Strikers

[metalblade]

Plenty of strikers

 

[DronnieBlade]

Clarke or Hanson will move on in the summer, probably Clarke, Just a hunch. I'd still give Omar Bogle a shot, raw but has plenty of ability and can be a real handful on his day, CW would be good for him.

Totally agree.

Clarke's stock is high and he will have no end of potential suitors in L1.

This would release a space for someone else. Probably Gregory if Millwall miss out.

Hanson may also have his suitors. I hear the co-op are hiring

UTB

 

[Chief_Froley]

I've said before in other threads that we wouldn't go too far wrong with Danny Ward at Rotherham. He ticks a lot of boxes for me and has championship experience without costing the world.

Im also a bit surprised nobody has had a punt on Vaughan at Bury yet. He has experience at championship and premier league level and scored a crap load of goals for an otherwise poor Bury side. The only negative is obviously injuries before this season but he seems to have got over them now and that might even prove to be a benefit as he wouldn't break the bank if we moved now.

 

[Slim Man]

I've said before in other threads that we wouldn't go too far wrong with Danny Ward at Rotherham. He ticks a lot of boxes for me and has championship experience without costing the world.

Im also a bit surprised nobody has had a punt on Vaughan at Bury yet. He has experience at championship and premier league level and scored a crap load of goals for an otherwise poor Bury side. The only negative is obviously injuries before this season but he seems to have got over them now and that might even prove to be a benefit as he wouldn't break the bank if we moved now.

Once bitten, twice bitten, thrice shy in terms of injury prone players for me.
I can't argue with what Vaughan has done this year and the fact he's stayed mostly injury free is impressive but you just never know when he'll break down again.

 

[Maidenhead]

Don't get this 'thing', call it an obsession if you like, with the signing of so-called big names. Surely what matters is that we sign good players. Recall the signing of John Fleck? Barely registered on the transfer scale when we signed him last season, but he became one of Division 1's best players. Don't get me wrong, each and every United player will have something to prove when the new season begins, and it's exactly the type of challenge all United players should relish. Who knows who Wilder will sign, but I doubt he'll lose much sleep worrying about the necessity of securing a marquee signing. All he'll want at this club are good players who are hungry to succeed, anything else is a distraction and misses the point.

Well said.
I completely agree.
This obsession with getting "proven" championship players baffles me too.
We would only attract players of that ilk who are on their way down, I prefer to take the risk of finding players on the way up that fit in to our ethos.

 

[Maidenhead]

But that's the point. You pay more, much more, for players who have been there and done it. Look at what Wednesday have paid for Hooper, Fletcher, Rhodes. Is that what you really want us to do?

And the game is littered with players who were the next big thing then they fade and burn and you're left with an expensive has been on your books.

What kind of players have propelled us to the top level before? Ask yourself that?

I can tell you in my time of watching who some of those key players were - and few of them fit into your category of "proven".

Bill Dearden. A relatively unknown right winger from Chester signed for around £10k and made into a fearless centre forward. Tony Currie - a young kid from Watford signed for £28k. Keith Edwards an ex Blade junior popping them in for Hull but unproven at a higher level. Brian Deane and Tony Agana - signed for peanuts and unproven. Glen Cockerill - a good player in Division 4 but unproven.

All these had something in common. A burning desire to prove themselves at a higher level and they did.

Then look at the " ready made" "proven" options we brought in. Peter Withe, Viv Busby, Ian Rush, etc

Great post.
Very well said.

 

[I should coco]

This obsession with getting "proven" championship players baffles me too.
We would only attract players of that ilk who are their way down, I prefer to take the risk of finding players on the way up.that fit onto our ethos.

Absolutely 100% spot on.

Take the play off teams as an example. how many of their players would be prepared to leave and come to United is wages were similar (and ours will almost certainly be lower)? More to the point, how many of Wednesday's mercenaries would we actually want and would fit with Wilder?

If we can get decent out of contract Championship players under 27, then fair enough, but PLEASE, no more has-beens and washed up 'stars' looking for one last payday.

Hendrie, Bent#2, Beattie#2, Barry Robson, Kitson, Hammond, Higginbotham, Collins. McEverley were expensive lessons in how not to recruit.

 

[Chief_Froley]

Once bitten, twice bitten, thrice shy in terms of injury prone players for me.
I can't argue with what Vaughan has done this year and the fact he's stayed mostly injury free is impressive but you just never know when he'll break down again.

True, like I said his injury record is something to certainly be aware of. I think Ward for me would be the preferred choice of the 2 as a result with the lowest risk involved.

I wouldn't exactly be disappointed with Vaughan although I would also expect our next striker signing to be a much safer bet. Too many ifs and buts on our strikers already for my liking.

 

[Ricky]

But Ward's a bit proven now. We should avoid him at all costs!

 

[Bladezz]

Arguably not one of Barnsleys players last season were "proven championship". Winnall / Roberts / Mawson / Scowen / Watkins / Kent all excellent players and all moved on and none of them were proven championship.

 

[metalblade]

Totally agree.

Clarke's stock is high and he will have no end of potential suitors in L1.

This would release a space for someone else. Probably Gregory if Millwall miss out.

Hanson may also have his suitors. I hear the co-op are hiring

UTB

I can't for the life of me see why we would want Gregory he's never scored 20 league goals in a season at league one level, his one season in the Championship he didn't make double figures an average of 1 goal per 4 games.
I suppose coming from Sheffield and allegedly a blades fan makes him brilliant to some, No thanks.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Another point about proven Championship strikers. You bring one in, and surely he'll be expecting to start week-in week-out? Just seems a bit of a recipe for squad disharmony with five other strikers already here.

A tricky task really, getting someone in with enough humility to accept the need to fight for a place, accept time on the bench, be willing to be rotated.

Much rather us stick with the Wilderesque No Billy Big Bollox approach, personally.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Another point about proven Championship strikers. You bring one in, and surely he'll be expecting to start week-in week-out? Just seems a bit of a recipe for squad disharmony with five other strikers already here.

A tricky task really, getting someone in with enough humility to accept the need to fight for a place, accept time on the bench, be willing to be rotated.

Much rather us stick with the Wilderesque No Billy Big Bollox approach, personally.

I can't imagine that Wilder hasn't told any new signings that they'll have to fight for their place and that they'll need to impress. No guarantees will be his repeated comment, and that should a player's form drop then there's someone else available to take their place. There's also the not insignificant issue of injuries to consider, and I'd imagine that Wilder is ahead of all of us when it comes to taking all possibilities into account.

 

[Ricky]

Anyone who's paid attention should be aware of Wilder's recruitment philosophy.

He doesn't rule anybody out based on age or where they're coming from. If they're a good player with the right attitude he'll be interested.

His focus is then on getting value - without filling the squad with players of no resale value obviously. £1m for a 21 year old might be similarly good value to 200k and decent wages for a 31 year old.

How many times has he said 'good age' when talking about a signing? He said it about Carruthers and Hanson, and he's right about both, even though one was 23 and one was 29. It's relative to the type of player they are and what our plans are for them. The same thing applies with the money we pay.

He won't hesitate to sign players who are already 'proven'. As long as it all adds up. And none of us can really question his recruitment strategy overall.

 

[RealMcCoy]

Another point about proven Championship strikers. You bring one in, and surely he'll be expecting to start week-in week-out? Just seems a bit of a recipe for squad disharmony with five other strikers already here.

A tricky task really, getting someone in with enough humility to accept the need to fight for a place, accept time on the bench, be willing to be rotated.

Much rather us stick with the Wilderesque No Billy Big Bollox approach, personally.

But Billy Big Bollox is our biggest scorer!

 

[SteveBlade]

Billy, you're doing what we all thought you'd do, keep it up you beautiful bastard.

Leon, I'm sorry for doubting you. You've been our best striker so far, absolute quality.

Donaldson, what a quality addition, instant impact, and I expect he'll have a big role to play.

Brooks, goals will come, just keep on being a nightmare for defenders.

Ched and Lavery, if you manage to get yourselves in the frame, massive respect. A fully fit Ched in this team is still something that excites me.

I thought we were in serious trouble in this area, and very lightweight. The number of players who've stepped up to the plate has been incredible.

 

[BigBed]

James Hanson.......Be seeing u.