Do we need two?

[robbiez666]

I realise all the talk is about bringing one striker in but do we really need two, or at least two attacking players?

As things stand:

McBurnie looks like a starter

but the rest, not so sure:

Sharp - Not good enough and not getting any younger
McG - Dire scoring record last season, not getting any younger and seemingly picking up frequent injuries. Will likely play a lot if fit.
Mousse - Out with the foot problem but never fully fit and seems to pick up a lot of niggling injuries
Burke - Unknown quantity but unproven at this level

So, even if we bring one first choice striker in, and they fire straight away, our bench options aren't exactly strong.

Add to that the fact we don't have one attacking midfielder, and we look light upfront.

I think we need two, and it would make sense for one of those to be an attacking midfielder. Whether we can afford two is another matter entirely.

 

[Chabuddy G]

We need some form of creation from midfield

 

[Birley Blade]

I realise all the talk is about bringing one striker in but do we really need two, or at least two attacking players?

As things stand:

McBurnie looks like a starter

but the rest, not so sure:

Sharp - Not good enough and not getting any younger
McG - Dire scoring record last season, not getting any younger and seemingly picking up frequent injuries. Will likely play a lot if fit.
Mousse - Out with the foot problem but never fully fit and seems to pick up a lot of niggling injuries
Burke - Unknown quantity but unproven at this level

So, even if we bring one first choice striker in, and they fire straight away, our bench options aren't exactly strong.

Add to that the fact we don't have one attacking midfielder, and we look light upfront.

I think we need two, and it would make sense for one of those to be an attacking midfielder. Whether we can afford two is another matter entirely.

For me, starting McBurnie is all wrong, he needs to come on as a sub as a plan B. When he’s on then pitch we adapt our style completely to LONGBALL and it’s a game we’re never gonna win.

A McGoldrick replacement is needed desperately because that’s the only time we look comfortably linked from midfield to forwards.

If we don’t sign this type of player we’ve got to recall Luke Freeman at some point, we can’t go on like this or it’s gonna be a rough season.

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Definitely need 2 sharp and mcgoldrick aren't good enough, moose injured for god knows how long we desperately need some quality and pace up there

 

[robbiez666]

For me, starting McBurnie is all wrong, he needs to come on as a sub as a plan B. When he’s on then pitch we adapt our style completely to LONGBALL and it’s a game we’re never gonna win.

A McGoldrick replacement is needed desperately because that’s the only time we look comfortably linked from midfield to forwards.

If we don’t sign this type of player we’ve got to recall Luke Freeman at some point, we can’t go on like this or it’s gonna be a rough season.

Wilder mentioned game changers in his interview today. He mentioned Brooks and Grealish but then talked about Morrison, in terms of what we can afford.

Thinking on, it's the one role he has struggled with since coming here. Holmes, Morrison, Carruthers, Evans, Freeman, Thomas and maybe even Mousset.

The only successors have possibly been Chapman and McGoldrick. Obviously Brooks as well, but not a signing, as such.

It's possible to do something like McGoldrick and Duffy where you have a striker who drops and links up play and a midfielder who quickly moves the angle of attack.

As you say, we need a McGoldrick replacement, at least, but preferably also someone who can do what Duffy did whilst also offering a more rounded game.

 

[Birley Blade]

Wilder mentioned game changers in his interview today. He mentioned Brooks and Grealish but then talked about Morrison, in terms of what we can afford.

Thinking on, it's the one role he has struggled with since coming here. Holmes, Morrison, Carruthers, Evans, Freeman, Thomas and maybe even Mousset.

The only successors have possibly been Chapman and McGoldrick. Obviously Brooks as well, but not a signing, as such.

It's possible to do something like McGoldrick and Duffy where you have a striker who drops and links up play and a midfielder who quickly moves the angle of attack.

As you say, we need a McGoldrick replacement, at least, but preferably also someone who can do what Duffy did whilst also offering a more rounded game.

You say he’s struggled with that role since being here but I’m very unsure why. If you look at the players you’ve listed, apart from Mousset, all those other players were held in high regard at their previous respective clubs, and their stats didn’t lie.

Holmes was unreal for Charlton, was a nightmare when he played against us and he was something of a free kick maestro. Freeman was unreal at QPR and they loved him driving forward with pace, was one of their key attackers. Even Nathan Thomas was constantly involved at Carlisle, used to be extremely attacking on the wing and was banging in long range beauties every couple of weeks.

Everytime we get a CAM type player, more often than not they flop and they even look shy/nervous on the ball. You never see them do what they did at their previous clubs and I put it down to CW. I think he just doesn’t know how to use them at all.

This needs to change.

 

[robbiez666]

You say he’s struggled with that role since being here but I’m very unsure why. If you look at the players you’ve listed, apart from Mousset, all those other players were held in high regard at their previous respective clubs, and their stats didn’t lie.

Holmes was unreal for Charlton, was a nightmare when he played against us and he was something of a free kick maestro. Freeman was unreal at QPR and they loved him driving forward with pace, was one of their key attackers. Even Nathan Thomas was constantly involved at Carlisle, used be extremely attacking on the wing and was banging in long range beauties every couple of weeks.

Everytime we get a CAM type player, more often than not they flop and they even look shy/nervous on the ball. You never see them do what they did at their previous clubs and I put it down to CW. I think he just doesn’t know how to use them at all.

This needs to change.

I think the problem might be that these kind of players don't fit into the way we play. To get someone who is really creative and who tackles back/works for the team is tricky. These players tend to be the strollers. run around a lot when attacking, have a little nap when defending. I suspect we sign them with the hope we can improve their attitude and just end up failing!

I also suspect they're not the best trainers and that's something Chris demands.

 

[bongleblade]

I realise all the talk is about bringing one striker in but do we really need two, or at least two attacking players?

As things stand:

McBurnie looks like a starter

but the rest, not so sure:

Sharp - Not good enough and not getting any younger
McG - Dire scoring record last season, not getting any younger and seemingly picking up frequent injuries. Will likely play a lot if fit.
Mousse - Out with the foot problem but never fully fit and seems to pick up a lot of niggling injuries
Burke - Unknown quantity but unproven at this level

So, even if we bring one first choice striker in, and they fire straight away, our bench options aren't exactly strong.

Add to that the fact we don't have one attacking midfielder, and we look light upfront.

I think we need two, and it would make sense for one of those to be an attacking midfielder. Whether we can afford two is another matter entirely.

I feel that one long-term signing like Brewster is required (min 2 seasons if he transfers with buy back clause), alongside an EPL season long loan to account for eventual injuries.

Seems as if we are in a strange position at the moment where all our strikers are all OK, but not good enough for this level (i'd say McB is an exception and is still going on to prove this, not sure Mousset has the mentality for sustained success at this level, but clearly talented enough)

If you threw out the window bladey-ness, sentimentality and effect on the team, we could sell McG and Sharp to contribute towards purchasing a good striker to go alongside Mousset/McBurnie/Brewster??? We would then have 4 strikers vying for/rotating 2 positions, with Hackford/Smith as youth options for backup. Burke is definitely a low risk gamble and I don't expect CW to be relying on him

IMO we should have sold Luke Freeman too, feel that the loan is curious though, CW may have a trick up his sleeve for a CAM in our formation for 21/22?????

 

[robbiez666]

I feel that one long-term signing like Brewster is required (min 2 seasons if he transfers with buy back clause), alongside an EPL season long loan to account for eventual injuries.

Seems as if we are in a strange position at the moment where all our strikers are all OK, but not good enough for this level (i'd say McB is an exception and is still going on to prove this, not sure Mousset has the mentality for sustained success at this level, but clearly talented enough)

If you threw out the window bladey-ness, sentimentality and effect on the team, we could sell McG and Sharp to contribute towards purchasing a good striker to go alongside Mousset/McBurnie/Brewster??? We would then have 4 strikers vying for/rotating 2 positions, with Hackford/Smith as youth options for backup. Burke is definitely a low risk gamble and I don't expect CW to be relying on him

IMO we should have sold Luke Freeman too, feel that the loan is curious though, CW may have a trick up his sleeve for a CAM in our formation for 21/22?????

I don't think we can sell either McG or Sharp. They both have just signed contract extensions for another 2 years. I doubt anyone would offer anything like a decent amount of money for either, maybe a million for Sharp, but why would either leave to step down a division and take a pay cut? I suspect no one would pay for McG given his injury problems and age but I still think he has an important role to play this season.

I'm possibly the only one who doesn't see Freeman as a player for us in this formation. I thought he was poor in the Fleck role. not good enough in the defensive aspect and too slow in thought and action going forward. That could indeed be different if he played as a AMC but we don't play that way. He joins the growing list of wtf signings, but in fairness we changed our midfield shape shortly after signing him.

 

[PurpleRain]

Don’t shoot me but I think you need a strong centre forward which is McBurnie (but no back up for him) combined with a technical forward who can link up midfield with attack. A type like Dack from blackburn (maybe too light for PL but affordable), Deulofeu (watford), Pozuelo (Toronto - 8 games, 3 goals + 3 assist), maybe even Johnson from Preston who scores a lot and is creative if budget is tight. And as a plan B have a paceful tricky striker like Dennis or Boadu from AZ if there is money or a more cheap option. So yes, you need at least two attacking signings I think: one technical link-up forward and one rocket who can play counter attack. I a sure a lot will happen in the last transfer week.

 

[Varkanoid]

Mainly saying one striker as we can hardly afford one let alone two. Problem is you dont really want a striker on loan as often they are on loan because they cant score.

 

[Bladesman]

We need 3 new players.

 

[1987]

We need somebody to partner Oli Mac, and we need somebody in the midfield to show some quality in the final third. Whether thats a new signing in the middle, or getting the players to calm down a bit and make better choices.

McBurnie btw can play with it very well into feet, him being on the pitch doesnt signal a style of play, i think some of the players just use his ability in the air as a reason (excuse?) to launch it. He was still on the pitch second half when we put it on the deck more.

 

[Cheesebored]

We need somebody to partner Oli Mac, and we need somebody in the midfield to show some quality in the final third. Whether thats a new signing in the middle, or getting the players to calm down a bit and make better choices.

McBurnie btw can play with it very well into feet, him being on the pitch doesnt signal a style of play, i think some of the players just use his ability in the air as a reason (excuse?) to launch it. He was still on the pitch second half when we put it on the deck more.

It's the forwards that need to show quality in the final third. No doubting we need a quality midfielder to allow them to do so.

 

[1987]

It's the forwards that need to show quality in the final third. No doubting we need a quality midfielder to allow them to do so.

Do the midfield not enter the final third then? Seems a weird one that CB.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

We need two strikers 100% Moose is never fit and is out for a few months. Even when hes back hes a liability

Hopefully we can get Brewster and Balogun

 

[1889]

I might have already mentioned this but, I’d like to see us sign Buendia, I know he’ll command a hefty transfer fee but surely we can better Norwich’s wage, then possibly try and get the lad from Bayern Munich, as an overseas loan.

I think Arsenal are asking way too much for an unproven 19 year old, if Balogun was worth £15m, you’d have thought he’d have featured for their first team, by now and the money would be better invested in Buendia

 

[TJ blade]

I might have already mentioned this but, I’d like to see us sign Buendia, I know he’ll command a hefty transfer fee but surely we can better Norwich’s wage, then possibly try and get the lad from Bayern Munich, as an overseas loan.

I think Arsenal are asking way too much for an unproven 19 year old, if Balogun was worth £15m, you’d have thought he’d have featured for their first team, by now and the money would be better invested in Buendia

Agree, but I'm not going to state the obvious why it's not going to happen.

 

[robbiez666]

I might have already mentioned this but, I’d like to see us sign Buendia, I know he’ll command a hefty transfer fee but surely we can better Norwich’s wage, then possibly try and get the lad from Bayern Munich, as an overseas loan.

I think Arsenal are asking way too much for an unproven 19 year old, if Balogun was worth £15m, you’d have thought he’d have featured for their first team, by now and the money would be better invested in Buendia

They're strong up top though and he's behind Nkitiah in terms of development. I think 15 is too much but he's for high single figures. Arsenal will want the money as well and not add ons. They want him to stay but the lad wants to play football.