Life After Westcarr

Last updated : 31 August 2011 By Jacob Daniel

Craig Westcarr has always been a figure who has divided the Notts support, with some focusing on his impressive goals and assists records but many feeling his performances were always tarnished by a perceived 'laziness' and lack of awareness. The truth is somewhere along the middle, but there is no doubt in my mind that Westcarr is a very useful winger to have for this level of football. The key word in that sentence being 'winger' - he has never been an effective striker.

The party line is that Westcarr left purely due to Allen not rating him and, despite the conspiracy theories, that certainly adds up. He has struggled to make the starting line up this season and hasn't particularly impressed since Allen's arrival at the club. The primary reason for that is, I believe, Allen's insistence on playing him upfront. Put simply, he does not have the awareness or presence to play as a striker. His best abilities - pin point crosses and a fantastic ability to finish having ghosted into a dangerous position - are perfectly suited to being a right winger.

Of course, Allen's formation doesn't really have room for conventional wingers. Westcarr probably isn't suited to the 'inside forward' role that Allen adopts, but by the same token he has been given little chance and none of the players at the club have impressed in that position so far. On the subject of his move to Chesterfield, it's a shame he has gone there purely because John Sheridan has said in the media that he sees him as a striker. He needed to go to a club who would consistently play him on the right side of midfield, where he is most effective. 

A fee of £70,000, as has been reported, does seem a little low for a player with Westcarr's record last season, but with him out of contract in a year and unfancied by the management it doesn't represent disastrous business. At least it wouldn't if Notts were blessed with attacking talent as opposed to the utter dearth of forward players currently at Meadow Lane. Today's transfer deadline will make or break this season, if we can secure the striker and creative, attack minded midfielder that the side is calling out for then the departure of Westcarr will soon be forgotten. If we fail then it will, rightly, be brought up numerous time this season. Over to you, Notts.