A striker who has been directly involved in a goal in just about every other game he has played for the club, Matt Godden has consistently produced the goods whenever called upon in Sky Blue. Brought in to fire the club out of League One, Matt Godden scored a number of crucial goals against direct promotion rivals in order to do so. With question marks about his ability to take that form into the Championship, Godden has stepped up a level with relative ease. However, Godden is, by no means, the team’s first-choice in attack, due to injury struggles and questions lingering over his all-round game.
Due to the fact that Matt Godden’s longest run of league starts for the club has been ten games, it makes it somewhat difficult to definitively assess his strengths and weaknesses. Billed as a ‘fox in the box’, Godden is not necessarily uber-clinical in front of goal, nor is he completely limited outside the penalty area. In that League One promotion season, Godden appeared to be something of a confidence player, going on extended streaks of scoring and not scoring, however, there’s been little opportunity to put that definition under further scrutiny at Championship-level.
Over the long-term, Matt Godden probably isn’t Mark Robins’ number one choice in attack. As someone who is both over 30 and can struggle when tasked with leading the line on his own, the manager’s vision of the club and its style of play is at odds with that. Godden’s strengths necessitate either playing as part of a strike partnership or in a team that can dominate possession in order to reduce his work outside of the final third, that isn’t always going to be possible for this team this season. Nonetheless, if he can continue to step up with decisive contributions, Godden will make it difficult for Mark Robins not find a way to get the best out of him.
Sideways Sammy 