Reg did raise an interesting point, which I think should factor into player recruitment, especially at this level. The goals from our central defenders, specifically from attacking free kicks and corners. If you can source a defender who can score you a handful from corners it takes some of the forward pressure off, and given the volume of situations you get (due to erratic defending at times by less competent players at L2 level) it is an area that should come into the equation when deciding who to recruit.
That doesn't stop the obvious point though, that having someone who can score 20 odd goals is clearly an advantage for any team at any level.
When Sturrock pissed Div 4 with Plymuff.... his leading scorer was the new Wovers gaffer, a centre half. His front man Mickey Evans was one of those journeymen, who worked hard and get some goals but not that many.
The point is that when Brown got shot of Luke N and Mullin, people assumed we'd get something like a replacement for Luke... for whatever reason we didn't. I guess the hope was to get a last season out of Richards, but so far not to be.
If you know there isn't an out and out goalscorer, then you've got to adjust the style of play, and use what you have got accordingly.
Sometimes then you can find a scorer perhaps previously overlooked, like Alan Mac who'd scored 3 in 45 games for Macari, over 3 seasons having started as a full back but then scored 13 for Ossie in 89/90, playing behind the front 2..... this meant we got a mill for him and he went to the WC.
It's quite common for gaffers to say to players, here's your goal target for the season.... so for example Kyle Knoyle, a useful player and improving.... no reason seemingly why you couldn't get say 3 goals out of him. Sid Nelson, OK we don't know his future but he attacks the ball, so why not 4 goals from him... McCourt likes a shot, could he get 5?
This is where Brown fell down, it may have been his "clean sheet" mentality, but he never found the syle or maverick punt which compensated for not having a goalscorer.