Few thoughts on Burke. Welcome of course, not that I expect he's reading this! Really like the potential in this signing. For those that are disappointed or think we could have done better. Well, I can see your logic because he's not scored many goals and we want to play him as a striker. Also he's not fulfilled his potential from his Forest days. However, he's by in large played as a winger, not a centre forward, so his scoring isn't as bad for a winger. You might then say well we don't play with wingers, and he's not played as a forward enough, but he may be suited to playing in a front two, especially if he can drift out wide and run at people. We don't know what's been said on the tactical side obviously. He may not get more than 5 goals next season, some may think he's more likely to get 2/3, but its not just about the goals as Didzy proved last season.
Where we're at as a club, in our second season in the Prem, we have to make signings like this at times; i.e. for players under the radar or less high profile, We've tried with the Matty Cash's and Ollie Watkins (probably) but we're not yet at the level to compete for the cream of the Championship, let alone players that have excelled for another PL club. We've signed McBurnie and Berge for big money and Ramsdale, but we can't do this for every signing - its just not feasible. So, in this instance, crying out for pace and creativity, we look at players that have good attributes, but for whatever reason don't command that type of huge fee that Watkins has just gone for. For £5m or so, its peanuts by PL standards and we've spent more on many others. It's worth the gamble because you could unearth a gem. When they don't come off or play as much as we'd like, like Robinson and Freeman, I think its worth pointing out that, in my view, at the prices we pay for them at £3 - £7m its inevitable that they may not make the step-up to the PL. Often they haven't played there before but what choice does Wilder have?! That's our budget, we can't afford £20m as I said, and we need to improve the team and/or provide more competition. I think, quality wise, Burke has more attributes to succeed than Robinson for starters.
All the best Oli!
