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New Striker - Speculation


georgeweahscousin

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It seemed pretty clear that we were after a striker earlier in pre-season, having spoken to Sharp etc.

 

Do you think we still are? Connolly and Guly both seem on form, and Lambert and Barnard have both signed new deals recently.

 

Personally I hope we are. I still think we are lacking a "Championship" proven forward. Someone to play off of Lambert ideally. Maynard is the obvious choice for me, but can't see us paying the asking price.

 

I think we missed a trick with Kenny Miller who would have been perfect, and indeed, a bargain.

 

Lita was suggested by a lot of people yesterday, but he would be a very underwhelming signing for me.

 

Dare I suggest a certain Nigerian ex-skate who scored goals on loan in the Championship last season. Could be available for cheap, will definitely score goals.

 

Another who fits the bill is Mackie at QPR. Not sure if he will be first choice there in the Premier League.

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He wouldn't take a one year deal. I agree that in an ideal world we would bring in a striker, Im sure NA and everyone will make the right call. The subs rule change doesn't help, if we buy someone then we will have two of our existing strikers sat in the stand most likely.

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As you stated, we have (apparantly) unsuccessfully bid for two strikers, - so we must still have that as a priority before season start, and it appears more likely that we may sign a foreign striker ... if the rest of NAs wish list now excludes the two targets

who are not coming but would the THIRD choice really be a good bet ...now that Sharp and Maynard are out of the picture ?

 

Cortese's overseas contacts haven't been so bad - so far - have they ? Papa Waigo was a " one-off " but scored goals and was entertaining, and now that Guly has settled in I think most people think he is a good buy, so maybe Nicola has another one up his sleeve.. we'll see next week.

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I dont think we need a new striker now, it all depends on what happens with Barnard, But looking at our options of Lambert,Barnard,Connolly,Guly and Doble i think that will be ok. Id even say thats better than what Norwich had last season, Did they have a "Proven" Championship striker?

 

Along with Lallana,De Ridder,AOC (maybe) adding a good goals tally i dont think its a major concern, Id expect a loan if Barnard goes down though.

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We haven't entered the loan market yet, so there may be a gem or two still to come

 

There were many rumours last year that Aston Villa's Andreas Weimann was coming, apparantely NA is a big fan.

However, he ended up going to Watford instead, but now we've been promoted there's a chance some PL players would be more likely to join us

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If we get yet another striker we'll be seriously over crowded and it will make RD think 'whats the point of staying here?' and he looked good y'day and needs to come up the pecking order, not further down.

 

Ryan Doble may be a good prospect, but he's hardly likely to EXPECT a regular spot when he hasn't made a proper debut yet

or even scored a first team goal ! . " Looking good "...and finding the back of the net regularly are quite different things.

 

Going back several decades - many of the "star" players took time to get established. Both Channon and Shearer made memorable

debuts but neither of them became a permanent fixture in the team for almost two seasons afterwards. Likewise with Steve Moran and later even MLT. Lambert has a good goal tally because he scores regularly - look at his stats. He's rarely gone more than 3 games without scoring but strikers can be notoriously unpredicable... in form and that's hard to legislate for if you lose points every week.

I recall 1965-66 when Martin Chivers scored 30 goals - by the end of February and then failed to find the net in the last 12 games!. In James Beatties' fantastic season, 2002-03 he failed to score in the first ten starts but still ended up with 23 League goals by May.[/b]

 

We can hope that Lambert injury is "only a twinge " that will be get better, and that Barnards brush with the judiciary doesn't have dire consequences and a loss of form by anyone won't leave much leeway..does it ? YES ..I'd like another striker, Nigel.

Edited by david in sweden
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Well said David in Sweden saved me writing a crappy version of yours :-D

 

I honestly believe we can get to the Premiership with a good goalscorer as we need to have a striker on the pitch who can break fast for us, speed is the biggest fear for any defence.

 

I'm going for these choices:

 

Sordell from Watford

Frimpong from Arsenal

Some unknown striker from the Cortese network.

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Yes we still need a new striker. People look at numbers and think we have enough, but thats not the full picture. We do not have the right balance. We have RL and we have the others. Most can play with RL, but if he is not available there doesn't seem to be another combination that works. We know LB and DC do not work together, maybe Guly with DC is OK, difficult to say, but we do really need a big bustling striker rather than the little 'uns we seem to be collecting. I think Doble needs two half season loans to gain some good experience. I will be disappointed if we don't bring in someone up front, as it was quite clear it was one of Adkins' target areas. Once we have the new CB which seems to be a done deal then new striker will finish things off nicely.

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I think Benik Afobe from Arsenal would be a great loan signing

He's very highly rated and done really well on loan for Huddersfield last year (8 goals + 10 assists)

 

Wenger would want him to develop in a higher league this season, so he could be a good target

Unfortunately, Wenger would probably stop us from signing him unless AOC signed for Arsenal

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Connolly was outstanding yesterday, Doble was scrappy. If we are going to buy a striker I don't think it'll be one that will start regularly. Yesterday our attack was:

 

----Connolly----Guly-----

Lallana------------Chambo

 

With Connolly drifting wide left to link with Lallana and Guly free roaming central, which worked superbly. You'd expect Lambert to start but who do you drop from that? A "2nd attacking 4 to that could compose of:

 

----Lambert----Barney---

De Ridder----------Holmes

 

And that is still decent. still doubting Forte's ability on the wing though.

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I still think we need another striker with pace - it's about the only thing we lack from our forwards and whilst pace isn't everything it does become more important the higher up the leagues you go and force other teams to take that into consideration.

 

I did have a thought the other day though - how about playing AOC up front? He's got the pace, control, quick feet and eye for goal and it might involve him more in the game than being out on the wing. Obviously it's based on the assumption that AOC stays and to a certain extent that de Ridder is as good as we hope but moght be worth experimenting with.

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I'm positive we're after another striker given the gap at #19 and the method used for handing out squad numbers this season.

 

Butterfield RB #(1)2

Hammond CM (1)4

Jaidi CB (1)5

Martin CB (1)6

Forte winger (1)7

Chaplow CM (1)8

Bart GK (2)1

Dickson LB (2)3

Doble AT (2)9

Forecast GK (3)1

Stephens RB (3)2

 

Aside from the players who have the numbers they had last season like Connolly and Lallana, and Holmes and De Ridder who have multiples of their old number (12) or the number they wanted (11 - 33), the others coincide with the traditional numbers for their position in a 1-11. About the only exception is Ben Reeves' #28, so having 19 free means a striker.

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Doesn't De Ridder play up front as well as on either wing ?

That would give a choice of Lambert, Connolly, Barnard, Guly, De Ridder, Chamberlain (IF he stays), and at a push Lallana.

With Forte and Doble in and around the squad I think we might have the strikers options covered.

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Connolly was outstanding yesterday, Doble was scrappy. If we are going to buy a striker I don't think it'll be one that will start regularly. Yesterday our attack was:

 

----Connolly----Guly-----

Lallana------------Chambo

 

With Connolly drifting wide left to link with Lallana and Guly free roaming central, which worked superbly. You'd expect Lambert to start but who do you drop from that? A "2nd attacking 4 to that could compose of:

 

----Lambert----Barney---

De Ridder----------Holmes

 

And that is still decent. still doubting Forte's ability on the wing though.

 

For me Connolly just highlights all the short falls in Ricky and Lee, the guy is just different gravy. I thought all four in the first game we good, all capable of performing well in the Championship. According to Adkins, Ricky will be the main striker next season and I believe it's only a minor twinge, just making sure we have him right for the season. It would not surprise me if he never featured much in the cups this season. I believe we have over played Lambert since he came to us, every game and usually on the pitch the full 90.

 

Personally I am not so sure Ricky is the person to lead the line but Adkins seems to have little doubts and he has been working closely with him in the close season. 442 and at home and Ricky has his place, 451 and wanting a counter attacking side away and I just cannot see it. But this is what the manager gets paid for and I pay to watch, would be brilliant if he pulled it off.

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Doesn't De Ridder play up front as well as on either wing ?

That would give a choice of Lambert, Connolly, Barnard, Guly, De Ridder, Chamberlain (IF he stays), and at a push Lallana.

With Forte and Doble in and around the squad I think we might have the strikers options covered.

 

Yeah, Adkins was quite clear in that De Ridder can play anywhere across the front...on the shoulder/in behind etc. I think he's our alternative striker, and also our alternative winger. 2 players in 1 i guess.

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We can hope that Lambert injury is "only a twinge " that will be get better,

bloody hope so, last summer he had that calf problem during preseason and it took him till xmas to refind his form.
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Yeah, Adkins was quite clear in that De Ridder can play anywhere across the front...on the shoulder/in behind etc. I think he's our alternative striker, and also our alternative winger. 2 players in 1 i guess.

 

 

Sure ! Great ! ....and all those enthusiastic words.

good about De Ridders speed and Jonnie Quick too ...but do they score 20 goals a season ? ..I don't think so ...

(even if they are good in assists).... I want a striker who can finish like Barnard and Connolly.

 

If we sign a striker ..I want a 20 goals-a-season man! OK ..I'll settle for 18 ....in his first season.

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Guest Dark Sotonic Mills

 

We can hope that Lambert injury is "only a twinge " that will be get better

 

On Solent yesterday, Lambert's 'injury' was described by Adkins as just a back spasm if I remember correctly. He was fit enough to play but was rested as a precaution.

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As you stated, we have (apparantly) unsuccessfully bid for two strikers, - so we must still have that as a priority before season start, and it appears more likely that we may sign a foreign striker ... if the rest of NAs wish list now excludes the two targets

who are not coming but would the THIRD choice really be a good bet ...now that Sharp and Maynard are out of the picture ?

 

Cortese's overseas contacts haven't been so bad - so far - have they ? Papa Waigo was a " one-off " but scored goals and was entertaining, and now that Guly has settled in I think most people think he is a good buy, so maybe Nicola has another one up his sleeve.. we'll see next week.

 

How do you know any striker coming in is third choice!!?? You dont.

We know we were in for Sharp and the RUMOUR in the press was we were also in for Maynard.

Maybe our first choice is still a possibility and thats why we pulled out of a deal for Sharp.

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There was a guy out with the second squad yesterday training before the Bilbao game - Didn't recognise him, looked huge, more like a Lambert/Howard type player.....anyone have any idea who it was?

 

I "think" (correct me if I'm wrong someone) that it was Aaron Racine - the young academy CB.

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Surprised by the poor support for Doble. Like Barney I thought he worked his sox off yesterday but actually had a better first touch than Barney. Obviously a way off a regular first team place but looks like he will develop into a good old fashioned CF in the Lambert mode. I wanted Forte to do well but in reality I think he was out of his depth. Some basic footballing skills seem to be lacking but when he gets free with the ball he is fast.

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Gossip around the workplace, or rather I keep getting told about it, is that its either Jutkiewicz or Maynard we still hold an interest in.

One or the other will be a Saints player by the weekend (today!).

 

There's no way we're getting Maynard at his current price.

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I'd love us to sign Jamie Mackie, I knew him when I worked at PAFC and he's one of the most driven people I've met and was a great striker, I doubt he'd leave QPR and it's still to be proven whether he's recovered properly from his fracture too.

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Rumour from Millwall is that they have lost out to us on signing Lukas Jutkiewicz. No idea how much truth there is behind this though.

 

The perfect choice IMO. Young, hungry, eager to do well for his favourite team, inexpensive, good skills even if he doesn't have a great goal ratio, and it would weaken Coventry who are one of our divisional rivals.

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I'd love us to sign Jamie Mackie, I knew him when I worked at PAFC and he's one of the most driven people I've met and was a great striker, I doubt he'd leave QPR and it's still to be proven whether he's recovered properly from his fracture too.

 

Hed run through a brick wall for the team, never stops running and harassing. We had a player sent off once and he played both RW and RB for 60 minutes.

 

Hes not the type to play off the front man, he plays wide in a front 3 and will definitely be in our 25 man squad. Rowan Vine is the type to play off the front man but hes gone on trial at Doncaster.

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The one and two choices for the club was clearly Sharp and Maynard. The Sharp deal is dead, but not necessarily the Maynard one. Any other suggestion from english football is a third choice, however we're looking at it. Is another bench warmer what we need? Do we think that Lukas Jutkiewicz (unspellable, I know) will have a weekly starting spot on the team sheet? Unless we are getting somebody from overseas and for as long as the Maynard option hasn't totally collapsed I can't see us signing a striker at the moment

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I think Benik Afobe from Arsenal would be a great loan signing

He's very highly rated and done really well on loan for Huddersfield last year (8 goals + 10 assists)

 

Wenger would want him to develop in a higher league this season, so he could be a good target

Unfortunately, Wenger would probably stop us from signing him unless AOC signed for Arsenal

 

I think Benik Afobe is a good shout. Get him on loan for a season with a view to permanent. Only seen him 3 or 4 times last season but thought he was impressive.

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I'd quite like us to sign Jutkiewicz simply because he's local. Think he's a pretty decent footballer too.

 

I think Lukas is the right choice as backup/rotation with Ricky, but it doesn't solve our lack of pace problem (providing AOC leaves).

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The one and two choices for the club was clearly Sharp and Maynard. The Sharp deal is dead, but not necessarily the Maynard one. Any other suggestion from english football is a third choice, however we're looking at it. Is another bench warmer what we need? Do we think that Lukas Jutkiewicz (unspellable, I know) will have a weekly starting spot on the team sheet? Unless we are getting somebody from overseas and for as long as the Maynard option hasn't totally collapsed I can't see us signing a striker at the moment

 

Bull****... you dont have a clue who our number one and two choice is!

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I think Benik Afobe is a good shout. Get him on loan for a season with a view to permanent. Only seen him 3 or 4 times last season but thought he was impressive.

 

When I saw him he was clumpsy and fell over too often. Missed 2 or 3 absolute sitters in the play offs against Bournemouth. Very average

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I honestly don't think we need another striker! With Lambert, Barnard, Connolly, Do Prado, Forte and Doble we have heaps of goals! Oxo, Lallana and Chaplow will all chip in as well. Would just like to see a addition at CB then I think we're done.

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Yeah, that was my thinking as well.

 

Agreed - he was rubbish against us in the play offs, I think setting up their second up there was about the only thing he did. Hudds lot wouldn't want him back either. Very suprised if he makes the Prem.

 

You'll want better than him!...(and definitely no untried young strikers from us LOL)

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How do you know any striker coming in is third choice!!?? You dont.

We know we were in for Sharp and the RUMOUR in the press was we were also in for Maynard.

Maybe our first choice is still a possibility and thats why we pulled out of a deal for Sharp.[/QUOTE]

 

well I'm sure you've read the same threads /texts that I have, but wasn't it Sharp who said the deal wasn't right for him even though we boosted the offer up to over £3 million.?

 

Cortese is a serious man ...I don't believe that he'd play around and then back out of a deal, but Sharp and Maynard are the only two strikers that I've read about with bids being credited to Saints.

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