Josh Ravenscroft tells us why it is vital that the Alex strike partnership perform this season.
In the summer transfer window, that reached the one billion pound (£1,000,000,000) mark for the first time in the history of football, Steve Davis brought in the experienced strike partnership of Ryan Lowe (37) and Chris Dagnall (30).
The Liverpudlians know each other very well on and off the pitch, providing them with the chemistry on the pitch, which increases how successful they are/will be. For me, if you get on with your teammate you will play better together due to the chemistry you share. Being on the same wavelength is important as you know where your ‘friend’ will be making the run to, and therefore when and where to pass it. It is when a strike partnership becomes in form and fluent, as one unit, they become most dangerous – I would sum it up simply as ‘The whole is greater than the sum of the individual’.
Last season scoring goals was an issue and looked to be one this season, unless Davis spent money on the front line. Davis certainly did splash the cash bringing in Lowe and Dagnall, the marquee signings taking up the majority of the budget, and rightly so as the pairing bring in over 300 career goals between them. The partnership has appeared to hit the ground running, notching six goals in their first seven games, at Crewe Alexandra. Hopefully that form will be maintained over the rest of the season, however Ryan Lowe admitted he will not be able to lead the line week in week out. At the ripe age of 37 (Thirty-Seven) Ryan’s legs will understandably need to be rested, that’s when we look at Daniel Udoh and Callum Saunders.
Both Udoh and Saunders are in the spring of their careers, starting off like most, with bags of potential. At this current time, I would be inclined to, give Dan (Udoh) the go-ahead over Callum (Saunders). That is mainly down to the fact he seems match ready – Dan can compete physically better with opponents, rather than being bullied off the ball and unable to contend with rival players. He has been tallying up the goals in the younger sides and certainly knows where the back of the net is. He scored in the ‘Checkatrade Trophy’, on his birthday, against Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium.
Many fans have expressed concern at the lack of a ‘target man’ in our attack, but remember you do not have to be six foot and an extra four inches, in order to be an aerial threat. Even though we may not have the ‘stereotypical’ target man, Daniel Udoh can play and develop into that role. He (Daniel Udoh) may not tower over the opposition, but can jump and is athletic. He is defiantly my choice as the ‘big’ striker due to his ability in the air. Udoh’s also a quick player who has a big repertoire of ways to beat opponents, pace and strength and aerial ability all included in that. He can become a complete striker with more than just one method in his locker and may be deemed a ‘complete striker’, in the not so distant future.