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The impending forward crisis

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becky92 said:
I worry by putting Onana up top we’d miss his forward runs from midfield and his energy. I’d give Simms a go. We’ll never know if he’s good enough if he’s not given a chance.
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I'd be reluctant to dislodge hoim myself. But against a better team than Liverpool he was getting forward a lot and relying on Gueye and the excellent Doucoure to hold the fort in the middle.
 

MaupsGoat said:
There is no option, thats why its a crisis.
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It feels like we've forgotten about the up front weakness because we had such a good result. But the opposition we face most games will need a different approach than against Arsenal.

The first test of that will be against Leeds.

Even a fit Calvert-Lewin wouldn't guarantee goals. We created clear cut chances against a very good team on Saturday though, and I think there's room for some optimism in that. If Seamus and McNeil can get crosses in and Iwobi can get on the ball and be a threat cutting inside then we give any forward a chance to score.

Add that as a constant threat to the set piece threat we'll now pose and we could get out of this yet.
 
I have very little faith in Maupay as our main striker. I’d give Simms a chance. I remember when Rafael had no choice but to play Simms or Dobbin at Chelsea, when he had no Richarlison, Dom, or Rondon. Both impressed me. I thought Dobbin had the pace to trouble Chelsea, but he’s on loan at Derby, so maybe I was wrong about him as a prospect? Simms fits the profile we need in a striker, so I’d play him, if Dom isn’t fit. I dunno if he’ll be good enough, but I’m sure Maupay isn’t! Hopefully we don’t regret not signing a more proven goalscorer, but no striker can score if they don’t get a chance, maybe Simms will get his?
 
davek said:
I think we all know that Dominic Calvert-Lewin wont be a reliable feature of this team over the 17 games to come. He played close to peak performance on Saturday for an hour and couldn't manage more than that. The scandal that was the January transfer window cant be rectified now, and it doesn't look like the club are eyeing up any incoming players from the free transfer lists. So we're looking at having to be creative for the remaining games.

Maupay cant lead the line, as we know. He can play in a two or 4411 and maybe Dyche puts someone alongside him / on Saturday if the opposition wasn't as good as it was. I'm not sure though that Dyche will want to break up the three in midfield and two wide men. Those three looked very good together. If that's the case then maybe Simms is the other option to play a loan striker role, but there's no evidence he can do it at this level. Failing that we have Gray who can play in the middle and link up with Iwobi and McNeil in a more fluid attack when we have the ball. He's not great in the air though and I think we need more of a physical presence in the middle with any Dyche game plan. With that in mind Onana could be stripped out of midfield and replaced by Garner, although he seems some way off fitness. Onana looks as though he has the physicality for the role of target man though. To me he looks like he can be adapted to stand in until Calvert-Lewin gets back in if he's out just a few games.

What are people's views on this issue concerning solving this looming problem? Is there anyone else who can play up there or can find a likely partner in a 442? Is Dyche versatile enough to look at these players and play a different way to conjure up a few goals?
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We need Mick Lyons back out of retirement (for those of us old enough to remember ).
 

davek said:
I think we all know that Dominic Calvert-Lewin wont be a reliable feature of this team over the 17 games to come. He played close to peak performance on Saturday for an hour and couldn't manage more than that. The scandal that was the January transfer window cant be rectified now, and it doesn't look like the club are eyeing up any incoming players from the free transfer lists. So we're looking at having to be creative for the remaining games.

Maupay cant lead the line, as we know. He can play in a two or 4411 and maybe Dyche puts someone alongside him / on Saturday if the opposition wasn't as good as it was. I'm not sure though that Dyche will want to break up the three in midfield and two wide men. Those three looked very good together. If that's the case then maybe Simms is the other option to play a loan striker role, but there's no evidence he can do it at this level. Failing that we have Gray who can play in the middle and link up with Iwobi and McNeil in a more fluid attack when we have the ball. He's not great in the air though and I think we need more of a physical presence in the middle with any Dyche game plan. With that in mind Onana could be stripped out of midfield and replaced by Garner, although he seems some way off fitness. Onana looks as though he has the physicality for the role of target man though. To me he looks like he can be adapted to stand in until Calvert-Lewin gets back in if he's out just a few games.

What are people's views on this issue concerning solving this looming problem? Is there anyone else who can play up there or can find a likely partner in a 442? Is Dyche versatile enough to look at these players and play a different way to conjure up a few goals?
Click to expand...
I think you’ve summed up the options very well.

James Garner is the only other player with the all round ability to adapt.
 

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