One thing we've been lucky so far is that the misses haven't cost us.

[Peter]

I'm positive about Gyokeres. He's big, physical and fast and gets into all the right positions. The Portuguese league is good enough that he coudn't have scored all those goals without being a decent finisher.

He's what we needed. Rice's goal as an example. His run took a central defender away from where he might have stopped Rice from scoring. He does things like that all the time. He needs to get used to us, and us to him.

But he's exactly the type of striker that we needed i.e. one who isn't good enough to focus on much more than scoring goals.

Certainly, it is early to judge. And I was not expecting a world class centre forward. Hopefully he improves over the season and we learn to use him, along with our other new players.

[WES]

Certainly, it is early to judge. And I was not expecting a world class centre forward. Hopefully he improves over the season and we learn to use him, along with our other new players.

The key sentence in my post was the last one.

It's true, and should make red very happy

[Peter]

The key sentence in my post was the last one.

It's true, and should make red very happy

Interesting thought that our previous strikers were too good.

Apart from the goalscoring bit.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Interesting thought that our previous strikers were too good.

Apart from the goalscoring bit.

When we signed him there was a video about it on that ACFC youtube channel. It showed the PSG game where we had MnM up top and Dec left 8. It said that PSG didn't have to worry about them getting balls in behind. Yet with Vik they would.

And that's what he's doing. If they have to double mark him, or have one man marking and another covering behind then they can't double mark B and Odin. He creates space.

It took a while to work out how to use the space from double marking B but with Vik it seems to be working straight away, as it's making space for our skilful players. Cos if they don't mark him like that, we have players to put him through to do what he's best at. And against the Bubbles, he was double marked but still got the shot away that led to our first goal.

[redgunamo]

Interesting thought that our previous strikers were too good.

Apart from the goalscoring bit.

Probably too good at football, and it gave them ideas.

[redgunamo]

The key sentence in my post was the last one.

It's true, and should make red very happy

Indeed. Splendid observations.

[redgunamo]

When we signed him there was a video about it on that ACFC youtube channel. It showed the PSG game where we had MnM up top and Dec left 8. It said that PSG didn't have to worry about them getting balls in behind. Yet with Vik they would.

And that's what he's doing. If they have to double mark him, or have one man marking and another covering behind then they can't double mark B and Odin. He creates space.

It took a while to work out how to use the space from double marking B but with Vik it seems to be working straight away, as it's making space for our skilful players. Cos if they don't mark him like that, we have players to put him through to do what he's best at. And against the Bubbles, he was double marked but still got the shot away that led to our first goal.

I do like that that chap challenges the idea, possibly in a different video, that we needed a striker because we don't score enough goals, when it ought to be clear to everyone by this time that we actually score plenty of goals and we merely need a striker to help us win more games.

[Peter]

Probably too good at football, and it gave them ideas.

Funny. When I was younger we worried that defenders who could play football wouldn't focus enough on defending and would be too soft. Now it is strikers.

You just don't get Ian Wrights and Henrys these days.

[redgunamo]

Funny. When I was younger we worried that defenders who could play football wouldn't focus enough on defending and would be too soft. Now it is strikers.

You just don't get Ian Wrights and Henrys these days.

Certainly not at the price. Notice that Bournemouth have decided they may reluctantly and with a heavy heart be prepared to accept a hundred million quid in January for some random African winger of theirs. "The Arsenal have been informed."

[Peter]

Certainly not at the price. Notice that Bournemouth have decided they may reluctantly and with a heavy heart be prepared to accept a hundred million quid in January for some random African winger of theirs. "The Arsenal have been informed."

We can't be buying Africans. They want time off every other year.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

We can't be buying Africans. They want time off every other year.

That's why you want Africans with French citizenship. Though given Kolo was an invincible, he can take time off whenever he likes.

[redgunamo]

We can't be buying Africans. They want time off every other year.

Well, quite. What do they think this is? The 60's?!

[redgunamo]

That's why you want Africans with French citizenship. Though given Kolo was an invincible, he can take time off whenever he likes.

What about Africans with Chav citizenship, like this Cherries chap

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Funny. When I was younger we worried that defenders who could play football wouldn't focus enough on defending and would be too soft. Now it is strikers.

You just don't get Ian Wrights and Henrys these days.

David O'Leary could play football - was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1980 - and he could defend. Big Willy reminds me of him sometimes. Just so cultured and composed on the ball.

[Peter]

David O'Leary could play football - was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1980 - and he could defend. Big Willy reminds me of him sometimes. Just so cultured and composed on the ball.

He could indeed. George was very suspicious of him. As was Jack Charlton.

But he was an excellent player and professional, and adjusted his game.