IMO get Elmander back. Hooper and/or Grabban working off Bechio or Elmander will do for me in this league.
I didn't think Elmander was as bad as people claimed last season but I would not want him back. His wages will be too high and we need to move forward, signing young, energetic players determined to prove themselves (it worked before). Having said that, I'd happily have Holt back - he scored three times as many league goals as Elmander last season.
I agree Billy. Good signing, sensible backroom staff, Club free of external debt, still on course with our 7 year plan - surely that can't be McNally/our board as according to some on here they are incompetent and don't know what they are doing!!!
Wow that deal happened fast. Seems to be a pretty good signing however all I've seen of his play is highlights. Offers some pace which we don't currently have in our set of strikers. He reminds me somewhat of James Vaughan bit if pace and strength with a good strike on him. Oh and that beard really needs to go.
Elmander never will be a goal machine but can create a lot of chances for players working off him. It is unlikely that a young player would have the experience to do that. I think there is a year or two left in Elmander unlike Holt who is now a spent force and wouldn't come back here anyway. I like the idea of Elmander and Bechio competing for that role.
Who knows- large backroom staff to support a untried manager- could work very well, but quite a lot of scope for things to backfire. I guess we'll find out- My concern remains the manager, there may be the best backroom team in the world and it will benefit the club overall, but not if the club languishes in the championship- I keep trying to get my head round how the backroom team will translate into success on the pitch.
Not sure I've seen this posted elsewhere, but Loza has been called up to the Jamaican National Team?! Apparently they've a friendly against Egypt in London on Wednesday.
Grabban is eligible to play for Jamaica too, according to his wiki page. A front two for next season of internationals, then!!
OK, not quite like-for-like in reality, but like-for-like in terms of the RvW we thought we had bought!
Sorry Rob if my response was a bit curt and grumpy but I had just got back from golf. 2 up with 3 to play against a couple we had never beaten before and it absolutely sluiced down forcing us off the course!!!
I took it to be a justifiable grumble at RvW rather than personally. Nightmare! But you can still take the win there as to make up two shots on the final three is unlikely On the bright side, we're signing decent Championship players...
I'd take a gamble on Surman returning, but I think we need to turn the chapter in regards to Wes. We need two or so pacey and creative midfielders. What we've got is simply not good enough in my opinion, it needs to be strengthened we've got the hard working box to box type midfielders but nobody with the brains or urgency to open up stubborn defences, we'll score goals but I'm struggling to see where the majority of the assists will come from. Another subject altogether there is a lot of speculation from people regarding RVW and Hooper's future, Adam's is saying they are both Norwich players and he sounds like he wants them here, Elmander has gone and nothing has been said about Becchio though.
I don't see Surman as a gamble at all, personally, I'd be looking to sign him even if he didn't play for us.
Like Bath, I also felt a comparison with Vaughan (without the injuries - Grabban played all but 2 matches for Bournemouth last season). A pacey, hard-working player who scored 22 goals in 44 matches is just what City need. I'd still like to see an ACM brought in as well and would welcome Surman back if that proves possible (haven't heard any mention of a swap deal for Surman).
I hadn't realised just how much of last year Surman spent playing in the "Wes role" behind Grabban as the lone striker. Whilst Surman only got 3 official assists and never scored last season, he wouldn't have played so much in that role if it wasn't working for the team. I think we'd be mad to sell Surman if that partnership was reasonable successful last season. I'm not saying I'd necessarily want Surman as our first choice attacking midfielder, but if an understanding exists between the two of them, it'll be nice to have as a rotation option at the very least.
At the risk of being battered by everyone id just like to say... I really cant see what everyone sees in Surman. He is slow and as such cant take players on or track back fast enough when we lose the ball. He gives the ball away and gets caught in possession a lot. Id much rather sell Surman and attempt to get a proper ACM who can provide goals and assists. If Surman only managed 3 assists and 0 goals last year is he really the sort of player a team that struggled for goals wants? ...nope.
Carrabuh I think we can do better because we have the finances, don't get me wrong Surman would be great to have available in the squad as he brings a bit of guile to the table and he knows where to move. It would be unwise if we don't get in further two quality creative midfielders with some mobility, that's pending on who we sell over the summer too, since Adam's was a midfielder I'm hoping he see's through this narrow minded case of scapgoating that last seasons faults were down to the strikers. The midfield needs something to hold it together like an old Wes or a Fox, most of our players done well at times but I rarely saw them work as a efficient unit.
