Judging the strikers

[Brian Deane]

Does he mean the same Clayton Donaldson who pulled his hamstring taking a shot?

By 'all round' I assume basic levels of fitness isn't one of the criteria? Neither is being able to play a full 90 mins... But apart from that...

However, if you judge it on a YouTube highlights reel - yep Clayton had it all!!!

Injuries can happen to anyone at any given time or curcumstance. Donaldsons age would of been a big factor as perhaps was the same for Milner. Didn't he go off with a hamstring problem which occured after making a simple pass as I'm sure I saw him sat in the stand wrapping an ice pack under his left hamstring.

 

[Chabuddy G]

To be fair to Wilder, he knew Sharp/Mcgoldrick/Clarke would not be good enough, hence him signing 3 other strikers.
The problem is, he replaced 3 championship strikers with 3 others.


Creativity is a major issue, but can you really play more expansively and risk that defensive record with the current strikers?
I'm not sure....

Be nice to actually find out.
Mousset and McBurnie have shown Premier League talent in their goals this season. McBurnie v Brighton and Man United & Mousset against Man United & Everton, absolutely any striker on earth would be proud of. Be nice if they got more chance to do things like that.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Great post, add Haller, Wesley, Pepe to your list of strikers with a poor return this year from mega zillions moves, & Maupay has only done OK.

But without service anyone will struggle.

Exactly mate, they’ve had very little service. The way we set up and play chances are much more likely to drop to the midfielders hence the glut of goals for Lundstram and Fleck. I can’t say the strikers have missed many chances because truth be told they haven’t, McGoldrick apart.

 

[Chabuddy G]

We have a goal scoring record comparable to 3 out of the bottom 5 sides.

Would you happily have Robinson, Moose & McBurnie as our go to strike force next season? I wouldn't; Robinson appears lightweight, lacklustre and not suited to either playing as a 9 or a 10 which is what we need. Moose appears to have serious issues about keeping weight off and consistency. McBurnie is like lukewarm water, neither one thing or the other, just something in between. Doesn't appear to possess either the pace, guile, skill or strength to seriously bother PL defences or the net.

I've seen enough of Grant to know that he's an improvement on what we've currently got, and can play the lone forward role if needs must, which i suspect they will do next season, as we fill the gap between the midfield and front line with an attacking midfielder

I won't bring BS or Didsy into this discussion, but it's worth noting that our full backs have scored more than them.

Fleck & Lundstram have dug us out of a problem this season, for which I am grateful.

I’d like to replace Robinson with someone more capable but that’s it. We will have a very limited budget. Any striker would struggle in our current set up and I don’t think Grant is any different even though I do like him and wouldn’t mind seeing him next season.

Fleck and Lundstram have ‘pulled us out of the shit’ because they’ve had chances. The strikers like I’ve said haven’t had many at all. Chances are probably more likely to fall to the midfielders if anything in our system.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

As an ALL ROUND ST name something he couldn’t do?

Score goals.

 

[Onetouchfootball]

No Mate, I have read your post, but the facts remain that Sharp is not at this level (poor player at this level), McBurnie could be a quality hold up man in time when he fills out, Mcgold' can hold his own, when he is fit, but won't get the goals required and the Moose is the enigma that will continue to haunt who ever employs him, and forget the rest.

I think that it has been said previously that sometimes you need to create something for yourself as a striker, only a fit Moose can do this at present. The midfield have all on covering the back line at the moment, because they look extremely rusty, to say the least!

 

[Birley Blade]

Score goals.

He scored goals in important games for us in the Championship. Why the saltiness? We got him on the cheap and he was well worth the money.

 

[8lade]

Tufty knew this area would be critical in the summer which is why he spunked big moneh (for us) on McBurnie, Mousset and Robinson (and Freeman to a lesser extent).

For none of them to have really come off is both bewildering and worrying...

Thinking back most people thought these were good purchases, I thought McBurnie would be ok but couldn't see who else we could afford since Maupay chose to go to Brighton.
Mitrovic was the obvious choice but apparently was already on 86k a week
Robinson I wasn't keen on since he'd only ever had half a good season but my decision on him is pending.
Mousset was a blind side signing, I don't think anybody called it until it started leaking and I think he's been the most successful and needs more time on the pitch.
Of those already at the club Sharp is easily the best and only Mousset is a better striker.
I'm confident that Sharp McBurnie doesn't work too well but one of them with Mousset has to be a better option.
Going forward we don't have the transfer fee or the wages for an established goalscorer so it's going to have to be the bargain basement again.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

He scored goals in important games for us in the Championship. Why the saltiness? We got him on the cheap and he was well worth the money.

Just answering your question.

Scoring goals supersedes everything else.

 

[Chabuddy G]

I don’t mind taking a roasting if people back it up, but in the short period he was with us, you couldn’t fault him. As an ALL ROUND ST name something he couldn’t do? He was strong, held the ball up, ran at defenders and he could finish. I can recall at least 3 goals he scored from the edge of the box that were fantastic. Sunderland Away (his debut) being an example.

His legs went at Christmas that season, hence his lack of a career since

 

[CoatesyBlade]

I wouldn't say Mcburnie is anywhere near clinical. He missed another good chance (Header) in the first half when he tamely headed it straight at the keeper.

His finishing with his head is awful. Never gets any power!
Bit unusual when you know he wins aerial battles and always connects defensively.

 

[sufcboy95]

There’s not many players that can score 12+ goals in the prem. And there’s literally none that we can afford or attract.

The only chance we’ve got is buying someone like Ollie Watkins and hoping he comes good.

 

[CentralQuay]

There’s not many players that can score 12+ goals in the prem. And there’s literally none that we can afford or attract.

The only chance we’ve got is buying someone like Ollie Watkins and hoping he comes good.

same approach as mcburnie then?

 

[Chabuddy G]

Yet again, not Moose, McGoldrick, McBurnie or Zivkovic had a chance to score. We didn’t test their keeper at all. That’s 1 shot on target per game on average.

Time to loosen the shackles Chris... not that I expect you to

 

[Freethinker]

Yet again, not Moose, McGoldrick, McBurnie or Zivkovic had a chance to score. We didn’t test their keeper at all. That’s 1 shot on target per game on average.

Time to loosen the shackles Chris... not that I expect you to

absolutely therein lies the problem no creativity nobody comfortable running with the ball drawing defenders away from the striker's no killer balls

 

[Chabuddy G]

absolutely therein lies the problem no creativity nobody comfortable running with the ball drawing defenders away from the striker's no killer balls

And people will continue to slate the strikers and say we need to spend big bucks.

MESSI WOULDNT HIT DOUBLE FIGURES IN OUR SYSTEM

 

[CentralQuay]

And people will continue to slate the strikers and say we need to spend big bucks.

MESSI WOULDNT HIT DOUBLE FIGURES IN OUR SYSTEM

Im not convinced the strikers would hit the extra goals needed for the extra that will be conceded changing the system.

 

[Freethinker]

And people will continue to slate the strikers and say we need to spend big bucks.

MESSI WOULDNT HIT DOUBLE FIGURES IN OUR SYSTEM

it wouldn't hurt at this stage to try something different be more adventurous could help us in advance of next season