Andy Cook

I don't think Mark will change his system and it has brought us a fair amount of success so far. It is, however, a system which demands a level of technical ability and tactical awareness rarely seen in league 2 players, which is why they're in league 2. Players higher up the pyramid can manage it much better. When put under pressure as on Saturday many of our players simply didn't have the skill to cope and gave the ball away on countless occasions.
In addition, the system requires a great deal of mobility from the front man and neither Cook nor Oliver supply that. Hughes realised that with Cook last season which is why he preferred Angol. This season Cook has been much fitter and has taken his chances superbly but he remains pretty immobile and when tightly marked quickly becomes ineffective, again as on Saturday. I remain mystified why, knowing the system we were going to play, we signed Oliver and Harratt who don't fit into it. Mark has to quickly come to terms with the technical deficiencies of his squad and the fact that other teams now know how to play us. It will be interesting to see what he does.

 

Dubois its a shame Harratt as spit his greyhounds and dummy out has I think he would have been a good foil for Cook ........

 

No you didn't your first post with regards Cook was, "Hopefully he’s benched now he was poor again today give Oliver a run in the side for a few games and see how that goes.

 

If Stevenage have continued playing the way they did at Valley Parade it looks like going long works for them.

 

To be fair, Cook has been poor for the last three games. Irrespective of his goals, he could do with a rest and perhaps a reminder that he isnt the first name on every team sheet, becaus ehe is starting to look complacent.

Oliver has shown presence and fight when he's come on. Perhaps it is time to play him from the start ? Ideally I'd like to see both, but if Cook is as ineffective next week as he has been then Oliver has earned the right to play.

 

We don't win games by players showing presence, I would much prefer Cook being left out because Oliver or another striker is pushing for his place because he's scoring goals unfortunately at the moment no player is.
Hughes kept him in the starting 11 against Stockport because over the games Cooks played this season Cook has done what he's selected to do score goals, now if you believe only scoring once in three games is a reason to be dropped I disagree, if Hughes does bring Oliver in how many games do you give him if he fails to score, I'm glad its Mark Hughes who has to make the call.

 

Two in Three says Oliver is. I wouldn't drop Cook for now, but I would try find a way to play both of them.

 

With the greatest respect, I think that's boll#cks . Apart from a stupid tweet from his dad when he got home from the pub one night, there is nothing to suggest Harratt has spit his dummy out. I do agree though that he could be a good foil for Cook, or even more so Oliver. He just needs to stick at it and hope his time comes.

 

The trouble is when Cook isn’t scoring he hasn’t anything else to offer. I hoped playing alongside Oliver would be a good move but instead of playing off Oliver he continued to lead the line. It would have been a good opportunity at least to see Oliver Harratt

 

It was one game without a goal

 

If he doesn't score he offers nothing really.

 

I agree he is a goalscorer but when we are struggling and he is in the pocket of the defenders make the change and try something different

 

If we aren't creating chance for him what is a change of striker going to do? |Theres still the problem of no chances created

 

"Cook offers nothing if he doesn't score" is quickly become the biggest myth since "Rhys Evans can't dive to his left".

 

Just looking at the stats and it's exactly like I thought. Cook is definitely the main problem when addressing our lack of goals.

 

Try something different with a player who might create for others

 

We play 4-2-3-1, you've literally got 10 other players to try and create chances, you don't need the 1 sole striker looking to top the assist charts.

 

Isn’t that the point we have played poorly despite picking up points until the last two home games the ability to change the way we play when under the cosh. Cool in this seasons form is a must pick but he can be replaced when struggling

 

Didn't we have both Oliver and Cook on the pitch for the second half?

I think that WAS the attempt to change the way we play, and it didn't work - at least I think that's what happened, but I wasn't there.