Iron Bru › Forums › Blast Furnace › The Pre Season So Far › Reply To: The Pre Season So Far
To get to last seasons levels we have got to somehow replace the 20ish goals and 10ish assists Roberts typically contributed.
Pat Jones has impressed in many ways but does not look a consistent goal scorer. Hurst looks livelier than last season but final ball (be it cross or shot) seems to be his weakness.
Butterfield is good for a few but nowhere near what is needed and realistically he’s not going to get a lot of minutes. Smith if he gets back to previous levels will get a few but we’re probably talking single figures.
Other than Whitehall I am only seeing Dec Howe and Beestin as natural goal scorers who could potentially get double figures.
I think it’s probably now or never for both in terms of becoming regulars under Butler.
Beestin suffers from playing too many positions. For me he is an attacking midfielder or a 10 and give him 40 games there and I think he will give you 10 or 12 goals and a similar number of assists. He is too slow to excel as a wide forward and not physical enough for centre forward in this league.
With Dec he is a centre forward but only in a team that does not play long up to him. Also if you play him there you lose Whitehall’s 20ish goals and his comedy value.
Not really quick enough to play traditional wide forward role in Butler’s favourite 4-3-3. Not really a great partner for Whitehall in a 4-4-2 either as Whitehall is even slower.
I’m with NI and think it’s time to give him a go on the right of a front 3. He looked lively in that position last night.
Starbuck/Rose/Ogle/Belahoun/Barrows all have the pace and/or drive to constantly overlap Dec and provide the genuine width that he does not really offer.
Give it 10 games Andy with Dec as a 7 and Alfie as a 10. You know it makes sense.