Time for Palmer to start but...

elkimp

elkimp

Vital Squad Member
Palmers contribution yesterday was immense. He really did change the game in our favour, adding much needed attacking endeavour. We were flat first half and offered nothing up top, but he changed that with direct attacking play full of pace, power and quality shooting and passing. MOTM for 45mins, very impressive.
So, he has to start, but who does he replace. Lots of people suggesting either Rhead or Green. Why not play all three?
Personally, I would drop Rheady as he looks absolutely knackered and offered little yesterday.
What do you think?
 
It's the old conundrum isn't it ? Does a player with big impact as a sub have the same impact when he starts against fresh defenders.
There's something to be said for a softening up process and leaving something explosive for later.
 
I agree with your post Impecunious, while the defenders are fresh he probably wouldn't make such an impact, but he should be coming on with 25 mins to go, as he's a very important member of Citys team.
That was a cracking shot yesterday and was unlucky it never went in.
He should be given a new contract.
 
It really is difficult to judge.

On the surface of it, Rhead is contributing little - he hasn't scored for 16 games, and has only 5 assists all season. Yes, he wins around 60% of his headers, but what do we do with it? Does it lead to a goal? Five assists would suggest 'not directly'. Refs know all about his foibles, as do opposing defenders. So why play him? The answer may lie in the stats that Danny uses - what we don't know is how many goals we do score indirectly through Rhead.

Green is our top scorer with 16 goals, and runs and runs. He keeps opposing defenders fully occupied, they must be knackered by the end of a game. He isn't deadly despite his decent scoring record - I think he needs three or four good chances to score one goal. Can you leave out your top scorer?

Does Palmer deserve a start? Absolutely. But when he has started a game, he hasn't been as effective in my opinion. Further, we lose his potential impact off the bench.

Is it the right time of the season to start tinkering with our forward line?
 
My MOM too, you feel now when he comes on that he’ll make something happen, terrific performance, no lack of skill and endeavour and unlucky not to score a potential goal of the season
 
His technique was terrific for the shot that hit the bar/post - look at his body position when he strikes the ball.
 
I'd give him a run in place of Rhead. For much of the game yesterday, probably many games, we were so one dimensional it was beyond belief. The long diagonal balls to him just weren't working as their 2 big CB matched him throughout.
Palmer can do the Rhead job, maybe not as wel. He also offers more in that he can run beyond the line and beat a man.
Sadly, I think the big-uns powers and effectiveness are fading.
 
In a 4-3-3 you can accommodate all three strikers, knowing there's Anderson, Rowe (I know he's currently injured) and Williams who can play wide of a three as well.

He's not had many starts full stop but he does come across as an impact sub rather than a starter although that's just my gut feeling.
 
I think with Coventry playing Friday we might need to freshen things on Tuesday. Whether than means starting Palmer I'm not sure.

What struck me with the Palmer Green Rhead partnership yesterday though was that when you have 2 of the 3 comfortable playing with their back to goal it seems much more effective.

For me Green has to run onto balls. He struggles with any ball fired into him back to goal - quite a poor first touch. His game is about pace and strength running onto balls and running at the goal.

Rhead and Palmer both have different strengths but they are both very comfortable back to goal with a decent first touch and playing either side of Green looked a good balance to me.
 
does palmer struggle with stamina... to do a full ninety? can't think of any other reason why he shouldn't start. i agree that playing all three looked very interesting. as the high ball can go to either rhead or palmer. defences can't double mark both rhead and palmer. palmer is the first right footer we have played who is a definite option for the left wing cutting in, as he really does have a decent long shot.
 
Impecunious said:
It's the old conundrum isn't it ? Does a player with big impact as a sub have the same impact when he starts against fresh defenders.
There's something to be said for a softening up process and leaving something explosive for later.
Click to expand...
he came on at half time yesterday and had an immediate impact. surely their defenders were still fresh at that point. we had hardly run them ragged for the first 45.
 
Scotimp said:
It really is difficult to judge.

On the surface of it, Rhead is contributing little - he hasn't scored for 16 games, and has only 5 assists all season. Yes, he wins around 60% of his headers, but what do we do with it? Does it lead to a goal? Five assists would suggest 'not directly'. Refs know all about his foibles, as do opposing defenders. So why play him? The answer may lie in the stats that Danny uses - what we don't know is how many goals we do score indirectly through Rhead.

Green is our top scorer with 16 goals, and runs and runs. He keeps opposing defenders fully occupied, they must be knackered by the end of a game. He isn't deadly despite his decent scoring record - I think he needs three or four good chances to score one goal. Can you leave out your top scorer?

Does Palmer deserve a start? Absolutely. But when he has started a game, he hasn't been as effective in my opinion. Further, we lose his potential impact off the bench.

Is it the right time of the season to start tinkering with our forward line?
Click to expand...

is palmer suffering from perception rather than reality. ))) i am interested to know if the vitals rankings for his starts are low marks.

in judging his effectiveness as a starter:
the longest run of starts he has had in the team is 4.

the last time palmer started a league game was at colchester in november. he was ineffective, but so was everyone around him that night. he seems to have improved a fair bit in the five months since then. rhead and green have had plenty of games when they have started and been ineffective.

we are unbeaten in palmer's other 6 league starts. 4 wins 2 draws. including one of our best attacking performances - at crewe, and a decent goal by him against barnet.

palmer has started 4 checkatrade games - we won them all - he scored twice.

i am quite liking his kind of less effective.
 
I can't see Danny selecting all three to start on Tuesday in fact with Bossie being probably suspended a 4-5-1 option is possible to give that extra support for the defence.

In any case with only 3 recognised strikers in the squad to start with all 3 leaves little option if we need to chase the game later on. Palmer does deserve a start BUT the impact he has from the bench would be far greater than Rhead or Green.
 
Perhaps. Earlier in the season it was Green/Rhead or Palmer/Whitehouse.

Palmer hasn't struck me as a leading the line type of striker. I wonder whether other Club's have tried him as that, and that's why he's been more successful here than elsewhere?
 
Scotimp said:
His technique was terrific for the shot that hit the bar/post - look at his body position when he strikes the ball.
Click to expand...

Goal of the season, had it nestled in the top corner! His control of the long ball into him was also excellent.
 
mps81 said:
While Palmer might come on for Rheady regularly he's a totally different player. We'd get nowhere playing it to him in the way we do to Rhead.
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Nope, can't see Palmer winning any headers despite his height! We'd have to play it on the ground to him, and thus (according to every opposition manager at least) change our entire approach.
 
Rob the Imp said:
Nope, can't see Palmer winning any headers despite his height! We'd have to play it on the ground to him, and thus (according to every opposition manager at least) change our entire approach.
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He used to be awful in the air for a man of his size, but he is now starting to win more than his fair share. A greatly improved player from the one that started the season. Keep it up Ollie!!
 
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