Thread by @tomhwilliams23

🧵David McGoldrick - #Notts

A thread I wasn’t sure I’d be making at the start of the summer. But he’s here, and so is the thread!

Here we look at McGoldrick’s style, and how he will fit into Luke Williams’ system

You’re going to see throughout this thread the immense quality he possesses

But I wanted to start with something else; his work ethic and ability to press

McGoldrick is a tireless worker, one who has the quality to produce when he turns the ball over high up

I’ve seen many people question whether a 35 year old would suit our high intensity. Hopefully these clips will put those fears to bed

He will replace what Ruben provides; an intelligent presser who, once he wins the ball back, has the required ability to produce quality moments

Whether he’s in the 10 or as a 9 he presses. He’s an intelligent footballer, one with killer instincts; he recognises when a mistake could be made

He cuts off angles very cleverly, and it leads to goals. He will suit our relentless, intense approach, bringing quality to it too

I also think there may be some concerns over his ability to play on the break. We often transition extremely quickly, but McGoldrick has the ability to fit this too

He has a quick turn of pace and his footballing brain allows him to pick up spaces on the counter

On the counter he also trusts his instincts. At high pace you haven’t got the time to think but McGoldrick has repeated the actions so many times is now second nature

He also still has the physical attributes to do it too. He has that burst which allows him to get onto cut backs

Talking of instincts and recognising space, let’s look at the positions McGoldrick picks up

He’s a fluid footballer, something which again suits us, as he’s able to take positions both a 9 or a 10 would take.

His finishing is also superb; in the box he is deadly

The other position he takes up in the box is slightly deeper. He’s still a box striker, but he isn’t attacking the 6 yard area

Instead he drops off, opening up that space, a zone he thrives in. His finishing from that range is superb & you can imagine our WBs cutting it back

This clip gives me so much confidence going into the season with a front 2 of Macca and Didzy

You can imagine Macca attacking the 6 yard box, taking defenders with him as he does. McGoldrick holds his position, perfect for a cut back. It’s so effective

Again, McGoldrick holds his position in the box just enough to create that gap. He anticipates the drop of the ball and is placed perfectly to take advantage

We also see something we will see more of; McGoldrick starting moves, finishing them too, with his all round link up play

Here’s another example of it. He starts the move on the edge of the area, but just watch his movement here. He makes himself available for the return ball

The touch and speed of finish are also so impressive here. In 2 touches he’s found the back of the net

What McGoldrick also has in absolute spades is composure. When in the area he doesn’t panic and I’m sure his vast experience helps here

This finish is just sublime. He waits, sits the keeper down before dinking him. If this doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will

Another piece of sublime skill here, a wonderful turn which is so hard to execute

The clip also shows other aspects of his game too. He’s a strong finisher on both feet, making him a real threat

He’s also a strong forward. He can hold off defenders to open up angles

McGoldrick is also a threat in the air, mainly due to his presence in the box and his off the ball movement

He’s a strong header of the ball and he’s also the first to react here. He follows it in when others wouldn’t, showing his natural striking instincts

This clip just reiterates that McGoldrick has the physical capabilities to play in our side. He makes clever runs in behind, and while he’s not the quickest, his timing of run allows him to run clear

Here is a rare miss when 1 on 1, but if given these chances he will score

His positioning here is something to watch here. He stays central, in space, and is then available when the ball is turned over

We also see his role as a provider here. His decision making is strong, and he manages to create a really good chance on the break

Right, let’s get into what sets McGoldrick apart from other forwards. He combines the usual finishing ability of a box forward with the creative qualities of an attacking midfielder

His penetrative passing is superb. His vision to pick the pass and his technique to execute is 👌

Here’s another example of his defence splitting passing. It’s reminiscent of Rubén’s passing into the channel; McGoldrick can replace this quality

He has the vision to spot the runs of players in behind. The weight of pass is also excellent creating a clear cut opportunity

He picks up these spaces on the edge of the area where he’s able to create from. This is a simple lay off, but he creates the space, opening up the angle for his team mate to shoot

It also shows his decision making; it’s strong. He doesn’t need to shoot every time; a team player