Naismith for lone striker?

[Super_Ally 0]

Apologies for the univentive title. My editor normally provides the pun-tastic headline.

 

I wanted to say this immediately on Tuesday night but thought it better to wait until the emotion of the result had worn off somewhat and we could expect more reasoned debate.

 

I know many might think I have an issue with Miller but I make no apologies for thinking he is not up to the job of lone forward in a 4-5-1. I don't understand how you can set up a team with absolutely no attacking threat from the one forward you employ. I'm not a fan of the formation anyway as I think the way we play 4-5-1 means that only a Drogba type forward could flourish with such little support.

 

If you�ve ever sat and suffered through one of my diatribes before you will be familiar with the fact that I am not exactly enamoured with Walter Smith�s fascination with playing a lone striker in the tough fixtures. Unless you have the attack minded midfielders with the engine to burst forward and support the lone forward then it just does not work. Well there are exceptions; we just need to tempt Drogba or Torres from the EPL. With the forwards at Smith�s disposal we are non-existent as an attacking force when deploying a 4-5-1.

 

Smith�s fondness for deploying a lone striker is reinforced by the impressive results achieved for the national team with Kenny Miller leading the line. A draw with Italy with Miller gracing the scoring chart was perhaps the pinnacle of this favoured tactic. In returning the national team to some semblance of respectability and in rescuing the sinking ship at Ibrox Walter Smith has demonstrated an enormous growth as a manger from the comparative inexperience of his first term in which, despite greater resources, results were harder to come by on the continental stage.

 

Given the humiliation routinely encountered when entering European competition under Smith�s stewardship in the 90�s the manager can be forgiven for falling back on a formation and tactic that has allowed a comparably inferior team to match and defeat more illustrious opponents. Fans and neutrals alike can debate the merit of the style of play, but at the end of the day the manager is judged on results and for the most part Smith�s have been exceptional.

 

It is little surprise then, that when Europe�s leading lights come calling (or unfortunately even in a difficult domestic encounter) Smith reverts to his tried and trusted formation and his attacking talisman Kenny Miller. The defensive 4-5-1 formation has achieved some unbelievable results for the wily old manager. The solidity of the line up allied to his ability to spot outstanding central defenders such as Bougherra and Cuellar allows Smith�s teams to soak up pressure from the opposition before striking a killer blow. A tactic that can be devastating if we can keep out the opposition front line as we did against the likes of Fiorentina and Sporting Lisbon. The failing of this defensive outlook is, should the opposition strike the opening blow as Sevilla did this midweek, we must open up and go looking for goals thus leaving us vulnerable on the counter-attack.

 

The other major failing of this preferred formation and line up is the relative impotence of Kenny Miller as a striker. Supporting a prolific goal scorer such as Kris Boyd, the Scotland forward has shown his worth time and again setting up opportunities for his strike partner. When deployed as the attacking spearhead of the 4-5-1, whilst the defenders know they will not get a moments rest with Miller�s willing running, they also know they are unlikely to surrender too many genuine goal-scoring opportunities nor see the striker breach their net.

 

Lining up with a first XI whose primary concern is to protect our own goal, with little threat in the attacking position relies lady luck smiling upon us and one of the more defence minded players to produce a winning goal if we are to obtain a positive result.

 

Kenny Miller is not the man to put teams to the sword on a consistent basis, whilst Kris Boyd does not appear to have the all round game to flourish in such a line up. Yet we know Smith will persevere with this line up in our remaining European fixtures and in the more difficult domestic matches such as the pivotal Old Firm clash this weekend. So who do we rely upon to produce the goals? Kyle Lafferty has the tools to potentially fill this role, yet he is short of match fitness and has yet to prove himself.

 

With Miller struggling with a hamstring injury Walter Smith was forced to venture into the unknown and charged Steven Naismith with the task of troubling the Sevilla back line. In looking up the fulltime result many might conclude this exercise had been an abject failure. As we all know however, that 4-1 result did not begin to tell the full story.

 

Much like Kenny Miller, Naismith is no slouch, and when Sevilla defender Konko mis-controlled a ball across the top of his box there was the former Kilmarnock poised to pounce. He gobbled up the loose ball and was in behind their backline and about to pull the trigger. Konko despairingly brought the young forward down. Jubilation around Ibrox. A penalty to be taken and Sevilla to be reduced to 10 men. Yet a referee who could not have been better placed claimed that the forward was already on his way down. A bizarre assertion not supported by the facts.

 

Whilst the final result may not have been up to some of the glorious nights Smith has conjured up, the signs from Naismith were impressive. Against the best side we have faced since the UEFA cup final of 2008 and possibly longer, the boyhood fan showed enough to suggest he can contribute everything you expect from Miller and more.

 

Whilst perhaps not as quick as his Scotland colleague in his peak, Naismith is no slouch and Miller�s hamstring injuries appear to be taking their toll. His youthful enthusiasm also arms him with a work rate and willing running that Miller always exhibits.

 

In addition Naismith is blessed with a salmon-like leap reminiscent of Everton midfielder Tim Cahill. It is quite amazing to watch such a short player win more than his fair share of headers. Consider that Naisy also has a more cultured touch and in his Kilmarnock days showed a goal-scoring ability never demonstrated in Miller�s career and it is difficult to argue a case against Naismith being the obvious choice for spearheading the favoured 4-5-1 formation.

 

Miller is again struggling with injury ahead of this enormous Old Firm encounter (aren�t they all?). But it would be a peculiar decision to favour goal-shy forward ahead of his more gifted team mate. Miller is unlikely to get the nod this weekend, but it will speak volumes for Smith�s ambition and his strength of character when he has to make a real decision between the young pretender and his old warhorse.

[gisabeer 409]

We simply dont have the personnel for the 4 5 1 formation. Naismith got heaps of praise on tuesday night but i lost count of the times mcgregor launched the ball up the park only to give the ball back to the opposition.

 

He isnt the answer either.

 

4 4 2 on sunday or we will be heading for another goaless afternoon.

[craig 5,199]

We simply dont have the personnel for the 4 5 1 formation. Naismith got heaps of praise on tuesday night but i lost count of the times mcgregor launched the ball up the park only to give the ball back to the opposition.

 

He isnt the answer either.

 

4 4 2 on sunday or we will be heading for another goaless afternoon.

 

But Naismith isnt the problem in that situation gisa. 4-5-1 should never be played with the ball in the air from back to front.

 

I agree though that 4-4-2 is the way to go on Sunday. WS should grow a pair and ATTACK this mob. They are SHITE and it is about time we showed them that.

Edited October 2, 2009 by craig

[Super_Ally 0]

Agreed, they're weak at the back so lets put them under pressure.

[Gribz 846]

Whats everyones general thoughts on Naismith? I actually still dont rate him that much and think he has a long way to go to be first choice striker. He hasnt shown as much as Lafferty did in the 2nd half of last season. Ok has a bit of pace and has that work ethic that wins fans over, but is he a world beater - not for me.

 

I hope he proves me wrong but id have the proven Novo ahead of him tomorrow.

[craig 5,199]

I would play both Novo and Naismith to be honest. The movement of both would have Caldwell and McManus all over the place.

 

I dont think that Naismith's best position for us will be as a striker but more as a free-role behind the main striker. He seems to have a wee bit of creativity and we badly need it.

[gisabeer 409]

But Naismith isnt the problem in that situation gisa. 4-5-1 should never be played with the ball in the air from back to front.

 

I agree though that 4-4-2 is the way to go on Sunday. WS should grow a pair and ATTACK this mob. They are SHITE and it is about time we showed them that.

 

Naismiths height is the problem there craig. Ir reminded me of the werder bremen game away when smith brought on novo as a lone striker to play against the two biggest defenders ive ever seen.

 

4 4 2 with boyd and miller up front with naismith and novo out wide for me on sunday.

[Super_Ally 0]

I would play both Novo and Naismith to be honest. The movement of both would have Caldwell and McManus all over the place.

 

I dont think that Naismith's best position for us will be as a striker but more as a free-role behind the main striker. He seems to have a wee bit of creativity and we badly need it.

 

That means Boyd (or Lafferty up front) then? Can hardly have someone playing off Miller.

[Gribz 846]

That means Boyd (or Lafferty up front) then? Can hardly have someone playing off Miller.

 

Boyd wont start

 

Seriously though, it has to be Novo with Lafferty or Miller. 2 from that 3 will cause that shite defence problems galore and get in about them. Novo will give them a torrid time.

[Super_Ally 0]

Boyd wont start

 

Seriously though, it has to be Novo with Lafferty or Miller. 2 from that 3 will cause that shite defence problems galore and get in about them. Novo will give them a torrid time.

 

I'm only stirring it up with Craig, hence the smilie.

 

But the point does stand. Tactically, if you're going to "play off" someone the only options for the centre forward are Boyd and Lafferty.

 

I wouldn't be massively confident with Miller nor Lafferty this weekend.

 

Miller has been very poor recently.

Lafferty is not match fit.

 

On the other side of the coing;

 

Miller sometimes shows up well in big matches.

Boyd has previously struggled against better sides.

 

The only two who really deserve to start are Naismith for recent form. He may not have played liek David Villa, but he's playing better than the rest. And Novo, because at least he's scored recently, it was a belter and he often plays well in big matches and against the beasts.

 

Trouble is though, are they both too similar. Do we need to employ one of the other forwards up top with Naismith or Novo so they can compliment each others games.

 

In any case, this post was more about looking forward to the rest of the European ties and whether Naismith should be the go to guy for one upfront rather than Miller as he has many of the same attributes as Miller but with a bit more to his game, imo.

 

Ps. Where's MF to back me up, i'm advocating dropping Miller here. :devil: