Re: Juke > Gallagher
Saw about half the game yesterday and having played "predict the team for Derby on here last week" can see where we have problems as a team is a lack of wide options and no out and out lone striker. Gallagher is a good player but he is not a lone striker, same goes for Juke. In fact the only players who have played the lone role effectively for us have been Jerome and Donaldson and this was because they ran their bo11ix off. Juke can play the lone role more effectively because he can be the target man and hold play and link it, Gallagher is about running the channels and getting in behind - we're just not getting the ball into the final third enough for him to do this effectively. For Juke to get 10-15 goals this season we need to be getting the ball wide and getting crosses in - we have one winger: Mags and how often does he actually hit the byline and cross?
The solution: I think we need to go two up top or even three. I reckon Gallagher would be much more effective playing off Juke in a similar way to Adams. Our lack of width also means that we play narrow and the centre midfield gets congested - the out ball is to the forwards not the wingers that we don't have. When the out ball is long to the forward it gives the forward little chance to win it and it also means that hi support is 20-30 yards back down the field - its no wonder Gallagher has looked average.
Musing this shows how unbalanced the squad still is. Our left midfield options are non-existent but we have an embarrassment of riches in the No 10/AMF position (Boga/Jota/Adams/Gallagher), whilst on the right you can see Nsue and Mags starting to work well together. I think given the resources we have we have to find the system that suits the players, it is actually crying out for 3-5-2 but who plays LWB? Grounds? (Not good enough) Colin? (not left footed) Brammal? (Not played yet). So stick to a flat back 4. Throw in 2 holding midfielders (pick two from Davis, Walsh, Ndoye, Garnder etc), put Mags wide (he can even alternate right and left side) with Boga or Jota off a front two of Juke (central/target) and Gallagher/Adams to drop deep for balls to feet or run the channels and run off Juke's flicks.
That's what I think, its probably bollox though.