It is said to be every striker’s dream to score 20 goals in a season — and Town’s very own number nine, Freddie Ladapo, is no exception.

He is already halfway towards the target, which has so far eluded him in his career in the EFL, but makes no secret of his desire to deliver at the earliest opportunity.

Ladapo netted 15 for Rotherham last term, nine in the curtailed 2020/21 campaign and 17 in his first season with the Millers. He spent 2018/19 with Plymouth and netted 19 in total, so could this be the season he breaks through the 20-goal barrier?

“I certainly hope so,” he said. “Even though I’m happy with my contribution, I do want a lot more and I ask a lot more of myself. I hope 20 goals is something I can achieve this season.”

But when it comes to his current tally, Ladapo admitted: “I’m never happy, never content. I don’t think any striker can be, to be honest. I am happy that I’m doing something and it has been a help to the team.

“I’ve had a helping hand in the games that we’ve played, whether scoring or not scoring. I’m very happy with my contribution so far and hopefully I can get a lot more.”

Asked about his goals to date, he added: “Charlton away was very exciting and Portsmouth at home was very exciting, so I think the goals I scored in those games were my favourites.”

Town go into tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Rotherham having won just one of their last three league games, at home to Oxford, while their trips to Portsmouth and Lincoln earned a point apiece, the true cost of which was to drop down to third in the table behind Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday.

But at least they remained unbeaten over the Christmas period and Ladapo added: “In a football season you get positives and also some flat moments, but the important thing is that we didn’t lose any of those games and we were still picking up points — and they are points you don’t really get a chance to appreciate until the end of the season.

“So, as long as we can continue to collect the points and win games as we go forward, that’s all we can actually focus on, ourselves.

“It’s a test of your character when you are going through those flat periods but during the course of a season you are going to have them. You might be on a 10-game unbeaten run where everything is super-high and positive — and then you have, say, five games where you can’t even buy a win.

“I think the focus has to remain the same and with us we have averaged two points per game and always remained positive. We have to look at the positive side and remain focused on what our goal is.”

One bonus for Town is that the illness bug that spread through the group in recent weeks has relented, with Ladapo explaining: “Thankfully, the illness hasn’t lasted for too long and we have had a better week on that front.

“You might play one or two games feeling a bit under the weather and then, come the third game, you feel a bit dire, but this week has been a lot better for the whole squad.

“For me the next two weeks are very exciting because we’re playing against Rotherham and then Plymouth, two of my previous clubs, and there will be a lot of fans and players who know me from my time there who will be seeing me again.

“But for the team, which is always more important than anything else, it’s about being able to test ourselves against Championship opposition and then the League One leaders as we challenge them for the title and to be promoted. I would say that both games are quite huge for us.”

Ladapo was questioned abut his feelings at the end of recent games when he has learned of Plymouth’s near-relentless progress at the top of the table. He said: “Everyone checks the results and they will be looking at ours as well.

“It’s only when one team has created a bit of a gap that you start to lay off it a little bit, but I can see it being like that constantly until the end of the season and how far it goes.”

When the conversation turned to squad rotation, which has seen manager Kieran McKenna refresh the starting line-up every few games, Ladapo added: “Different managers have different ways of doing things, different styles of playing and the way they like to manage and coach, but my main priority in this team is to have as much of a positive impact as possible. I’ve tried to do that and hopefully I can carry on doing that for this team.”

Ladapo agreed it represented a different type of challenge to come off the bench and look to make an immediate impact, adding: “I also think that you have to be mentally prepared for starting in different matches as well. When you come on during a game it’s at the discretion of how the team is doing, so maybe the team does need you to come on and try to get a goal, try to force a little situation and try to change the momentum of how the game is going.

“Sometimes you might go on when the team is winning and they just need you to hold shape, maybe press and, you know, maybe win a few fouls. You have to adjust to how the game is going so it’s different challenges that a player has to go through.”

Focusing on his own role within McKenna’s team, he continued: “Being the number nine is a very tough role. A lot is expected of you in terms of on the ball and off the ball, and you have to be expected to score, to lead the line and do quite a lot of things. I think it’s a challenge I have embraced and one I’m ready to continue to embrace.

“I played as one of two up front for the majority of my time at Rotherham and at Plymouth we played with one up top, so I’ve done it and I haven’t done it before.”

Ladapo was less keen to comment on the fact that a year ago he requested a transfer at Rotherham, which the club accepted, but he ended up staying on board through to the end of the season that saw the Millers promoted as League One runners-up and his three-year deal expire, which in turn led to him being snapped up as a free agent by the Blues.

He said: “Different people have different reasons for why they want to leave and I had my own personal reasons for why I wanted to cut short the relationship or situation. I’m happy to be here and that’s all I can focus on.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Bergholtblue added 20:40 - Jan 6 Dream on. 20 goals are a long way off I'm afraid. On recent performances I would settle for double figures.
-9

Bluedocker added 20:42 - Jan 6 😲
0

micky_1560 added 20:48 - Jan 6 Misses too many important chances for me. Would prefer he got 15 and scored in some of these drawn games instead of missing really good chances!
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blues1 added 20:53 - Jan 6 Bergholt blue. He already has double figures.( 8 in league, 2 in cup). But hey, why let facts get in the way of making a negative comment.
13

Nomore4 added 21:01 - Jan 6 20 is possible. Hoping our new striker gets that in the season 2nd half.
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Nobbysnuts added 21:03 - Jan 6 And pigs might fly.....
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d77sgw added 21:10 - Jan 6 Don't understand the haters on here. Stats - in the league he has started 16 games, and come off the bench 9 times. He has scored 8 goals. That is a pretty decent return. We improved so much when he came on on Saturday - he's a physical presence, who creates chances for others and weighs in with a decent amount of goals too. Agree we need back up though.
19

Ozweegobro added 21:19 - Jan 6 Some of the negative attitudes towards our own players on here is so toxic, why can't we just show a little positivity towards somebody wanting to be ambitious & score 20 goals when he is already on 10 at the half way point! Absolute fossils, same offenders every time. Go get 20 Freddie boy!
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ringwoodblue added 21:53 - Jan 6 A lot will depend on what other strikers we sign this window as this may reduce the number of opportunities Freddie gets to score 10 more goals. Think Chappers will get to 20 though.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:02 - Jan 6 As Ozweegobro said some of the unjust toxicity towards our current players is unbelievable it's why a minority really don't deserve a successful club. He has 10 goals and 2 assists at halfway point of the season having not played every game either so why couldn't he? By my maths if he does it again second half he's got 20 goals 🙄 come on guys less digging out our players and more support ffs

18

Hatman2 added 22:09 - Jan 6 Was excellent against Oxford, he has missed chances so we need consistency but the negativity towards him does him and the team no good. Ok he's not Ray Crawford, Paul Mariner, or Marcus Stewart…, but we have to recognise where we are today and get behind the manager and team who are making significant progress in trying to achieve what we all want so badly. Now is not the time to dish out abuse. COYB.

11

suffolkblueeye added 22:18 - Jan 6 Toxic, haters; stop talking like weak followers, find your own words to express your observations objectively without weeping like poor me people. There are better options and we need them to progress and get promoted
-4

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:42 - Jan 6 Suffolkblueeye 10 goals first half season and 2 assists what not good enough for you no? That would make him and chappers ok course for 20 plus goals this season each? What more do you expect from either? We need a plan b striker and more depth yes but they've done their job so far. Not one person on here says ‘poor me' that's just you my friend
4

Portman_Pie added 22:44 - Jan 6 The real fact of the matter so far is that Ladapo has had enough genuine, clear cut, guilt edge chances to have already scored at least 25 goals to date. The number of passes laid onto him which he should have scored are massive. Hence the fact that he is well under performing. As a team we create loads of chances - but it seems Ladapo regularly needs on average 5 shots on an open or clear cut chance to score one. Not good enough - and a clinical striker would score 20+ EASILY in his position already. It will be the difference come the end of the season - someone who converts one in 3 chances rather than one in 6 or 7.

6

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:51 - Jan 6 Portman pie people used to say that about Andy Cole still guaranteed 20 goals a season. Only one person would get and end on 40 plus goals and that's Haaland I've seen plenty of strikers get numerous chances and miss sitters it's not just him.
3

Eeyore added 23:49 - Jan 6 He may have scored 8 league goals but all pretty easy ones. I think people are commenting on the huge number of easy chances hit wide or miss-hit. Other than his finishing, some of his play is excellent. Constructive criticism is fine. Those who harp on about ‘haters' really bore me and I wish they would say something interesting and add something to the discussion. The whole point of a forum is that you are allowed to have an opinion. If you disagree, then say WHY you disagree. Don't keep ganging up on people and labelling them as ‘haters'. Learn how to debate an issue.

3

sotd78 added 23:58 - Jan 6 Ladapo is a top striker in league one. That's all the is to say really. Some of the comments on here cannot be town fans. Just budgies trolling.
3

Eeyore added 00:01 - Jan 7 There's another who just proved my point. Start a forum just for always-positive cheerleaders perhaps?
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Eeyore added 00:05 - Jan 7 Correction. Ladapo has scored 7 league goals, 2 papa johns (Northampton and Arsenal U-21) and 1 FA cup goal against Bracknell.
1

Karlosfandangal added 01:09 - Jan 7 Linaker scored a lot of easy goals most of his were in the box
1

Len_Brennan added 06:36 - Jan 7 From the stories on here & from the EADT it appears to be pretty certain that McKenna/the club are currently chasing 3 new forwards (definitely 2) during this window. So in a few days we could have Hirst, Broadhead & possibly Corbeanu competing for the 3 or 4 front positions; as it is Ladapo hasn't been as regular a starter as we might have expected, so the addition of these guys won't help him in his quest for 20 goals. I don't see us signing Whittaker. As others have said here, and I have previously, Ladapo works hard & has had some good games, but is not a great goalscorer; he needs too many clear chances to get on the scoresheet, which leaves us wanting in games where the opposition has come to disrupt & frustrate us. In games where sides actually come to play football, our possession & style will allow us to carve out plenty of chances & then the low conversion rate is less of a problem in terms of the result. To be fair to Ladapo, I do think he is better suited to playing in a front two, so although he can win the ball, hold it up & lay it off, the way we're set up does not allow him the best opportunity for scoring lots of goals. Personally, I would like us to be able to switch to a fast breaking more direct formation, with 2 up front, as an option in games where teams are parking the bus & I think that we may have become a bit too predictable at times, despite the quality of our possession, play & players. For that reason I am quite encouraged by the suggestion that we might be signing both Hirst & Broadhead, who could play off each other up front.

3

ipswichboi added 07:52 - Jan 7 I think that Ladapo can feel hard done by for being benched for quite a few games this season. If he had started all/most of them, then chances are he'd be fitter, slicker, sharper and almost certainly have bagged a few more league goals. I'd have used Jacko as a late-ish sub when Defenders are tiring, OR on the wing, instead of starting in place of Ladapo. As Freddie says, it can be tough to come into a game as a 9 and impact it, especially with his style of play - dropping deep, occupying Defenders, allowing overlaps. Etc. You need a feel for the flow of the game in order to make the most of that. Hope he gets there.

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algarvefan added 08:27 - Jan 7 Len_Brennan I agree with your post 100%, we are often far too predictable in our open play. Fingers crossed for some good signings.
1

ChrisFelix added 09:08 - Jan 7 I know Ladapo misses a lot of chances ,but I see our main problem is conceding at the other end of the pitch. Cheltenham, Fleetwood & Portsmouth are good examples. Sadly for our fine bunch of footballers you never feel confident with a one goal lead as you enter the 90th minute
3

inghamspur added 09:54 - Jan 7 This bloke doesn't know where the goal is.
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