd be laughing, because him and any one of the above would create and score far more than any two of the above ever will be able to.

[Gordons Cumming]

Seems with only 3 goals in last 5 games QPR's attack needs sorting too.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Seems with only 3 goals in last 5 games QPR's attack needs sorting too.

Will get a boost when McAnuff moves in the Transfer window.

[Big Foot]

In Church, Long & Hunt we have 3 absolutely superb "support" strikers - who could do the running and create the chances for the "main" striker to put away.

Unfortunately none if them is that "main" striker - if we had someone like Rob Hulse we'd be laughing, because him and any one of the above would create and score far more than any two of the above ever will be able to.

Darius Henderson would link up well with Hunt or Church

[Snowball]

Seems with only 3 goals in last 5 games QPR's attack needs sorting too.

Yep they've dropped to top...

[skipper]

In Church, Long & Hunt we have 3 absolutely superb "support" strikers - who could do the running and create the chances for the "main" striker to put away.

Unfortunately none if them is that "main" striker - if we had someone like Rob Hulse we'd be laughing, because him and any one of the above would create and score far more than any two of the above ever will be able to.

Darius Henderson would link up well with Hunt or Church

Yeah, but he's worth 10 million

[brendywendy]

Seems with only 3 goals in last 5 games QPR's attack needs sorting too.

Yep they've dropped to top...

cardiff go level with them if they win- & once the pressure mounts colin and QPR will fold like they always do

[Snowball]

Seems with only 3 goals in last 5 games QPR's attack needs sorting too.

Yep they've dropped to top...

cardiff go level with them if they win- & once the pressure mounts colin and QPR will fold like they always do

Cardiff at Leeds? We'll see.

Seriously I can't see anything but QPR winning this league by a clear margin and maybe threatening the 106.

Their defence EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PLAYED EIGHT DIFFERENT PLAYERS THERE is a rock, has let in only 4 goals in 13, NONE at home. That's awesome, and they have a bottomless pit of money to strengthen with a big loan or buying in January. They are also top-scorers. I think they are a very good side.


I hope you are right, though, and the rot sets in when they lose 0-3 to Reading (Shane Long, OBE, Hat-Trick)

[Ian Royal]

Looks to me like the last few games are fairly good evidence that our attack really isn't that bad, just rather one dimensional. Know how to defend against us and we'll really struggle. Get it wrong and once we've broken through the chances are it may well turn into a bit of a rout.

Long seems to remain as only any use for grunt work and winning penalties. But as non-goalscoring strikers go he's not a particularly bad option these days.

Nice to see Church fluke another goal. Play him every game and he'd get at least 5 a season just in ricochets and sliced crosses.

[ZacNaloen]

We just need to get a sports psychologist full time on the staff, particularly with Church as he keeps over trying.

[Snowball]

We just need to get a sports psychologist full time on the staff, particularly with Church as he keeps over trying.

I was thinking something like that. Have there been historical instances of strikers just not getting the goals
and suddenly changing, getting luckier, getting more clinical?

Coupla years back I was checking Doyle's stats and he could go a fair few games without a goal, bt a couple of hat-tricks made the overall rate fine

0 0 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 17


in 2006-7 he got just six goals in 34 (2) = 34.33 games. Shane got 3 goals in 7 (22) = 10.7 games (a much better scoring rate )

[Snowball]

I didn't mean good striker temporarily losing their touch, BTW

I mean people like Churchy, "finally getting it"

[Hoop Blah]

I didn't mean good striker temporarily losing their touch, BTW

I mean people like Churchy, "finally getting it"

I'm sure there will be examples of this, but generally I think a goalscorer is a goalscorer by birth and not by coaching. The likes of Shearer, Fowler, Owen, Defoe etc etc scored goals in whatever team they played in and pretty much from day 1.

[ZacNaloen]

Some peoples brains just seem to be wired right just so they have the spacial awareness to be in the right place and not panic.

I direct everyone to Hernandez at Man U and a younger Michael Owen.

That awareness is what puts them in the right place and it's definitely not something that can be learnt. It's talent in the truest sense.

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed, it need to be coupled with the instinct and composure to find the right finish on the end of that chance though.

Some players just make it look so easy when they thread a shot through a crowd of players or wrong foot a keeper by either taking it early or delaying a split second. You can't coach that calmness and reading of the situation.

[bcubed]

Agreed, this is what Shane Long lacks and can't make up for with any amount of hard work
As I said on another thread, becasue he lacks this instinct, he just doesn't make the runs into the right areas and he doesn't attack crosses as if he really believes he can win the ball and score

[ZacNaloen]

I don't like to call that part instinct it's hard work from a young age and muscle memory that puts it in the net at the end of the day. A lot of so called instinctive finishes aren't really instinct at all. It just sounds special to call them that.