The most encouraging thing about today is we were never dominated. Most teams will go there and be under the cosh for large periods of the game and won't see much of the ball. That never happened today. We more than matched them. There was never a spell in the game where I was thinking "Jesus we could get hammered here". The same applied for our first 2 games aswell, barring the first 30 mins v Chelsea. Second half of the Chelsea game, we were the better side and Norwich last week barely created a chance. The problem is, with all our dominance, we STILL lack a top quality striker to put the chances away. If we had top striker I believe we'd stay up comfortably.
A really great performance again by all the players, as many have said we just need a striker that can get the goals. Just need a Defoe or the like that can get us these goals, and then we will be able to turn performances in to results against these top teams. Problem is where do you find them, without having to spend a fortune?
I think when we play a similar quality team, without 10 men, is when we will see if we have the quality up front.
If we pay for a quality striker we could cement a mid-table place. As it is we are going to struggle to get the goals we need to win enough matches. If Palace bring in more quality they may avoid the relegation places. I would have gone for Bent and pay £65k per week rather than Graham on £20k. We need to get in Bendtner at £50k. If we can't get him what about Rhodes? If we try to avoid paying a few million it could cost us many millions.
Aluko and Graham both missed great opportunities today. Aluko's was in excusable. I'd be beasting my U18s if they missed a chance like that. In the formation which we have adopted, strikers which cant finish (bollocks about the opposition, they were sitters today), are as useful as chocolate fireguards.
Really; you don't think we are capable of playing through a goal? Perhaps you should get on the phone to Steve Bruce and tell his search for a striker just got a whole lot harder, as he needs one that can hold back his scoring urges until the 88th minute. Seems to me to be a very strange way to look at the game when a missed goal is a blessing.
Steve Bruce has done a fantastic job putting this team together on the budget he is working with, the one thing in the end that could result in him being entice away is the lack of funds available, for him to finalise what he feels is a complete team. I don't advocate spending rashly, but to get a good striker in, you are going to have to invest a fairly large chuck of money. At the end of the day, if that is the difference between staying in the EPL and not, and keeping the manager, it is a no brainer.
I remember a few months ago when I said we should pay what it takes to get a quality striker and I got attacked. Now it seems everybody agrees with me. I don't want to be "plucky Hull" who have done well considering they don't have a quality striker.
Out of those two I'd rather have Deeney. I like his combative style of play, I think PL defenders would hate playing against him.
difficult, rhodes seems a natural finisher and great in the air i'd choose rhodes, graham really impressed with his hold up play and movement, he actually looked arsed today.. and offside or no offside.. it was great finish into the net.. great technique stat's aren't the be and end all forgetting play styles and the like not everyone is going to be happy wherever they play or go.. team mates, enviroment, place of home, etc etc i have high hopes for graham, i slated him first two games, but he looked good don't let me down danny
