Lee Angol

I said when he signed that Lee Angol is a class act at this level and that has proven correct. Obviously his injury record is an issue. But he's also not a 25 or even 20 goal per season striker. So even if he can be nurtured more carefully than Adams did, and plays more games, he won't get us promoted on his goals alone. He is brilliant at holding the ball and linking play. But we need a fox in the box to play alongside him, or else a bunch of attacking midfielders/wingers who'll chip in with far more goals between them than our current bunch do.

 

The thing is I remember games when his hold up at suffered because he was bouncing off defenders. He's not strong, and certainly isn't a battering ram type forward, and I think you need both.

Hughes' style certainly looks to suit him, but it's early days.

There will be times when we need to play more direct football and he won't be the man to lead the line.

 

So you rate Lee Angol? Wish you'd mentioned it before.......

 

Fair enough.
But I don't think Cook is good enough to be that battering ram. As Ron Atkinson once said, 'he can trap it further than I can kick it'. The ball just doesn't stick with him on the deck and he's not good enough in the air to dominate most L2 CBs aerially.
Ideally we'd want a mix. Angol, plus a speedster, a battering ram and a fox in the box like Doyle, who would have scored hatfulls under Mark Hughes.

 

Sod off Al.

 

Completely agree. In the few games Cook was unavailable and we played Angol up front we struggled as the ball just kept coming back.

Hopefully though, the shorter style that Hughes prefers that might not be as much of an issue.

 

Imo holding it up and making it stick is one of Cooks big strengths. To say he's not the tallest he still bullies some centre halves and if the ball is into his body rather than his head he very rarely loses it.

I'm happy to agree we should look for improvements though, as long as it isn't someone who's only attribute is "presence" *shudders*.

 

Hopefully so. Adams tended to have his midfield sat deep and his lone striker isolated. Since Angol has been back he's had Vernam, Walker and Pereira buzzing around him which enables him to link play far more effectively.

 

If you're advocating for Kai to come back, just say so m8.

Although he's won a promotion now. He may be too good for us....

 

"Someone who's only attribute is presence", you say?

May I present your new favourite player...

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=135218

6'9 striker Kyle Hudlin.

He might not score many, but he's probably the tallest (and therefore best) striker outside the EFL.

 

It's when the ball is played to his feet that the biggest problem occurs. Time after time he fails to control it quickly and it either bounces off him or is nicked away from him. We need better. TBH Cook hasn't offered much more than 'presence' in many games since Christmas.

 

Cook can't hold it up, he doesn't have the skillset. Takes him too many touches to get the ball under control. I wouldn't say he gets bullied but he's not really a James Hanson type target man.

 

Agree. The ball rarely sticks. It is the main reason why Cook is so ineffective as a lone striker.

 

Any news on others that have been offered or agred deals?????

 

No. Next 10 days or so will be the full list.

 

The ball has been “ Coming back” all season with Cook up front

 

At least you can spell this players name correctly. That's always helpful to work out what you're on about.

 

You just had to mention him didn't you? Always bringing the conversation into the gutter.

 

I miss the Hanson threads. Halcyon days

 

I think Cook is getting a raw deal a bit here. I'm not suggesting he's flawless or that we can't bring in better but 20 goals in 62 games isn't a bad strike rate for someone who apparently can't trap a bag of cement, is a terrible finisher and can't move due to being 7 stone overweight.

I definitely think he's still got something to offer in a quartet although his wages may determine that we'll need to move him on in order to recruit.