With 13 games to go in the season, and the threat of losing six points hanging over us, the question of our goal difference has never been more significant. Southampton are currently +9 ahead of us, Birmingham have the same goal difference and Reading are only 5 goals behind.
The subject of goals has always been a concern of mine since the very start of the season and Cole, Carew and the now departed Piquionne did nothing to fill me with confidence. I became slightly more optimistic when we signed Baldock and then furthermore with the signings of Maynard and Vaz Te, but my concern now is ‘is it all too late?’
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Southampton have an attack boasting several genuine goal scorers in Lambert, Do Prado and Lallana. Each of these players already has over 10 goals this season and when you compare that to our top scorer, Carlton Cole, on nine,
the alarm bells well and truly start ringing. Birmingham also have three players with over 10 goals this season in King, Wood and Burke, and with Blackpool having the Phillips’ scoring goals, the pressure is really on for Maynard and Co to get cracking.
If it was up to me I’d be giving Baldock more playing time. In that brief spell in October, when he notched up goals against Blackpool and Leicester, I liked what I saw and in recent games he’s looked sharp when he’s come on. I’d like to see him and Maynard strike up a pacey partnership that could cause havoc in the season run-in. Obviously this would result in Carlton warming the bench some more, but being able to bring on a big, clumsy player like Cole might work better than letting him start, miss crucial chances and put the pressure on the rest of the team for the rest of the game.
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The next two games are home fixtures against Watford and Doncaster, and we really need to be finding the net a few times in each of these games. If Maynard can find his scoring boots, Baldock gets a run in the starting 11 and Portsmouth can survive the season without going out of business, I think we should just about be okay. I hope.
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Maynard adn vaz Te are both in double figures in this division
goals for sides not near the top too
Those have hit double figures… but ya missing the point slightly. You brought these and have not scored the goals for West Ham – maybe they will do… but they will have to get used to that LONG BALL tactic quickly! 🙂
Agreed in bringing baldock in for starting 11…
As things stand (prior to playing Watford), we have the 2nd highest goal difference, and more importantly the 2nd highest points tally (with 2 games in hand)…..so in short, no our ‘lack’ of goals isn’t causing us any problems what so ever.
For the record I used the word lack as that is what you have eluded to, however as we are the 3rd highest scoters in the league I don’t see a problem.
Simon, I agree it’s not a problem at this very moment, but with Birmingham and in-form Reading having similar goal differences to us, it could come down to goals scored. Alot of goals can be scored in 12/13 games