Goals!

[Gullscorer]

We're not scoring enough goals! Only seven teams in League Two have scored fewer goals than us so far this season. If we are to have any reasonable prospect of staying in touch with the promotion-chasing pack, this record is not good enough and must be improved upon.

Our defence, on the other hand, is holding up well in comparison with the leading bunch. Only six teams have conceded fewer goals then us (if my mathematics are correct).

Injuries and suspensions don't help, but most teams suffer these problems during a season, and, as discussed already on this forum, the addition of an extra striker (or two) to the squad in the January transfer window is going to be essential.

But team formation and tactics also play a part. We have undoubtedly been playing defensive formations for most of the season, as the above statistics confirm. But it has cost us points. Fortune favours the brave, and attack is the best form of defence, so they say.

I can't help feeling that once we get into the New Year we absolutely must make use of the transfer window, and we must use our speedy players on the wings and switch to a more attacking style of play, if we are to achieve anything at all this season.

[ferrarilover]

This is equally as correct as the other two recent threads on exactly the same subject.

Matt.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Goals are indeed the problem but it is scoring away from Plainmoor that is the main problem. Our home goals for tally is 21 and we've only lost once, that record compares favourably with the other 'top' teams in our division at home so, although there have clearly been games at Plainmoor this season which we should have won but then got sucker punched by the opposition, overall we are competing well with the others in the league.

Forgive me if i've said it a million times before so far this season but it is our away form and attitude to them that is a huge concern. We've kept it reasonably tight at the back only letting in 10 but we've only scored 8 times away and more than once on just 2 occasions. Added to that is the manner of the away performances which are generally disciplined but so defensive and also poor going forward meaning we usually have to score more than once in order to get a result. The fact also that we cannot keep clean sheets any more home and away ( 6 in 22 plus the cups on top of that so 6 in 25 so around 20% ) makes scoring more than once imperative. If we had been that bit more adventurous and clinical in many games this season when we've had good spells then we'd be in the top 3 no doubt. We cannot get promoted or in the play offs by complimenting our home form with away form that i can't see improving unless we are more attack minded. We cannot muster enough points by keeping things tight but mostly conceding meaning if WE score away it results in another draw. If we keep things tight to the extent that we shut out the opposition, we still have trouble creating enough opportunties to score ourselves meaning another draw. We should be prepared to go out and win games away and we would get more points winning 2 and losing 2 than we would drawing 3 and losing 1. It's worth the gamble surely?

So our away strategy is our achilles heel meaning we won't get involved in the play off mix come the end of the season as we simply won't accumulate enough points by not getting beaten. Defensively i'm not too worried as we have had allsorts of injury and suspension issues at the back this season but it means we have to punish teams when we get the opportunity to do so. We can't do that so we won't be involved in the play offs. Simples!

[brucie]

We are just not good enough to get anywhere near the play offs. We have no strength in depth whatsoever. If you look at yesterdays subs bench that tells its own story.
We have had a few injuries here and there but basically we are no better than average. Ling is still trying to win games one nil but seems to have forgotten Ellis and the keeper are not here anymore.

[cambgull]

We are just not good enough to get anywhere near the play offs. We have no strength in depth whatsoever. If you look at yesterdays subs bench that tells its own story.
We have had a few injuries here and there but basically we are no better than average. Ling is still trying to win games one nil but seems to have forgotten Ellis and the keeper are not here anymore.

Unfortunately, we will never afford strength in depth, although as a general rule, I'd say that without injuries we have a better squad this year. With injuries though, you are right, our subs bench was awful yesterday.

Olejnik we miss, but then there isn't a team in this league who wouldn't be saying the same thing. Ellis though? I thought the general consensus was that Downes is better?

[gullintwoplaces]

We are just not good enough to get anywhere near the play offs. We have no strength in depth whatsoever. If you look at yesterdays subs bench that tells its own story.
We have had a few injuries here and there but basically we are no better than average. Ling is still trying to win games one nil but seems to have forgotten Ellis and the keeper are not here anymore.

I'm not letting you get away with that. You say that Ling has forgotten that Ellis and Olejnik are not here any more. Poke, MacDonald and Downes are as good as any in the same position in League 2, they were not to "blame" yesterday or in any other game this season.

You also state that the subs bench tells its own story. OK, why then were you arguing that Ling should have kept a forward on the pitch (this could only have been Yeoman) instead of replacing Jarvis with Lathrope? You have said yourself that you think Yeoman is "crap", why then bring a "crap" player on when Lathrope ( a proven first teamer) is on the bench? Lathrope, Leadbitter, Thompson were all on the bench yesterday, are they poor players? Come off it mate, as always you twist the facts just to have a go at the manager. You did it with Buckle as well, you NEVER recognise when the manager is doing a decent job with limited resources, NEVER. Injuries prevent the bench from being stronger, that is the case for all teams during a season.

You didn't go yesterday, you have no idea how well the team played. I don't expect an answer, as you never give one. You just have a pop at the manager and your selected "hate" players, as always. Maybe you think that is funny or clever, I don't.

[supergulls]

Well said that man