Beck. A quantum of sympathy!

[PhilAnders]

Beck

I have some sympathy with Beck.I’m 6’5” and in my youth played as a “target man” for a team at dog and duck Sunday league level. For a large part, it was a thankless task, closing down defenders from the high clearance kicks made by our back four and GK.Occasionally, when a kick was aimed in my general direction, I was first to the ball, where I rapidly learned to hold it up and knock it back to our uprushing (sic) midfielders. Flicking or heading it on, or even controlling and passing into a space forwards was a waste of time as not one of our team were capable of running into the space! My striker skills were zero. I scored about half a dozen goals a season, mainly tap ins, although occasionally , a cross would go to where I’d made my run (near post, far post, penalty spot) and I’d meet it with a header.A couple of times a season, this would a) be on target and, b) beat the opposition Gk!
Then one season a new player arrived. A fitness freak( he had an “engine”) and, while not particularly skilful he knew where the goal was. His preferred position was midfield or wing back. Our gaffer was a solid 442 man, and his 4 midfielders were the first names on the team sheet, so new boy was a spare. In a pre season practice match, he was told to partner me, and, the first hoof out of our defence, I was in a tussle with the opposing centre back and managed to get my head to it and it went forward. I tried to turn to chase after it in the hope that my marker would put it out for a throw in, but to my amazement and delight new boy was “on it” He beat his marker for speed , rounded the GK and scored his first! Thereafter he encouraged me to knock the ball forward into space at every opportunity. In our first season playing together he scored 30 goals ( in 24 games!) and I had 20 assists!. The next 2 seasons were the same. I then moved away and when I played for another side, my game returned to its previous level of shite. I wonder if I’m describing Banjo here. Who at the club can read his flicks? We either find someone who can or we get rid of Beck. I’m sure most of you will favour the latter!

[Deereyme66]

I get what you’re saying and plan B clearly needs working on regarding capitalising on Beck’s strengths. That said, before yesterday’s sending off I think we were creating enough to have merited a few goals by match end. Would have liked to have seen Beck and Howe together. Also, I see Beck as a final 10-15mins sub to give Whitehall a rest and hold the ball up / present a different issue for opposition defenders.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Howard

[Iron-awe]

Regarding Becks flick ons I agree nobody reads them or gets into a position prior to him heading the ball where they give themselves a chance of using it. We have some good movement in the team in certain situations but our lack of movement is so noticeable when Beck is going for a header from our keepers long kick or a centre backs long punt upfield. He’s nowhere near as mobile or effective as Whitehall but we appear to play a game that suits Whitehall better, Beck is like the afterthought we don’t have a plan for which is both puzzling and ridiculous, we need to utilise this guy better when we play him IMO.

2 users thanked author for this post.

lesgeo, iron64

[PhilAnders]

Back in the John Gayle days , Forrester and Eyre were both looking for his knock and flicks forward, while Alex was looking for his hold up passes back into midfield. Teams found it very difficult to play against. 25 years on and I think today’s footballer is looking for the ball to feet, and that’s the way they are taught to play.

[Sanfran49]

It is a problem for us for many seasons – players not moving into space fast enough.

Perhaps this season we may see its return on a regular basis because we have the players to deal with the crosses into the box.

[Deereyme66]

‘Back in the John Gayle days , Forrester and Eyre were both looking for his knock and flicks forward, while Alex was looking for his hold up passes back into midfield’

Ah, golden days. The meat and two veg style of attack. Loved to see it.

1 user thanked author for this post.

iron64

[Square Ball Bullimore]

Good post this Phil and you are exactly right. Some movement is coached, some is natural. It certainly needs working on as missed flick ons make the greater look poor when it’s clearly not completely their fault

[Awaywego]

We bought him to score goals not flick ons, his first 3 games he could have had an hat full but didn’t take any of them, should have had 4 against rylands alone on his debut.
Love him to bits and like his cameo roles with twenty minutes to go like Deerey said, would love to think that he’d get on a scoring role at some time after all it took Carlton forever to hit a purple patch.
He is bloody useless on what hes offered so far.

1 user thanked author for this post.

premier iron

[Rene Artois]

Good luck to Mark Beck and the rest of the boys on Saturday.

[Northumbiron]

Howe and Chadwick are both capable of running on to his flicks. Provided they go where they should (the flick-ons that is). Likewise the chest downs can’t be played back to a midfielder if they rebound off his chest and go to an opposition player.

He’s a trier right enough but not quite John Toshack or Niall Quinn.

[premier iron]

I wouldn’t play him again ,his head ons aren’t good enough and he never challenges defenders and how many goals has he scored?

[BigLeftToe]

One, and even that was questionable as his initial shot was saved and then ricocheted off his shin!

Ultimately strikers are judged on goals and one goal in 29 appearances (12 starts) just ain’t good enough. If he was providing plenty else to the team then fair enough, but he doesn’t. Carlton should lead the line if Whitehall is out.

[Steve]

Beck wins the majority of his headers so why can’t the team adapt to that advantage?

If you think Beck should be scoring a hatful every week with his chances and rightly so then he simply wouldn’t be in this league!

[Awaywego]

Fans aren’t asking for an hatfull, but one is beyond shite.

[ironfromafar]

Just asking , dont want the clubs Maw black mask hit squad to kidnap my pet hamster but who signed Beck ?? .. i cant recall if it was AB or Turnball before he got the chop ?

[Cliff Byrne’s Right Peg]

Awaywego wrote:

Fans aren’t asking for an hatfull, but one is beyond shite.

Shame for the lad as he’s clearly struggling, have to look at offloading asap as our whole style/tempo alters when he’s on the pitch .

He looked a handy player when he came with Solihull the year before too

[Awaywego]

Surely that’s what we want though Cliff something different at times when one style isn’t working.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Deereyme66

[Cliff Byrne’s Right Peg]

Perhaps, guess that’s dependent on that style being effective, when he’s on the pitch I couldn’t tell you what the plan is

1 user thanked author for this post.

Awaywego

[Deereyme66]

Plan B needs working on, like yesterday.

[Author]

Posts