Transfer Rumours Transfer Rumours - Summer 2018

Now that would be a deal worth pursuing. He would prosper in our team.

 

Interesting stats, for all United's dominance in the 90's, they had no "20 goal a season striker", but Newcastle had 4.

 

While true, that IF is big enough to be our new target man; he's been here 2.5 seasons, and on a minute basis has played 60% of one season worth of PL football.

 

With Charlie and most other injury prone players, I work on, injured 1/3, getting up to match fitness1/3 and fully fit 1/3.

 

We can only dream of getting a proper centre forward like Giroud especially one who scores everytime he plays at SMS regardless of who he plays for

 

I think you'll find that they will not be going for an out and out Striker, I think you'll find they want young Gallagher to fill that roll. Rather like a certain young Rodders did a few seasons back. Dont forget he comes under the "the home made section of things"
A little bit of news though from my source he says he thinks there is one more player to come. He thinks a midfielder although there does appear to be some sort hitch at the mo with the possible signing. Make of that what you will............

 

Austin played a full season in the PL in a poor QPR side before we signed him, and scored nearly 20 goals - if he could stay fit, then no reason he couldn`t do same or better for us. He`s had two major periods out injured for us - one was a dislocated shoulder, and that could happen to anyone.

 

An often injured Austin was still our joint top scorer last season, and top scorer for most of 2017-6 until overtaken by Redmond.

Considering that, I’d be happy for an injury free Austin as much as a new 15-20 goal striker.

Pretty long odds for either to happen, so I’m actually crossing my fingers for an academy player breakthrough season - Sims, or even one of the younger ones?

 

Sims will do well to score four goals this season. Wouldn’t count on him.

 

He has to play to score.

If Sims only made a handful of appearances from the bench many Saints fans would be pleased as that hopefully meant someone better than him was playing. If Sims played 20 games next season, yes I'd back him to pop up with 4 goals +.

It's not just about relative quality of our 'breakthrough' talent these days, the overall quality of the clubs outside top 6 has increased. Look at us scrabbling to stay up with a fairly expensive set of footballers.

 

Sheesh, that's not pretty. He's also 29 now, which isn't the end of the world, but if it's going to happen then it needs to be now.

 

He has to be good enough to get ample game time.

 

If we don't bring in a striker who can score goals we will be back down in the relegation zone again this year. You have to score goals, still not replaced Pelle or Mane's goal threat from years ago

 

He has to play to improve.

 

I am curious to see how and where Elyounoussi plays. He has a pretty good goal to game ratio.

 

Neither of them (Pelle or Mane) ever scored anywhere near twenty Prem goals in a season!
Or even looked like ever doing so ffs.
Would rather have 8-10 goals (each) coming from around four or five players.... something that has been lacking for a number of seasons now. Add in a few from the defenders scoring from occasional set pieces; then 50+ goals is quite do-able.

 

If he shows enough in training.

 

Lets look at the two season stats of these players:
Pelle
14/15 - 12 goals + 2 assists
15/16 - 11 goals + 6 assists
Mane
14/15 - 10 goals + 3 assists
15/16 - 11 goals + 6 assists
So in total - 44 goals + 17 assists

Austin
16/17 - 6 goals + 1 assist
17/18 - 7 goals + 0 assists
Long
16/17 - 3 goals + 1 assist
17/18 - 2 goals + 1 assist
Gabbi
16/17 - 4 goals + 0 assists
17/18 - 5 goals + 0 assists
So in total - 27 goals + 3 assists

So where is the argument?

We must get a goal scoring striker otherwise it will be a battle at the bottom again

 

Err, your stats show that currently Saints do have goal scoring forwards. Trouble is / was that they played in fewer games (than Pelle & Mane) in teams that were often tactically poor and struggled to impose themselves on the opposition.

 

I believe that both Chaz and Gabbi are capable of double figures and even Shane managed 10 in 15/16. It's all about the service that they get IMO but if we buy an additional prolific scorer I won't complain.


Big Sam is a wildcard, unproven in the PL yet, but clearly a good finisher IMO.