Alan Biggs Tweet

[Scooter_mcgavin]

If the only goal is to literally just get up there then that’s fine, but if it’s to actually stay there and sustain ourselves we’d need to sign an entire new set of attacking players.

Say we get there, then what? We’re stuck in the prem with the same strikers who weren’t scoring enough goals in the Championship.

Fulham are proving this season that spending millions on almost an entirely new first 11 once up there is no guarantee of success.

Fulham are also the example of the continental approach, but to an even worse extent.

Shahid Khan's son is actually the guy recruiting the players, the side Jokanovic took up has been decimated with 100m worth of players (Mitorvic aside) he never asked for.

 

[Harrisblade]

Say we get there, then what? We’re stuck in the prem with the same strikers who weren’t scoring enough goals in the Championship.

We're 4th top scorers.
I think we're allowed to add to our squad if we want to!
And surely, the first priority is to get there?

 

[Deleted member 875]

It has been a lack of goals that has cost us in 4 of the last 5 games.

Against Derby our general overall play would have warranted at least a couple of more goals but we couldn’t apply the killer touch, against Forest if we had that bit of extra quality then we wouldn’t have been coming away with a loss, Stoke was similar, loads of possession but very little end product, and for the pigs, the less said the better.

I think Sharp is playing as well as he can but recently has suffered with a lack of service as teams have been defending deep against us. Clarke has offered very little this season, and McGoldrick after an outstanding start is beginning to suffer a slump in form.

If we are serious about going for promotion, then it is attack where we need to strengthen. Short-termism has cost us in the past where McCabe attempted to build a team around loanees rather than buying long term replacements, but I think with the situation we are in, a couple of established strikers on loan until the end of the season will be exactly what we need, the two I would go for would be Andy Carroll and Jermaine Defoe, the are doubts about Carolls injury record, and age is against Defoe, but Carroll will offer us something completely different up front and give us an extra dimension, and if we signed Defoe that is an extra 10 goals between now and the end of the season nailed on.

It then suddenly becomes a question if that pair of quibbling tarts who own Sheffield United are willing to swallow their pride and take that gamble for the good of the club.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Can we sign someone who doesn't need bathing in embrocation before a game

Its Phyllosan they need. Ring a bell with anyone?

 

[BushBlade]

This will alert other clubs and we may not get them. Am disappointed that our targets are revealed 7 weeks early

I doubt it’s true but if it is, other clubs will know anyway. The player’s agents will be touting them around to get them the best move.

 

[snootyfenooty]

We're 4th top scorers.
I think we're allowed to add to our squad if we want to!
And surely, the first priority is to get there?

Thats in the past. This is our perennial problem, fans and club alike. Its planning what comes next which is the key.

 

[BettingBlade]

An entirely new first 11 wouldn’t be needed, though. ‘We’re stuck in the Prem with the same strikers who weren’t scoring enough goals in the Championship’. Is there a transfer embargo?

Where have I said we can’t sign new ones, Danny?

Just saying I’d like to see us build a squad that’s not overly reliant on older strikers up top.
We’d need at least a couple of strikers if we went up, a couple more midfielders especially an attacking one and depending on the goalkeeper situation, a new keeper.

I also said ‘Fulham have signed ALMOST entirely a new 11’ seeing as you like to be pedantic, Danny

 

[BettingBlade]

Fulham are also the example of the continental approach, but to an even worse extent.

Shahid Khan's son is actually the guy recruiting the players, the side Jokanovic took up has been decimated with 100m worth of players (Mitorvic aside) he never asked for.

Wolves could also be used for the same example. Seems to be working okay for them.

It’s down to the chairmen and manager more than anything. I’d like to think we’d more like the Wolves model albeit on a lower budget

 

[BushBlade]

Where have I said we can’t sign new ones, Danny?

Just saying I’d like to see us build a squad that’s not overly reliant on older strikers up top.
We’d need at least a couple of strikers if we went up, a couple more midfielders especially an attacking one and depending on the goalkeeper situation, a new keeper.

I also said ‘Fulham have signed ALMOST entirely a new 11’ seeing as you like to be pedantic, Danny

But if we go up, we’ll be in a far better position to replace Clarke and Shark than if we stay in the championship.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

But if we go up, we’ll be in a far better position to replace Clarke and Shark than if we stay in the championship.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Wolves could also be used for the same example. Seems to be working okay for them.

It’s down to the chairmen and manager more than anything. I’d like to think we’d more like the Wolves model albeit on a lower budget

NES might still have some input though, the types of players he wants etc.

Jokanovic categorically states 2 weeks ago that he didn't want any of the players brought in apart from Mitrovic.

 

[SteveBlade]

They will have combined age of 68 come January. Not for me thanks, we’ve had enough old crocks getting thier final pay packets at the Lane over the years. I thought Dean Hammond would have been the final straw.

I’d sooner us look at a player in the lower leagues if we can’t find anybody younger than them

Let's be reight, if you were in the mix in January and you needed a striker who'd guarantee you goals for a few months to seriously enhance your chances of promotion, some 21 year old who might be really good in a few years wouldn't be top of your list.

Jermain fucking Defoe would be.

 

[Champagneblade]

It has been a lack of goals that has cost us in 4 of the last 5 games.

Against Derby our general overall play would have warranted at least a couple of more goals but we couldn’t apply the killer touch, against Forest if we had that bit of extra quality then we wouldn’t have been coming away with a loss, Stoke was similar, loads of possession but very little end product, and for the pigs, the less said the better.

I think Sharp is playing as well as he can but recently has suffered with a lack of service as teams have been defending deep against us. Clarke has offered very little this season, and McGoldrick after an outstanding start is beginning to suffer a slump in form.

If we are serious about going for promotion, then it is attack where we need to strengthen. Short-termism has cost us in the past where McCabe attempted to build a team around loanees rather than buying long term replacements, but I think with the situation we are in, a couple of established strikers on loan until the end of the season will be exactly what we need, the two I would go for would be Andy Carroll and Jermaine Defoe, the are doubts about Carolls injury record, and age is against Defoe, but Carroll will offer us something completely different up front and give us an extra dimension, and if we signed Defoe that is an extra 10 goals between now and the end of the season nailed on.

It then suddenly becomes a question if that pair of quibbling tarts who own Sheffield United are willing to swallow their pride and take that gamble for the good of the club.

Not having service is a fair defence of Billy as we haven’t turned our territorial dominance to goals. However given the areas we had possession it’s not unkind to expect our strikers to make a goal or two themselves. Same can be said for the midfield.

The whole xG argument is great but you’re not going to get by with just poking them in from the 6 yard box.

Like Duffy’s against Villa you need someone to ping them in from 20 yards from time to time. Our longer range shooting has been pretty shit in the sequence of games we just played. It seems to be borne of frustration and desperation rather than a self belief that we can knock one in from far out.

It’s disappointing because all three midfielders have an ability to strike a ball from distance. Perhaps in the effort to embrace a style where we almost walk it in, practicing pot shots has been neglected?

 

[Topplayersleave]

Neither for me,
They are exactly the type of players we don't want.
If you're gonna pay a fortune at least get somebody who will give a toss

 

[Jonboy60]

Its Phyllosan they need. Ring a bell with anyone?

But he’s 36, phyllosan only fortifies the over 40s.

 

[stringer]

Where have I said we can’t sign new ones, Danny?

Just saying I’d like to see us build a squad that’s not overly reliant on older strikers up top.
We’d need at least a couple of strikers if we went up, a couple more midfielders especially an attacking one and depending on the goalkeeper situation, a new keeper.

I also said ‘Fulham have signed ALMOST entirely a new 11’ seeing as you like to be pedantic, Danny

And they’d be signed, so I’m not entirely sure of the point? The idea of signing Defoe isn’t for him to lead the line for the next ten years. It’d be hopefully to get them over the line, Mitrovic style, and then other targets would be pursued

 

[S5Blade]

And they’d be signed, so I’m not entirely sure of the point? The idea of signing Defoe isn’t for him to lead the line for the next ten years. It’d be hopefully to get them over the line, Mitrovic style, and then other targets would be pursued

So is biggs talking bollocks or is there a genuine chance?

 

[Sid1978]

Neither for me,
They are exactly the type of players we don't want.
If you're gonna pay a fortune at least get somebody who will give a toss

Serious question.. How you KNOW they won't give a toss?

 

[blade789]

Neither for me,
They are exactly the type of players we don't want.
If you're gonna pay a fortune at least get somebody who will give a toss

Defoe showed an outstanding attitude in a Sunderland side that had all given up around him.

One of Long’s main attributes is he works his bollocks off.

Your ‘giving a toss’ comment is ridiculous.

 

[stringer]

So is biggs talking bollocks or is there a genuine chance?

Biggs is saying they’re Wilder targets, as far as I recall he doesn’t say if there’s a chance or not. Depends on what CW is given in Jan first and foremost

 

[Sean Thornton]

Biggs is saying they’re Wilder targets, as far as I recall he doesn’t say if there’s a chance or not. Depends on what CW is given in Jan first and foremost

First and foremost it depends on whether they actually are Wilder targets.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

First and foremost it depends on whether they actually are Wilder targets.

What's the word on the street from Wit?

 

[stringer]

First and foremost it depends on whether they actually are Wilder targets.

I’ve absolutely no reason to doubt they are, coming from a good source.

 

[GrayBlade]

Let's be reight, if you were in the mix in January and you needed a striker who'd guarantee you goals for a few months to seriously enhance your chances of promotion, some 21 year old who might be really good in a few years wouldn't be top of your list.

Jermain fucking Defoe would be.

He would be if he was a few years younger and hadn’t played a competitive game since he broke his ankle last December. That’s why there are rumours around that he could be available, he’s 36 and hasn’t played for nearly a year.

I can see it now, we’ll need to give him a few months to get him match fit and then who knows. Being out that long is bad enough for a young player but thirty fucking six. He's past his sell by date, if he’d still being playing regularly and scoring the odd goal yes, but of course Bournemouth wouldn’t let him leave if he had been. Hammond Mk2 awaits.

 

[SteveBlade]

He would be if he was a few years younger and hadn’t played a competitive game since he broke his ankle last December. That’s why there are rumours around that he could be available, he’s 36 and hasn’t played for nearly a year.

I can see it now, we’ll need to give him a few months to get him match fit and then who knows. Being out that long is bad enough for a young player but thirty fucking six. He's past his sell by date, if he’d still being playing regularly and scoring the odd goal yes, but of course Bournemouth wouldn’t let him leave if he had been. Hammond Mk2 awaits.

Maybe you're right. But in my opinion the risk involved in signing a players like Defoe for a few months is worth it. Not sure who else is out there, but I think it's unlikely we'll find a game changing youngster from a Premier League club in the loan market. The market we got Leonard/Evans/Holmes from is also very hit and miss.

 

[BushBlade]

Maybe you're right. But in my opinion the risk involved in signing a players like Defoe for a few months is worth it. Not sure who else is out there, but I think it's unlikely we'll find a game changing youngster from a Premier League club in the loan market. The market we got Leonard/Evans/Holmes from is also very hit and miss.

So you’d drop Sharp?

 

[SteveBlade]

So you’d drop Sharp?

Of course, considering it's impossible that he'd be able to play with him due to being under 6 ft tall.

 

[BushBlade]

Of course, considering it's impossible that he'd be able to play with him due to being under 6 ft tall.

They’re very similar, I think they’d look to take up the same positions.

 

[coaxingstar71]

While I'd welcome more options up front, from the point of view of cover for injury or suspensions, I don't think it's the reason we haven't scored in the last 2 games. We simply haven't got the ball to the strikers in areas where they are likely to score. You could have Defoe, Mitrovic and Aguero in there, but if you don't give them any decent ball to feed off, we're not going to be any better off.

If we're going to sign a striker, I'd rather it was one that's quick and can turn or get past a man in and around the box. A sort of Kabba or Agana type of player.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Besides that the wages will probably be a sticking point. We could get more for our money.

That is the issue though. We probably cant get more for the money.
Even very average players will be stupidly expensive in January.

I’ve said all along that my prediction is we’ll be ambitious in January spending 8 million or so.
Then loads of our fans will be ungrateful saying we’ve wasted money and why didn’t we get Freeman or Maupay. Not realising that those clubs asked for a ridiculous15 million transfer fee.

Regards targets if teams sit back parking the bus, a pacey player is wasted, no space to run into.
Wilder bought Hanson which worked, he needs another big lump to ruffle the defense. Of course we could then play the waiting game and hope they lower the price to a more realistic 5 to 8 million on the final day but assume Wilder wants his targets early, no gambling/ waiting in the final hours.