The importance of scoring regularly can never be down played. Josh King had not been playing in every minute of recent games, but he makes sure he gets his goal it would seem whether from the penalty spot or from general play. The late goal against Crystal Palace won't be an album keeper, but just by keeping the goals coming Josh has suddenly emerged just one behind Callum Wilson this season in all competitions on seven goals.
What I think marks out King as being very different to the other strikers though is the way he creates a lot of his own goals by himself. He has the ability to run distances, holding off attempts to tackle him and still get a shot off at the end of the run, as he did earlier in the season at home against Stoke City in the February.
Whether Eddie Howe gets the very best from him though I am still not certain. I think he is best as a number nine, even though he does not get that role very often. He certainly has Wilson in his sights for top goalscorer though, and it should be a good battle to see which striker ends up with the highest number of goals by the time we get to mid-May.
The fans would probably have no problem in seeing King start on Saturday against Liverpool, but Howe has been protecting him when he can. In the last match Howe said he hadn't wanted to play King because of the hamstring risk, but should King be rested or played against Liverpool?
 |
| Josh is scoring but might only be a sub against Liverpool. |
Josh has played in 28 Premier League games compared to Wilson's 23 games, but when we consider that three of Callum's goals came in one game against Huddersfield, it is King that is the consistent goal scorer - no doubt aided by his penalty kick role. King is well down on his 16 Premier League goals of last season, but his goals have been just as important this time around.
What I think marks out King as being very different to the other strikers though is the way he creates a lot of his own goals by himself. He has the ability to run distances, holding off attempts to tackle him and still get a shot off at the end of the run, as he did earlier in the season at home against Stoke City in the February.
Advertisement
While King has been playing behind Wilson for much of this season, or wide on the wing, he always worries defences. His adaptability is a great asset. It's beginning to be a feature of Eddie Howe's players as we see more and more players that are able to play in different positions. But King is one of the players that joins play well in linking midfield and attack. It is the way he moves between the opposition's midfield and defence that I most like when I see King being fed the ball. He is an imposing sight running at a defence and while Bournemouth have other players who can also drive at defences, I'm never very surprised when you see the net bulge after King has gone at goal. He's just a player that you can sit back and watch knowing that he'll attack with pace and power.
Whether Eddie Howe gets the very best from him though I am still not certain. I think he is best as a number nine, even though he does not get that role very often. He certainly has Wilson in his sights for top goalscorer though, and it should be a good battle to see which striker ends up with the highest number of goals by the time we get to mid-May.
The fans would probably have no problem in seeing King start on Saturday against Liverpool, but Howe has been protecting him when he can. In the last match Howe said he hadn't wanted to play King because of the hamstring risk, but should King be rested or played against Liverpool?
If Mousset is fit I would see how he and Defoe gelled up front
ReplyDelete