Scout Report: Brett Pitman

Despite the Pool scoring plenty of goals so far this season everyone craves a proven striker. Everyone believes that if we had the elusive 20 goals a season man then we’d be a lot better off position, and points wise than we currently are.

Chances go a begging and everyone seems to want pace upfront, someone to play off the bigman, but what about someone similar in size but with a bit more to his all-round game as an alternative.

Brett Pitman is 21 years old. He’s come through the ranks of a team that’s struggled for years financially and that has meant he’s been thrust into a team that simply couldn’t afford to go out and buy somebody.

He’s started 72 games and has been on the bench for another 70, for such a young age that’s a lot of games to have been involved with at first team level. His strike rate has seen him score 40 league goals, now when you consider how Bournemouth have struggled in previous years until this season that’s an impressive return.

The team are having a good season and so is Pitman. He’s already scored 11 goals in 20 games, that’s an average of more than a goal every other game.

He’s not the smoothest of runners, at 6` he appears gangly but for a big man he has an excellent first touch.

With his height he wins his fair share of headers and his heading accuracy is precise.

He can lead the line, holding the ball up well rarely wasting possession and certainly looks like he can read a game well anticipating and timing his runs well.

Not many big men are comfortable with both feet, but this lad is. He’s scored some scorchers from around the edge of the box.

He’s certainly not the finished article, few strikers are at such a young age, but he`s hard working not only for himself but for his team mates.

Our ethos of playing as a determined team has been our strength and behind our success in recent seasons, could Pitman fit into this team? He’s certainly one for the future and falls bang in to Holloways catchment group. One thing’s for certain he`s going to continue to develop in to a very good player.

Bournemouth despite their success aren’t out of the financial spiral just yet and an offer around the £350-£400k mark would surely be too much to turn down.