Time For A Proven Goal Scorer?

With the second half of the League One season underway, I wanted to look at why Peterborough United aren't right up at the top of the table, where they arguably should be.

I think, for once, it'd be acceptable to bypass our defence - as we probably have the best, and most solid defence we've had since the arrival of Darragh MacAnthony. And to be honest, we all know the defence isn't really the issue at the moment. 

So we signed Junior Morias, a young and hungry forward from non league side St Albans. DMAC has once again put his neck on the line, stating that Morias is ready to score goals at this level. Yes, it's worked throughout the years with the likes of George Boyd, Craig Mackail-Smith and Dwight Gayle; but is now really the time to be giving untried, and untested players a chance in the first team? For the first time in the DMAC reign, I'm dubious. 

I'm not saying go and sign a 35 year old has been, or anything like that, but when you look at the clubs above us, they've all got that one man who's guaranteed a goal almost every week. The main one you have to look at is Billy Sharp at Sheffield United. If you were going to bet on their goalscorer every week, he's probably the player you'd go for. A proven goal scorer at this level, with the ability to continue doing what he does best for a number of years.

Even Bury, who turned us over last week despite not winning in 20 games, have a former Premier League forward in their ranks. James Vaughan put four past Posh, and the scary thing is he could easily have had more. Vaughan arguably shouldn't even be in League One, but due to injury problems he's had to make the step down - maybe in order to take the step back up. Surely a club like Posh have a bigger pulling power than teams like Bury? 

Now when you compare this to Posh, we have Tom Nichols, formerly of Exeter City, Lee Angol, who never played a match for Luton, and now Morias, who was released by Wycombe a few years ago - it's clear to see why we're not right up at the top of the table competing with the likes of the Blades. 

It's all well and good having midfielders who chip in with the odd goal here and there, but almost every successful team has that one man they can go to, who they know will produce goals on a regular basis. The stereotypical '25 goal a season man', which quite frankly - we don't have at the moment. 

Being a team who prides itself on playing attractive and attacking football is all well and good, but you've got to go out and back it up with the goals and wins that kind of football should bring. Barring the odd game this season, we haven't backed up our football with the goals it deserves. The stats show that we're making chances - we have one of, if not the best midfield in the league, and they generally tend to create chances at will every game, but we can't finish our chances, and when you don't do that, you're probably going to get punished. 

We've been linked with two more strikers before the end of the window, so lets hope they are established goal scorers at this level, or we might find ourselves playing League One football for at least another year.

Agree? Disagree? Comment below and let me know!

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