With Wolves and Blackburn gone and, maybe, Bolton to join them, some decent players will become available. Not saying that we would want any of them but who would you sign given the opportunity? Pick one from each category. Strikers: Yakubu (Blackburn) Fletcher (Wolves) Kevin Davies (Bolton) Midfield: Dunn (Blackburn) O'Hara (Wolves) Mark Davis (Bolton) Widemen: Hoillett/Pederson (Blackburn) Jarvis (Wolves) Eagles (Bolton) Just a bit of fun. My choices Fletcher, Dunn and Eagles but I think that any combination from all three categories could do a job in our set up.
Well this is a none starter Ivor, there's only one striker there worth talking about, and that's Yakubu, he's put in a respectable 17 goals this season, playing in a below average team, and he would get a lot more with us, so it has to be YAKUBU. Fletcher has got 11 goals, and is maybe a second choice, due to his age being 25, but not the most prolific of strikers, though I know you like him, as for kevin Davies of Bolton, no thanks does nothing for me. As for Wingers and Midfield, I think we are ok, so if I was Manager I'd go for Yakubu!................
Out of this lot, the one that stands out is Yakubu - if he's available then well worth a good bid. He would certainly give us a Plan B up front, if not the Plan A and B and perhaps a C as well. Certainly somebody who doesn't miss chances, either sticks them in or gets them saved. Dunn impresed as the only Blackburn player putting in a shift against us at the Liberty and he almost undid us all by himself. If available inexpensively then worth adding to the squad as depth as would Eagles. Petrov would be my one dead certain pickup from Bolton if he's available. The big question with anybody not a striker is can they play comfortably with the ball at their feet and are they technically good enough to play tiki-taka - if not BR's not going to give them a second thought. As for the striker, the player has to do it all - and I mean all because he's not going to get any help from the wingers or midfield. I would like to see Yakubu in front of Sigs - muscle, pace, technically good - a nice combination with Sigs stirring the pot just behind him. As for QPR ... what's Taraabt going to do if they go down ... an alternative to Sigs possibly?
I'm surprised that Mark Davis hasn't had a mention because he's the sort of driving, hard tackling midfielder that we lack. He often gets alongside or in front of the striker for a pot at goal and he can play a bit as well.... I went for Dunn though, because he's experienced at this level, puts his foot in, gets a few goals and has ability on the ball that would suit us. I chose Fletcher because he's a canny striker and gets in really great positions. For a guy who's not so tall, he gets a lot of headed goals with a fair share from open play. That takes pretty sound instincts. Yak certainly gets goals but I wonder if Buck would deem him mobile enough to close down up front. And he's used to the hoof it up approach to feed off at Blackburn that he just wouldn't get with us. All the wide players I mentioned could do a decent job and fit in - selected Eagles because he's fast, tricky and knows where the net is. All theoretical, of course but, as I said, a bit of fun to wrap our minds around. PS: Yankee, great player but have my doubts about Taraabt. He'd want a fortune in wages and I think he might unsettle the changing room.
Yakubu has great close quarter battling skills in and around the mixer, and he's not reliant on long ball Ivor, so I disagree there, as Blackburn can knock the ball around too! Yankee great post, agree...................
Ivor ... on Taraabt, who knows what he'd want in wages to stay in the Prem, I think it all depends on who comes inquiring and whether he has a two-way contract - maybe he won't have any chips to bargain with. On Yakubu, I'm not so sure he doesn't have the means to play the way we need. When you're in a team of "donkeys" you're going to have to play hoof ball cause that's all they have and as for closing down, well let him bust a gut for 50 minutes then sub him out - but I think that if he's a good enough athlete he can condition himself to do the work for 90 and still be effective. I think that in part may be Graham's short coming ... not a good enough athlete to get in the condition necessary to do the work and still be sharp enough when it matters. Perhaps we're asking too much and need to rethink how the lone striker operates. Perhaps as a team we should play higher up the field and give the lone striker less acreage to cover.
Let me put this out there ... are there any UEFA / FIFA regs coming into play for next season regarding finances that are going to have an impact on payroll etc and thereby the number of players that clubs will likely carry and might be looking to off-load.
Fletcher, O'hara, Jarvis Reasoning; Yakubu is definitely superior but coming to the end IMO. Kevin Davies can still cut it with the big boys but is even further down the line than the Yak (obviously both of these could take us apart next season no matter who they're playing for. Fletcher I could see here for several seasons, and as Ivor says is a very clever player. Dunn, although great on his day is 33 and has been at Blackburn for too long to fit in here. Davies is fantastic but injury prone. O'Hara impressed me at Portsmouth and when we played Wolves up there. Must have picked up good habits at Arsenal and Spurs as a youngster. Gives us another option to take set pieces (considerable upgrade on Mark Gower if Siggy doesn't come back!). Hoilett is out of our league I should imagine, Pedersen blows hot and cold. Eagles would have been my pick for his height and versatility, and he came through at Man U which is a stamp of quality (guess this is why Brendan wanted him), but he chose Bolton as his bed and he can ****ing lie there....I'm just bitter like that. Jarvis is a total professional and a great crosser of the ball, also the youngest at 25 and knows where the net is, so he'll do.
Strikers: Yakubu (Blackburn) Fletcher (Wolves) Kevin Davies (Bolton) Midfield: Dunn (Blackburn) O'Hara (Wolves) Mark Davis (Bolton) Widemen: Hoillett/Pederson (Blackburn) Jarvis (Wolves) Eagles (Bolton) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only one that made an impression at the Liberty was Jarvis. The others are either past it or journeymen (or both)
Keep our wide men as is , keep Graham & Moore & maybe sign Fletcher . Arsenal are nosing around Vorm so we might have to do something there ( Vorm going is my biggest worry ) . A Bodde like general in midfield (unsure who if Sig goes ) .. & a central defender ( unsure who would be available )
If Vorm goes (perish the thought) then what about Robinson? We'd have a decent keeper and a couple of million in the bank. Rather keep Vorm, though.
What about James ? ... if he takes a cut in wages ( going to be a lot of " Cut in wages " the next few seasons IMO .
Cant believe that people are thinking Dunn is worth a punt. He is to old for our squad, yes he tried hard against us and was by far their best player. But he is not what we need to move forward. The ones i like the look of and i have to go with terror here. Fletcher, Jarvis and maybe O'hara. Jarvis would be my first choice, every time i have seen him he has looked different class. would be great competion out wide.
Yakubu - his record is enough for me. Good with the ball at his feet and can play too. Definitely a Plan B or even A. Dunn - the only player to put a shift in for Blackburn in recent times. A real workhorse. Hoillett /Jarvis. Probably the former due to his goals. Great talent. Jarvis is great but doesn't give us anything new imo. Close call though.
If Vorm does go then we go for Hennesey. I think he's a good keeper and has just had a sh!te defence in front of him.
