GLF69: Writing in pre-season, Geoff considers what changes we need to make
Dilemma
Being a goalkeeper is a specialised role and an important one. But being a goal-scorer is equally specialised and important. Writing pre-season I hope and pray that we are going to bring in at least one forward to bolster our ranks.Chances are that we will end up with another Lewis Grabban and not a permanent fixture. Ross McCormack will need replaced in one shape or form. Some pundits are even suggesting that without him we will not carry such a goal threat.
Ross scored eleven times for us last season in 42 games but didn't score after the Gretna game in February. That was a run of fourteen games without a goal, if he'd carried on his early season goal-scoring ratio he would have ended up around the 16 goal mark. He has only missed one game in the run-in but from his last goal we as a team only won five of the fifteen. Was that Ross' fault for not scoring? No, we're a team and all the players have a role to play in getting goals. Can we afford to score 11 fewer goals if no-one steps up to the plate?
Chris Porter ended up our top scorer with 18 goals in 42 games. Hopefully that kind of form can continue on into this season. Hopefully other teams will not have sussed him out and we will get a diminishing return.It is vital that he provides us with an outlet for the chances we create not just on the pitch but also off it.His contract is up next summer so, if we intend making any kind of financial gain then we must be looking at him moving on in January. If his goals dry up then any offer will be smaller, if the Old Firm have any interest then the offer will be a lot smaller.Porter is, in my opinion, possibly the most important player in our squad.He almost guarantees goals and we cannot afford to lose him for a few games and he will be difficult to replace if we sell him in January.On the other hand his agent may advise him to stay then any potential transfer fee could go straight into the pocket of Porter and his agent.
The final part of our forward jigsaw was David Clarkson who ended the season with a goa-lscoring Scotland debut.In football terms David is still young but he continues to show many rough edges to his game.He is by no means the finished article and may indeed never be, but if he bangs in 13 goals every year then we won't complain.We have had a good season from David before but then he slipped back, possibly a result of not gelling with his strike partner, after all, how many passes did Scott McDonald make in the average match?David's confidence should be high and that should benefit us.
I'm not sure he has the ability to get considerably better, and if he did he probably wouldn't be around for long.I just hope his form continues and he keeps the critics amongst our fans off his back.
These three players were responsible for 70% of the goals we scored last year. Only four of our victories came in games where they failed to score. Our next highest scorer was Darren Smith with four goals and I think that Mark McGhee still sees him as an impact player, someone to come on late with fresh legs to run at defences. Darren is not an out and out striker so we can't expect him to suddenly become a replacement for McCormack.
Our midfielders must be looking to increase their goal tally, especially if we only have 2 recognised strikers, and heaven forbid that injury or suspension should see us lose one of them. It's probably too soon to expect Jamie Murphy to step up. At his age we can't expect him to fill McCormack's role week in week out.
If he did then we could not expect any level of consistency in his play. Yes, he's a bright hope but let's not waste him or expect too much too soon.
Similarly his Under-19 strike partner Mark Archdeacon. These players are potentially the future of our club but we must remember they are the future not the now.
If we can keep it relatively tight at the back then we may continue to sneak a few results. If our defence continues its aversion to crosses and we go into the season relying on just two forwards and hoping they stay fit and avoid suspensions then things may not quite be so rosy this year.
Geoff Baby
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