Andy Cook

Sure, I understand that it's much easier for a CB, facing forwards and attacking the ball, to head it than for a CF with his back to goal. You only need to see how Platt utterly dominated the Tranmere striker in the air on Tuesday to see that. But there have been other strikers, Big Jim for one, who were better at winning headers with their back to goal than Cookie is. And others, such as John Stead, who were much better at controlling the ball with a defender at their back and laying it off to others, which Cook rarely does well.

I'm not having a go at Andy Cook. I was simply responding to your earlier post asking which parts of his game are lacking. I think we all know that, despite his size, Cook isn't a natural target man. He's a natural goalscorer who looks much better when he's forward facing. Lee Angol is a far better target man than Cook, but nowhere near as good a goalscorer, which is why he isn't getting games at present.
Clearly, if Cook could play the target man role well and keep scoring at his current rate, he wouldn't be playing for us in L2.

 

That Haarland bloke is crap because his goals might dry up?


Bradford City striker and Manchester City star top statistic
thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/21604320.bradford-city-striker-manchester-city-star-top-statistic/

Nathan Atkinson


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Andy Cook (left) scoring against Tranmere, while Erling Haaland celebrates a goal against Crystal Palace last month. Pictures: Thomas Gadd (Cook) and PA (Haaland).

IT is not often that Andy Cook is mentioned in the same breath as Erling Haaland, but the comparisons are justified on this occasion.

The Bradford City striker might never reach the level of the Manchester City machine, who is fast becoming a global superstar, but the two are keeping each other company with one goalscoring statistic.

Cook has managed nine goals in English domestic competitions this season, with six in League Two and three in the League Cup.

And that means the only player to have netted more domestically is Haaland, with the Norwegian having scored 10 times in the Premier League already this term.



Northampton Town striker Sam Hoskins is third on the list, having netted all eight of his domestic goals in League Two, earning him the August Player of the Month award for the division.

 

Andy Cook won't ever play a full seasons worth of football and not score a single goal like James Hanson did.

Debate over

 

Needs to up his game does our Andrew. 2nd to some Manc player, I mean come on...

What's the world coming to..

 

Stead is 6'3" and hardly a comparable example his football career has been at a far higher level that Cook's, and Hanson is 6'4", and neither played the lone striker role Cook is being asked to play at City, well have to agree to disagree.

 

I know Dave, slackers and non goal scorers do my head in.

Seriously Cook has done extremely well and knuckled down. Hats off to him because I thought he would become a bench warmer when thinking mid season . (Based purely on his performances at the back end of last season.)
Credit is very much due. !

 

All I'm saying Dave, is that Cook isn't a very good target man. I'm not blaming him for it because it's never been his his forte, any more than it was for Doyle or Vaughan. It's not his fault that he's being asked to play that role in a formation that can leave him isolated as a lone striker.
We saw last season that when his goals dried up after Christmas he became more of a liability than an asset. He wasn't able to make the ball stick up front or bring others into play. Our form improved greatly when Angol took over the target man role and was very effective at keeping the ball and linking play.
But there's no question that Cook is the best goalscorer at the club and all the while he keeps putting them away with regularity he should keep his place, whatever formation we are are playing.

 

As you say long may his rich vein of scoring continue.

 

It’s hilarious we are discussing Cook keeping his place. We have moaned about a striker for years and we now have one. Very unlucky with Eisa, Walker and others. Vaughan and Doyle did not do better than Cook. So I am enjoying him chatting on Sky and to be fair scoring some cracking goals. I wish he did approach play. Run at defenders win every header… I also wish I had a washboard tummy and a fringe. Enjoy him boys we will miss him when he goes…,cmon city

 

Exactly. Well said.
And anyway, what did the Romans or Andy Cook ever do for us?

 

Art school Dave?

 

Facebook or twitter more likely!

 

And that we should still release him at the end of the season. Hasn't only Haaland scored more in English football this season. At this rate he will have 20 by Halloween. But hey, we don't have to keep him.

 

Neither was Nahki Wells.

 

Mr Southgate says if that Kane fella doesn,t get his act together there is a certain league 2 striker who will be on the plane to Qatar.

 

Dom Telford?

 

Thats unlike you Rod…firing up the natives on a Sunday morning.

 

Lonely again!