Our form this season, in front of goal

Always feel this is worth keeping an eye on. Overall, Gary Hooper leads the line, once again. Mr. Reliable for us, up front anyway.

He's scored 15 and assisted 7 in 27 appearances, so far. We all feel he's capable of more, and I'll be a very happy camper if he knocks in a goal against the Huns tomorrow. We know he can do it, and so do they. Big psychological advantage.

Then it comes down to our two other important strikers: Stokes vs. Samaras.

The Irishman firmly has the big Greek firmly in his pocket, notching up 12 goals and boasts our greatest assist maker of the season with 11 in total. He's a must start, IMO.

Samaras' recent streak of form has seen his goal tally rise to an unexpected 3 for the season (I'm not a fan), and he's chipped in with 4 assists.

Outside of the final third, we need to look to these two players:

James Forrest has scored 7 and assisted 2 in 30 appearances. He holds the most appearances, this season, and it'll be great if he can shake off his hamstring problem and play tomorrow. Rangers have no one who can match him.

Ki Sung-Yueng, scorer of 6 and assisting on 5 occasions. The boy has talent, and while question marks may remain concerning his ability to rise to the occasion, I would not have a problem if he started tomorrow. I'm sure he'll play some part, at least. He's only going to get better, as well, as he's one of the number of young talents in our squad.

 

They have more assists than you have said Hooper has 5, Stokes has 7 and Forrest has 4, although that doesnt include the domestic cups so they might have 1/2 or whatever more.

 

Sammy isn't a striker anymore, and therefore shouldn't be judged as such.

 

Where are you Bhoys getting these assist statistics from?

 

Their ESPN profiles

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=256&cc=5739

 

I disagree. What else is he but a forward player? Maybe not a striker, per se, but he should be producing more. Glad that his heart seems to be in it more of late, though.

Hmm, odd. I was wondering at the relatively low amount. Hope we begin firing more goals in.

 

We've definitely got the players to cause them serious problems.

Really hope everything clicks tomorrow because we could score quite a few.

Can't say it's looked as if that's ever been in question.

 

Don't want to turn this into an anti-Samaras thread. All I can say is, I hope he turns up tomorrow (if picked) and terrorises the Huns.

I know we have the quality to do so (him included).

 

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/

All comps -

Hooper - 27 games, 15 goals, 7 assists.
Stokes - 25 games, 11 goals, 12 assists.

Forrest - 30 games, 7 goals, 5 assists.
Samaras - 20 games, 3 goals, 4 assists.

Ki - 26 games, 6 goals, 5 assists.
Ledley - 22 games, 4 goals, 5 assists.

 

Cheers mate, I'll update the OP. Most of them were right, probably hadn't been updated from the last game.

 

Quite happy with our form in front of goal so far.

As you say, Hooper and Stokes are the guys we knew we could rely on for at lease 20 goals over the course of the season.
It's nice that we have Samaras, Forrest, Ledley and Ki who are also capable of chipping in with their share.

It's very important that the team has several goal threats, and I think we are better-equipped than Rangers in that respect.

 

Would love Lenny to go Stooper upfront from the start tomorrow - they have clicked brilliantly I think this season.

Every time I see them they do something stupid, like Hooper misses an open goal or Stokesy doesn't give him a pass, and they moan and argue with each other, but you can tell they really get on and never let it affect their game.

I think Hooper is a dead cert to score tomoz, hopefully Stokes announces his comeback with a 12th goal as well!

 

Stokes and hoopers stats show exactly why they both should be starting against the huns, them 2 would drag the Huns defenders all over the place.

 

I would usually agree, but I think there is zero chance of Samaras getting dropped (usually he is rotten and still gets the nod in old firm games). And I doubt Forest will not play, which means going with Hooper, Stokes then Sammy and Forest behind. That leaves the midfield pretty thin and that is where so many old firm games are won and lost - and Brown and Kayal looked all over the place against Killie.

Im guessing he will go Hooper up and Samaras behind. Stokes on the bench. For once, I might not moan if Samaras starts ahead of Stokes

 

And a wee word for Joe Ledley.

 

When was the last time we scored a header froma corner?, I mentioned last night to my bhoy that we don't score enough headers any more and now we have tonight and sammy from the weekend