Wut? Had you left when he came on against Palace? Look at his record. He didn't set the world alight in several spells in non-league and lower league football until he had a purple patch at mighty Scunthorpe. He then did well at Celtic but - no I won't say it! I did say that ' I did not think ' and it all a matter of opinion but AN obviously does not rate him and, as he is going down to the Championship, most Premiership Managers share that view. To put it kindly - he is too short for his weight!!
Hooper didn't exactly set the Championship on fire. I would suggests he's yet to evidence he's a quality championship striker let alone Premier league. No one needs to evidence he's NOT a premier league striker. HOOPER needs to start evidencing that he is.
He wasn't regularly playing through as Jerome and Grabban was the preferred strikers, Hooper was 3rd choice. I think when he was with Scunthorpe in the Championship he had a good record and another good record with Celtic so that should be evidence enough that he's good enough for the Championship. To judge him fairly in his NCFC career we would have to see more of him as 5 or 10 minutes in an odd appearance here and there isn't enough. I still believe Hooper is a good striker, we just haven't used him to his best potential. Last time we were in the PL Hooper would score a goal then oddly get dropped the next game, I think if he started more he would have proved himself.
I'm not even slightly exaggerating, I cannot understand how anyone can question whether Hooper has the ability to play in the Premier League, let alone the Championship. His (limited) record in the PL in a team that really struggled to create goals is more than enough evidence (check out goals per minute...), let alone just watching him play. I think, though, there are three issues with him being our premier league striker: (1) his fitness and, by extension, his attitude (2) his injury history (3) his best role in a team He can only do anything about (1) (although to the extent that (1) helps recovery from (2), obviously he can have an impact). And there's not a lot that he can do about the fact that his most suited formation (some sort of 4-4-2) isn't used by our current manager. All of these issues are also problems for other PL clubs. I think he's shown himself willing to be flexible in how he plays, but, unluckily for him, you can't really change that much this late in his career. That's why I think he's going out on loan and quite possibly won't play for us again
Totally Agree.Don't understand the support from supporters for Grabban when he has be ****e and given so many minutes and chances. Hooper has been given sod all, just a few sub appearances. He has still scored as many as Grabban, despite a lot less minutes on the pitch. Plus the late vital goals Hooper has come on a got, The goal against Bolton was a perfect example of what he always does. He comes on, gets a chance and takes it. Grabban starts games, comes on in games, does sod all. The bigger worry is AN kept using him ahead of Hooper...God knows why...And now An has been bitten by it. Predictably, and a bit worrying, but hopefully it will sharpen Alex up. He has gotten that wrong for a long time. One of the only errors of judgement hes made so far.
Son Heung-Min to Spurs?! Is so, cracking signing. He will rip defenses apart! A worry if he has to run at our defenders.
And what is your technical experience in the game to make such accusations against a Manager who has been such a success. Please explain your experience in the professional game which makes us accept your opinion over AN. It would be bad enough if you were expressing opinions but to set them out as facts needs some clarification of your qualifications otherwise we can only assume that you are a refugee from Canary Call.
Whilst I have a huge respect for AN, I still feel a bit uneasy about the way things are developing. Hooper's 'failure' as such is that he doesn't fit AN's way of playing the game, which by the way is one I agree with. That's little consolation to Hooper though, who is a decent striker but not one suited to the lone striker role. AN obviously rates Grabban more highly, but then he has last night's antics thrown at him. Why does Grabban suddenly want to leave? Is there disquiet in the dressing room? I hope not, but that doesn't calm my uneasiness at the present situation. The bid of £10m for Afobe, if true, makes me nervous as well, considering he has scant Championship experience and no PL experience at all. I hope things settle down soon and we put in a good performance at Southampton and move on after the window closes, with or without Afobe, but I just don't feel as confident as I once did.
As you say Rick, AN only plays one up front and there is no way he will change that in the short term. Jerome and, to a lesser extent, Lafferty and Grabban can play that role but Hooper and RvW can't. As supporters we all have our opinions on players but only those at the club know what is going on and see them in action 7 days a week. Personally I do not rate either Hooper or Grabban. Quite clearly AN did not rate Hooper, perhaps because he did not fit the system, but to be fair no other Premiership Manager appears to have shown any interest which is why he is presumably on his way to Sheff Wed. I do not rate Grabban but AN appeared to see something there as has Eddie Howe and I have to respect their opinion - they make a living out of the game - I don't. At the end of the day the facts are quite simple. Grabban and Hooper are more than likely to leave and so we desperately need another striker to cover for/replace/share the load with Jerome. We do not know who is available and we can only put our trust in AN and McNally to make the right call. £10m is a lot of money to a Club like ours but strikers in that price range do not come with any guarantee of Premiership success. The defence still worries me. I know we have a couple of youngsters, Brady can play left back but is needed on the left side of midfield, Elliott Bennett has played a couple of games at right back and others like Mulumbu and Tettey could fit in the back four in an emergency but, and it is a big but, if Turner goes we only have 6 specialist defenders covering the back 4 and I don't think that is enough.
Urgh, you're one of those... I don't think Grabbans good enough so therefore I'm "Alex Neil out". If you don't want to read opinion from fans, get off a fan forum.
Leicesters deal for Demarai Gray is about 4.7 million? That doesn't sound much for him at all? Didn't Bournemouth bid over 5 million for him in Jan?
I think Hooper could do a job for us - especially as an impact sub, as he showed on several occasions last season. He and Jerome seemed to develop a good understanding of each other's play and often created chances from which one of them would at least have a shot on target.
Who says RvW can't play on his own up front? He did alright midweek. I think both RvW and Hooper are capable of adapting their game and bring other strengths to the table that we can use beyond the 'pace', 'strength', 'hustling' attributes that seem to be admired in Jerome.
Out of Hooper and Grabban I would go for Hooper. Think it's a shame he has never got a starting role. Grabban always feels like it takes him to many attempts to score, whilst Hooper is more clinical. After Tuesday nights antics I don't really know really know what to make of Grabban. AN clearly rates him as do others by the bids we have had but I don't see it, and now highly question his loyalty and commitment. As for incomings i would be happy with Afobe or Austin but feel a little bit disappointed by Gayle.
Read again what you posted. We all have opinions and that is what forums are for. What you put out were set out as facts and a slur on the capabilities of our Manager and there is a difference.
He often was required to play that role under Hughton and it never looked like working. In any event it looks like he is staying so he might get another chance to prove himself this year. Personally I do not think either Hooper or Grabban are up to Premiership standard but as both AN and Howe seem to rate Grabban it could well be that I am wrong.
RvW was used in that role under Hughton's negative tactics, he not only received no service, he also had to track back into his own half to stand any chance of seeing the ball!
