lost that loving feeling - Stern John, making up for lost time

A whole month since I last submitted an article and our turn around in fortunes has continued. The club has managed to compile a four match unbeaten league run, with two well-earned draws and two wins. Perhaps more importantly, we now have a striker scoring goals.

It is fourteen goals and counting for Stern John, the Trinidad and Tobago international striker who was likened, when he first came, to Dwight Yorke by one Internet reporter. Let's just say that that interpretation had been lost on me over the past few seasons. During Platt's era as manager, Stern could not find form. Injury marred an exciting start and his first return to the first team was nothing more than appalling. He was slow, he looked uninterested and lasted less than an hour. Surely the MLS was not that easy, that a player so utterly pants could get a goal a game?

A few injuries, a few substitute appearances, and a change in manager, and some would say nothing has really changed. His hat trick at Millwall marred the fact that otherwise, he had a shite game. The only ball that he controlled and used all match resulted in a fantastic second goal from long range, after an idle saunter towards a retreating defence. It seemed laughable that Dougie Freedman was criticised for being lazy. In comparison to Stern, the man was a dynamo. Aside from his goal against Palace early in the season, Stern is not best thought of for his determination and persistence.

So how has he shot himself towards the division's top scorers chart? The answer is in the Dwight Yorke comparison. It now begins to make sense. The subtleties of the two strikers games are really quite markedly similar, from the laid back style of play to the almost Kanuesque ability to occasionally pull off something a little bit out of the ordinary.

The Manchester United striker himself is going through a lean patch, and now looks likely to be sold to Middlesborough, but not so long ago, he was the dominant striker in English football. Two seasons ago, in fact. What is perhaps most understated about Dwight Yorke is his unerring accuracy with his head. Rarely does he lob one up into the keeper's arms. Never does he flick his head in vain, as a cross goes begging. Similarly so with Stern John.

One of only two players of note against Sheffield United yesterday (only Stern and Prutton seemed to really make the effort), Stern missed two headers. Neither though, were clear cut chances and I ask you what Marlon Harewood or even Jack Lester would have made of those chances? Nothing. They would not have been patrolling the back post as any Trinidad striker worth his salt would have been, and was. Classic examples of the striker's headed goal have come though, against Norwich, Palace and Birmingham in the past month to demonstrate the point.

Another key comparison to be made between the two is their work rate. No one ever accused Dwight Yorke of being a workhorse, yet he has the key striker's ability to be where the covering defender ought to be when the ball arrives in the area. This knack, intricately connected to a striker's confidence, is beginning to emerge in Stern John, just as it is beginning to fade in ol' Dwight. Two of Stern's Millwall goals came from being in the right place at the right time.

The (re)emergence of Stern John is down to three key factors. One is a regular place in the starting line up and credit to Paul Hart on this score. Secondly, has to be the improved service this season, with Jim Brennan and Nicky Summerbee heading the Stern John assist stakes. Thirdly is a matter of confidence. A striker on form is a striker who is confident in his own ability, and who uses that ability to its best by staying alert for 90 minutes and having the resolve to score when the chance is presented.

I return now to the original statement I made, about the importance of Stern John's scoring form. Since Kevin Campbell and his Dutch understudy were running rings round defences in 1998, we have not had a goal scorer. Dougie Freedman did OK, Ian Moore was foolishly sold and Neil Shipperley lived up to his reputation, rather than his price tag. I place this down to a lack of service from midfield, rather than a particular lack of quality. Freedman and Darcheville have 26 goals between them at their separate clubs so far this season. During the whole of 1998/1999, they scored 14. So what Stern John has achieved is as much a recognition of what has gone on behind and to the sides of him, as well as a recognition of his own personal improvements.

With our front man getting the type of service that has allowed him to find some goal scoring form, the other strikers can take heart. Marlon's career at Forest has been blighted by never finding himself with an open goal and both Jack Lester and David Johnson have to work for their goals themselves. This effort is something Stern does not have to do.

Paul Hart can be especially pleased as well. Our early season goal drought is still not totally behind us, but the exploits of Stern John do demonstrate that the team is working. With the defence now looking as solid as it has done since Colin Cooper was at his peak, it is time to develop the attacking aspects of the team further. With a regular name on the score sheet, Paul Hart's rebuilding of the Garibaldi will be that much easier.