Most teams used to play with two strikers.
When crosses were played in one striker would attack the near post and the other would move to the far post so whether a cross was over or under hit there was a chance that a striker would be at the end of a cross.
With the trend of playing one striker crosses can appear aimless if they are not actually spot on.
You are relying on attacking midfielders to get in the box to support the lone striker, which Gallagher was doing effectively at the beginning of the season.

Flanagan and Allen ;-)

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Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I distinctly recall that hearing that strikers should Gamble - particularily at the near post.

Really we need more than one Player in the box making different runs.

If you think about it, the near post Gamble is a good one, as there's less chance that a defender will intercept, and the striker will get to the cross first. you can't score if you don't get the ball.

I think you are right there Willo, if I have one criticism of Mateta it is his movement inside the box, it does not suit his position in the team IMHO.

There are usually a few times, as there were yesterday, when you do question why he moves as he does.

One in particular for me was in the second half, we'd worked the ball out to the right quite well and Wilf had the opportunity to put one in, as he did. Now, you can blame the midfield and others for not supporting but strangely Mateta was the only player in the box and ran towards the near post with Wilfs decent looking cross inevitably going over his head and to nobody. The instinct was to blame Wilf for crossing aimlessly but Mateta, being the Centre Forward (+ 6ft3" ) and only player in the box, ran to a position that was nigh impossible to score from, which I found very odd (and irritating).

I distinctly remember on numerous occasions overhearing forwards being told, and this has been echoed by many in the professional game down the years, that Strikers should aim to always be 'between the sticks' when the ball is coming into the box. If you are forever lurking beyond the back post or running past the near, you are far less likely, if at all, to score.

Edited by Nicholas91 (26 Apr 2022 9.42am)

That's fair enough and you're entitled to that opinion. I'm not massively criticising him, it's just my take.

Also, I wasn't criticising him for moving however rather the movement itself which you seem to suggest. With regards to pulling defenders out of position and creating space for others, that only works if you're flooding the box and in my opinion, we have not been doing that. I hate that, when people propose the polar opposite to something you've commented on and insist it's your opinion.

I of course want the Striker to move, but preferably into spaces where he is going to be best placed to score. He was making the sort of runs yesterday that I expect from the wingers or midfielders. I feel as though I have already covered this, and as previously stated I am not saying I am 100% right but the only time he looked like scoring yesterday were his header and the ball from Ayew, both times in front of the goal. Other days, they may well have gone in as Mateta has far outperformed my initial expectations of him which most importantly has included scoring goals.