Peter Swan: Hull City must sign goal-poacher to ensure they have promotion fire-power
THE only issue of concern at present for Steve Bruce will be that of his strikers and how they have dried up in terms of goals.
It is being much talked about at present, and Saturday's win at Forest will have surely brought confirmation for the boss that he has to dip into the market in January to solve the problem.
-
Out of favour: German striker Nick Proschwitz
Bruce said during midweek that he wanted the strikers currently at the club to go out and show him that he didn't need to spend in the window.
But when Sone Aluko was ruled out through injury, the manager was left with few options, particularly as he will have wanted to keep the same style as against Palace last Tuesday.
This Friday Mexican night at The Black Bull, Burton Pidsea, Two...
View detailsIndulge with our delicious range of specially selected Mexican dishes available from 5pm to 8:30pm this Friday 21st June. Traditional evening menu also available.
Terms: Terms: Friday the 21st June only, from 5pm to 8:30pm. Offer includes two main Mexican courses. Minimum 2 people dining.
Contact: 01964 770402
Valid until: Saturday, June 22 2013
What we saw was the manger opt for Aaron Mclean in the role in which he was effectively up front alone, ahead of Robert Koren.
Mclean, as always, gave his all, but it didn't really work and he was feeding off scraps.
Bruce obviously doesn't fancy either Jay Simpson or Nick Proschwitz at the moment, and with Matty Fryatt out for the season, that means his hands are tied, especially if Aluko is not available.
We saw last season that when the going got tough after the festive period, City didn't have enough fire-power up front to score the goals needed.
At least this season, they are creating plenty of chances, with 17 shots on target against Crystal Palace in midweek.
I am sure that despite what he has said recently, Bruce will be desperate to add some fire-power to his frontline, and I expect this to be his top priority when the window opens.
If City could add a goal-poacher to their side, they wouldn't be far off having the complete team.
I already think they are stronger than the 2008 promotion-winning side in all areas but this.
Comments
by costatiger
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 2:38PM
“One poster suggests trading in Mclean for someone more clinical,but equally hard working and another suggests using Dean Windass as a striker coach,but the answer really is that strikers cant be coached ,its all down to instinct and the ability to be in the right place at the right time with a cool head in the box.Put simply,its a case of you give me the ball and i,ll stick it in the net and as for hard work,most top goal poachers are lazy,thats what makes them so dangerous.Our own Keith Edwards was a classic example!! It,s a similar case with players who know when to make that late run into the box and arrive at the far post,just when you think the cross has eluded everybody.Lampard,Gerrard and again,our own Nicky Barmby were the only three that spring to mind and once again its an instinctive skill that can,t really be taught.Mackail Smith was scoring for fun at Peterboro,but it was Mclean who did all the graft for him and its very rare to have a goalpoaching grafter,the two aspects of the game just dont go together.”
by Tribester
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 12:23PM
“i just think city are missing a trick here why havent they employed windass as a striker coach ????????”
by beverleybeck
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 12:20PM
“marlon king type of player we need”
by SteveB1234567
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 11:33AM
“The Simpson and Aluko partnership should hopefully start to click again - doesn't really matter which one of them is getting the final touch as long as they're creating the goals between them (lately it's been Simpson putting it on a plate for Aluko). And we haven't even really tried Proschwitz yet. Having said all that, we will miss Aluko if he's out for any length of time, and with Fryatt out for the season I wouldn't complain if we traded up on McLean for someone a bit more clinical (but hopefully equally hardworking).”
by scooter234
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 10:10AM
“Try mixing it up a bit, Proschwitz/Smpson, Aluko/Mclean, Aluko/Proschwitz. The tall lad must have something, How about three up Simpson/Proschwitz/Aluko. Steve Bruce needs to decide this month what he is going to do with what he has or to look in the January market.”
by crislond
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 10:10AM
“Try Mclean with aluko - not been done all season yet ???”
by verbalkint1
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 8:43AM
“Perhaps if we went back to Aluko and Simpson up front the goals might flow again! Or give the German a chance! we have 2 great wingers in Elmo and Brady who have being providing brilliant crosses but no one on the end of them! We aint gunna score with Mclean up front on his own with Koren behind, like we had on Sat just dose not work!”
by Carlsf
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 8:00AM
“Instead of chirping on about buying yet another striker, shouldn't someone at Hull City be trying to teach the 6 forwards they have already ?”
by YorkshireMike
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 7:32AM
“Come on Swanny - do what you are paid to do and tell us news and don't just rehash what posters on this and many other sites have been saying for ages.
It is a waste of time to declare the blaringly obvious”