Well, it kind of is the issue as, if you can't bring in any player at a moment's notice, you certainly can't bring in the right player at moment's notice. Every club has their criteria for what they will and won't spend their money on, even the non-league club I mentioned in my earlier example, and if they can't get the right player, they won't get someone who doesn't fit their criteria. Clearly, the right player didn't become available. Its not Speakman being precious or difficult, it just means we've got certain standards as a club. Something that we've not been used to.
I know it's not how we play but we have to do that sometimes. 10 mins or whatever. So my question to you is why are you ok with a defensive centre midfielder playing as a striker for 10mins instead of an actual striker on a short term loan deal ? Surely you can see my point ? Makes zero sense and it's sort of doing ourselves a disservice
I like standards mate. But I like logic too. Can not have a CM playing striker in the championship. If that's the case their needs to be flex in the model.
I see your point and I understand. My take is that by signing a striker like Martin on a short term deal then edges us towards that being our default way of playing. There's no way we'd sign a player like that and only play him for 10 mins a game if we are in need of a goal. He'd be starting games, coming on a sub for 30 mins etc and totally changing our way of playing. So yeah, as a 10 min option, in theory having a tall striker like that would be a favourable option, but for me it's what else it would bring and how it might change our style and stop getting the best out of Roberts, Pritch and co It's a huge topic of debate and I don't think there is a single right answer
We do have forwards who can play up top though. We just don't have a No. 9 type. Sticking Ekwah up top for ten minutes isn't that unusual. You can see a big lump shoved up front at clubs up and down the league pyramid every Saturday. It's just an assumption that there's no logic involved. The club will be looking at a bigger picture than just the remainder of this season and may well have a number of very good reasons, beyond the model, that they have decided against bringing in a player on a short term deal.
Im pleased we didn't go for a short term fix, thats what we used to always do as a club and it got us in such a mess. I think this recruitment team has been put off by short term fixes after the whole defoe signing. I think last night just proved we miss stewart, he is the perfect striker for how we want to play. Im pleased gelhardt scored and that should help his confidence for the rest of the season. Think for supporters we live n die by each result, its refreshing we have a board n recruitment team that dont do that now Some fair arguments on here from both sides. As i mentioned on the jan transfer thread strikers are so hard to find and I wasn't surpirsed when we didnt bring another in (i was disappointed tho)
I would imagine that all teams knew we needed a striker so even poor strikers would be way overpriced. So should we have paid the extortionate money the selling or loaning club were asking?
That's my take on it. Couple of the lads I go to the match with hate Speamann and blame everything on him. They seem to think that buying a striker is like popping down to the shops. I get that we have an iffy record in last 2 years for permanent recruitment up top, but it's arguably the most important position in the team ad goals do not come cheap. We either have ridiculously good scouts, or got unbelievable lucky with Ross Stewart. Part of me thinks there must be another one of him somewhere in a French academy, or in the Scottish lower leagues but these deals take time. Stewart doing his achillies 2 days before the window (slammed) shut is just rotten ****ing luck
I think there's a lot of variables to consider. Unusually for us we're ticking along nicely in the league, so it eases the pressure to get someone in. It'll take a hell of a collapse for us to be in bother at this point and there's no evidence of that happening. Perhaps the decision not to recruit just anyone now opens up an option in the summer. We've also got to plan for Stewart not being the player he was, frankly.
I seem to remember standing at Bolton watching us lose 6-0. We barely had an attempt on goal despite Bolton being in a similar situation to Rotherham ... ... Stewart played the full 90 minutes. He's had spells when he's gone half a dozen games without scoring while Sunderland have scored in every game since Bonfire night including last night when we should've had three or four tbh. Stewart recently missed a sitter, kicking into the South Stand, which isn't unusual for him, and also missed a penalty. Yes, of course, we'd rather he was playing but I think we need to accept the club didn't sell him. He's injured and not for the first time, other players may well have been labelled a 'sicknote' by now. We're having a great season and I've no intention of spending the rest of it sulking about an injured player and another being recalled to play in the PL. No club gets absolutely everything right so I'm not going to attack Sunderland ... ... Everton have had better resources, managers, etc, and still managed to get almost everything wrong.
All that is true, Speakman and Co have brought in some great players. However they were caught out twice by Everton, Broadhead and Simms, should be a lesson learnt. We have not bought a striker for a few windows and obviously had nobody teed up to close a deal in the last few days.. so that's poor. Strikers are the hardest to get right. We are going to struggle without a LND.
I assumed Broadhead was the player's decision? The deal was done and he pulled out last min? Is that not the case But aye, we are struggling without Roscoe.
How does that actually work mate ... ... how should we have avoided being 'caught out' by Everton. Seriously, I really don't understand.
Is that obvious? The club could have been negotiating with any number of players but if a deal isn't right for both parties, its not going to happen.
Hi guys... I've been unwell and missed the game last night. Rather than reading the paper report, I'd rather read your take on the match if you don't please. Thank you...
