It does sound like Hooper will be off but I still think he's a good asset for us. RVW will get a different level of support / service this season and I'm really glad he seems to be getting stuck in again. Lafferty is just about ready again and who knows what he could do up front rather than stuck out on the left? I'm reasonably positive about this season even if we don't land another striker.
I fully accept that Hughton's tactics didn't help but to me RvW didn't have the work commitment or physical presence to fulfil that demanding role. I hope I am wrong as we might well need him next year
Like you I would be interested in seeing how Lafferty performs as the front man The only negative vibe is the fact that it didn't take long for AN to send him out on loan last season.
"The biggest worry is he keeps using him ahead of Hooper God alone knows why" That's where you're effectively saying you know more than AN. Apologies if that's not what you meant but more than one person has now read it that way & you already jumped down their throat. We don't know why Grabban gets selected over Hooper, there must be a logical reason for AN to do so 2e just have to trust the guy! Anyway it's not going to be an issue now is it lol
I get the impression that Lafferty may have failed the ego "test". Aren't there rumours about the guy and his nights out? Or did I dream that? Lol
Some strange comments here. It wasn't exactly a secret as to why AN preferred Grabban up front to Hooper - 'movement'! In the system he plays with one up top it requires a centre forward who can run channels and close defenders down quickly. Jerome and Grabban both do that; Hooper doesn't. It wasn't because Neil didn't rate Hooper or thought Grabban was somehow a better goalscorer (its pretty obvious to anyone with eyes that he isn't) - it was all down to work rate, pace and mobility. Ultimately Jerome and Grabban were of more use than Hooper who in the end proved a bit of a luxury. Hooper ended up playing much deeper in the system when he did get a start or sub appearance. He had a touch of class about him, his touch, his finishing was outstanding - give him a chance and he'd usually take it. He doesn't lack skill - he is a talented, clever player. But as we've found it difficult to shift other high-earners, players who would have been behind Hooper in the pecking order, it has become a case of 'needs must' and that is why he will move on loan. Nothing wrong with shifting our third choice striker if we can put his wages towards someone who has Grabban's movement but also Hooper's finishing. The fly in the ointment is the Grabban situation. I don't think Neil wanted to sell him because it would cost more to replace him with someone similar than we will get for him - hence why his valuation (£8m) is frankly laughable for a player of his ability. But in the current market, I suspect we feel we might get something close to that. I'd sell him for a packet of Hobnobs but if we get £6m for him I'd take it, laugh, put it towards Afobe and buy two packets of Hobnobs.
Well does Afobe run channels and close down defenders? Lafferty does both as far as I'm concerned and he doesn't get a chance. Also, what's wrong with having a little variety within our strikers? Back to transfer rumours, according to Sky, we're still in for Napoli's Koulibaly.
Yes, Afobe works hard. My only issue with him is that he tends to play in a pair (with Dicko). Not sure how much football he's played on his own in a system but I assume AN does. It's another reason why we won't be in for Austin because he is too similar to Hooper in his style. He cannot play up front on his own. We'd be spending £15m on someone with a dodgy knee, big wages and who doesn't fit our system. It would be totally pointless. I agree about the variety in our strikers and I suppose RvW helps on that front if he stays, but we did need to shift some wages to make space for someone who has the ability to become first choice.
Koulibaly goss rekindled. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...Norwich-make-bid-Southampton-defensive-target
£8.8m for a defender plus £10m for a striker? Either McNally's had a change of heart and started using some sort of Mexican accounting standards for our budget or there is going to be some significant movement out... I'm guessing in the way of loans. Neil talked up RvW quite a bit - to my mind that was with the clear intention of painting Ricky as able to play on his own up top, but in a very different style (e.g. slipping off defenders, there's no way Ricky would be able to bully) and he was singing Ricky's praises in respect of work rate and attitude (tbf, I've never really doubted either, it's just high work rate wasn't necessarily his game). To me that sounds like either Neil's advertising him for loans, though it seems a bit late, or he genuinely is considering using RvW on his own up top
This is something I'll never understand on this board. The pedants who wish to argue the "your presenting this as fact" or "So you know more than Alex Neil" At the end of the day unless you're Colwho Mikey and you're stating FACTS! Most people are just stating opinions, in FML post quoted above it is perhaps a slight exaggeration bourn out of a degree of exasperation that a player who shows many deficiencies and now a seriously petulant streak, kept getting picked. If we had a poll on here of who we think is the better player 90+% might say Hooper. So is he really stating a fact? or saying he knows more than our manager? or just making a colourful point about why he can't comprehend Grabbans rating in any managers mind? Some do try to state facts, some even opinions as facts, but really if your trying to tell me that FML has said he knows more than AN from his previous post rather than just an opinion bourn of frustration and anger at one player, it seems a bit silly. To me it's clearly opinion and that he thinks it has been an error on AN part but maybe his only one so far. That I agree with him to an extent in so much as I really don't see a great deal in Grabban that would make me want to play him, I can state that without the need for qualifications or experience inside the game. I can even say that I think AN has made mistakes, Jesus he's young for a manager and learning and if he's really great will continue to do so for the next 30-40 years. But I trust him to learn from them. Whether having managed us to promotion whilst using Grabban, AN would agree it was a mistake, is unlikely and whilst we all know (Sorry not a fact, think) Hooper the better player, we all perhaps acknowledge too that our system may suit Grabban a little better. ultimately Grabban has shown himself to be a complete horsesarse, but if we don't sell him then whilst he will need to earn respect from us all again, as with Bass and Hoolihan there can be a way back, that is if he ever gets good enough to appease us all and bags a few goals. After all AN knows best, so if he stays and plays again he'll deserve our full support(well fullish and not entirely enthusiastic support!) Bah!
I Just hope he's not budgeting in the sale of Redmond in that! Or maybe we've really underestimated our budgetary powers! Bah!
But that's just it "God alone knows why" it's just ridiculous hyperbole & I wasn't the first to react to that either but as usual get singled out for the quote reply sheesh
Jesus wept I wasn't being a ****ing pedant, I was agreeing with the previous poster. I know what they meant Rob I'm not thick thanks
