It's fairly obveous we need an improvement in our strikers and fairly obveous that the last thing this forum needs is another article on strikers. but i dont care and want to rattle on about some of the options available in the prem... I for one think there are several strikers who could improve our team, a few of whom probably don't meet our transfer policy. In other words are not free or french. What strikers are available, realistically to a team like ours:::: Arsenal- Bendtner. Nowhere near as good as the 9mil price tag, glad he is off to portugal having been linked with us. Villa- Agbnonglahor- Was a pretty pacy, hot England prospect a couple of years ago when Villa were pushing top four. Probably would not be for sale as villa have a fairly small squad, and unsure if the pace and quality is still there. Chelsea- Anelka/Sturridge. Anelka for me is a class player, and down the pecking order at Chelsea behind Drogba and Torres. Wages and age clearly would not fit in with our policy, and would probably demand a high transfer fee. Sturridge would be ideal on loan but has said he wants to prove himself at Chelsea, not sure if he features in AVB's plan however. Either would improve our current strikeforce, but strength in depth is always needed in teams competing in several competitions. Anelka is FRENCH . Man City- Bellamy/Roque Santa Cruz. So many strikers. For me having Bellamy in the same team as Joey Barton could be the greatest thing since the sighting of robot testicles in Transformers 2. Wages would be an issue with both players, and fat Santa is so out of form. Bellamy could improve squad, personally woudln't want a player with that ego or attitude anywhere near our team of saints. Man U- Berbatov/Welbeck/Macheda- For me personally I would see Berbatov improving our team, shame he has come out recently and said he wants to stay at United. Quality player, always splits opinions because people think he is 'lazy' despite getting the golden boot Macheda would be worth a punt on loan IMO, but would not walk in to our first team. Stoke-Kenwyn Jones. I have always been a fan of the big awkward ex Mackem. Still only 26. Would he improve our strikeforce? Depends if we get rid of Amoeba or Best. We have enough target men, and our formation is probably going to be 442/451 with one big 'un up front. Doubt Stoke would be willing to sell to a similar positioned club either. Spurs-Defoe/Crouch/Pav/Keane. All four have pros and cons, personally I would take Defoe at the right price of Pav. I think despite Crouch's goal scoring record we do not need another target man, and with his age/wage demands and transfer fee (I think I read Harry wants 10mil) he would be laughed away but scroodge mc duck cashley. Defoe has come out recently and said he has no desire of leaving spuds and coming to the toon, which is a shame as I personally think he is a decent striker who would suit our team. Never been a fan of Keane and reading previous articles I am not alone in this. Would demand silly wages for a player IMO is way past his best. Good goal scoring record especially the season where he partnered Berbatov. Pav is a funny one, very hit and miss striker who has been second choice last season to Crouch. Worth a punt in my eyes for the right price (no more than 6mil). unlikely. WBA-Odemwingie. What a first season in the prem for him, 15 goals for a newly promoted club. Has come out and said he wants to stay at WBA next season, and has been linked with the likes of Arsenal. At 30, slight gamble, doubt we could get him for less than 10mil and doubt WBA would let him go especially to a team that have been in a similar position to them the past 2 seasons. Would definately walk into our starting 11 IMO. Wigan-Rodallega/Moses. Considering how close Wigan came to being relegated last season, and the fact that their best player has left, I am surprised Rodallega has not been linked with a move away. 26, 9 goals last season and 10 goals the season before. hardly prolific, but I think he would link up well with some of our creative midfield players. I would love to see a 'cheeky bid' for him. Main problem would be asking price and the fact that both Cashley and Whelan'dealin' are both tighter than a nuns chuff when it comes down to it, as we saw with Insomnia. Shame. Moses was a quality prospect in the championship with Crystal Palace, and is spoken highly of by Wigan fans. Wouldn't make an immediate impact on our team but could be 'one for the future'. Wolves-Doyle. Arguably Wolves' best player. Not sure if he would get the goals, I personally have never been a fan. Doubt Wolves would let him go either. For me, Rodallega, Anelka, Sturridge. 1 or 2 of these would be lovely. Shame it wont be any of them, if anyone at all. **** it lets just go with Tiote up front. What say you ballbags? Disagree with everything I say?
Green = Yes Orange = Yes/maybe but would cost too much or more than they're worth Red = Eat **** and die
Out of those listed, realistically there is only three that I would consider, which would be Defoe (depending on price), Odemwingie (don't think he would come) and Sturridge on loan. I would have said Welbeck but I think he would prefer to go back to Sunderland meaning his heart wouldn't be in it. As much as I love Berba and Pav, they aren't the type of strikers we need.
Sturridge would rather stay at Chelsea, but i still think his heart would be in it if he came here, because on their loan moves, a players main aim is to take advantage of the opportunity of first team football, impress the world and make his future. I don't think Welbeck would care that much mate. As a young footballer you need to take the opportunities you're given, you can't afford to get depressed just because you're not at the perfect club for you, you need to battle and perform to make your future, or be a no body. And besides, all Welbeck said is "i would love to go back to Sunderland", it doesn't mean he'll be devastated if he doesn't or that he loves the club, it just means he enjoyed his time there. I'd have Welbeck and Sturridge on loan.
The bit in bold I agree with, however the bit about Welbeck I don't. Yes I agree Welbeck probably just wants to play football on a regular basis, however I think he would have a sense of loyalty towards Steve Bruce (maybe not Sunderland as a whole). Due to this, I think he would consider other options before us (doesn't mean I think he would reject us if we were his only option). Plus, if he was to go out on loan again, Sunderland will probably have first choice on him.
a comprehesive list of why we should be looking away from the premiership for strikers, all are overpriced/wouldnt come/too old. (there's a lot of good strikers in that list, but i just don't think they're worth it)
I agree. Shame we keep making our efforts to sign strikers so public thanks to big mouth Pardew, we don't seem to get anywhere. On a side note, I see Cwarr is back tracking on Erdinc, and hasn't deleted his account as promised. bellllllennnnd
Some good strikers there, just not for us. Either too old, the wrong kind of striker (no more target men please!), valued too highly, would want too high wages or simply wouldn't come.
What about Fletcher from Wolves - doesn't get much of a chance and gets goals when he gets the chance. Not a no. 9 but he would be useful. Zamora? Same type of striker as what we have but a better version. Moussa Dembele - always seems to score against us (For AZ in the Euro Cup and Fulham). Worth a punt I reckon.
I would prefer to give Long a chance at stepping up than any of the players mentioned above. Defoe is awful, half the player he was a couple of seasons ago, most Spurs fans can't wait to see the back of him. Lets give a younger, hungrier player with a point to prove a go I say
Out of the one's listed, none really appeal to me except Sturridge. The rest are either too old/too ****/too expensive.
