The Striker 'problem'

[Bladeaway]

I live 28 squillion miles away from the lane these days, so perhaps there's something I'm missing from watching on blades player.

But there seems to be a lot of talk on here about needing another striker. Someone with some of the combined attributes of Clarke and Done.
Can't Lavery do that job?

Seems like he hasn't been given much of a chance so far this season, but today he's had two 'assists' (albeit one for an OG), he scored in December, and he has he ability to run at people, a good shot, and can be strong and hold it up too.

To me he seems a bit like a poor man's Ched Evans. But to complement the other options we have, I think it's good enough to get us out of this league.

I don't think we need another striker.
(And I don't think Ched is the answer either - he's not the same player).

A lot of comparisons are made with Wilder and Warnock - I don't want wilder to turn into another Warnock; always having far too many strikers - none of whom are any good!

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Lavery also looks quite useful in the air, won a number of knock ons in the Northampton game. I'm looking forward to seeing him get a run of games now, he looks sharp.

 

[Lard_Lad]

If we we're I'd like to sign one good enough to go start and for the championship, Lee Gregory would be my choice, would definitely take some pressure of Sharp, knows where the net is. Shame it probably wont happen.

 

[boo radley]

we have a utility player, just need a replacement right back.

 

[MightyBlades]

The problem is if Sharp gets injured before the end of the season. If he is out for any length of time we would be royally fucked without a paddle. So for that reason and that reason only, I believe that yes we do need to get another striker in during January.

 

[Slim Man]

If Sharp's goals dry up or he gets injured we're fucked. With there being no loan window and it being our best chance since the 1st season of finally getting out of this shit league - just why risk it?

 

[knowsnowt]

Absolutely 100% yes.
We can not and must not get into a situation where we have to rely on Billy's goals.
Oooh wait a minute....!

 

[Ricky]

Do we need one? Possibly, possibly not.

If we have the chance to sign a good one, should we take it? Absolutely.

 

[PokerBlade]

It's about priorities we can see and about budgets that we don't know. If something happened to Sharp I think Clarke or Lavery could get us through a few games. I'm more concerned about how much work our wing backs do while we have little to no adequate cover. I know we have Wilson and Hussey in the ranks but the defence is the part most susceptible to getting torn apart. Scougall's come in and done a job again today but I'd be happier if we had someone similar to either Duffy or Chapman.

The major problem's going to be that the standard of player we'd like to bring in will be very costly in this window or even just not for sale, and so the solution may be to find another loan with potential.

"Need" is a fuzzy term in football. Unless you're walking the Premiership and the Champions League you always "need" someone.

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

I would happy see Clark sold and another forward brought in more suited to our style of play.

That said, Wilder has said Leon is influential behind the scenes.

 

[Roygbiv]

It's about priorities we can see and about budgets that we don't know. If something happened to Sharp I think Clarke or Lavery could get us through a few games. I'm more concerned about how much work our wing backs do while we have little to no adequate cover. I know we have Wilson and Hussey in the ranks but the defence is the part most susceptible to getting torn apart. Scougall's come in and done a job again today but I'd be happier if we had someone similar to either Duffy or Chapman.

The major problem's going to be that the standard of player we'd like to bring in will be very costly in this window or even just not for sale, and so the solution may be to find another loan with potential.

"Need" is a fuzzy term in football. Unless you're walking the Premiership and the Champions League you always "need" someone.

I think a wing back or even an out and out winger is more important than a striker myself.

Every single club in this league is after a 20 goal a season striker but there is only Billy and Matty Taylor who look set to be getting close to that figure. It's easy to say we should bring in a striker but it's the hardest part to get right. Leon Clarke on paper was a good signing goals wise but it's not happened.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I think a wing back or even an out and out winger is more important than a striker myself.

Absolutely this. Another man like Duffy on the other wing would make us pretty bloody formidable.

 

[Slim Man]

We do need a full back who can cover for Freeman or an upgrade to Lafferty (though he did play well today)

An alternative to Duffy, another striker and Carruthers and we'd be there - imo.

 

[PokerBlade]

I think a wing back or even an out and out winger is more important than a striker myself.

Every single club in this league is after a 20 goal a season striker but there is only Billy and Matty Taylor who look set to be getting close to that figure. It's easy to say we should bring in a striker but it's the hardest part to get right. Leon Clarke on paper was a good signing goals wise but it's not happened.

If Sharp was out then Clarke would get to be the main man and that likely see him do well short term. Personally I think a partnership between them would come but there's too much pressure on us to give them the time right now. Probably not another side in this division would have him on the bench. I don't think it's at all realistic to get anyone on Billy's level (in fact, I'm pretty sure there aren't any other strikers with his insane goals per game record for this division). Another striker would mean spending big money on someone on their way down, or gambling on someone on their way up.

This happens every year. There's three or four strikers per division leading the scorers list, and every other team in the country is saying they need a proven goalscorer.

So, yeah, fully agree.

 

[Sneinton Blade 1952]

Leon will come good ... the style is evident, as Chris knows. He'll contribute to our promotion.

 

[JohnDenver]

Leon will come good ... the style is evident, as Chris knows. He'll contribute to our promotion.

He already has contributed. Just nowhere near as much as he'd like to.

I've no problem keeping him as an option - he's different to our other strikers and that's really important, even if he's only a sub.

As for Lavery, I see a lot of potential in him. He's quick over 5 yards, has the odd trick, leaps really well and likes to get a shot away. If he starts scoring goals then he'll partner Sharp for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond. Over to him.

 

[Jehovah]

Reminds me of the prem when we needed to ensure that if we lost Hulse we had a replacement. We went all out for Nugent, failed and ended up with Luton Shelton then Hulse broke his leg and we got relegated.

 

[loyalblade95]

wilder said in the article about mcnulty coming back that he wants 5 strikers leon is injured atm and mcnulty could be sold in january, also its not about whether lavery can do the job or not its about having plenty of cover so yes i say we sign another striker

 

[United Aren't Back.]

In case you weren't around from 2009 to 2011 Evans was awful in the Championship.
A one season wonder I am afraid.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Keep mentioning this but I feel it's relevant. Lavery has the number 9 shirt. That suggests he will,when Wilder is satisfied his fitness is all that it needs to be partner our number 10. That's how it works.
That leaves Clarke and Done. McNulty will be off pronto as part ex hopefully. Do we need another striker? As others have said,I agree the need is more in the supply department.

 

[Sheffsteel]

In case you weren't around from 2009 to 2011 Evans was awful in the Championship.
A one season wonder I am afraid.

Prone to exaggerating I see.

Evans was far from "awful" in the Championship.
He was disappointing based on his talent and poor value for money based on his large contract.
A bit like how Leon has played for us this season so far.

However in the final year of his contract in league 1 he was absolutely fantastic. Far and away the best player in league 1 and deservedly breaking into the Welsh national side.

Anyway in answer to the question
We don't NEED anither striker but a prudent club covers all angles, so we could do with one.

 

[Revolution]

Prone to exaggerating I see.

Evans was far from "awful" in the Championship.
He was disappointing based on his talent and poor value for money based on his large contract.
A bit like how Leon has played for us this season so far.

However in the final year of his contract in league 1 he was absolutely fantastic. Far and away the best player in league 1 and deservedly breaking into the Welsh national side.

Anyway in answer to the question
We don't NEED anither striker but a prudent club covers all angles, so we could do with one.

He was shocking in 2009-10. What was it, 4 goals in 30 odd games? He looked like he couldn't hit a barn door.

He wasn't much better the year after, though there were a number of players who had worse seasons.

 

[Ricky]

In case you weren't around from 2009 to 2011 Evans was awful in the Championship.
A one season wonder I am afraid.

He was far from awful in our relegation season and get this... players improve. Evans improved in his third season with us and reached a level that would've made him a very good Championship striker. He was better than Jordan Rhodes that season, and he didn't go on to do badly. He also had a good spell at Norwich in the Championship. Whether he'd more resemble the player of 2012 or 2009 now if he made the step up is hard to say, he's certainly a different player now, but what is for sure is that he'll be good in this division and should only get better.

 

[metalblade]

How many times has this club ended up going into the back end of the season with the main striker injured or sold off in January and no adequate replacement? I think that answers the question.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Ricky, did Evans improve because of ( a) a drop to league one? Or (b) a sudden realisation that he'd better get his act
together and actually earn a wage for a change? Both I think.

 

[Ricky]

Ricky, did Evans improve because of ( a) a drop to league one? Or (b) a sudden realisation that he'd better get his act
together and actually earn a wage for a change? Both I think.

Those and other factors contributed but add his natural ability to the sort of confidence that season will have given him and there's no doubt he would've done better in the Championship than he did before.

It's common to see strikers who weren't prolific previously have breakthrough seasons and then not look back.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Just to add to the Evans points.....we didn't have one player capable of threading a pass for him....we barely had a player who could get the ball into his feet.
Evans suffered due to the awful style of play, the overpaid dross around him, and a manager who had no feckin clue.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Ricky, did Evans improve because of ( a) a drop to league one? Or (b) a sudden realisation that he'd better get his act
together and actually earn a wage for a change? Both I think.

I believe Evans improvement was based on his contract ending and up for fresh negotiations.

It's amazing how when a player is playing for their livlihood their form drastically improves.
We've seen it this season with Coutts and Freeman.

My big concern is
Give Coutts and Freeman a deserved good contract and then they both relax resulting in a loss of form.

 

[Revolution]

Ricky, did Evans improve because of ( a) a drop to league one? Or (b) a sudden realisation that he'd better get his act
together and actually earn a wage for a change? Both I think.

Plus after missing a few games at the start he was fit for the rest of the season. He was out with niggling injuries a fair amount in the previous two seasons (and the same problems have arisen this year for him) which is disruptive.

 

[sitwell]

McNulty had a good spell in a mediocre side ,we haven't seen him in a good team ,I think he would do well. He and Done played well together pre season.