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Nicky Ajose

Banksy

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Jul 24, 2009
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Crostwight Norfolk
As Stelios said in the post above , it’s the injury that’s the worry. If he’s picked up this without actually playing is he going to be one of those players who plays for a third of a season . We’ve already got Holmes in that department. We don’t need him at the moment , but if we pick up injuries as the season goes on we could well need some sort of contribution from him ( and Holmes for that matter ) .
One way or another I doubt he’ll get into double figures goal wise. Hope I’m wrong.
 

Grecian Max

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Exeter
Well he’d better hurry up and prove it then.
Not being funny but it’s only September and he’s injured?

Part of the issue was early doors MT hadn’t settled on a formation that suited - I’ve still got belief that Ajose in a front two with Bowman will work.
 

Grecian Max

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I don’t believe he’s particularly injury prone - so not sure I agree with the comparison with Holmes.

I’m amazed people are writing him off early but then it’s clear you haven’t watched him.
 

tonykellowfan

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Dec 6, 2004
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Buckingham
No manager is going to get every signing right as there is always an uncertain element to a new player. Name any top manager you like and I can name a duff signing they have made.

Lee Martin took quite a while to settle into the area and the team but now looks like quality. Even Bowman who people are using as an example of a good signing was not universally popular after his first few games for us.
 

The Proper Chap

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Part of the issue was early doors MT hadn’t settled on a formation that suited - I’ve still got belief that Ajose in a front two with Bowman will work.
Exactly, often when we have played 4 - 4 - 2 (which is what we were doing when Ajose was playing) we haven't looked that impressive.

The wing backs system with three central midfielders allows the two front men to hold their position more, i.e. Ajose doesn't need to track back all the time or drift wide.

Bowman and Ajose in a 3 - 5 - 2 could be interesting.

Also we are creating a lot more chances now, in the Carlisle, Leyton Orient and Port Vale games we could have probably scored at least four or five in each game, on paper Ajose is our best finisher.
 

Hants_red

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Will be undergoing knee surgery.
 

benjisheps

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Aug 8, 2015
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263
Will be undergoing knee surgery.
Sounds like it is a minor Keyhole Surgery so hopefully not out too long. I still believe he will come good for the club. Also interesting that MT said he is on a long term contract with the club so I'd assume that he signed a 3 year deal with us.
 

Hants_red

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The BBC on the knee surgery

 

edwin_price

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Exactly, often when we have played 4 - 4 - 2 (which is what we were doing when Ajose was playing) we haven't looked that impressive.

The wing backs system with three central midfielders allows the two front men to hold their position more, i.e. Ajose doesn't need to track back all the time or drift wide.

Bowman and Ajose in a 3 - 5 - 2 could be interesting.

Also we are creating a lot more chances now, in the Carlisle, Leyton Orient and Port Vale games we could have probably scored at least four or five in each game, on paper Ajose is our best finisher.
We've looked good with 3-5-2. My only concern is Sparkes and Williams are very much wingers in our current set-up rather than wing-backs... we're also playing without a specialist defensive midfielder. It's allowed us to dominate games, but I think we might get caught out with it. That's what it looked like vs Grimsby to me. Though we had the majority of the play and, alright, we didn't play generally well, but felt they just caught us out... found our soft centre. Maybe I'm wrong. There's always that chance.
 

Red Devon

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We've looked good with 3-5-2. My only concern is Sparkes and Williams are very much wingers in our current set-up rather than wing-backs... we're also playing without a specialist defensive midfielder. It's allowed us to dominate games, but I think we might get caught out with it. That's what it looked like vs Grimsby to me. Though we had the majority of the play and, alright, we didn't play generally well, but felt they just caught us out... found our soft centre. Maybe I'm wrong. There's always that chance.

Agree....I like our current formation much more than 4-4-2 and think it’s working very well at the moment....like you say I don’t see it that Williams and Sparkes are playing the proper wing back role in the way that Tully, Golbourne, Friend and Moxey used to do...anyway it’s working well so I hope we keep going with it for now.
 
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