Going to be make or break this Summer regarding strikers, as we have not been able to rely on anyone all season, it left the midfield and defence under more pressure than usual. Prices for UK strikers are a joke but if you want to compete at the sharp end you have to invest, unless a kid comes through out of the blue. Yes we have 4 kids who will make it at senior level and I expect one or tow to be first team members next season. Clarke, Dalby, Machuca and Edmondson, all regular scorers with power, pace and class. If we had signed Grabban maybe our season wouldnt be as dire. Yes hes a high earner but hes just about to win the golden boot and so far has netted 19 times, so too have Bobby Ried and Vydra but Grabban has better minutes between goals. These 3 will in the market this Summer. Looking into League 1 you have to be very choosy as a big difference in standards between L1 and top end Championship. So really only Marriot is worth the money (£6m) Marriot has scored 26 times so far and has already won the l1 golden boot. Other notable strikers in L1 are now promoted back to the Championship. Will Grigg with Wigan and Looks like Bradley Dack with Blackburn and speaking of Blackburn we have our own Antonnson who has scored 8 but then got injured and he hasnt scored since coming back and is 3rd or 4th choice with Blackburn. So calls to bring back Marcus next season fall on deaf ears with me, he aint good enough for L1 team ...... So although Orta has contacts all around the world, the only interesting striker talked about leading up to the January window was Alexander Prijavic who so far has scored 24 goals and has scored 15 in 22 league matches. PAOK Salonica and league top scorer. In an interview in December he said that the only club in England he wanted to go to was Leeds Utd? seems Orta had spoken to him and we also saw that 2 top Italian outfits were chasing him. He refused Milan so still waiting in Greece. Next season we will see what all the fuss is about Tyler Roberts, is he what we need, I really hope so. He is however young and if you factor in a couple of our kids that makes 3 young strikers, so need at least one more experienced prime striker. Ekuban wont make it I'm afraid. Roofe is an option but does his best stuff like he did yesterday and is capable of goals and speedy creation, but not as an out and out striker. Funny that since we sold Matt Smith he still hits double figures every season. Would love a lump up top as target man that can score and mainly create for those around him?
Good post this Doc. Five home grown players started yesterday, if two or three more push through next season, that is a hell of a boost to finances and should allow money to be invested in a few bits of quality. Throw in Ayling and hope Roberts is worth the money we would only be looking at three or four quality signings to improve on this season even if a few “stars” leave. I wonder how patient people would be if we had a largely home grown side that could aim for top half but come up short of the Play Offs? I have no problem paying to watch the likes of BPF, Paudie and Pearce develop even if they can’t compete at the top for a couple of years. Let’s hope you are right on the young strikers, if only one turns out to be top notch it would make such a difference. I think in Roberts we are going to see a powerful and skilful provider more than an out and out striker.
Please dispose of Ekuban,useless,lasogga a donkey,Wiedvald,and I`ll be a happy bunny,and Grot to reserves
Agreed with all that Marcos. Only problem as we all know, is if the young lads turn out good enough, the PL vultures will circle if we dont get promoted in the meantime.Somehow, and I dont have a clue how, we have to get out of this damn division so we can keep our good youngsters. Kind of a catch 22 situation I suppose
Tyler Roberts has never been prolific but he has always been a threat and lays on plenty of chances. Wales were bringing him through the ranks for the full Welsh side. Hope Giggs keeps his eyes on him. Edmondson and Clarke are always around the 1st team right now, plus Dalby seems to be on the verge and young Machuca is the scoring regular for the U23s in the abscence of the others. A couple of them are actually part of the U18 winning squad too. Hosanah is reputed to be better than Ayling at RB but needs experience. Remember we still have a RB coming back from loan with Fleetwood, Lewie Coyle. The middle is where we are really lacking as only Forshaw and Viera are doing it with Pablo, so we really have to bring in some quality there. Murphy, Wilkes, Antonnson, will be leaving I guess but we may well see Klich coming bcak from Utrecht. Hes been playing some outstanding football since going out on loan, although he has been subbed in the last 3 games
can't argue with anything you really say there Doc, although I wish people would stop harping on about Matt Smith, he is a donkey, and I'm not sure where you got your figures from , but this is his scoring record from when he was at Oldham, he scores about one goal in four, and since leaving us has scored double figures once https://uk.soccerway.com/players/matt-smith/242922/ Season Team Comp please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image 2017/2018 Queens Park Ra… CHA 1954 39 16 23 7 27 10 3 0 0 2016/2017 Queens Park Ra… CHA 1080 16 13 3 8 4 4 0 0 0 2016/2017 Fulham CHA 633 16 7 9 6 19 2 1 0 0 2015/2016 Fulham CHA 586 20 5 15 4 30 2 1 0 0 2014/2015 Fulham CHA 680 12 7 5 2 5 5 1 0 0 2014/2015 Bristol City LEO 907 14 11 3 7 4 7 1 0 0 2014/2015 Fulham CHA 38 3 1 2 0 6 0 0 0 1 2014/2015 Leeds United CHA 87 3 1 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 2013/2014 Leeds United CHA 2059 39 20 19 5 23 12 0 0 1 2012/2013 Oldham Athletic LEO 1666 34 14 20 4 26 6 3 0 0 2011/2012 Oldham Athletic LEO 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Total 9690 196 95 101 44 149 48 10 0 2
