I think he was third choice because of the system he liked to play with rather than him not rating him. Although that obviously doesn't bode well for the future either. I think it is a bit harsh to bring up his stats from the last premier league season though given that we did not really create that many chances. I suspect his conversion rate wasn't too bad that season. The only big miss I remember from him was against West Ham away.
I don't think it is fair to judge either Hooper or RvW for their last performances in the premiership. I think we are all in agreement that Hughtons style of play really starved the strikers of any decent service. I'd keep both as I think that they are technically the best finishers we have at the club. Jerome has to stay for his energy and pace, he also has genuine experience in the premiership albeit not particularly prolific. I think Lafferty offers something different up top and could be deployed as a late substitute, he's surprisingly good with the ball at his feet and from dead ball situations. Grabban is the one to go. Nowhere near clinical enough from what I've seen and offers nothing that we don't have in Jerome. I suspect more than one to go however with a new striker to come in!
Sorry if I am being a bit thick but most people seem to agree that AN will not change his system and that we will buy a new striker presumably in the Jerome mould to play the sole front man role. The only other striker on the books who can perform that role is Lafferty but there are serious doubts about his attitude and ability levels in the Premiership amongst other things. Hooper cannot play the sole front man role and in the Championship he was behind Grabban in the pecking order even when AN put two strikers on the pitch. We are now in the Premiership. What is the sense in keeping Hooper or RVW for that matter?
Sometimes you need to change shape (for example, when chasing games) and Hooper is a great option to have. I doubt we'd find a better option for less or the same as what we paid for him. You take either RVW or Hooper though moving forwards, I think. I personally would stick with Hooper.
Don't necessarily disagree but AN seems to prefer Grabban as that option and when your squad is limited to 25 you can't afford to include a second choice option player for a second choice option system unless it is one of the youngsters who doesn't count amongst the 25.
I get what you mean but presumably we will start the season with 4 strikers and I would think it makes sense to have a bit of variety within that so we can change shape when plan A isn't working.
I don't think there is a lot of disagreement between us and at the end of the day it will all depend on who he brings in and who he wants to get rid of or, better put, who he can get rid of.
I agree that there are decent arguments to let go of four of our strikers, but then I don't think you could ever have the perfect attacking line-up. We do need to hold on to some of them, so it can only be one or two that go. I remain bemused that Lafferty is by far and away the fans favourite to jettison given that between him and RvW he's the one that has shown any ounce of love for our club and has a better record in England (even though pretty miserable!)
I hate to be cynical but had we not gone up I Imagine Hooper would happily join a prem team if they came in for him, also I'm pretty sure the extra wages and glamour are what Lafferty is lusting after rather than the shirt.
That's fair, but that's better than not wanting to play at all! On Hooper - yes, but that would require a prem team willing to take him. His stock has sunk now and he really needs to pull his finger out.
They are all young enough to become prem class strikers and they all have talent weirdly enough the score ratio is totally opposite to the prices we paid with Winkel and Lafferty being the most expensive Hooper in the middle then Grabban and Jerome the least. Jerome has to be the best bit of business from a Norwich manager ever ,Adams should be credited for that .
Holt Credit to Gunn and co. for that - I honestly think it's no argument, but Jerome has certainly been a fantastic bit of business
Hmmm. Grant Holt for £400k anyone? Hats off to Mr Gunn I think. I reckon we've had some blinding signings in the recent past - Drury/Crook/Hucks/Bowen/Bruce/C Woods/Adams and Gunny
Jerome has yet to complete an entire season and at 28 may even surpass the legend that was Grant Holt. At the moment I would concede that Gunny saved our club with that one signing.
You'll need to bookmark this post on the off-chance that Jerome has just hit his peak and runs in 15+ goals per season for the next three years and becomes Holt-esque as you will look like a genius. Unfortunately for Jerome if he does he will not have another opportunity to cement his legend status by scoring a hat-trick in the Old Farm.
........and old gits like me can go back even further. IMHO our best ever signing in my lifetime was Martin Peters, I think Bondy paid Spurs £40k for him when Bill Nicholson thought he was finished. He subsequently went on to play for us for six years making 206 appearances, 17 more than he did at Tottenham and all in the top flight.
I would be extatic if he achieves anything like the impact on our club that Sir Grant did , scoring in the play off final and finishing leading scorer is a good start especially as he joined us a few months into the season. I remember watching Ashton and Jerome playing for England U21s about 8 years ago and thinking what a good player he was.
Interesting that Hooper got no negative votes whereas Grabban got 8. I voted for Lafferty perhaps a little unfairly as he has had very little game time and RVW hardly set the World alight.
