Quote Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee View Post
Statistically I can understand why. Paterson is our most likely source of goals as a starter, plus his work rate means others benefit later. It's not great, but there aren't many alternatives.

One interesting stat. If you take Paterson's goals out of the equation, 6 of the 36 goals scored by players who have started a game for us this season have come from strikers. That's pretty dreadful.
Paterson for me is so underrated in what he does. Particularly when the CBs are not quick on the ball. He’s not there to score goals he’s there to open up space, push teams back, force them into early decisions. He presses so well that he does the job of 2 when we don’t have the ball. Bobby Firminho doesn’t need to score every game as the goals come from the wing and midfield.

We’re not set up to use a out and out strikers. The way we play it’s not a major issue that Pato doesn’t score so long as the midfield pushes up straight away. The problem is no one except Hoilett can strike a ball well.

He’s not a striker. Agreed but we wouldn’t be where we are without him.