Season kicks off in a few days... and (as of AM Weds 31st July) perhaps surprisingly, Ollie is still our player... I will admit to being conflicted on the matter.
I would love to see the Ollie of the 1st half of last season leading the charge, he was a one-man forward line who always put in a full shift, made things happen & had an eye for goal. Arguably (alongside our inspired Keeper) our most effective player.
The 2nd part of last season he fizzled & occasionally popped, but looked like someone who had lost their mojo.
So, where does that leave us...?
- do we start him in the hope that he can rediscover his previous form?
- put our faith in others?
- use him as a game-changer from the bench?
- offload him, even if it means a financial hit?
Of course, the clincher might be the impact he has on those around him, in the final analysis it is about building a team.
I admit I thought Palmer would have been transferred by now but he has shown commitment to the club and so let's get behind him, show him some love and maybe he will find his form of the early part of last season again.
I do think his issue is how long it takes us to get the ball into the box. After the first two or three movements/runs even the very best give it up as a waste of effort.
Post by townmeadleftover on Jul 31, 2019 10:36:10 GMT
Palmer Mk1 would be great, Palmer Mk2 no thanks, it'll be interesting to see how he fits in alongside Nadesan and Bloomfield though, I wonder if N&B were brought in on the basis of no Palmer at all being the expectation
In the 2nd half of the Pompey game when Greko Cox and Broomfield came on I thought he looked miles better, I'm sure your right that playing him upfront alone is not getting the best out of him.
As people have already said if we get the OP from the 1st half of the season h needs to start but i fear we will get the OP from the 2nd half of the season, however unlike others i am not surprised he is still here after that 2nd half of the season.
He’s one of those “give me service” players. As eltel pointed out when the attack minded and energetic Reece and Bloomfield came on and started having the ball in their third he starts to do better as he actually gets passes and crosses into him rather than hold the ball up and try to turn and shoot whilst getting hounded by two or three defenders and hope someone gives him an option. He was our top scorer and I expect cioffi will still play him this season despite my thoughts on his performance this preseason.
Interesting comments, pleased that responses show that he has not burned his boats, but doubts remain as to which Ollie will turn up...
...on balance - and it is not a straightforward choice - I favour starting him on the bench.
This is why I am glad i'm not a football manager as I really don't know if I would play him or not I am probably leaning to put him on the bench but only just
Current form (never mind the drop in form second half of last season) clearly indicates to me OP cannot start at Carlisle.
Furthermore I believe with OP we are more one dimension and too predictable and are better off without him. At best an option fpr direct football coming off the bench if required.
At best an option fpr direct football coming off the bench if required.
Useful option when chasing a game, but I feel he also has strong defensive qualities - particularly at set-pieces - if we are trying to see a game out.
OP needs someone to play along side of him and the sooner our manager plays more than one up front at is the sooner we will score more and maybe win more. how many games last season was OP on his own up front and what did we do pump balls up to him with no one to lay it off to.
OP needs someone to play along side of him and the sooner our manager plays more than one up front at is the sooner we will score more and maybe win more. how many games last season was OP on his own up front and what did we do pump balls up to him with no one to lay it off to.
True enough Trev, but I suspect at the start of last season we felt we had the right foil for him... Poleon... we all know how that played out...(?)
OP needs someone to play along side of him and the sooner our manager plays more than one up front at is the sooner we will score more and maybe win more. how many games last season was OP on his own up front and what did we do pump balls up to him with no one to lay it off to.
True enough Trev, but I suspect at the start of last season we felt we had the right foil for him... Poleon... we all know how that played out...(?)
Did we ever really play the 2 up front together? I though when Palmer was out and DP played up front he did OK? Better than our January forward signings, for sure.....