Dominic Calvert-Lewin

[weasel]

Our goal was all about Gnonto who rescues us for the second week running... But if we keep playing him DCL will thrive more than he has been.

Second game the 443 has looked better

Would be good to see Gnonto having one of his purple patches of form. A great player when he is on song.

[Cjay]

Our goal was all about Gnonto who rescues us for the second week running... But if we keep playing him DCL will thrive more than he has been.

Second game the 443 has looked better

Would disagree, we looked very good defensively but with our usual attacking caution with 5-3-2 away from home.

The formation change (4-2-3-1 according to Farke) had the usual more attacking side that comes when we go behind.

It happens a lot (us going behind).

Be interesting to see how we cope with Palace, they have pretty much perfected a back 3 at this level.

[malcolmw]

A 6ft5 league 2 striker would be a nuisance.

At this level you need more than thundering into defenders (he doesn't win that often either) to justify £100,000+ a week.

But I felt he was better 2nd half (whereas largely anonymous 1st half with Okafor the threat of the pair)

Was more of a threat, won a few more duels and took his goal well.

He's been gifted a few goals recently but felt this was similar to Wolves a good finish.

Not so sure about that cjay. DCL can be anonymous for much of a game - as can many strikers - e.g. the great Gerd Muller. Then at a key moment they are in the right place at the right time.

Right now he is exactly what our squad needs. He actually works hard in the final third. I really rate him - reads the game well and runs into space well.

With another sniffer next to him, be it Nmecha or Okofor or Piroe, he makes them better in their role.

Rumour we're looking at Raheem Sterling in January. Could be another interesting striking option in similar role

[1964white]

Not so sure about that cjay. DCL can be anonymous for much of a game - as can many strikers - e.g. the great Gerd Muller. Then at a key moment they are in the right place at the right time.

Right now he is exactly what our squad needs. He actually works hard in the final third. I really rate him - reads the game well and runs into space well.

With another sniffer next to him, be it Nmecha or Okofor or Piroe, he makes them better in their role.

Rumour we're looking at Raheem Sterling in January. Could be another interesting striking option in similar role

Cjay & one or two others would prefer a slouch upfront, someone who is probably out of his depth at PL level.

Calvert-Lewin will always struggle to win some of our fans over, you only have to read the opening pages of this thread when we signed DCL.

[1964white]

Our goal was all about Gnonto who rescues us for the second week running... But if we keep playing him DCL will thrive more than he has been.

Second game the 443 has looked better

True, but starting with the 3-5-2 formation, particularly away from home, makes us more solid & difficult to break down. Brentford hardly got a sniff at goal apart from self-inflicted errors from Struijk, Rodon & Bogle

[Cjay]

Not so sure about that cjay. DCL can be anonymous for much of a game - as can many strikers - e.g. the great Gerd Muller. Then at a key moment they are in the right place at the right time.

Right now he is exactly what our squad needs. He actually works hard in the final third. I really rate him - reads the game well and runs into space well.

With another sniffer next to him, be it Nmecha or Okofor or Piroe, he makes them better in their role.

Rumour we're looking at Raheem Sterling in January. Could be another interesting striking option in similar role

Not sure Gerd Muller and DCL are comparable in any way Malcolm.

Certain members of the forum love thunder about types, Bamford, Aaronson.

I prefer goals and assists, I was fair in my assessment yesterday

I said he struggled 1st half, he did, he lost the most duels on the pitch and much like previous games despite apparently being a big strong striker he was getting dominated.

But he did improve 2nd half.

And he took the goal well.

I just won't talk down other players and dismiss their abilities at this level based on no evidence.

[PhoenixUnited]

Took his goal extremely well - right place and right time. Goalkeeper nowhere and no chance. If he carries on in this way, getting all manner of goals then alright we might look back and say it was a good bit of business. But it is still early days!!

He has done better than I expected especially in terms of goals scored. He's had a good rub of the green to be fair and blunt. Perhaps the debate might be whether he can stay fit and get to double figures for the season.

I am however not getting carried away by this snapshot of a season. Some, like on MOTD , are starting to utter "Engerland" unbelievably whereas in parts of the game yesterday DCL played with all the finess of a JCB! He has a lot to prove still. Hope he can carry on as he is for the rest of the season

[The Subhuman]

True, but starting with the 3-5-2 formation, particularly away from home, makes us more solid & difficult to break down. Brentford hardly got a sniff at goal apart from self-inflicted errors from Struijk, Rodon & Bogle

And Bijol who fluffed the clearance for their goal

[The Subhuman]

Would disagree, we looked very good defensively but with our usual attacking caution with 5-3-2 away from home.

The formation change (4-2-3-1 according to Farke) had the usual more attacking side that comes when we go behind.

It happens a lot (us going behind).

Be interesting to see how we cope with Palace, they have pretty much perfected a back 3 at this level.

I'm not a fan of three at the back with this group of players. Especially as we have Amps as a second sweeper in that system. We went behind v Liverpool and now Brentford with the three at the back, got back in both as a 433/451

Bijol is ok if the ball comes to him, not so good if he has to go to the ball, he makes Struijk look fast. Rodon does both better

[1964white]

And Bijol who fluffed the clearance for their goal

The cross was slightly behind him, with the ball deflecting off his heels.

[1964white]

I'm not a fan of three at the back with this group of players. Especially as we have Amps as a second sweeper in that system. We went behind v Liverpool and now Brentford with the three at the back, got back in both as a 433/451

Bijol is ok if the ball comes to him, not so good if he has to go to the ball, he makes Struijk look fast. Rodon does both better

We are more flexible now, using both formations during a game.

We conceded the first goal vs Liverpool & Brentford due to poor defensive errors from all our back four.

The 3-5-2 stemmed Brentford flowing style as the commentators were whinging on about for much of the first-half. It worked at Citeh & against Chelsea, which suggests Farke is getting it right,

Farke's substitutions also worked superbly well in all four games.

[weasel]

I'm not a fan of three at the back with this group of players. Especially as we have Amps as a second sweeper in that system. We went behind v Liverpool and now Brentford with the three at the back, got back in both as a 433/451

Bijol is ok if the ball comes to him, not so good if he has to go to the ball, he makes Struijk look fast. Rodon does both better

The 4231 suits us, the 532 suits us. Playing 3 DMS in a 4321 doesn't. In the last two games we have gone to the 4231 and looked good. Hope we don't go back to a 3 man central midfield of Longstaff, Stach and Ampadu if we revert back to 4 at the back. We need a 10, or second striker, close to DCL.

[malcolmw]

Not sure Gerd Muller and DCL are comparable in any way Malcolm.

Certain members of the forum love thunder about types, Bamford, Aaronson.

I prefer goals and assists, I was fair in my assessment yesterday

I said he struggled 1st half, he did, he lost the most duels on the pitch and much like previous games despite apparently being a big strong striker he was getting dominated.

But he did improve 2nd half.

And he took the goal well.

I just won't talk down other players and dismiss their abilities at this level based on no evidence.

Having seen Muller play many times, he could be invisible for long periods then pop up out of nowhere and score a match winner.

I see DCL being able to read attacking situations in a similar way. Maybe just how I perceive it.

[Cjay]

Having seen Muller play many times, he could be invisible for long periods then pop up out of nowhere and score a match winner.

I see DCL being able to read attacking situations in a similar way. Maybe just how I perceive it.

I take your point.

Don't see it myself really, Muller was clearly a natural finisher DCL definitely isn't.

To me he's more of a lesser Emile Heskey (who was a very decent player tbf).

Imo though the key to DCL is you have to play how it suits him, he isn't going to be able to adapt to a system he needs what he needs.

If you do that he may do OK.

[DDB220]

I take your point.

Don't see it myself really, Muller was clearly a natural finisher DCL definitely isn't.

To me he's more of a lesser Emile Heskey (who was a very decent player tbf).

Imo though the key to DCL is you have to play how it suits him, he isn't going to be able to adapt to a system he needs what he needs.

If you do that he may do OK.

The same can be said about a lot of players. It is pretty obvious you play to a players strengths. As a target man there are few better options than DCL in the prem. I still believe that we should play Willy off him as a pairing. There are a lot of throw backs to suggested refinement of tactics from yesteryear. Perhaps time for a little and large pairing.

[malcolmw]

I take your point.

Don't see it myself really, Muller was clearly a natural finisher DCL definitely isn't.

To me he's more of a lesser Emile Heskey (who was a very decent player tbf).

Imo though the key to DCL is you have to play how it suits him, he isn't going to be able to adapt to a system he needs what he needs.

If you do that he may do OK.

Yes Heskey is a good comparison.

DCL sure isnt the 'poacher' Muller was, getting goals out of nothing, but I always thought Muller could just go silent for long periods. I remember seeing him play against Sweden in the 70's and after the first half, I was sure he wouldnt be back out for the second. (I was 14, so of course knew everything ). But out he came and in his typical style put in the winner.

I do like DCL's workrate - he doesnt mind going to fetch the ball and get in a defender's face. Hes not a princess No. 9.
Hope he scores many more for us in the coming months.

[malcolmw]

The same can be said about a lot of players. It is pretty obvious you play to a players strengths. As a target man there are few better options than DCL in the prem. I still believe that we should play Willy off him as a pairing. There are a lot of throw backs to suggested refinement of tactics from yesteryear. Perhaps time for a little and large pairing.

DCL and Nmecha also looked an effective combination. But agree, until he's fit again, Willie is a good option Vs Okofor. Nice to have some choices.

[pandagirl]

DCL and Bamford are on fire right now

who would have known

[Cjay]

Was absolutely sure that knock to the head would have him coming off fairly soon after.

Fair play to him for having the presence of mind for the movement for the goals.

Get support around him and the Ball into the box not on half way with Rodon and he's effective.

Good job.

[Carrick Dave]

Star man up front for us this year so far, no qualifications.

And I thought he was a gamble.