Warning to Town’s misfiring strikers
Wednesday 16th December 2009, 11:28AM GMT.
Shrewsbury Town’s misfiring strikers have been warned they must start scoring soon by manager Paul Simpson.
Town have managed to find the net just 11 times in their last 11 League games during a run which has seen them slip out of the play-off positions.
And boss Simpson has admitted his strikers’ return must improve in front of goal by declaring: “I’m not happy about it.
“In the summer we brought in Jake Robinson, Kris Bright and Nathan Elder and re-signed Omer Riza and none of them have started scoring goals.
“Whether they are starting games or coming on as a sub, strikers are judged on whether they are scoring goals.
“They have to start scoring very, very soon because we have been creating opportunities in all the games.”
A golden start to the season has helped Dave Hibbert reach nine goals, but support has been in short supply.
Former Brighton forward Jake Robinson has found the net four times, Nathan Elder has scored just twice and Omer Riza and Kris Bright are still waiting for their first senior goal in Shrewsbury colours.
Meanwhile, winger Lewis Neal was making a return from a calf injury in a behind closed doors friendly with Blackburn today.
Neal has started just six games in all competitions this term and Simpson is hoping his return – along with midfielder Craig Disley who is also due to step up his recovery today – will aid Town in the second half of the campaign.
“We have missed Lewis on the left and we have missed Craig being able to break from midfield,” said the Town boss.
“Neither of them have been available for the
number of games we would have liked but hopefully they can be big players for us in the second half of the
season because they are both good footballers.”
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Perhaps if Omer Riza was given the opportunity by starting a game instead of cameo appearances he may score! We had 2 perfectly adequate strikers at the club namely Symes & Constable and he let them go and brought in Elder & Bright – who quite frankly are just not good enough. I do question Mr Simpson’s judgment at times….
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Simmo’ has annoyed me there by including Omer Riza in that list. The lad has harldy got a kick !!! No wonder he hasn’t got a goal yet.
I hope it isn’t more of the “Symes syndrome” – where Simmo’ offloads a good player ‘cos he doesn’t like him.
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I don’t know about start scoring “very soon” it needs to be IMMEDIATELY.
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has paul simpson lost his marbles, what is the point of blaming ritza for lack of goals when he will not play the man. he might as well say the head groundsman is not getting enough goals.
i am beginning to have serious doubts about simpson. his handling of his players is showing itself on the pitch.
the sooner he has an assistant manager who can encourage the players, the sooner town will make progress.
finally town will never go anywhere with that lunatic designed lenny the lion badge. 3 loggerheads and a floreat salopia badge may encourage the players to have pride in the new badge they wear hopefully soon on their chests. a certain amount of encouragement from the manager would help as well. carping and criticising must damage the atmosphere in the dressing room. sort it soon simmo or else.
finally simmo this is your squad, so no blaming previous managers, you sort it soon.
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i honestly think we need to look to NEXT season now. This one is down the shoot. Who can we get who will score goals?
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we actually have too many strikers at the club so PS is rotating them and none are getting a good run in the team. Strikers need to form partnerships and they’ve had no chance to do so recently. Its ridiculous to blame them when they’ve hardly spent time on the pitch.
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STFC?
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this season is by no means down the shoot, 1 win from the playoffs, 3 wins away from auto promo. down the shoot? bah humbug!. we have a long way to go, 3 points at rochdale tomorrow weather permitting will really tighten things up at the top; come on simmo give ritza 90 minutes, you kow it makes sense!!
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Norman, I could have not put it better myself!
I cannot think of anything more frightening where the highlight of my week would be paying 3s6d to go and see some second rate football team.
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