1. We had another clear cut penalty appeal turned away (are we ever going to get one this season?) 2. Leeds got yet another penalty. 3. Watford and Millwall ...what's going on there like? Every week both seem to keep going when most wouldn't have expected it. & 4. People suggest daft names for strikers on Radio Humberside. I think Kenwyne Jones, Chris Wood & Billy Sharp were the only non-daft suggestions.
1) Was it the handball shout in the first half? 2) Was this one outside the area as well? You could tell that Palace were used to getting their own way with big decisions last night, the way Zaha threw a big paddy when he didn't get free kicks for every tackle was unbelievable. 3) Watford were always going to be unpredictable since their entire squad is unknown, in fact I think they might be a good shout for the playoffs but Milwall, what the hell?
Millwall won't sell Wood. I'm sure we'll see Bruce bring a decent striker in, although we thought that with Proschwitz. We are not far off, to see how far we have come since he took over we have to be happy, but with a chance like we have now it would be stupid not to back him financially in Jan. We need a Prem level striker to get us up there and compete for the top two positions and to cement a top 6 finish, at the minute we look like a play-off wannabe team along with about 8 others.
The football's great, but have we really come a long way? A year ago we were playing great football but not converting chances, outplaying top teams without beating them and needed a big striker and a result of all that, lay in the playoffs but struggled to get much higher. Aren't we in the same situation now?
Yes we are. But this time we have a manager in place who has the experience to do something about it.
We could easily buy Wood and there would be naff all Millwall could do about it, he's not their player. He's out of contract in the summer and the Baggies are planning on selling him in January, so he won't cost a fortune. Millwall will bid for him, but I'm sure we can outbid them if we fancy it and he's unlikely to command a fee of more than £1m. All of which is academic, if the rumours are correct and we've already agreed a deal for Campbell.
Chris Wood is the sort of player we need. The amount of crosses that we put in the box (especially against Palace last night) would've been put away by a player like him. If the Campbell rumours are true, good, he will likely have a good partnership with Aluko upfront, at least better than Simpson.
If Campbell does sign in January, he may well be a replacement for Aluko as Sone could be in the African Nations Cup
Yes and no. I think this year the football is a lot more productive in terms of making chances. Last year's "chances" were half-arsed shots from around the box, this year's are absolute sitters where there's really no excuse for not scoring. In addition, we've won a lot more this year, so I don't really think there can be any doubt that we are a better side than we were 12 months ago. Plus, as people have said we have a better manager this year. Pearson was too afraid of losing to get promoted, and Barmby was too stubborn to get promoted. Bruce has neither of those problems. If he can get the players he wants, then he'll probably get us promoted.
He will probably play up front with Simpson while Sone is away, but I think that Simpson will be on the bench (bar any injuries) when he returns. Simpson and Campbell are of a similar mould, it would be interesting to see how they would get on together.
Whatever striker Steve brings in, they will be of better quality than what we already have so they will be in the team ahead of the likes of Simpson
Personally, I'd go for both Wood and Campbell. Wood is a better Proschwitz, and will cost a lot less. Campbell, we already know what he's about, so having both will add a much needed variety to the striking options.
We will only sign two forwards if we sell one we already have. Mclean would be the obvious choice but he's not a bad option to have from the bench.
Don't worry, I completely forgot Cameron Stewart was still technically at this club until the Burnley game.
Isn't Mclean in the final year of his contract? I'd cash in if he is. Looks like he will have to, he'll only get a game here in the cup, or if we have an injury crisis. I don't see him being the temporary replacement for Aluko in January.
I suppose Mclean's future depends on who is brought in in January. If we bring in a couple of strikers, he will at the least go out on loan (maybe Peterborough would have him back?) If we don't sign any others, Bruce will keep him as backup.
