You assume he won't be asking for much. To compare and contrast, Grabban scored 12 goals in 32 games last year for a team that won the playoffs finishing 4th. Dykes got 9 in 33 for a team that finished 11th. Dykes isn't the answer, but I'm not seeing loads to say that signing 34 year old Grabban is the answer either. It really isn't that easy.
2021/21 Top scorers. Gray - 10 Chair - 9 Dykes - 8 Willock - 7 Amos - 6 Austin - 5 Dickie/Dunne - 3 Barbet/Macallum/Uncs - 2 Looking at last season's goal stats, we've got to replace at least Gray and Austin's combined 15. If Willock plays all season you'd think he's nailed on for double figures, Chair should chip in similarly to last season and Dykes as frustrating as he is should be good for 8-10. Amos is a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment but there's got to be a few goals between Roberts, Richards, Bonne and Armstrong. I'd love to get another actual striker in but I'm only entering panic mode if we sell Willock.
Bang ordinary. Last week Armstrong was the messiah, this week it's Grabban. We need a finisher, but neither of these is the answer.
Grabban missed 21 games last season and scored all those goals after Cooper took over. Everyone moans on here that 20 a goal strikers aren't available and don't grow on trees, yet when one as a free agent who's way better than Dykes or Bonne cones along they all say he's not the answer lol. Jeez I despair. Let's just hope we muddle along and finish around 16th eh and everything will be rosy. We should be so lucky
He isn't the answer, prefer to see Bonne than Grabban, given little opportunity and has looked lively when coming on. Does Sarr to Villa free up Archer for a loan move?
Almost certainly , although in some places it says the deal has been resurrected and he's having a medical there. Who knows what to believe, I doubt we'd get Archer even if he goes there unfortunately.
Whoopee do, is that the remit now or persevere with our own ones ? The only positions we need are in back up when everyone's fit except up top, and as much as I'd like Archer he's not an out and out striker. He'd still be better up top than what we've got but I don't see it happening. It's just perfect rumour mill fodder for Les and the board as the hours to deadline day slowly tick by. Brom are in talks with Grabban at the moment, yet another striker Bruce would have had pass through his ranks! Must be up to about 8 now and he still can't work out who to play.
Getting young players in from other clubs is all well and good but for what purpose? And what is our end game? Is it an admission that our own youth set up isn't up to scratch? Getting one top class youngster on loan to make a challenge is totally different to getting 3 or 4 just to fill positions. It smacks of desperation to me, it could do more long term harm than good. 2 or 3 youngsters from Villa isn't the answer but I suppose that depends on the question to start with.
We need one striker who can score more than twenty goals. Anyone else is pointless, unless they are a lot better than what we already have.
Well if we’ve settled for 16th place what’s the point of taking other youth players? May as well make decisions on our own youth players. We seem to have a handful who are not making it to the bench - even after seasons out on loan to develop. Hard choices need to be made and bring in new.
We haven't. There's a difference between being cost conscious and being able but unwilling to spend more than just enough to survive. The fact we may end up there does not mean anyone, from fan to owner, will be happy with such an outcome
