Oliver, Leitch-Smith & Mandeville

[Keith]

The way I see it, the way we're setting up, Oliver is there to draw defenders, win headers and make space for Leitch-Smith and Mandeville. When we were playing well a few weeks ago, both A-jay & Liam were doing the business. Now, neither of them are doing a great deal and Oliver hasn't had a shot on target, let alone a goal, in goodness knows how many games (has he had a shot on target since scoring at Carlisle?)

Today, we played a side who have conceded more per goals per game than we had shots on target against them! No shots on target against Halifax on Tuesday. Something needs to change and although I think Oliver is doing the job he's tasked with, we desperately need to let Oswell have a few starts, simply because we need someone who knows where the goal is.

I also think we're missing Oates too.

[BerlinWaller]

Mandy put one on a plate for AJ and brought a top class save in the first 5mins of the second half. Jim then hooks up. Beyond belief

[Slanester]

Mandy put one on a plate for AJ and brought a top class save in the first 5mins of the second half. Jim then hooks up. Beyond belief

Takes some thinking about dosen’t it BW. Bemused

[Andy D]

Smithy was off today by his own high standards.

Mandy seems to have lost his spark, hope he's not burnt himself out.

Olivier wasnt that good in the air today.

Oswell is nearly as tall as Olivier but difference being his he can use his feet and shoot on target.

Ellison proved today brilliant impact sub.

[Keith]

I'd have taken A-Jay off ahead of Mandy, but they were both very ineffective in the first half. His replacement scored so can't argue too much with the substitution.

[tim-sanchez]

Oliver puts in a lot of effort, but can't score or create chances. It's asking too much of AJ and Mandeville to work with that, maybe he is creating space but I'm sure both would rather work with a dangerous striker.

Oliver's headers never seem to find a Morecambe player, I think Oswell had more successful flick-ons today. We need to give Oswell or Piggott a start, and I bet they'd lift AJ and Mandeville as well.

[fulwoodshrimp]

I've aired my thoughts on Oliver plenty of times and I cannot understand the manager's perseverance with him. Most strikers aim for 15-20 goals a season. With Oliver its 15-20 goals in a career! Give Oswell his chance with a run of 7 or 8 games. I am sure the improvement would be plain to see. I felt Oates was missed today. He runs at defenders and is willing to have a shot.

[Doonhamer]

Cant complain everything is wonderful

[Westgate Wanderer]

Cant complain everything is wonderful

Absolutely!! A point against Notts County- fantastic

[Andy D]

Id like a front 3 of Smithy, Mandy and Oatsy, shit loads of skill movement and pace.

[marky No.1]

With Oliver its 15-20 goals in a career!

Shouldn't laugh but its true, painstaking to watch now and it is supposed to be a pleasurable pastime

[Westgate Wanderer]

With Oliver its 15-20 goals in a career!

Shouldn't laugh but its true, painstaking to watch now and it is supposed to be a pleasurable pastime

We just turn up hoping not to lose, there's little excitement during the games (half-time was good) have a few drinks after the game and repeat at the next home game. A win would be a bonus but setting up with a 7-0-2 and Oliver thats going to be a rarity

[Joe Oh]

Our game plan seems to be built around using Oliver as a target man. He really work his arse off and puts himself about but the problem is that his headers and flicks seem completely random and his touch with his feet is pretty apalling. So, he beats the defenders and gets to the ball but second balls pretty much always goes to the opposition.

We either need a better target man or a new game plan.

I think we desperately need an out and out striker that can get on the end of crosses behind the defence. We've got the players to create chances but nobody that can finish.

[BerlinWaller]

AJ is dropping too deep and becoming lost in games. He is a natural striker, a poacher who should play on the last line. He is being forced deep to facilitate Jims obsession with a Big Dunc striker. It is out dated and ineffective. AJ and Mandy must be fuming trying to feed of Oliver and his 50p head

[redrobo]

I've aired my thoughts on Oliver plenty of times and I cannot understand the manager's perseverance with him. Most strikers aim for 15-20 goals a season. With Oliver its 15-20 goals in a career! Give Oswell his chance with a run of 7 or 8 games. I am sure the improvement would be plain to see. I felt Oates was missed today. He runs at defenders and is willing to have a shot.

Steady on....I know it's getting near Christmas and goodwill to all but that's being a bit too generous...

[jbc.shrimp]

At his age Oliver should be like Usaine Bolt with the skill that Elison had when he first came to the Shrimps. Unfortunately he has neither. His headers are directionless, his speed is like a car on choke, and I can't remember him taking a shot with any venom. Sorry V you've gotta go.

[KenyonTime]

I really dislike Oliver; just isn't up to par at this level. Oswell, Oates, Hawley, just put in anyone else over Oliver and there will be an improvement visible in the side.

[KenH]

I really dislike Oliver; just isn't up to par at this level. Oswell, Oates, Hawley, just put in anyone else over Oliver and there will be an improvement visible in the side.

The difference in quality was evident last Saturday when Kev and Oswell came on. Oliver may have won the header but cheaply gave it away whereas when Kev and Oswell won headers, they controlled them properly and did something with them. Time for a change up front - either Kev or Oswell at the target man for a few games and let's see if there's a difference.

[Slanester]

Ultimate admiration for top man Kev, but he isn’t, and understandably so, a 90 minute player now. I think he would probably even agree that himself. If a change is made, leaving VO out, that really only leaves the option of Oswell and Kev, both having time on the pitch. Just to make clear, I am not saying that with any negative aspect. If that does happen, really hope it pays off for the lads, but we will only know if Jim tries it. My only other thought with regard Oswell.......brought in to the squad with obvious potential, but does he show enough in training to be in the starting 11. If he does, then do Shrimps fans REALLY believe that JB is so shortsighted, and bloody minded, that he would keep playing Oliver just to prove a point? If he gets the opportunity, then I would really like to see him take his chance, and nail it. COYS.

[Ntini]

Oliver has a worse goal per game ratio for our club than Dave Artell, Simon Grand, Ryan McGivern, Richard Brodie... If you just do it by L2 goals then it looks even worse for the big lad when he's beaten by Jim Bentley, Craig Stanley, Stuart Drummond, and Niall Cowperthwaite!

Out of the current squad we would do better having Oates, AJ, Kev, Thommo, or Mandy up front.

I can't see that Oswell, Pigott or Mendes Gomes would do any worse. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I don't doubt his efforts and his work rate, but it just hasn't worked out for him here. So let's change the record and give someone else a fair chance to shine.

[redrobo]

It's almost a case of history repeating itself.

Jim moved heaven and earth and convinced the board at the time to invest in Amond but when he came on board he wasn't a regular and played out of position more times than not.

It looks to be the same with Ossie. Jim beat a host of other clubs to get his signature but now that he's with us hardly gets any reasonable game time. What makes it even more puzzling is that I've heard that one of the Liverpool based development squad coaches is a relation of Ossie and Jim used him as part of his efforts to bring him on board. Not sure how much truth their is in that but it's well known that a host of other clubs expressed an interest in him.

Must be particularly galling for Ossie because he's given up a career in Radiography to pursue a career in F/T football at a loss in salary I suspect.

[BerlinWaller]

What must be galling for the lad is the fact he can't get a kick and the carthorse Oliver is starting every game. I don't agree on turning on your own players but surely V's time is up?

CC uses Amond in his comments but besides Miller and possibly Stockton, The Globe has been a grave yard for strikers under Jim.

[Freez]

We got 175k for Redshaw don't forget?

I can't see how Vadaine keeps his place when he has a record that compares poorly to Jack Sampson, whom we signed but then let go?

[BerlinWaller]

We got 175k for Redshaw don't forget?

I can't see how Vadaine keeps his place when he has a record that compares poorly to Jack Sampson, whom we signed but then let go?

Sorry, Jack did perform on occasions but i don't think we ever saw the best of him due to injuries and the style of play.