I do hope we try to recruit a striker from abroad, as the prices being asked here are just too high. Also, the PL seems littered with 'failed' strikers from lower leagues - Beckford, Wickham are just 2 examples and there have been succeses as well, but can't think who just now (apart from GH and Moro!!) - too early in the morning!!!
Danny Graham did okay last season for Swansea, 12 goals I think which is not a bad return but there are not too many. We did well with the two mentioned plus Pilkington
its all pathetic now our fotball clubs are just rich mans toys and the supporters just have to pretend to be excited while fearing the departure of the money and the return of debt
Definitely agree with that - whereas Shane Long didn't exactly achieve the same level of goals/transfer fee at WBA. Also, worth remembering that they are both regular penalty takers, whereas I only seem to remember us getting 2, both of which GH converted.
i disagree. i think shane long has been a very astute signing by west brom - he is their key player. don't just look at his goals record - he brings a lot to that team. when he doesn't play, they struggle massively.
Hi bors, if Blackburn have £8m to spend on an untried forward at that level, that is their business. Remember Dalglish spent £34m on Carroll and that didn't work out. You pays your money and hope for the best. Comparing old style football to the modern component (strange choice of word) but that is what football has become. Gone are the old days when England fielded a forward line of the five Ms; (Matthews, Mannion, Milburn, Mortensen, getting old, forget the fifth M!). Football has evolved into a more defensive tactical game, preasure on players not to concede in preference to scoring goals. Each player is now a component in the team. The old game was attack, get the ball and head straight for goal. Wingers were expected to retreat to the edge of the penalty area, get the ball and carry it down the flank to the goal line. Nowadays it is more possession football, don't afford the opposition the opportunity to score. Which style is best. The old style was definitely more exciting, but I must admit I much prefer today's style. When you witness players like Everton's Fellaini chesting a pass to a colleague emphasises the skill in today's game. Unfortunately the atmosphere in grounds today lacks the comaraderie that existed in packed terraces. Fans often needed medical attention due to the crowd surging and causing them to need medical services. Frequently they were passed over the heads of the spectators to the St John Ambulance volunteers scattered on the running track alongside the playing field. There are those who advocate the return of terrace standing if only on a limited basis. They strike me as not having witnessed the terrible injuries and deaths caused by uncontrollable crowds surging during a game. Seating has eleviated that catasthrophy. Return of terracing certainly doesn't get my vote. Far better for fans to return home safely than spend time in a hospital emergency ward or a funeral directors parlour. The beautiful game has evolved, we now have to live with its evolution no matter how much we may yearn for "the good old days."
...i think you will find that modern pitches and balls have helped immensely. i remember carrow road being a mud patch in the goal areas for much of the season, and the old leather ball was a neck breaker to head when it was saturated. must have weighed at least three times that of the modern ball.
I'm not so sure about it being more skillful, fitness levels certainly are higher, and Referee's I agree are making strange decisions. I'm old as well and can remember when you only got a penalty if your leg was torn off!! Slight exaggeration there, but all this namby pamby collapsing as if hit by "the sniper in the stands" to con the ref to give a penalty is cheating and stupid and I hate it!! I can still recall being shouldered into the ground by the stewards, literally forced in, spending most of the time with your feet off the ground, going wherever the mass went, pissing in a trench behind the Barclay with only a green corrugated metal sheet as privacy at half time, trying to find your mates after having a pee, going home with your ears hurting from the noise, and loving every minute of it!!!
cheating is not a new thing. it was before my time but i know for a fact players like francis lee made a living out of diving - he could win a penalty with a well-timed tumble without any contact being required. likewise, revie's leeds side brought in 'gamesmanship' and became very good at it, arguing with refs, sneaky fouls which went unnoticed, so i think its wrong to say its a new aspect of football - it just gets picked up more these days as we have endless replays and we are all far more aware of it.
Talking of Franny Lee, have you seen that video of him and I think it's Norman Hunter, they squared up and swapped punches, then shook hands, then both were sent off and started fighting again! It's hilarious! Hopefully someone knows how to search for it!
