Thought I would attempt to sway those non believers of the importance of signing Steven Fletcher. After our loss to Hartlepool recently and hearing the match report that we dominated the game possession wise, albeit against a team two divisions lower than us, I did notice that we failed to score a goal. Not having seen the team (however with Sess, McLean and Seb missing only), I believe we had a full strength team out. I assume Frasier, Connor and Noble/Ji were our strikers at some stage of the match and none of them scored against Hartlepool? This comes at a time of about 3 weeks out from the start of our first game against Arsenal(away). I believe that Fletcher, 25, although he may not score 15 to 20 goals a season for us, will be a decent target man, that will (unlike Gyan or Kenwyne) give 100% effort and be fully committed to our team in every game. As a Sunderland supporter, I guess the same can be said for any fan, all we ask is the lads give their all for the shirt. If we lose and the players walk off that pitch sweating and with no more energy to give, then we should applaud their efforts. Lets not be delusional and believe we will get a striker such as Tevez, Rooney or Suarez come to the NE of England and play for (50-60) thousand pound a week. It won't happen, so we are left with the next level of striker to sign. I would also love Defoe to sign also, but his wage demands may be too high for us, he also may believe he is too good to play for a team like us. I got this impression when we were chasing Chamakh a few years ago and Laurent(the tosser) Blanc, told the media that Chamakh was too good to go to a team like Sunderland. That's how many top players think about teams mid table like us. It hurts me as a Mackem, but this is reality. I thought last year, if we had signed a player like Fletcher, or Kevin Davies, we may have had a top 8 finish. Bendtner was never going to sign for us permanently, remember he is the type of player that thinks he is too big for us, and was somewhat lazy most games. However, if our wingers had used his height better his heading was very impressive at times. Hopefully we can get Aiden McGeady as a right winger, McLean on the left, and Fletcher as the target man. With Sess behind him, and Larsson's set pieces, we may have enough firepower to do the job for us this season. I live in South Australia and don't get all the l;atest gossip at times, but with the information I do get, this is how I believe we can move forward. Lets give MON our full support and hope the lads can give us some joy this season, and a win against the Scum That is all.
Some good points raised mate I think however to get European football, which has to be our ultimate aim, we need another Bent style striker as well as a Fletcher style striker. The scum have this with Cisse and Ba and that's one of the reason they were so successful! Throwing all our eggs in one basket with Fletcher maybe a mistake unless O'Neill has something else up his sleeve!
1 in 3 is good scoring record in the Prem. Fletcher is more of a target man than an out & out goal scorer he will be a great bye IMO I do expect us to sign at least 2 frowards this summer if one of them is Fletcher im happy with that.
Statistics can only show part of the story. Fletcher may have a scoring record of one in three which to me isn't bad but how many times, I wonder, did he get his head to a cross which was put into the net by another player. Or perhaps, as Wolves were playing last season, put it over the bar but at least he had created the opportunity.
last season for wolves in the PL he had Started 15 games Came on as sub in 14 games had 44 shots 18 were on target Scored 10 goals got 2 assists Commited 36 fouls 22 fouls against him 1 yellow card I still think he is **** but meh, if we do get him we shall see.
