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Article: Football - The Sunderland Striker Puzzle

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by Steven Royston O'Neill, Jul 17, 2011.

  1. Steven Royston O'Neill

    Steven Royston O'Neill Well-Known Member

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    With 9 players in and all now quiet on the transfer front I would love to be a fly on the wall when Bruce and Quinn talk strikers.

    We have and hopefully will keep Gyan so that’s one striker sorted, but who next if anyone.

    We can go 4-4-2 with the power house/Mr tricky combo and in Ji and Wickham we have the powerhouse options to go beside Gyan, either could be worldbeaters and first choice, but there again neither could, we don’t know.

    We could adopt the 4-3-3 system and have Gyan spearheading with Sess and Richardson/Larssen either side, we know both Sess and Richardson can do a good job there and Larssen should be an asset. Would we then need that extra striker?

    4-5-1 is a system tried in the past with Gyan our loan striker and strong attacking midfield joining in. That strong midfield attack let us down last season but our new signings look to have solved that, again do we need that extra striker.

    If we agree we do indeed need that extra option up front we then face our next problem, what kind of striker?

    Do we go for Wickham to be first choice then get a DJ Campell status striker to back that up, give a plan B if we need it? The cheaper option and a low risk one, providing either Wickham, Ji or both succeed from day one.

    Or do we go for that name, that first choice beside Gyan, our new Bent to bring in goals and give us a settled front line. This would leave Wickham and Ji the plan B and give them time to adjust and grow, more expensive and therefore a bigger risk but one that would make a statement and excite the fans.

    If we are to believe the gossip columns, always a risky business, then a Defoe calibre player is what we are after and I don’t see us buying Defoe to be a plan B. Now I just don’t see Defoe coming but forget that, is that the right option, a new first choice partner for Gyan?

    Its all if’s and but’s and it’s all risk so it’s not getting the guaranteed option is getting the least risk option, my choice would be to have Wickham and Ji our plan B, on the understanding that we use rotation and the players doing the job keep the job. I think we all have a few exciting weeks ahead and right now is the calm before the storm.

    I wish I knew a fly ITK.
     
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  2. vauxsamson

    vauxsamson Active Member

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    Either way, as you've said this season it will be nice to have not only a plan A, but also the options to go for a plan B, C and D.

    Lets just hope that Bruce has learnt enough from last season to know when to implement plan's B, C and D and not blindly continue with plan A when it's obviously not working.
     
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  3. talcnturnip

    talcnturnip Well-Known Member

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    We need a striker who can score 15 to 20 goals a season if we do get another in, still think it'll be another defender and a LW.
    As for the formations 4 4 2 is our best formation at home 4 5 1 possibly away, just don't think we have the personnel to try 4 3 3.Trying 4 3 3 will leave us over exposed at the back as our back 4 are not the fastest or the most agile at present and any quick breakaway (nice biscuits by the way) will be a big problem especially for the quick forwards most teams seem to have these days.
     
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  4. Steven Royston O'Neill

    Steven Royston O'Neill Well-Known Member

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    thought long and hard about this reply, didnt want to just breakaway(OK biscuits) so took some timeout(better ones) before replying. I agree.
     
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  5. talcnturnip

    talcnturnip Well-Known Member

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    I'm caught Twix a Rocky and a hard place over this one.
    Okay my coats on.
     
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  6. talcnturnip

    talcnturnip Well-Known Member

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    Seriously though syd (only because the biscuit references have run out) do you know of any who we could be looking at/ I don't have poolies knowledge or some of the other lads FIFA Striker Manager 11.
     
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  7. Nads

    Nads Well-Known Member

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    If i was Bruce, i'd 100% move for DJ Campbell, an inexpensive option and a little bastard of a player, gets right on defenders backs.

    Not a flash name, but he could do a great job for us, no question.

    We'd need one more, and we all know that the first choice should be Mr D. Welbeck.

    Welbeck, Gyan, Whickham, F . Campbell, D.J Campbell, Dong, with Noble out at a good championship club with a call-back clause, we'd be in good shape.
     
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  8. HoughtonMackem

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    For me we should be making LW our priority as we don't have any natural width down that side and sess is not going to play there. Ideally it would be an inside forward type of winger, someone comfortable on the left of a midfield 5 and on the left of the front 3 to make the system very fluid when attacking! Who that person is though is the tough question. I don't think there's anyone in the premiership who could do this role that will come to us, possibley welbeck but doubt it will happen. There has been mentions of the sporting Lisbon player vuknic (sp?) , but again, would he want to come here?
     
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  9. Nads

    Nads Well-Known Member

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    My hunch is that Whicham might be used in that role, by all accounts he did his best work for Ipswich there, snaffling 9 in 20 starts.

    Re the Sporting lad, they are a club that has been struggling for years now, and they lose their best players routinely each year, Moutinho last year, Veloso year before, they've lost Liedson now as well, and Braga have easily overtaken them as Portugal's 'number 3' club.

    I know little about the lad like.
     
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  10. mitchthemakem

    mitchthemakem Well-Known Member

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    Well i was disguised as this fly in the Sunderland boardroom flying around the light as one does when Quinny and Bruce came in,

    Bruce said we need to spend big on a forward Nial

    "How much do you want Steve"

    "I reckon £20m at least"

    "Who have you in mind" Nial said

    " I reckon £20m would get us the striker we need from

    And just as he was about to say the name some bastard tried to squirt me with fly spray and i ****ed off out the window.
     
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  11. Nads

    Nads Well-Known Member

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    11am and already drunk mate?

    Sterling work <laugh>
     
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  12. fulwell end bogs

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    Depends on the defence for me, if Brucie doesn't see Richardson as a left back then he will no doubt be playing on the wing, Sess has the attacking midfield role nailed on.
     
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  13. Steven Royston O'Neill

    Steven Royston O'Neill Well-Known Member

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    no idea

    That would do me

    I feel very let down
     
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  14. RedNWhite4Life

    RedNWhite4Life Well-Known Member

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    I think its pretty obvious what is going on to be honest. Bruce is waiting to see if there is a chance of Welbeck returning and if not will prob splash the cash later on in the window. I think we prob only have the money left for one big signing say £10 million? and if we can get a £10 million player on loan like Welbeck then perfect we can then go for the Nzogbia or Johnson as has been mentioned on here.

    Weve beefed up our squad with sum good additions but now its time to sit quiet and play bluff. People will think our spree is over so we may catch a few teams off guard with a couple of cheeky bids later in the window. E.g. wigan will be desperate to sell at that point and City may have signed another winger and want rid of Johnson.

    For me its seems like its a one or the other for another striker or a left winger with the money left so its all gonna hinge on Welbeck and until we know one way or another nothing else will happen.

    I would be quite happy to sign no more strikers this summer as i would give Wickham a good go safe in the knowledge that you have the sess/richardson scenario as a pretty good back up option.
     
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  15. Cest Advocaat

    Cest Advocaat Well-Known Member

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    There is definitely a bit of cat and mouse now with the bigger named signings. We have the bulk of the squad in already and now I guess its who blinks first.

    N'Zog hopefully will either go to Villa or us in the next couple of days and once that is sorted, I think we will see us play our hand more openly. If we have to pay £10m and a hefty wage for Zog, then there will be a need to get a striker on loan or a cheaper option.

    Sign N'Zog = Welbeck on loan and DJ Campbell £1.5m.

    No N'Zog = £big money striker and Richardson on the left - Welbeck maybe on loan.
     
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  16. bobgee

    bobgee Member

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    I partially agree with RedNWhite4Life.

    We don't know what is going on in the background but my guess is that Alex Freguson is currently mulling over his striker options. He is way overstaffed in that department and he will either have to shift some via a permanent transfer or by loaning out. It's not an ideal situation having to wait on a rival manager's decision but if we can have a potential £10m striker for another season for nowt, why not?

    It's only my theory mind!!!!
     
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  17. Steven Royston O'Neill

    Steven Royston O'Neill Well-Known Member

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    theory and opinion is all we have mate
     
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