29th December 2002: Goals, goals,
goals. That's all we need. It's simple really.
We've lived with every team in the Premiership and, apart from 45
minutes at Highbury, we've not been outplayed. In recent weeks, we've
been the better side in most of the games. We're playing good football.
Koumas has provided a cutting edge to our possession, Dichio has surprisingly
been a positive addition to the forward line. The defence has held
out well. It all sounds good.
We've only scored twice in two games this season. That is a damning
statistic. At this level, the opposition will always get one or two
chances to score, and will more often than not convert one of them.
We've been getting six or ten chances in most games and not converting
enough. At Charlton, you can blame the ref for not giving the penalty,
you can say we were unlucky - both true. But we had the chances to
win that game comfortably.
In my opinion, Roberts needs to be dropped. His body language suggests
that he's thinking the whole world is against him so why bother? He's
getting the chances, at least one clear cut chance a game, and at
this level you must take them. A few games in the reserves to (a)
show him he's not an automatic choice and needs to earn his place
and (b) maybe get him a couple of goals to up his confidence, would
be a worthwhile exercise. There's no doubt that he's a quality player
but he's not producing the goods at the moment.
And as for the transfer window opening up, I can see the Albion getting
some loan signings until the end of the season if they are sensible.
A left wing back is essential as we have no option there. If we did,
I'm sure Clement would be filling in for Gilly in the back three at
the moment. Clem is really struggling as a wing back at this level.
Another striker to show the boys how to score would be nice and potentially
a right wing back as well - Balis has been rightly dropped and while
Adam has done well in the last two games, I'm not sure he's a long
term solution.
Although we're losing, we haven't lost touch with the sacred 17th
place. We're still in with a shout and a run of three wins will put
us right back in the pack - unfortunately, after Fulham, it's Man
Utd and Leeds. Still, it's what we're in this league for isn't it?
|
