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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
With star man Lyle Taylor set to miss two months of the campaign through injury, Charlton must adapt to life without their five-goal striker.
As of now, Lee Bowyer has overseen back-to-back defeats without the Montserrat international in his team, with Tomer Hemed struggling up top alongside Jonathan Leko – the pair have started both games against Birmingham and Wigan, and haven’t had a single shot on target combined.
How does Bowyer currently set up?
So far this term, the 42-year-old has been using a 4-3-1-2 formation with Taylor and Leko together up top, which has since changed to Hemed and Leko after the former was injured while on international duty.
That system merited four wins and two draws from their opening six Championship games, but seeing as the same formation has resulted in two consecutive defeats without Taylor, the 29-year-old’s presence can definitely be seen as a pivotal factor in the success of the tactical approach.
As a result, something probably needs to change.
What can Bowyer do?
The former Newcastle United midfielder recently came out and said that Chuks Aneke – a centre-forward who scored 17 League Two goals last term – was not impressing him as a striker, and he thought he would be better as a No.10 in behind the main forward.
“At the moment Chuks hasn’t really done anything to persuade me he can play up top.
“We tried to put him up there the other day [as a substitute against Birmingham] and he didn’t do so well.”
As a result, Bowyer should opt for Hemed as a lone striker with Aneke in behind him, alongside one of Jonny Williams or Erhun Oztumer, or even the latter pair together.
Some fans were recently unhappy with Leko – one supporter even called for him to be dropped – and he’s managed just one goal this season, so there is no point in sticking with two misfiring centre-forwards.
Indeed, a system with two attacking midfielders supporting one frontman could be a better option – especially if Bowyer commits to using Aneke as a No.10.