A 20-Goal Striker
HAVE Argyle unearthed another 20-goal-a-season striker?
That was the question posed to Pilgrims’ manager Derek Adams after Freddie Ladapo reached double-figures for the season with, appropriately, his third Home Park double of the campaign which enabled Argyle to claim three Sky Bet League One points from a 2-1 victory over Fleetwood Town.
While Derek desires goals from Pilgrims in all areas, he appreciates that the Green Army hanker after a figure-head of the same ilk as the only two men to reach the 20-goal mark in the last 35 seasons – Tommy Tynan and Reuben Reid.
“He could have had the match-ball,” said Derek. “He’s one that I’ve taken into the football club to score goals and that’s what he’s done. He’s high in confidence and has been able to get a good number of goals this season.
“He smashed one of the post; he had a header; he had a shot. He is always in position to get in a finishing position in the box. That is what we did very well, we found ourselves in good areas inside the 18-yard box.
“He takes the ball in for us; he takes us down the sides. We want to get goals from all over the pitch, but Freddie scoring goals gives us that platform to go forward.
“We might have the 20-goal striker that everybody wants.”
While Freddie has assumed the central striking role in light of Ryan Taylor’s injury-hit start to the campaign, Home Park was treated to seeing the pair of them in harness after Tayls came on as a second-half substitute, probably not for the last time.
Derek said: “When Ryan comes on, he gives us a great outlet because he gets flick-ons; he takes the ball in; defenders want to foul him; he takes us further up the pitch.
“Freddie is always one who can run in behind; run off the shoulder of defenders; and get an opportunity on goal.”