Strikers striking Out

[Minty]

We have on our books at present 3 strikers in Helguson, Vine & Agyemang who all regularly get into excellent goal scoring situations. This is half the battle in becoming a successful striker, is it not? All they have to do then is put the ball in the right place and/or make the right decision.

We saw it on Saturday with Helguson, and in many matches before where he has opportunity after opportunity to bulge the net - golden opportunities, and yet somehow manages to have a low conversion rate.

Agyemang is the same - he has had some golden opportunities to score and just blazed the ball over the bar, or straight at the keeper or wide. Although I will concede that Agyemang has a tendency to fluff his control or lose the ball in some way.

Vine also -dangerous player when on his game, but all too often these days just isn't cutting it.

My question is what is the reason???

Is there nothing that can be done to improve this aspect of these players' game? Surely they are halfway there in that they do get the opportunities as they tend to get into the right positions, so must be doing something right, no?

I'm no expert on football coaching, but isn't part of the job to develop the skills that are lacking in any given player, thus improving their game and potentially turning them into a very valuable asset indeed - both on the pitch and on the sale value side.

I just find it so very frustrating!!!

Maybe I'm just becoming desperate, due to window slowly closing down on us.

GULP!!

[sirpiechucker]

Who is our striking coach? Do we have anyone who has genuine ability in front of the goal who can teach our players a thing or two. Spurs have Sir Les still don't they?

[Minty]

Who is our striking coach? Do we have anyone who has genuine ability in front of the goal who can teach our players a thing or two. Spurs have Sir Les still don't they?

That's a very good point and is exactly what I'm talking about. It's almost as if we have become a throw-away club. Instead of developing our players we just get shot and lose money all the time.

[Jeffro]

Let me get this right:

You think with the correct training that Vine and Aggymang could be decent strikers?

Please, they are pants. End of.

[QPR1234]

love how you've forgotten german and clarke our other 2 strikers lol.

agyemang has pace and power but cant jump nor finish.

vine lacks the grit and determination to comeback from adversity.

helguson is always in right place right time just needs to work on his finishing. we create 4 golden chances for HH he will put 1 away. difference being you wont get anywhere near 4 golden chances for vine or agyemang coz they dont get into the positions / bring others into play.

[sirpiechucker]

That's a very good point and is exactly what I'm talking about. It's almost as if we have become a throw-away club. Instead of developing our players we just get shot and lose money all the time.

Forgetting Vine, HH and Agyemang for a moment and imagine how much the likes of Parker, German, Balanta (out on loan obviously) and Ephraim would all benefit from being taught the techinical side but someone of Ferdinand's calibre?

[Ads1985]

IMO as a coach, u either are a natural finisher or your not. The players you have mentioned are all around 30 and have been playing football for at least 15 years at a high level. I coach a team of 14-15 year olds and no matter how much finishing/ shooting practice you do even at this age it doesn't seem to have much of an improvement.

Off the top of my head I cannot think of a player who has made it at the highest level who has gone from being a player who can't hit a cows #### with a banjo to a clinical finisher.

[Minty]

Let me get this right:

You think with the correct training that Vine and Aggymang could be decent strikers?

Please, they are pants. End of.

Jeffro, Agyemang scored 9 in was it 8 games when he arrived? He has some pace and is an excellent athlete. There's just one thing missing - converting the many opportunities he gets.

Vine was one of our best players 18 months ago.

I just find it so frustrating that this can all change in an instant and that there is nothing that can be done about it. Even counselling if it's a mental thing. They are human after all, and surely want their careers to continue?

[Jeffro]

Jeffro, Agyemang scored 9 in was it 8 games when he arrived? He has some pace and is an excellent athlete. There's just one thing missing - converting the many opportunities he gets.

Vine was one of our best players 18 months ago.

I just find it so frustrating that this can all change in an instant and that there is nothing that can be done about it. Even counselling if it's a mental thing. They are human after all, and surely want their careers to continue?

That was a freak spell for Aggymang, please look over his whole career for a broader idea of his goal scoring record.
We have had about 7 different managers and none have been able to make him decent.

Please dont waste your time typing, and lets get vine & aggymang out of the club!!

[maddix]

Having played as a centre forward (many moons ago) at a decent level the one thing you need to have above all else when playing up front is an instinct to be able to put the ball away without really thinking about it too much , irrelevant of who is around you or the positioning of the goalie.

Look how many players can score goals with natural instinct ,yet when faced with a goalie one on one they over think the situation and fluff their lines .

It is this element that I believe you either HAVE or you DONT , it simply can't be taught.

You can work on fitness, positioning , technique even mental strength but there is that natural ability to do something without thinking about it which sorts the men from the boys.

[sirpiechucker]

Jeffro, Agyemang scored 9 in was it 8 games when he arrived? He has some pace and is an excellent athlete. There's just one thing missing - converting the many opportunities he gets.

Vine was one of our best players 18 months ago.

I just find it so frustrating that this can all change in an instant and that there is nothing that can be done about it. Even counselling if it's a mental thing. They are human after all, and surely want their careers to continue?

10-15 years ago you lived and died by your performances so there was the incentive to perform and improve. Now sadly it's all about the money and whilst Agyemang has a few years left on his contract he doesn't need to improve he can just pick up his healthy cheque each month.

[HammersmithR]

Agymang must be the only bloke who is over 6 foot and built like an ox, but has never won a header in his life at Rangers. He is a show pony.

A non league footballer.

[Ads1985]

Harsh but fair Hammersmith.

[Minty]

I understand everyone's point on this issue, but my next question is.......

How in the hell did they get a gig at Queens Park Rangers for stupid money and stupid durations??

Gianni, I know.

But for God's sake where was the advice from the 'footballing people' at the time of our interest in these players?

Flabbergasted, is what I am.

[G.T.P]

we all know we have been so badly managed from top to bottom for the last few years. thats why we have so much shite. but them days are long gone. this board are being led by a genius footballing mind, he knows how to run a club inside out. right from the tea lady to the signings, he runs it all.