Strikeforce Debate

[SteveRoyal]

Right, hello. So, I was reading this article not so long ago and it got me thinking - what are the pros and cons of each strike partnership? Clearly, Coppell thinks that Doyle should stay up front no matter what, but what do you think? I'll list some possible partnerships below:

Doyle/N Hunt
Doyle/Lita
Doyle/Long
N Hunt/Lita
N Hunt/Long
Long/Lita

What possible pros and cons can you see from these partnerships?
Personally, despite Lita's fine performances of late, I still think N Hunt is the perfect foil for Doyle, and I've heard that Lita and Long can play pretty well in the reserves.
So, in these times where the goals have dried up, what would you decide?
Blah, blah, blah...

[AlexY25]

I would like to see what Lita and Hunt would be like, but thats taking out our top goalscorer, so would never happen.

I'd stick with Doyle and Lita for now, they do look okay. But wouldn't be suprised if Hunt came back for Birstol.

[Row Z Royal]

If you're going to include Long in the debate about the strike force, then we might as well end it now.

[SteveRoyal]

If you're going to include Long in the debate about the strike force, then we might as well end it now.

He's still a striker. Not a good one, but a striker nonetheless.

[Row Z Royal]

If you're going to include Long in the debate about the strike force, then we might as well end it now.

He's still a striker. Not a good one, but a striker nonetheless.

No, he's a show pony.

[rg6royal]

Doyle and Lita

[Rex]

Taking Long out of the starting equation leaves the only other untested option of Lita Nhunt. That could be an interesting combination with Doyle as back up. The only issue i have with having Lita in the mix is he never gets too involved in the build up play. He has played too far up front in isolation, even with Doyle in partnership. It early doors yet with Lita back in the frame, but this is all hypothetical unless the service from behind starts feeding in those killer balls.

[Ian Royal]

Lita and NHunt would be a decent combo, but whilst Doyle isn't scoring right now, he's still having a positive impact on the pitch.

I'd stick with Lita and Doyle for now. But I'd like to see NHunt given 15 minutes minimum as an impact sub each game. I'd also like to see Henry on the bench. He offers something slightly different to Kebe in case he isn't producing and has a better scoring record than Long this season iirc.

[winchester_royal]

Doyle and Lita

+ 20

[SeniorStrikes]

If you're going to include Long in the debate about the strike force, then we might as well end it now.

He's still a striker. Not a good one, but a striker nonetheless.

No, he's a show pony.

You utter, utter arse.

[Snowball]

Lita and NHunt would be a decent combo, but whilst Doyle isn't scoring right now, he's still having a positive impact on the pitch.

I'd stick with Lita and Doyle for now. But I'd like to see NHunt given 15 minutes minimum as an impact sub each game. I'd also like to see Henry on the bench. He offers something slightly different to Kebe in case he isn't producing and has a better scoring record than Long this season iirc.

Henry is at Millwall for at least a month

[Snowball]

In US Sports they don't just look at total goals but how often a player
scores in a game. One big-scoring game can badly distort the stats.

Doyle-Noel is so much the best combo at the moment.


I think Doyle is a great player but 12 of his seventeen goals came in 5 games, and just 5 goals in 26

(0000) 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 ... 31 (00) games 17 goals .. 10 scoring games, 21 blank games DOYLE
(0000) 0-0-0-0-0-2-0-1-0-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-2-0-0-0-1-0-1-1-0-0 ... 23 (06) games 11 goals .. 09 scoring games, 20 blank games N HUNT

(Hunt usually comes off after 60-65 minutes and has played 6 games as a sub, came off injured after 30 minutes at Birmingham)

PER GAME, Hunt is more likely to score than Doyle

[Snowball]

In US Sports they don't just look at total goals but how often a player
scores in a game. One big-scoring game can badly distort the stats.

Doyle-Noel is so much the best combo at the moment.


I think Doyle is a great player but 12 of his seventeen goals came in 5 games, and just 5 goals in 26

(0000) 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 ... 31 (00) games 17 goals .. 10 scoring games, 21 blank games DOYLE
(0000) 0-0-0-0-0-2-0-1-0-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-2-0-0-0-1-0-1-1-0-0 ... 23 (06) games 11 goals .. 09 scoring games, 20 blank games N HUNT (Usually comes off after 60-65 minutes) (6 games as a sub, one off injured after 30 minutes)

PER GAME, Hunt is more likely to score than Doyle

Doyle's 31 games have almost all been near-90 minutes

Hunt has play 22 games for around 2/3 of a game and 7 games where he's played less than a third of a game

that's 51/3 = 17 x 90 minutes and he's scored in 9 separate games, 11 goals ("17 games")

[Readingfanman]

Doyle and Nhunt.

Lita makes a great impact player atm, but hasn't done enough in the last few games to force a spot.

[cmonurz]

Doyle is our best all-round striker, and N Hunt has not been playing 90 minutes too often because Coppell obviously feels that his all round contribution is not as good as Doyle's. On that basis, N Hunt's goals per game stat is completely irrelevant.

However, as much as Lita has been improved since he returned from Norwich, N Hunt has performed consistently better, and been as equal or better a goal threat than Leroy. I'd start with N Hunt and Doyle.

LOLong doesn't get a look in, and for me we should not be picking two strikers on the bench.

[Ian Royal]

Lita and NHunt would be a decent combo, but whilst Doyle isn't scoring right now, he's still having a positive impact on the pitch.

I'd stick with Lita and Doyle for now. But I'd like to see NHunt given 15 minutes minimum as an impact sub each game. I'd also like to see Henry on the bench. He offers something slightly different to Kebe in case he isn't producing and has a better scoring record than Long this season iirc.

Henry is at Millwall for at least a month

Good move for him if he gets games. Tabb then.

[Ian Royal]

Doyle is our best all-round striker, and N Hunt has not been playing 90 minutes too often because Coppell obviously feels that his all round contribution is not as good as Doyle's. On that basis, N Hunt's goals per game stat is completely irrelevant.

However, as much as Lita has been improved since he returned from Norwich, N Hunt has performed consistently better, and been as equal or better a goal threat than Leroy. I'd start with N Hunt and Doyle.

LOLong doesn't get a look in, and for me we should not be picking two strikers on the bench.

Again spot on. Except I'd give Lita a couple more games now he's in there. But bring NHunt on with 20 minutes to go. Early in the season he made a very good impact sub. The first few sub appearances he seemed to cause havok and came consistently very close to scoring, even if he didn't quite manage it.

Doyle's ability to pick a ball out of the air, control it, turn and pass it is invaluable to us.

[SCIAG]

Neither Lita nor Long are good enough, so NHunt and Doyle get it by default.

I'd rather have Church or Mooney coming off the bench than Lita or Long- but that's simply because they are unproven in the first team, and it would be exciting watching them, as it is whenever we sign someone new or bring through a youngster. Lita or Long off the bench would probably offer more to the team, but there is an element of mystery surrounding Church and Mooney, so there is more potential there, if that makes sense.

[Ian Royal]

Yep, it does. If we don't know much about their capabilities it's unlikely opposition players or managers will know how to handle them best.

High Risk strategy though.

[Far Canal]

Doyle is a cut above and has to start.

Lita spends too much time waiting for the ball to come to him. When it does his marker is onto him straight away and he either lays it off or falls over complaining he has been fouled. I can't recall the last time I saw him turn his man.
I don't think he fits in with our style of play. He would probably do better with a Caskey-esque midfielder behind him threading through balls for him to run onto; Marek might fit the bill here, but if you play him, you might only play one striker and that won't be Lita.

NHunt's off the ball play is far superior. He runs the channels and pulls defenders out of position. This may be why he is constantly subbed before 90 minutes is up, he's knackered.

Doyle and NHunt to start every time; and I'd like to see an aerial striker on the bench as an option, Mooney if he's good enough.