Your Leeds United views: What is the obsession with finding a '˜big number 9'?

What is all this obsession with '˜target men', and '˜big number 9s', and '˜powerful centre forwards'?
Kemar Roofe celebrates with Pawel Cibicki after scoring his first goal at QPR.Kemar Roofe celebrates with Pawel Cibicki after scoring his first goal at QPR.
Kemar Roofe celebrates with Pawel Cibicki after scoring his first goal at QPR.

It’s so predictable and conservative and, frankly, English.

For all Chris Wood’s goals last year we still actually won nothing, and that’s because Garry Monk’s overall approach was so dull and one dimensional, with no plan B, no variation, just standard, good old ‘English football’.

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All our best performances this year have been when we’ve basically had an attacking quartet with any one of them equally likely to score.

Chris Wood.Chris Wood.
Chris Wood.

What would we have given for a spread of potential goalscorers (Kemar Roofe, Gjanni Alioski, Pablo Hernandez, Samuel Saiz) last year?

We do not need a ‘Wood replacement’, we need to pray Thomas Christiansen has the courage of his convictions and sticks with this winning formula – why do you think things went wrong when Pierre-Michel Lasogga had a run in the team – because we had our ‘target man’ and our ‘focus for our attacks’, and predictably enough, opposing defences were able to deal with it, exactly because it was so predictable.

Old Grey Grump, via website

Kemar Roofe is a striker and we all know that, he knows it too but the one guy who should know that above all else is Thomas Christiansen, yet he still believes his tactic for playing Roofe in midfield works. It doesn’t!

Yosuke Ideguchi.  (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).Yosuke Ideguchi.  (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).
Yosuke Ideguchi. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).
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Surely, it must be a forgone conclusion that Roofe retains the striking duties against Norwich City on Saturday?

I hope Pawel Cibicki also gets a chance on Saturday as his display against QPR offered a lot of promise and with both Samuel Saiz and Gjanni Alioski also on fire there may be a few goals there for the taking.

Clearly though, a new striker is a must in January and one with a record for hitting the net. Admitedly, I don’t have a clue where he would come from, but Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani must realise it was a lack of funds that cost us a play-off spot last season and goals are what win matches.

Every club, irrespective of their league status has their asking price, so let’s do away with offering peanuts for players and go in with a sizeable offer for someone decent.

Chris Wood.Chris Wood.
Chris Wood.
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It is far too much of a risk to rely upon any one player for grabbing the goals, particularly as we will definitely pick up injuries or bans to key players as the season continues.

We also need a keeper as the two currently vying for the no1 jersey will cost us dearly if we persevere with them.

Jeffrey Connolly, via website

Despite Kemar Roofe’s impressive return against QPR, I don’t see him leading the line in the long term, unless Leeds change their play to avoid having their centre-forward playing with his back to goal.

Yosuke Ideguchi.  (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).Yosuke Ideguchi.  (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).
Yosuke Ideguchi. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images).

Preferably a big number nine would be brought in during the transfer window but as we know, a 20-goal forward is very hard to find, let alone pay for. That said, the owner did say the money brought in from the summer’s transfers sales would be available for new players, so it will be interesting to see if any of that gets spent next month.

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More likely I think that the powder will be kept dry for next summer and we’ll see out this season with the current squad.

Damian Thompson, via website

There aren’t many centre forwards who can play with their back to the goal, nearly all of them only play well and score when balls are played in front of them for them to run on to.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga is no different, neither was Chris Wood. A centre forward needs good crosses.

Kemar Roofe’s goals at QPR were all created by the good crosses – the best two of the season by far.

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Ninety-nine per cent of the time Gjanni Alioski’s cross would have been eaten by the centre halves but this time, it was absolutely inch perfect. That and combined with Roofe’s perfectly timed jump, to meet it, meant it was a good goal.

Given how the goals were created, Lasogga or Caleb Ekuban could equally have scored a hat-trick had they been on the pitch at the time.

A striker is a man alone without good wingers and midfield players.

East Yorkie, via website

THE powers that be are saying Yosuke Ideguchi is a long term plan for the future? After 13 seasons out of the top flight, I think most Leeds United fans are looking for signings that will make an impact now! Get a grip Leeds and make the play-offs this season top priority with players that can get on and do it. Preferbly players that have good Championship experience.

Andy Brown, via website