Do we need another striker?

[Scooter_mcgavin]

It's been said and I totally agree that Brooks at the moment is a bit of liability when we're not in possession. The defensive side of his game is severely lacking, although I don't think this is a bad thing. We can actually use this positively.

He has something our current crop of strikers don't, skill, pace, trickery and no fear. Why don't we stick him up front alongside sharp for the next couple of games? Either that or play a 4-3-2-1, with Duffy and Brooks behind Sharp?

Something I think could work and I'm sure Wilder may be contemplate it. Let's be honest, Evans, Hanson, Lavery aren't options for a variety of reasons (although I think Lavery would have scored had he been playing on Sat).

 

[SteveBlade]

Yeah we do.

Brooks as a second striker with either Sharp or Ched excites me though and in theory it should work very well.

 

[RMBlade]

Yes.

 

[Steve Mackan]

I thought the same about Brooks, I think he could definitely do a job up front. But I still think we need a striker, especially if Lavery is falling out of the picture. But I agree, Lavery should be on the bench and should've come on. Against a tired team chasing the game, the pace of Lavery and Brooks would've been preferable to Ched.

Having said that, I think we should be playing 3-4-2-1 away from home, and two out of Brooks, Duffy, Carruther's (maybe Thomas later in the season) might negate the need for another striker.

 

[Torrix1889]

Yes we do...Sharp picks up an injury and we are in trouble..

 

[Pierre's PC]

Yes and I'm surprised that this hasn't been asked before.

 

[Ted Danson]

yes defo, infact Id like 2

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Only if we can find one who is better than the ones we have.

I've said elsewhere, we've got plenty of depth, we now need quality.

I assume that's what is holding Wilder back. Not surprisingly, teams aren't prepared to release their better players and as things stand, we're not yet a proven Championship side which is no doubt restricting our ability to pay top rate Championship wages to attract other players. Which explains why thus far, we've only been able to shop in the lower leagues.

Hopefully next Summer, after a strong season, the club will be prepared to gamble on higher wages, and players will see us as a serious contender. As things stand, we know the trajectory we're on, but not many outside of S2 appreciates this.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

it is looking very much like it - Hanson is not in the plan (IMHO) and could go out permanently or loan before the windows shuts - probably until the JTW opens.

Good strikers are like rocking horse shit though and we don't necessarily have the finance.

We have a massive problem is Billy gets injured - it really is that simple.

UTB

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Yes. We have some decent options already but we could use one more with something different to the rest.

I'm just concerned that behind Billy Sharp we don't have any guaranteed 20 a season cover. Ched is coming back from a long time out and injuries. Leon provides the muscle and combative element but may not get that many goals. We could definitely do with another however..... we have two other much greater priorities for me, one in defence and one in midfield.

 

[Ricky]

Brooks is a real option up top but yes, we still need another striker.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

I did mean 3-4-2-1, not 4-3-2-1.

I think we've enough midfielders, people may say we need a combative midfielder, but that's what Lundstram was signed for.

If he's not deemed good enough (and the Jury is definitely out on him despite minimal gametime), then it begs the question why did we sign him?

I think an interchangable front three of Duffy/Carruthers/Brooks and Sharp is quite and attractive option.

 

[pommpey]

--------------------Blackman--------------
----Brayford-------O'Connell-----Wright ---
Baldock------------------------------Stevens--
-----------Fleck------------Coutts---------------
-------------------Brooks-----------------------
----------Sharp------------Evans-------------

Brooksy should be tucked in behind the front two. Real threat with that formation with cover behind and out wide.

Lundstram and Duffy as midfield options on the bench.

pommpey

 

[Gavlar]

Well between Clarke, Sharp, Evans, Hanson and Lavery how many championship goals have they got between them? Not a lot and none for several years, so yes we definitely need a new striker.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Well between Clarke, Sharp, Evans, Hanson and Lavery how many championship goals have they got between them? Not a lot and none for several years, so yes we definitely need a new striker.

I don't think you can judge our strikers on their previous experience at this level. Look at Waghorn and Mackay, did sweet FA in the mickey mouse league up north, yet are banging them in so far at teams who were supposed to be in a relegation scrap this season.

Additionally any 'proven' strikers are either unavailable or are touted for 10m.

 

[Gavlar]

I don't think you can judge our strikers on their previous experience at this level. Look at Waghorn and Mackay, did sweet FA in the mickey mouse league up north, yet are banging them in so far at teams who were supposed to be in a relegation scrap this season.

Additionally any 'proven' strikers are either unavailable or are touted for 10m.

Yep fair point mate. Though I think it helps to have had experience of banging goals in at this level. One other observation though is that not many of our strikers are that young. Sharp, Hanson, Clarke are all over 30 or almost 30. Ched is 29 soon. Brooks is young though and Lavery.

My concern is that their best years are behind them fitness and peak wise. I could be wrong but I think most of our strikers are on the way down not up. Of course a generalisation, but may be right. I'll be happy if i'm proved wrong though!

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Yep fair point mate. Though I think it helps to have had experience of banging goals in at this level. One other observation though is that not many of our strikers are that young. Sharp, Hanson, Clarke are all over 30 or almost 30. Ched is 29 soon. Brooks is young though and Lavery.

My concern is that their best years are behind them fitness and peak wise. I could be wrong but I think most of our strikers are on the way down not up. Of course a generalisation, but may be right. I'll be happy if i'm proved wrong though!

Couldn't agree with you more on this point. Hence why in the tough away games we've been found wanting. Clarke has been putting the effort in closing down the centre halves, but he's alone because Sharp does none of it. Probably because he doesn't have the stamina to do it for half a game, nevermind a full match.

Unless we cherry pick younger strikers from the leagues below, it's not an option. Even then you're paying upwards of 2m. Look at the lad from Exeter, Watkins. Hasn't exactly pulled up any trees for them.

 

[grafikhaus]

My concern is that their best years are behind them fitness and peak wise. I could be wrong but I think most of our strikers are on the way down not up.

That could be Clueless Carlos speaking!

 

[Bladesman]

We need two.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Yes. At the start of July I said it was the main area of the pitch I was most concerned about, and it remains so. Sharp, despite all and sundry wanting him dropped the moment he goes a game or two without scoring, looks at this stage to have a reasonably reliable number of goals in him, but the doubts I had on the rest all remain. The long road of recovery for Evans seems exactly that, and my concerns on how much he'd be able to offer were from before his non-preseason. My assumption that Hanson would be an option off the bench doesn't seem likely now that we're looking to sell him. And Lavery, who I thought had the most potential to improve, hasn't taken opportunities given to him – to the extent that he's behind the pecking order to someone that isn't fully fit.

We need at least one player – perhaps two if we sell Hanson.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Yes. At the start of July I said it was the main area of the pitch I was most concerned about, and it remains so. Sharp, despite all and sundry wanting him dropped the moment he goes a game or two without scoring, looks at this stage to have a reasonably reliable number of goals in him, but the doubts I had on the rest all remain. The long road of recovery for Evans seems exactly that, and my concerns on how much he'd be able to offer were from before his non-preseason. My assumption that Hanson would be an option off the bench doesn't seem likely now that we're looking to sell him. And Lavery, who I thought had the most potential to improve, hasn't taken opportunities given to him – to the extent that he's behind the pecking order to someone that isn't fully fit.

We need at least one player – perhaps two if we sell Hanson.

Lavery has had one chance, that was against Walsall where he partnered an equally ineffective Hanson up front.

Tomorrow hopefully will be different, it sounds like it'll be Brooks, Lavery and Evans starting, so here's hoping that at least one of these takes their chance.

 

[TopBoy]

Yes. It was clear after the sending off that Billy can't play as a lone striker, and Ched is a long way from being match-fit. We need some pace and power up top.

For what its worth, I thought Leon was excellent up until the sending off.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Yes. It was clear after the sending off that Billy can't play as a lone striker, and Ched is a long way from being match-fit. We need some pace and power up top.

For what its worth, I thought Leon was excellent up until the sending off.

It's strange, he was one of our best players in both home games. He bullied the Barnsley back line. Unfortunately away, he seems to have been the one that's bullied.