21 Sep 2025 09:45:43
Ok happy to be shot down here but here it goes. Love watching Ndiaye lads got lovely feet and balance but think he is wasted out wide. I would like to see him play the central striker role instead of the two lumps we have upfront.
The lad can hold the ball up well and can finish. We now have players who can actually play football so don't need to lump it up the pitch, something that let us down first half yesterday.
So front three of Grealish, Ndiaye and Dibbling. With KDH centre and Rohl/ Garner/ Gana holding.
Hard hat on!
21 Sep 2025 10:28:29
BMD, Worth a try. Maybe start with Barry and change to what you suggest after 60 minutes. Leaving Beto on the bench might give him a kick up the backside being sat on the bench for 90 minutes. I expected seeing him more physical agains Van Dyke and Konate. We know from back end of last season that Beto is able to score goals but ask why not now. Does he want a move away, has there been a fall out?
21 Sep 2025 10:53:28
He doesn't stay wide though. Those 3 wander around with Grealish spending most time on flank. Just add Dibling.
21 Sep 2025 10:57:51
At the moment Beto is just wondering around the pitch at half pace and when he does get the ball he has no control and when he gets to a chance to score he fluffs it. Apart from tap ins I can't remember any spectacular goals he has scored. Just can't understand why he is played at all to be honest. Barry is not the answer either yet, so I would definitely try starting Ndiaye in the middle and bring in Dibling on the right, but unfortunately nobody listens to me.
21 Sep 2025 11:44:14
Good shout BMD we certainly cannot carry on with Beto, been saying for a while we need to change it, would still put a couple of the younger lads on the bench and ease them in for a few games, can’t be any worse than what we have at the moment mate.
21 Sep 2025 11:54:41
I agree that having Mdiaye play as a striker flanked by Grealish and Dibling with KDH behind should be the way forward until we can sign a proper striker in January.
Playing Barry for 60 minutes would just be 60 minutes wasted in my opinion. I really don't understand the Barry signing. We all knew that Beto wasn't the answer, but we then went out and wasted £27 Million on Barry who offers even less than Beto.
Finding a goal scorer in January is a priority ( even if we have to pay an inflated price ) that could help us make a push for Europe.
21 Sep 2025 12:06:41
You’d have to say it’s worth a shot. KDH and Grealish are playing great where they are. Dibling or Alcarez could play on the right. League Cup could be a good opportunity to try something out.
21 Sep 2025 13:57:02
There’s a reason most clubs have a big man upfront nowadays. Centre backs are way too strong and athletic.
Reminds me of the Mirallas thing “well why don’t we just play him upfront, he’s quick, a good finisher etc”
We tried it for 2 games and he didn’t get a touch of the ball, and this was years ago.
21 Sep 2025 14:28:59
Understand what you’re saying, but it still might be worth a shot. Plenty of small forwards have had great success in the Premier League over the years.
21 Sep 2025 16:02:23
There are many strikers out there that aren’t as big as centre backs. Watkins, Vardy, Jota are just a few. They aren’t much bigger even might be smaller than Ndiaye.
It might be pace or 18 yard awareness but it’s certainly not size that gets them goals.
21 Sep 2025 18:24:16
Watkins is still physical as well as being good in the air, Vardy was absolutely rapid (compared to Ndiaye) and Jota rarely ever played as a lone striker in his premier league career.
Ndiaye isn’t slow, but not rapid and he isn’t physical enough to overcome that.
Maybe Moyes will try it and it will work, I don’t know, but I can understand why he hasn’t. Isak, Ekiteke, Haaland, Gyokeres, Delap, Sesko, Woltemade. All of them are either very quick or physically capable of matching the modern centre backs. There isn’t a small quick striker in the premier league right now that is near the top level.
21 Sep 2025 19:27:54
Agree with that Swan. Betos goals have come facing the goal not receiving. Our three/ four (Dibling) should be made for a big lad. I have watched one bloke whose receiving touch is a bouncy castle and a 'young' potential who can't jump, scared of a tackle but apparently brings others into the game, when actually they bring themselves.
21 Sep 2025 23:13:42
Messi would have been binned long ago if that was the case. Though not Messi Ndiaye has shown that he is strong enough to handle anything thrown at him.
21 Sep 2025 23:46:35
Messi is just a ridiculous comparison, not only is he on another planet to Ndiaye technically, but Messi was rapid.
No one said shorter strikers have never worked. I’m saying there is a reason clubs in the premier league don’t tend to use them anymore and those who do, struggle.