would love to hear from players, fans , managers who is he best strikers they have come up against this season

for me sean martin(craigy)
james bolam(stirling uni)
scott macuade(dalbeatie)
gormley(welfare)
dickson (lothian)
robbie ross(city)

give us your views

Despite being nearly into December not really seen enough to comment on the guys you mention or generally players that I would put in the "pest" category that I don't like seeing play against us but I expect Nicky Walker and Keith McLeod to feature among the names of the top strikers come the end of the season

Sloan from Dalbeattie Star had an excellent game yesterday & scored 2 goals.

The boy McQuade is the best passer of a ball in the league.

The recently departed gibbo!sadly missed at home park!

Sorry Zupa but he's not. Ross Archibald is.

if nicky walker could finish he would be scoring at least thirty a season, he has electric pace but his finishing is murder and inside from spartans dont rate him as a good finisher, mcleod yes proven goal scorer and also the boy nicholson is class

No offence to Ross who is playing very well at central defence but surley we are looking for a midfield player. To determine this you have to count the number of passes made compared to the number completed. Ross' touches are normally clearances wish he does very very well but as in the hightest level they dont always find a team mate which is understandable.

Fair dos Starky, Spartans folk have said that about Nicky. So why did we sign him? If Keith regains fitness and Struan and Darryl get fit again I'll stick by my comment that Nicky will be up there. He's been playing a lone striker role for much of this year and that doesn't seem to be his forte. Watch him go with a fit striking partner though.

But I here what you are saying.

Fair dos Starky, Spartans folk have said that about Nicky. So why did we sign him? If Keith regains fitness and Struan and Darryl get fit again I'll stick by my comment that Nicky will be up there. He's been playing a lone striker role for much of this year and that doesn't seem to be his forte. Watch him go with a fit striking partner though.

But I hear what you are saying.

Sorry, Nicky Walker is so good I had to say it twice! Computer hung during the first post.

Nicky Walker is a clean kicker off the ball but is not a penalty box player. If the ball is not played over the top ...... hmmm.
Saw him at Easter Road against Highland League when surprisingingly he played wide right and was tremendous. I think he went on and play for Scotland in that position?

I'll try to reply only once this time. Ross is a midfielder to trade and it shows in his game at the back. Stewart and Dan do the long clearances. Archie picks a pass out from defence, usually makes it and looks for a ball when someone else is in bother at the back. Starky's thread was about forwards but I thought Archie deserved a mention in the passing stakes.

Ive been told Ross is doing a great job at the back and if you had more central defenders ..would Ross be moved to midfield presumably central. So who would you leave out in midfield?

That's my point. When we played Selkirk earlier this year Nicky started as the central striker. Later on Darryl Devlin (currently not entirely fit) came on and Nicky played wide. Great combo.

Agreed but you havent answered above. Who would you leave out?

You're asking hard questions Sharky. I'd love to see Ross in midfield doing that Willie Bennett role but we would need to sign that well known volleyball player Steven Thomson from the Uni to fill in at the back.

As to who we would leave out midfield, I don't know, we seem to have more midfielders than you can shake a stick at.

I respect your honest reply. Keep Ross at the back as he is doing well as you are short of back four players compared to midfielders. Willie is a legend.

I'll have a stab Sharky:

Flocks
Dan G [A N Other] Stewart F


Ross A

Omar Robbie M Alex K Donal


Keith McL Nicky W


Which means leaving out Danny O'D (hard one) and Gavin Malin (also a hard one)

But reading the above, that's why I am the choob on the side lines and Sam & Mickey pick the team!

Ok but you have not signed An Other, but I get your thoughts.

Did 3 at the back not cause you problems on Saturday?

Someone said that Dalbeattie wide players pushed on and forced your left and right defenders to go very wide leaving gaps in the middle of your 3 man defence. Is that where you lost your goals from?

At risk of bigging Archie up too much, for me that was the loss as a back 3 has worked well for us this year. That is no disrespect to Danny O'D who has filled in all over the place this year and wasn't at fault. Dalbeattie came forward in numbers and were picking out passes in the final third - too much attention given to Sloan as an individual although he did play very well and too many players in our midfield who seemed to be asked to double up in marking.

Not a fault of the back 3.

We'll be back to normal on Sat.

Sorry Starky for inadvertently hijacking the thread. Maybe I should start a Ross Archibald tribute one!

If you are playing weaker teams...and to be fair Spartans usually are coz they are one of the top teams then play 3 at the back which probably makes you more attacking..... but when you are playing a top team is 3 at the back not dodgy. I believe both teams had 5 in the midfield on Sat so how were your midfielders asked to double mark? 5 goals is a lot to loose at home and did you not lose 3 to another top team City earlier in the season? Is Odonnell not more mobile than Archibald? I would not like to be left isolated in the middle against top opposition especially if my other 2 mates are being pulled wide? Just a thought.

By double marking I was meaning more than one player at any time but no-one entirely sure who was picking up who ie a bit of confusion meaning no-one was picking the right player up. Danny O'D is certainly more mobile than Archie (I probably am more mobile - joke Ross!) but think Danny was playing right with Dan centre. The City comparison isn't lost on me and was another game we should not have lost but you'll need to speak to Arsene Lynch and Mickey Mourinho for the answers to those questions Sharky.

Er, getting back to the original question, the best striker I've seen playing against us so far this season is undoubtably Robbie Ross of City. Also worth a shout is Steven Radzynski of Leith Athletic, who looks like a good finisher, and Des Sutherland of Fairydean who played a stormer when we met them and scored a hat-trick.

You are having a laugh.You really need to watch games without the dog barking, and with commentary on full.
Passes not hoofing,passes.

I have checked with someone who was at the game. He says most definately Gerrard was right Odonnell central and Fowlie left. Sloan very influencial and scored two goals to boot. Mobility..yup not Archibalds strongest point. I worry when a ball is played behind him..... anyway enough of this talk...back to the original subject.

There are different styles of strikers. I think Ross just now is the most effective as in presence similiar to McLeod. Walker and Gormley causes problems with pace and so does Nicholson who may link in better but may not score as many goals as the other two. Hazeldine scores goals in the box but could be a bit tidier on the ball I think? Too name a few and there are plenty more good strikers around!

Good one Zupa - you are probably right about the first part particularly if I can't tell the difference between Dan G and Danny O'D! That laser eye surgery is not all it's cracked up to be.

Anyway, as the others say, back on topic. Robbie Ross was the best I saw at the tail end of last year and otherwise tend to agree with Sharky's last post (subject to what I said earlier about Nicky)

Robbie is no slouch either, not in the Gormley or Walker league for pace but still quick. He is very good in the air and a good finisher. However his bad points are his touch and passing can be less than great.

Cloudie is more powerful and great at holding players off. In fact he's very good with the ball on the deck and scores goals.

Nicky Walker is so fast its frightening at times. Causes problems but from what i've seen not a natural goalscorer (still excellent player though)

Gormley is IMO similar to Nicky, not as good with the ball though.

Sure there are others out there but i only really see Citys opponents and City to be honest