Rather belatedly, 1950, I'd also like to say welcome back. I agree that the decision shouldn't be made on financial considerations only, but last year he was brought in as our main striker with a big price to live up to. The money has already been spent. Next year he's have to fight for his place against 3 good strikers who have already proved themselves, though mostly in the championship. I'd like to see him given another chance.
Will it make a difference what league we are in? The only striker we currently have that I think is a shoe-in for PL duty is Hooper. I base that on his efficiency in front of goal. When he gets chances he's a good bet to put them away. Our other strikers have all had their moments but have also missed the target more then they've hit. We'll get fewer opportunities to score next season (if we go up) and I suspect our strike options could be quite different as a result. My feeling on RVW is that I hope to see him given a chance to work under AN. I don't buy the comments that he's too "weak" against a PL defence. You barely need to be touched these days to be awarded a foul. The style of play under AN is like chalk and cheese compared to RVW's last stint here. I'd personally like to see him given another crack.
Why would Hooper be a shoe in when by all appearences, AN rates both Grabben and Jerome ahead of him in the system he is currently employing? That system may change in the PL, but fundamentally I would imagine it is close to how he would set us up. As Hooper would almost certainly command a decent price, he may be the most at risk of exiting stage left! That's not to say I wouldn't keep him, because as you say he is our most efficient converter of chances, but if he doesn't fit the AN system then we would be better off getting someone in who will. Bah!
I agree with that GM, and I also think that this system, or something close to it would be used in the PL as well and it would also suit RvW's game very well. I disagree with those saying that RvW is lightweight, as he was very willing to put himself about and harass defenders. I like Lafferty, but I'd rather have RvW back as one of our 4 strikers and then we could look for a quality additions at AM, CB and perhaps DM and RB as well.
I don't know Rick. The teams currently struggling near the bottom of the Premiership are there despite having proven goalscorers such as Benteke, Ings and Austin. We would have Jerome, who has Premiership experience but never come off at that level, Hooper, who has not shone so far in the Premiership or Championship, Grabban, who has no Premiership experience and tends to miss as many as he scores, and the enigma that is RVW. It would be a huge leap of faith.
Sort of answered your own question there. Chances will be at a premium next season should we go up. I think AN will adapt our play and Hooper will become more integral. I'm sounding harsh on other strikers and don't mean to but suspect we'll see a shift if we get up next season
I can see your point, 1950, but as has been said, Jerome was often played out of position by Pulis and Hughes at Stoke (when he was played at all). I think he and the others would probably score around half of the goals they scored this year, which would be a reasonable return in the PL. I'm not sure who we would buy at great expense who would do better than that. I also think that RvW would fare much better with our current mid-field, which is also much more capable of goal-scoring than that last year in the PL.
I agree with that, and Hooper was by far our best striker in the PL last year, but it's a difficult league for strikers to maintain their confidence. There is also Hooper's tendency towards long-term injuries as a concern though.
I did and I didn't. I said "I" would keep him because of that rational, but does AN want him? As I said he on face value, appears to be 3rd choice, is that good enough for Hooper and is this because he doesn't fit into AN plans/way of playing? I don't think AN is really an adapt our way of playing to accomodate someone kind of manager, I think, though I may be wrong, he is more likely to buy and sell to optomise the players for his system. And Hooper to me looks like a sell. Bah!
