A solution to Leeds problems - not Dexter Blackstock.

Article by Leeds United Correspondent Alex Shroeter

The, apparently, imminent arrival of Dexter Blackstock could provide us with additional options up top as he is an experienced striker, although not prolific, at this level. You may also remember the integral part he played in the 7-3 mauling we suffered at the hands of Nottingham Forest; however we already possess everything Blackstock could offer and more amongst our current crop of strikers.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, the 4-0 victory over Birmingham City showed that we can score but this should not have come as a surprise and should, in theory, happen more often in the future.

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First of all, Matt Smith, with two of the goals against Birmingham, has got the stature and ability to score goals in the Premier League, proved by his FA Cup goals against Liverpool and Everton last season where he terrorised international defenders. Standing at 6 feet and 6 inches with a muscular build, there are not many defenders who could contain him physically, and when the ball was crossed into him at the weekend he just shrugged off defenders, who face Nikola Zigic in training, as if they were not there. Admittedly he is not the quickest, very experienced and there are improvements to be made with the ball at his feet but when you can head the ball or bully defenders as well as Matt Smith all you need are team mates who can cross the ball.

Smith’s partner in crime at the weekend was Ross McCormack who is arguably one of the most talented forwards in the league. McCormack has not got an amazing scoring record but when used properly he could get 20 in a season, however he is not just a goal scorer. As he showed at the weekend, he is just as comfortable creating goals from more of a number ten role, which has seen comparisons drawn to him being a “poor man’s Rooney” as he is equally influential for Leeds as Rooney is for the wrong United, with his eye for a pass and just as good an eye for goal. Aside from Ross’s technical abilities he is also adaptable and over the last few seasons he has proved to be more than capable at operating on the wings, an attacking midfield role or on the shoulder of the last defender as an out and out striker.

Luke Varney and Dom Poleon have undoubtedly got the potential to score regularly for Leeds but they provide far more than just a goal threat. Luke is a tireless runner and will force opposition defences into mistakes or if deployed out on the flanks can track troublesome full backs to ease pressure on our defence. Dom, on the other hand, has frightening pace, whether he is running at or in behind defences, he can get to the by-line to set up a goal scoring opportunity or get a shot at goal himself. If you’re thinking to yourself that it is all well and good having quick players or strikers that can carry out their defensive duties but we need someone who can score goals every week, these two ,when used down the middle or even out wide, are no strangers to goals. Already in his short career, Dom Poleon has already scored crucial winning goals against top teams in the league, notably Watford and Nottingham Forest last season. Varney, when used as a centre forward for Leeds has scored goals such as his match winning performance against Sheffield Wednesday last term. Earlier in his career, Luke showed how potent he could be when utilised as the main striker by scoring 25 goals in all competitions in a single season. It is probably wildly unrealistic to expect him to achieve that kind of tally but you don’t forget how to score, however much Fernando Torres tries to disprove that.

Lastly, Noel Hunt has not had the easiest of starts with no goals and the Elland Road crowd venting their frustrations at him but if this new found confidence spreads then his goals will eventually come and if his time with Reading is anything to go by then they will be important strikes.

However good Blackstock is or is not, I can’t help but feel that we just don’t need him at the moment and if we start to get used to scoring goals comfortably, like against Birmingham, soon enough we will have a handful of in form, confident strikers who could cause serious problems for any defence in the league with their height, pace or creativity. The solution to our recent woes have been right under our nose all along, we’ve just got to give them the service.

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