David AMCgoldrick

[Saint Bones]

Reading thru the latest match reports ( a joy for once ) it seems that the 'must play mcgoldrick' has been in the AMC role behind Saga and Euell.

 

Firstly, is this correct - or am I talking out of my arse ?

 

Secondly, what are peoples thoughts on him in this position - or in a more attacking midfielder then striker role ?

[The9]

He's still ponderous on the ball, he still can't pass, he still needs 10 yards of space to dribble, he still doesn't hold the ball up well, still doesn't attack the penalty area when the ball is going to be there, isn't great in the air in attacking positions, and we probably have 3 or 4 players better at doing what he's trying to do.

 

However, in the two home games we won (I haven't seen the Ipswich game so won't comment on that), he won a lot of defensive headers from opposition corners and that was pretty important, he has played one or two decent through passes due to him taking time outside the box when he has it, and his workrate his improved a bit since he's had Saga and Euell's examples to follow.

 

Plus we won, which is everything at the moment.

 

Keeping him away from the furthest forward position(s) and playing two people who do know where the goal is and actually get in positions to score them has been very successful so far. I think he's got a long way to go and a lot of work to do before he proves he deserves a starting place, Schneiderlin would be a much better player there with his through passing and Lallana's got everything except that final pass and is still probably a better option if not used elsewhere.

 

He is better than Ryan Smith and probably Pulis though.

[Runaway]

Remember when McGoldrick scored about 40+ goals a few seasons ago in the U18s? I wonder where his natural nose for the net went?

[um pahars]

Remember when McGoldrick scored about 40+ goals a few seasons ago in the U18s? I wonder where his natural nose for the net went?

 

But this happens a lot in the Youth leagues and then many of these players just can't make the step up to the first team and replicate that form.

 

I watched quite a bit of the youth team back then and IMHO a) he was in a pretty good team and b) he was a sort of bully and his physical presence and power was much greater than his compatriots (I likened it to a good County Batsman who can bully the County bowlers, but then gets found out on the International stage).

 

It's all about opinions, and whilst he has played OK in the last two games that I have seen, I still don't think he is a centre midfielder (attacking or not) and I would single him out as one of our weaker players. Would love to be proved wrong of course.

Edited 5 March, 2009 by um pahars

[norwaysaint]

Did he score as many at that level as Mark Peters? What ever happened to him?

[Arizona]

Don't forget Thomas Pekhart (although I have been trying). Apparently scoring for fun with Spuds reserves before he came here. Also Andreijs Pereplyotkins, who was a real tallent but had to be released when we couldn't get a work permit. Now at Derby and hasn't exactly set them alight.

 

RE: DMG, forget the firework, it looks like Wotte's put a bucket of sunshine up his ass. Playing like a man possessed in the last few games. Still needs to work on his fitness though. Was clearly knackered after 70 mins against Cardiff.

[dubai_phil]

Remember when McGoldrick scored about 40+ goals a few seasons ago in the U18s? I wonder where his natural nose for the net went?

 

Remember when Brett Omerod scored 40+ goals for Blackpool in a season so we signed him....

 

Wonder where his nose for goal went?

 

 

(No I wasn't comparing BO with DMG, but it does happen)

[Junior Mullet]

The whole team have been playing like men possessed recently!

 

I like McGoldrick and from what I have seen he still looks the most likely in our current team to create chances.

 

To answer the original post I think he has played very well for saints in the AMC role for the past 3 games. He has got stuck in and won 50/50 balls along with the other players and looks comfortable in the space between the oppos back four and midfield - he's had some good efforts on goal and made the first goal against Preston.

 

To sum up a reply to your question - it's working. Leave the two physical experienced lads up front and let McGoldrick do his thing behind them in the space.

 

I son't know how anyone can question his work rate, motivation and attitude over the past three games. Same goes for the others that had questionable attitudes before Wotte took over.

 

Wotte compared the team to a boxer the other day - saying we will go out against any team from the start and try and knock them out before they hit us. This fighting talk has without question been transferred to the players performances (that and all the built up testosterone as a result of Wotte's nooky ban).

[david in sweden]

Did he score as many at that level as Mark Peters? What ever happened to him?

 

I believe he had, (what is politely described as) an " attitude" , and it didn't go down well in the dressing room, or with the coaching staff.

Mark Peters had a few games with Brentford and later disappeared from League football.

 

A similar situation with Brian Howard (later Barnsley) I think, but with more success, of course.

[Ken Tone]

Remember when McGoldrick scored about 40+ goals a few seasons ago in the U18s? I wonder where his natural nose for the net went?

 

Yeh, but Benali had a fantastic scoring record as a youngster too!

 

At the risk of being smug, I did post in Poortvliet's time that I'd rather see Euell as the hitman strker and McGoldrick playing behind him. However Wotte has gone one better and put both Euell and Saga in front of him!

 

I've always thought the criticism of his work-rate unfair. He tries hard, but simply isn't suited to the sole front man role.

 

K.

[JohnnyFartPants]

Yeh, but Benali had a fantastic scoring record as a youngster too!

 

At the risk of being smug, I did post in Poortvliet's time that I'd rather see Euell as the hitman strker and McGoldrick playing behind him. However Wotte has gone one better and put both Euell and Saga in front of him!

 

I've always thought the criticism of his work-rate unfair. He tries hard, but simply isn't suited to the sole front man role.

 

K.

 

I would be happier still if he put Kelvin Davies in front of him and just gave him a big fluffy jacket to wear.

[OldNick]

DMG will become another good player.He will prove some of you wrong as did Crouch, KD JE Fuller Marsden and loads of others.

I just hope doesnt read some of the tosh served up on here.He has played the season as a lone striker, Saga and co have had the luxury of a partner up front.I will tell you Saga would not get any goals if he was played alone up front.

[St Marco]

DMG will become another good player.He will prove some of you wrong as did Crouch, KD JE Fuller Marsden and loads of others.

I just hope doesnt read some of the tosh served up on here.He has played the season as a lone striker, Saga and co have had the luxury of a partner up front.I will tell you Saga would not get any goals if he was played alone up front.

 

Sorry mate but i think you couldn't be any further from the truth. DMG is up there with the worst players. I would rate players like Best, Blackstock, hell i would even say Baseya could be better. You said in a thread recently "i'm rarely wrong" well i think time will proove you wrong on this one.

 

DMG has played nearly every minute of every game this year. He is the leagues most shooter with 99 shots. That is on average 3 shots a game. More then anyone else in the league. His goal record ratio is pitiful. he doesn't even make it into the top 20. Considering he has played more matches, played more minutes and had more shots then anyone else in this league the fact he is not in the top 20 prooves how good he is. His goal record is 8 goals and 2 of those were penalties. 6 outfield goals from a guy who has played nearly every minute of every game and has shot more times then anyone else should be scoring more then 6 times. That means his goal ratio is 12 shots before he scores. That is fecking awful. In contrast to say Surman who has 7 goals from just 45 shots (6 shots before a goal). And Surman has played in various places this year without being up front. Saga has had 24 shots and scored 6 goals (4 shots to every goal).

 

As for the Saga has someone else up front with him comment that is so funny. I have watched all but 4 games this year. In every game i have seen DMG waste more sitters then i have seen at this club. I can not recall many if any 1 on 1 situations where DMG has burst through the defence and scored. I cannot recall many times DMG has done what Saga did at Swansea where he burried the chances clynical. Most of Surman's and Saga's goals were about ability, their ability to find space and then hit the ball with acuracy. Where as i look at the times DMG scored and remember how lucky he was and how others did all the hard work i.e Holmes' mazy run and top corner shot that DMG got a slight touch on.

 

So sorry nickh but you must be watching a totally different player to what myself has been watching. He is a poor player who has been lucky we had no other players here.

[Ponty]

Spot on.

[um pahars]

I have watched all but 4 games this year. In every game i have seen DMG waste more sitters then i have seen at this club. I can not recall many if any 1 on 1 situations where DMG has burst through the defence and scored. I cannot recall many times DMG has done what Saga did at Swansea where he burried the chances clynical. Most of Surman's and Saga's goals were about ability, their ability to find space and then hit the ball with acuracy.

 

That's one of my problems, not that he doesn't get any scoring chances. more that he fluffs, scuffs and spoons too many of them (particularly the easier ones!!!!). Which in a way is surprising, because at Youth level he was burying them.

[SaintRobbie]

Remember when McGoldrick scored about 40+ goals a few seasons ago in the U18s? I wonder where his natural nose for the net went?

 

Slightly different when you're playing against robust men in defence though. I think he's simply not good enough and has been put under too much pressure too early without having an experienced professional to play off.

 

Lowe's policy may have ironically set him back several years rather than forward.

Edited 5 March, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[benjii]

I think he actually has a lot of potential.

 

Unfortunately he, like Lloyd James, has suffered as a result of Lowe / JP's policy, in as much as they have been relied upon to single-handedly carry a position all season *****il recently in DMcG's case). However, James has improved over the last few months IMO and it's not surprising at all to me that McG is playing better now he is not a lone striker or stuck on the wing.

[saintwarwick]

Sorry mate but i think you couldn't be any further from the truth. DMG is up there with the worst players. I would rate players like Best, Blackstock, hell i would even say Baseya could be better. You said in a thread recently "i'm rarely wrong" well i think time will proove you wrong on this one.

 

DMG has played nearly every minute of every game this year. He is the leagues most shooter with 99 shots. That is on average 3 shots a game. More then anyone else in the league. His goal record ratio is pitiful. he doesn't even make it into the top 20. Considering he has played more matches, played more minutes and had more shots then anyone else in this league the fact he is not in the top 20 prooves how good he is. His goal record is 8 goals and 2 of those were penalties. 6 outfield goals from a guy who has played nearly every minute of every game and has shot more times then anyone else should be scoring more then 6 times. That means his goal ratio is 12 shots before he scores. That is fecking awful. In contrast to say Surman who has 7 goals from just 45 shots (6 shots before a goal). And Surman has played in various places this year without being up front. Saga has had 24 shots and scored 6 goals (4 shots to every goal).

 

As for the Saga has someone else up front with him comment that is so funny. I have watched all but 4 games this year. In every game i have seen DMG waste more sitters then i have seen at this club. I can not recall many if any 1 on 1 situations where DMG has burst through the defence and scored. I cannot recall many times DMG has done what Saga did at Swansea where he burried the chances clynical. Most of Surman's and Saga's goals were about ability, their ability to find space and then hit the ball with acuracy. Where as i look at the times DMG scored and remember how lucky he was and how others did all the hard work i.e Holmes' mazy run and top corner shot that DMG got a slight touch on.

 

So sorry nickh but you must be watching a totally different player to what myself has been watching. He is a poor player who has been lucky we had no other players here.

 

I agree in what you say only not in as many words

[OldNick]

He will prove you wrong.I am confident like KD and JE in the last year where I also had people telling me that they were the worst footballers to wear our shirt and proved you wrong.

St M Im not surprised in, but people like UMP and StW Im amazed about.

[Saints foreva]

According to a Notts County fan, we owe them some money for him because of his appearances/goals.

 

Their chairman didn't sound too happy about us not paying up in their programme, or so I've been toold.

[Saint_clark]

I've been very impressed with him for about a month now. He looks very strong on the ball, runs as players well and his shooting is looking a lot better.

People forget that he is still only 21 - the same age as Jones when he had that abysmal season and then came back next year playing like Drogba.

[SNSUN]

If this is how we're going to continue playing under Wotte, then all the youngsters, not just DMG, will flourish long term. IMO

[hamster]

IMHO Dave McG is responding to the critisism well. Many a youngster would have crumbled at the **** that he has received at our hands. Top bloke.....and Braddders, and young Nathan.

Although it will be interesting to see their reactions when we achieve safety.

[um pahars]

St M Im not surprised in, but people like UMP and StW Im amazed about.

 

Amazed LMFAO.

 

Football fan in having an opinion of a footballer on a football forum shocker!!!!!!!!!!

 

Behave yourself you drama queen. You're just on another point scoring execise with cheap comments like that and look a right ***t with that attitude.

 

And if it's any consolation, I also thought Shearer missed too many one on ones and I didn't think he'd make it.

[wild-saint]

That's one of my problems, not that he doesn't get any scoring chances. more that he fluffs, scuffs and spoons too many of them (particularly the easier ones!!!!). Which in a way is surprising, because at Youth level he was burying them.

 

Strikers thrive on confidence. Constant barracking and slating of a player does nothing to help that confidence.

 

IMO he has a decent touch can pass well and is comfortble running with the ball at his feet. Add a large pinch of confidence and he will look a different player.

 

Ive always thought he has been harshly judged, but then every team has a player that is seen as the weak link and is generally the focal point for abuse.

 

The question is if he is mentally strong enough to get through it and move forward who will be next?

[OldNick]

Amazed LMFAO.

 

Football fan in having an opinion of a footballer on a football forum shocker!!!!!!!!!!

 

Behave yourself you drama queen. You're just on another point scoring execise with cheap comments like that and look a right ***t with that attitude.

 

And if it's any consolation, I also thought Shearer missed too many one on ones and I didn't think he'd make it.

Ump you are behaving like a drama queen not me , I dont need point scoring as it is not a competition. I was surprised that you were so critical as i believed you were a better judge and would perhaps see some good .A compliment in a way, but as your reply shows sometimes i am wrong.

By the way i concur with you re Shearer, he never looked as though he was going to be the player he became. i suppose in time you learn how to compose yourself when through 1 on 1.

Learning is part of a players development.

[Junior Mullet]

Played in the right way and with the right sort of coaching McGoldrick can be very good indeed.

 

Like Nick I have expressed surprise at how so many people can't see what McGoldrick brings to the team. Fact is we all have different criteria for judging a player.