Austin... Is he clinical enough in front of goal?

[Rangers77]

Harry imo is not playing to the blokes strengths.

Austin is certainly NOT a target man and he lost allot of headers when the ball was played long.

Against Brighton this was proven, and although part of the problem has been the huge gap between our midfield and striker, he doesn't really aid the midfielders by giving them time to support him. I think if we change the system, even more so as we have a home game coming up I think Johnson must start and Austin and Aj will cause any defence in this league major problems. Our pitch is too small to be worrying about flooding the midfield and I think Barton and 1 other in the centre, can control that area anyway.

Yep. The benefit of playing AJ is his mobility. He can drop back or, as on Saturday, drift out to the left. We could drop him deeper and play one up if needs be if we're outgunned in midfield and then go 442 when it suits. It's a non brained it seems to me. And if Niko's in the hole with AJ playing it gives him and Joey options.

[Shepherds Mush]

He's done fantastically considering the lack of service he receives. Pair him with AJ and you have a 30 goal partnership.

[Dazzer1977]

Hmmmm Mile Sherron springs to mind...:(

He was a long way off being a striker... I'll get my coat!

[BronxQPR]

he works his nuts off for the scraps hes given when playing on his tod up front!!

[ArthurQPR_NYC]

seems the majority are saying that he's good enough because he works hard. mind you, many on here (meself included) thought and still think that Jamie Mackie works hard, even Heider Helguson a hard worker. imo that on its own is not the mark of a great lone striker worthy of 20 goals a season. see: Mackie.

on the other hand, you have a bloke like Remy who by all accounts isnt the world's hardest working footballer and look at his tally right now. Other than Cabaye, where's his service coming from?

In the end, I think that a decent striker's greatness has to be at least half from the level of his technical ability. Work rate helps, DON'T GET ME WRONG. And I think Austin's a sound player. But I'm also solidly on the side of those who say maybe try a partner with him up front.

[lymehoop]

I like Charlie, thought the header and save was top notch, if he stays fit still think he'll bang in 20 goals this season

[swede]

Top CF. Goals will come. Very important to our team.

[Timmy the Doc]

Charlie Austin and Jamie Mackie in the same sentence? Insane.

[Sotonsuperhoop]

I think CA will come good for us after Christmas when we see the whole team raising their game, I believe we can move up a level or two, we just need a little more belief.

However, one thing I have noticed, CA is best as a poacher ala Lineker whereas AJ can score from all over. CA tends to hit the ball goalwards instinctively and on Sat the keeper was in the right place at the right time, whereas AJ aims for the corners

[Rich]

This is why we shouldn't be playing with him as the only forward

[QPR71]

I think CA will come good for us after Christmas when we see the whole team raising their game, I believe we can move up a level or two, we just need a little more belief.

However, one thing I have noticed, CA is best as a poacher ala Lineker whereas AJ can score from all over. CA tends to hit the ball goalwards instinctively and on Sat the keeper was in the right place at the right time, whereas AJ aims for the corners

I sometime think linekar when I watch him

[ArthurQPR_NYC]

Charlie Austin and Jamie Mackie in the same sentence? Insane.

In the context of: the ratio of the player's work rate to the player's technical ability, then not insane at all.

Tim, I'm not comparing the whole player to the whole player. I'm just noting that the heavy sway from the replies on this thread are that he is clinical enough, because he works hard. I'm responding by saying.. take another player of the same work rate, and the counter argument can be made ('that he is not clinical enough to play solo up front')

[qprted]

NO

NO HES NOT CLYNICAL ENOUGH BUT HE CANT DO IT ALL ON HIS OWN KNOWBODY CAN,he needs loic remy up along side with him

[Shepherds Mush]

To be fair, the Reading keeper had a storming game. Austin probably would have had 2 more goals to his name otherwise.

[Guildford_R]

I think he's a very good player. As others have said you won't see the best of him until he is paired with another striker. His movement and technical ability is heads and shoulders over Mackie IMO.