If you had to axe one of our strikers

Couldn't agree more KIO and going back even further Barry Butler was a wonderful signing as well. £10k for Duncan Forbes was also money well spent.

 

Hooper was our most efficient striker this season in goals per minutes on the pitch.

Several times I heard AN talk about not changing the team as he didn't want to damage the rhythm of the team. I think that we haven't seen enough of Neil yet to know what he will do but I'm sure that when he gets to start the season from the beginning he'll leverage he squad far more.

 

IMO, we should be concentrating on the service to the strikers rather than the strikers themselves. The talk of Brady, who can play anywhere on the left is right to my mind. Mulumbu would also be a good choice, as he is a better medium to long range passer than Tettey, but the key to my mind is AM where we now have Wes who is 33 and Andreu who is as yet unproven in the PL. Howson and Dorrans can also move forward, which is good, but may not be good enough in the PL on a regular basis. This is where I am curious about where AN may choose to go.

 

The lack of an effective attacking midfielder (and under-use of Wes, debatably) played a big part in us getting relegated last time round, in my opinion.

We definitely need to address this if we can, though I really can't think of any suitable candidates off the top of my head.

 

Fabregas ?

 

No better than what we have

 

Dorrans, Howson, Redmond, Hooper and Andreu are decent options we have already to play behind the striker, and that's before we get any cheque books out. I personally have no concerns about that position.

 

I think we could see Redmond being deployed in a more central role next season as a support striker. His pace could be a useful asset running at less nippy CB's. If he is charged with increasing his involvement in the game and contributing more to the score sheet then I would hope to get a positive reaction from him. If played with Jerome it would give us the classic big 'un with a little 'un combination up front but with both parties having real pace.

 

Possibly, but apart from the Murphys and E Bennett, that would leave us with no natural width at all? I doubt very much whether Josh / Jacob will see much action - apart from cup games, so AN would need to bring in two wide men if your theory has any mileage in it?

 

Josh is 21 this season - 2 years older than Jack Grealish, 5 years older than Jack Wilshere when he made his Premier League debut. older than several other current Arsenal players when they became regulars in the squad and older than many other players who are regulars in the Premier League. Why are we, as a Club, so reluctant to test out our youngsters? Surely if Josh is not good enough at 21 he is unlikely to improve that much more in the next couple of years if he is not given the chance to prove himself. We will only know if he is good enough if he is given the chance - what will sending him out on loan to, say Hamilton, going to tell us about his chances of making it in the Premiership?

 

At the risk of reopening the "quality versus options" debate, yes we have options who can play behind the striker, but right now how many of them would you back to play that role effectively over a season? It's nice to have players who can slot in for the odd game, and I think we have that in abundance in that role, but real quality in that position could make a big difference.

That said, flair signings tend to have a higher risk associated with them, and tend to be expensive. Perhaps a loan of someone like van Ginkel would be ideal for our first season back.

Moving onto the topic of youngsters, I think if they indeed are good enough, we're afraid to field them because of the risk involved. This season fighting for promotion, and in relegation battles, every point is vital, and games are often won or lost by fine margins. When we have known quantities available, it's a low risk option.

Arsenal have enough quality elsewhere in their squad they can carry an inexperienced youngster, and arguably Villa were so desperate they were prepared to try anything - much like our use of youngsters towards the end of our relegation season.

 

This is exactly why I think we need to sign someone. None of those, for me, naturally sit in "the hole". They'll do a job, but I don't think it plays to their strengths - the aging Hoolahan aside.

But your point about flair players of that ilk is correct and is probably why we didn't get anyone when Hughton was here despite our best efforts - Quagriella and Toivenon, for example (not sure I spelt either of those names correctly).

 

Let's not start talking about those two again. The van Ginkel idea is a good one, but there would be the inevitable loan fee and I imagine we would be liable for his salary. I am sure we were linked with him a couple of years ago. To my mind the Redmond suggestion is the best. At the end of the season he seemed to have a freer role and he revelled in it, putting in performances the like of which we knew he was capable, but had seen only in brief flashes.

 

Hooper being linked heavily with a move back to Celtic

 

Probably no more than paper speculation. He has also been linked with Bolton, and ludicrously, a seasons loan to Huddersfield.

 

Cannot believe that the striker who has scored the fewest goals for us has merely 9 votes!

 

least

 

Call it blind faith, optimism or what ever. I think the fan fair and price tag he came with means we just want to believe that some of the hype was justified. There is some potential there but, I doubt he'll be any good in the PL next season if given a chance, but I actually think that of all of our strikers bar Jerome.
Even Jerome I would expect to struggle to break 10 as he has done before at this level, I think he adds more than the others to the team as a whole so definitely worthy of a shot. Hooper I fear could have what it takes for the PL just not in an AN side. I just don't see how he can fit in.
After AN joined the team functioned well with Grabban but I still remain dubious of his finishing but think he is a useful alternate option to Jerome.
Lafferty is just a liability that his skill level does not justify in my opinion.

Bah!

 

I'd like to refer this dispute to arbitration