Holmes/ Leonard/ Cole.

[8lade]

I'd be happy with loans in January, again it'll be in the balance what we'll be looking for, for next season so loans with a pre arranged figure to buy would be best.

 

[Stretch]

I would only take Cole from that bunch as things stand.

However if results carry on as they are Wilder might have to draw up an entirely different type of list.

 

[metalblade]

I wouldn't mind us going back for Cole, even though the deal fell through last time he seems to have got his head down and is scoring goals no sign of feeling sorry for himself. I think the ship might have sailed for Holmes and Leonard.

 

[BigBed]

I don't understand some folk, Cole would be an excellent signing in my eyes, you seem to be forgetting we have Wilder and Knill in charge, if they can't make make a young lad like Cole, into a force, then there's summat wrong.
Wilder says in every interview, that he's building a team, he's looking at young players and bringing in the ones he believes will take us back to top flight football.
Why would you bring in Hennaghan otherwise!?
Trust them, they've done nothing wrong at all, they know exactly what they're doing and I believe in a couple of seasons we will be comfy in the lower half of the prem, with a fairly young side........

 

[nicksufc]

In the flesh, I've only seen Devante Cole once, that was when he played for Barnsley at the lane and I thought he was awful.

I remember watching his Dad at a similar age, again just once, whilst playing on loan for Bristol City against Utd at Bramall Lane and thought he was absolutely unplayable.

Personally, I don't think Cole Jr is an improvement on the personnel already at the club and we need to look elsewhere.

Because you watched him play once, 3 years ago? Thank God you're not a scout.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

What did Sinclair tweet?

Essentially that everything in the Bleacher piece was taken out of context and that he was really looking forward to playing the season at Watford. Oddly, he (or more accurately his agent) hasn’t tweeted a single thing since then.

 

[snootyfenooty]

None of them. We were looking at them to do a job settling us into the championship. That ship has sailed, we will now be looking at players who can adapt to the premiership. None of that trio will displace any of our current lot anyway.

 

[1889]

Because you watched him play once, 3 years ago? Thank God you're not a scout.

Well, I suppose I was making a comparison between the impact he made on me in comparison to his Dad, at a similar age.

However, in the flesh, obviously means live, where I have been in a position to watch a 90 minute performance, his movement, work rate, vision, positional sense and finishing etc. Obviously I've also seen him on TV highlights, but just the once 'live' so, are you a Fleetwood season ticket holder?

If not what, are you basing 'your' contrary opinion on?

 

[adebo]

Great thread this. Opinions are so varied so I will add mine.

Cole at 200k is a snip and a yes from me. Any champ team selling a young striker if he doesn't cut it gets a least 500k look at Samuel that Reading sold to blackburn

Leonard is a different type of midfielder to what we have he plays the basham in midfield role but as well as basham does,the only fly in this ointment is the emergence of Ben whiteman who could do to come back and have a few games across the transfer window if he cuts it he stays if not back to Doncaster to continue his development.

Ricky Holmes his work rate and industry coupled with the ability on corners and especially free kicks would still interest me. When was the last time we scored direct from a free kick (exclude Duffy at Rochdale due to location) his price will have shot up due to his contract situation now as will have his wages. And I do feel he used us to get a better deal at Charlton (I accept we all would do our best to get a raise) but something about him doesn't sit right with me. IF we dont get promotion then next year he might be ok but not if we get promoted again!

Here is the question would we consider him in a swap deal with Carruthers?

 

[Rodley]

I’d go for Leonard. He’s much more mobile than Lundstram.

Cole I’m unsure about and think Donaldson covers us up top. Holmes’s ship has sailed for me.

Happy to defer to Wilder though and the excellent scouting staff he employs.

 

[Bladezz]

If we're still up there in January then I think we'll be shopping in a different market.

Although I like Holmes, It would take an injury to Duffy or Brooks for us to be interested

Why? I hope we continue the exact same thing we are doing. The exact same recruitment.

It’s this thinking that made Wednesday go and blow all that money. I know your not meaning to silly with the spending but I would be going for the exact same mould of hungry players from lower leagues.

We could go splash £5milliok on a left back or do some actual scouting and buy another Enda Stevens.

 

[Harrisblade]

Strike force is a bit light so a yes to Cole. Ship out ched and Hanson and possibly Lavery and get a 'proven' scorer in

Ship out Ched before he recovers from his op - which presumably SUFC paid for?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

his stats have dropped off in the last month, whether that's an indication as to how he's playing I can't say but I think Donaldson is filling the gap for this season. The only reason I can see him for still coming is that we don't find anybody else.

It's an indication that he's not very good, think I may have expressed my opinion once or twice

Apparently he played 'OK' on Saturday, which is an improvement recently by all accounts, although he did say that was 2nd half only.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Ship out Ched before he recovers from his op - which presumably SUFC paid for?

Yes. Get a striker who is fit and has scored in the championship regularly. Don't want to blow a real chance on a nostalgic 'what if that one season in 2011/12 wasn't a one off' as it is even if he gets back fit forcing his way past current options looks unlikely.

 

[Harrisblade]

Yes. Get a striker who is fit and has scored in the championship regularly. Don't want to blow a real chance on a nostalgic 'what if that one season in 2011/12 wasn't a one off' as it is even if he gets back fit forcing his way past current options looks unlikely.

So we'll give him a fair trial - then hang him?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

He's scored 3 goals since August 16th 2016. Only dealing in cold hard facts as to why I think we need to bring in better.

If we were safely mid table perhaps we could 'carry' him a bit we have a genuine chance of premier league football right now and should act like it. Is Cole that guy? Dunno not seen enough of him but he's a better record than Ched in the last 2 years.

 

[Luke1993]

Go and get Louis Moult from motherwell, only 6 months left on his contract. Will be a lot of competition, but given our current standing and presumably decent relationship with motherwell (Murphy and heneghan) we should have a chance.

 

[B.Lade]

Ricky Holmes his work rate and industry coupled with the ability on corners and especially free kicks would still interest me. When was the last time we scored direct from a free kick (exclude Duffy at Rochdale due to location)...

ERM... Bouncing Day Massacre anyone? ;-)

 

[Dane Redhouse]

Yes. Get a striker who is fit and has scored in the championship regularly. Don't want to blow a real chance on a nostalgic 'what if that one season in 2011/12 wasn't a one off' as it is even if he gets back fit forcing his way past current options looks unlikely.

agree completely, I'm not sure who that guy is but if we are going to strengthen and go for it I can only see the forward line needing improvement. a Cameron Jerome type who's cored regular at this level. Not him personally as I think we missed his best years now but someone proven like that.

 

[I should coco]

Go and get Louis Moult from motherwell, only 6 months left on his contract. Will be a lot of competition, but given our current standing and presumably decent relationship with motherwell (Murphy and heneghan) we should have a chance.

We need better.

If we are still in the top two in January, we need another good creative midfielder to replace Coutts/Duffy if anything happened, and a proven goalscorer in the Championship.

Wendsday's signing of Rhodes was the right move for the right sort of player, but they didn't do their homework about how he'd fit in. For them, wages of £40k per week were only a bit more than Hooper/Fletcher/Forestfairy but for us one player on that sort of money might cause problems.
So either a decent existing Championship striker or a shit hot striker from L1. Whoever it is, doesn't have to be with us forever, but just help get us over the line.

Probably too much of a risk to go for a Prem loan. That kind of kid just won't have playerd enough 'man's football' and we need someone to hit the ground running.

 

[Ricky]

Go and get Louis Moult from motherwell, only 6 months left on his contract. Will be a lot of competition, but given our current standing and presumably decent relationship with motherwell (Murphy and heneghan) we should have a chance.

He appears to be one of the stand out realistic options if we want a striker.

If we went for him I think we'd be in pole position to get him. And I think we're quite likely to be interested. We've been linked previously and we will have certainly watched enough of him having scouted and signed Heneghan.

 

[I should coco]

He appears to be one of the stand out realistic options if we want a striker.

if that's the case we have to set our sights a bit higher than 'realistic'.

If we went for him I think we'd be in pole position to get him. And I think we're quite likely to be interested. We've been linked previously and we will have certainly watched enough of him having scouted and signed Heneghan.

The Scottish Premier is closer to L1 than the Championship. Look how long it took Jamie Murphy to get up to speed when he first joined. We will need an immediate impact in January, not 'one to bring along'.

 

[ucandomagic]

For me Holmes would share the role with Duff - probably score more but assist less. Sammy is our current cover here - I thought Sammy started the season great, but haven’t seen him for a while - maybe tomorrow. I don’t like Brooks in this role, he’s much better as one of a front 2. Given Robbo’s love of Sammy, maybe the suggestion above of a swap deal for Holmes is on the cards.

Leonard would be an upgrade on Lundstram - who was signed because we failed with Leonard. However, Lundstram has done OK and has certainly improved, so I don’t see us moving there.

Cole is young, quick, scoring and wanted to come. Our main front line is pretty old - only Lavery with any youth. I think we will certainly be bringing him in - maybe with Lavery as a swap if it’s needed to make it happen, but probably not, as he wouldn’t want to go. I like the idea of Cole and Brooks together in a year or two.

Think we may also try to get a price fixed for our 2 loanees for if we go up, if we haven’t already.

Magic Days though.

 

[Ricky]

if that's the case we have to set our sights a bit higher than 'realistic'.



The Scottish Premier is closer to L1 than the Championship. Look how long it took Jamie Murphy to get up to speed when he first joined. We will need an immediate impact in January, not 'one to bring along'.

Maybe, but it's hard to get good strikers, especially in January.

He could be similar to Cole in that it could be a good time to sign him, and at a good price. Plenty seem to want us to sign Cole, me included, but Moult has a considerably better goalscoring record than him. He's not as young as Cole, but he's still fairly young at 25.

He seems to be a decent all rounder and it wouldn't surprise me if Wilder got a lot out of him.

QPR linked with him now.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Need cover up front, with pace and power and maybe a couple of loan signings from PL
That's it really, the side and squad at the moment are playing fantastic so not to much change is required

 

[Grecian2000]

Because you watched him play once, 3 years ago? Thank God you're not a scout.

What a bizarre comment.
Do you think if he was a scout he'd only have seen him play once in three years?

Are Holmes/Leonard/Cole better than what we have now? That's the question we need to ask in January. If they are then we may pursue, if they're not then why would we?

 

[bladesmanluke]

We should 100% get Cole in. He’s what we’re missing up front, and who knows how good he could become. 8 goals already this season is not to be sniffed at

 

[HoodedClaw]

Holmes - No. He'd be so far down the pecking order he'd struggle to make the bench for the U23's

Leonard - Possibly. I do think we could do with another midfielder, the problem is that if we're looking to get one in that would start in front of Coutts or Fleck they will cost more than our budget IMO. Leonard seems a decent box to box player that could provide cover without costing much, however, Ben Whiteman could impact the need for this signing.

Cole - Possibly. I do think we need some pace up front just to complete the options available to us. We have pretty much everything else.

All this "Proven Goal Scorer" or "Proven Championship Goalscorer" makes me laugh, we have no chance of affording either fee or wages for one of these yet.

Championship 2016/17 Top scorers: http://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/eng-championship-2016-2017/

Chris Woods top scorer - £15million
Scott Hogan - 15 Goals - £15million
Asombalonga - 14 Goals - £14million
Che Adams - 7 Goals (1 more than Sir Billy of Sharp currently has) Birmingham rejected £5million bid from Fulham

Championship Current top scorers: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/top-scorers

Not much to go on fee wise but:

Matej Vydra - 6 Goals - £8million
Conor Hourihane - 5 Goals - £3million

We have to be a bit more creative, served us well so far.

 

[BushBlade]

Has everyone forgotten about Lenihan?

 

[stringer]

Here is the question would we consider him in a swap deal with Carruthers?

Jesus no. What about Lenihan at Blackburn too?

Edit, BushBlade got there before me!