Life after Reuben....???

So last week I hoped that Brunt would be given his chance due to RR injury....my word has he taken it with both hands. Involved in all that was positive Saturday and by all accounts instrumental tonight. Worthy of his place on merit. With RR injuries and Pompey interest in January possibly, do we sell and invest in the likes of Brunt? I dont want to jump the gun but hes so well suited to Adams'formation and style. It sort of begs the question really of us and Reuben....who needs who more? Opinions...

that maybe but brunt isn't a 20 goals a season striker where as Reuben is and is the better player out of the two.

opinion given.

Angry wrote:

that maybe but brunt isn't a 20 goals a season striker where as Reuben is and is the better player out of the two.

opinion given.

Precisely, having the option of Brunt bodes well for the quality of the squad, but Reid is our most proven goalscorer. Someone made a good point that Reid would likely have flourished on Saturday with our style of play and his scoring touch may have made the scoreline a more accurate reflection of the performance.

Yeah, as well as Brunt played, I didn't see him do anything on Saturday that Reid couldn't have. He didn't win many headers, but he physically gave the centre backs a hard time. He made some nice layoffs and brought others into play, but nothing Reuben doesn't do regularly when he actually has some support, as Brunt did.

He didn't even 'chase lost causes', as Reid's detractors constantly whinge about. Which is fair enough - he was pacing himself for a full game, rather than the 10 minute burst he often gets, and so he chased balls he had a chance of reaching, and left others. Exactly as Reid does.

It's reassuring to know that if Reid's fitness or form drops, as it clearly has, we have a capable understudy, but people seem to already be comparing Brunt's best game against Reid's worst and going "aha!"

For me, Brunt is a worthy option either from the bench or in scenarios like now when Reuben is injured. I'm not of the opinion that he does anything 'better' than Reid. What endears him to a lot of people is that he is a trier. His on-pitch persona is one of 'big lump of a forward who will make a nuisance of himself'. He will chip in with goals and yes his harrying of defenders will create space for our more natural finishers and flair players.

Did anyone see him fall over his own feet after literally kicking himself, trying to pass the ball on Saturday? Proper comedy moment.

Unless Reid has a sulky meltdown, Brunt is never going to be preferred when picking from a fully fit twosome. A good season for Brunt would be getting close to double figures for goals, and from our all round attacking play he has a good chance of getting there.

Just seen the goals and they were all of very good quality. Lovely precise power header from Brunt-must say that he does impress the more you see of him. Don't want to tempt fate or put too much pressure on but people like Ricky Lambert and Grant Holt were journeymen strikers for the early part of their careers before they really took off, so there's certainly hope that Argyle have uncovered a rough diamond-good luck to him, seems a decent lad who gives his all.

Reuben Reid.....No1..Reuben injured so......No2....Ryan Brunt comes in.....does ok.

Reid will be back when fit......end of story.

Greenskin wrote:

Just seen the goals and they were all of very good quality. Lovely precise power header from Brunt-must say that he does impress the more you see of him. Don't want to tempt fate or put too much pressure on but people like Ricky Lambert and Grant Holt were journeymen strikers for the early part of their careers before they really took off, so there's certainly hope that Argyle have uncovered a rough diamond-good luck to him, seems a decent lad who gives his all.

Well said. Glad Bruntinho is getting the credit he deserves. Also agree with Czarcasm regarding his effort making him endearing to many. His enthusiasm and effort rubs off on others, you can see it. Bloody marvellous forward to have at League Two level. Capable of scoring if given a stretch in the side too.

Bruntinho? For starters it sounds like a bad sixties holiday camp. Just wrong on so many levels.

ejh wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

Just seen the goals and they were all of very good quality. Lovely precise power header from Brunt-must say that he does impress the more you see of him. Don't want to tempt fate or put too much pressure on but people like Ricky Lambert and Grant Holt were journeymen strikers for the early part of their careers before they really took off, so there's certainly hope that Argyle have uncovered a rough diamond-good luck to him, seems a decent lad who gives his all.

Well said. Glad Bruntinho is getting the credit he deserves. Also agree with Czarcasm regarding his effort making him endearing to many. His enthusiasm and effort rubs off on others, you can see it. Bloody marvellous forward to have at League Two level. Capable of scoring if given a stretch in the side too.

i disagree he isnt going to score anything like the numbers Reid can. He is a good backup at best.

MikeWN wrote:

Yeah, as well as Brunt played, I didn't see him do anything on Saturday that Reid couldn't have. He didn't win many headers, but he physically gave the centre backs a hard time. He made some nice layoffs and brought others into play, but nothing Reuben doesn't do regularly when he actually has some support, as Brunt did.

He didn't even 'chase lost causes', as Reid's detractors constantly whinge about. Which is fair enough - he was pacing himself for a full game, rather than the 10 minute burst he often gets, and so he chased balls he had a chance of reaching, and left others. Exactly as Reid does.

It's reassuring to know that if Reid's fitness or form drops, as it clearly has, we have a capable understudy, but people seem to already be comparing Brunt's best game against Reid's worst and going "aha!"

Absolutely.

Seems there's some sort of underlying characteristic here which seems to matter when comparing the two..

It is very encouraging to see so many different scorers so early in the season, no doubt Reubs is proven talent at this level, but we have poked a few in without him too.

We do seem to have decent alternatives if he is unavailable.

It seems counter-intuitive to say it but a #9 doesn't necessarily need to score that many. Trigger is the best example we have of a stiker that rarely struck but we've had a few over the years: Nugent, Simms, and Hinch all spring to mind and they all did a great job for the team.

The nature of their respective roles is that both get a fair bit of a battering during a game. The beauty of the current situation is that both Reid and Brunt are doing a job for us meaning that if either gets a knock then the other can come in. There's no pressure on the manager to pick either regardless as to whether it's in the longer term best interests of the team as there was with Reid who became increasingly knackered and less effective as the season wore on to the extent that starting him in the play-offs probably cost us any chance we had of getting through them.

I like them both and I'm pleased to have both.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

It seems counter-intuitive to say it but a #9 doesn't necessarily need to score that many. Trigger is the best example we have of a stiker that rarely struck but we've had a few over the years: Nugent, Simms, and Hinch all spring to mind and they all did a great job for the team.

The nature of their respective roles is that both get a fair bit of a battering during a game. The beauty of the current situation is that both Reid and Brunt are doing a job for us meaning that if either gets a knock then the other can come in. There's no pressure on the manager to pick either regardless as to whether it's in the longer term best interests of the team as there was with Reid who became increasingly knackered and less effective as the season wore on to the extent that starting him in the play-offs probably cost us any chance we had of getting through them.

I like them both and I'm pleased to have both.

nahh we wouldnt have got through the playoffs had reid been fit. we were shit throughout both games regardless.

zyph wrote:

Reuben Reid.....No1..Reuben injured so......No2....Ryan Brunt comes in.....does ok.

Reid will be back when fit......end of story.

I have to agree with that to.

Argyle should offer an extension to his contract before the new year is over ? .

Jimmy Hinch? Remember him - By god I am old.