Chaplin came on today and lost the ball from their bloke leaning on him, He is too lightweight to be a striker. What most small strikers lack in height they make up for in pace and finishing but i don't think i have seen either trait displayed by chaplin
Chaplin came on today and lost the ball from their bloke leaning on him, He is too lightweight to be a striker. What most small strikers lack in height they make up for in pace and finishing but i don't think i have seen either trait displayed by chaplin
In fairness, that Omar Beckles is a big boy, im sure he'd dwarf most of us, let alone Chaplin. But yes, agreed on the lack on anything of substance, even his finish at Sunderland was hit and hope.
Way below the standard most of us expected of him, I think I'd be more confident with Ponticelli coming on in that scenario as opposed to Chaplin.
The striker situation is puzzling for me. I fear Robins has bought Chaplin to develop into a 10 given how deep he's played him most of the season.
Of the ones we have I feel Biamou would be best suited to 4-2-3-1 but he's unproven in L1 and coming back from a bad injury.
Bakayoko doesn't win enough headers, doesn't hold the ball up consistently and doesn't seem to play well isolated, which he is for long periods.
Hiwula is poor back to goal, not got the first touch or body strength to play as a lone striker and it would negate a lot of his strengths
Chaplin is not a 10 and too small to play up top on his own.
If Bright re-signs we have to get a different striker for 4-2-3-1 and if he doesn't re-sign we'd need a formation change, still need a new striker and then probably wingers too. Arguably needs a formation change at home anyway and then where does Bright fit in a more traditional 4-4-2? Can't see him working in a 2 man centre midfield, so probably still as 10 and then we are back to the same issue of who plays up front.
Can't see what the plan is right now so it will be interesting to see how things develop in the summer but I'd be surprised if all 4 were still here in August.
Baka nor Chaplin are the first choice answer for a promotion push next season. I like Baka when he chases down the keeper but can only see him (at best) as being a useful sub with 20 to go. Chaplin too is not a starter for me and currently plays too deep to have any positive impact on a game...a late sub at best.
I like biamou’s effort but is that enough at this level if we have serious ambitions of promotion? Again I see him as a sub (assuming good recovery from injury) next season.
Of those three I would prefer to keep Biamou but it stresses the need for a target player who can win the ball, hold it up and chip in with 15 goals plus. Or we need a very different system going forward. Interestingly first half v Portsmouth it was speed, width and intelligent movement that gave us opportunities. If we keep bright and Thomas is that the answer?