Being a PL striker is also about being able to play and being a good decision maker. Rasiak knew where the net was, but he practically disappeared when the ball wasn't falling kindly infront of him. It's probably why he flopped at Spurs. I'm not sure who is best regards to that part of their game.
We need a player who fits in to the current side and not necessarily the best overall player. We're looking for a partner to Lambert and not a replacement. For me Saints looked more of a goal threat with Connolly in the team and it's no coincidence that we won 10 games in a row with him as a regular. Therefore we need a player who will play on the shoulder of the defenders pushing them back and allowing Lambert, Guly & Lallana to drop deep to collect the ball and give us space to progress the ball from defence to midfield. The other aspect of play for me is that poacher/finisher instinct. A lot of frustration goes toward Guly because he is not a striker and never makes that run to the near post or gambles on a knock down. I don't think pace is that important to our style of play which is why I think either Rhodes or Sharp could be the answer.
Agreed, which is another reason why I'm not overly keen on Maynard. I honestly think we play better, more attractive, football now without Chamberlain. That said though, I think we could desperately do with some pace in the side away from home. With teams looking to attack more, we could do with someone with real pace to push the opposition back towards their own goal again - as well as giving an option on the counter-attack. This is thus why as well as somebody like Sharp, I would also like us to sign a pacey winger. Right now, De Ridder doesn't quite look good enough to fill this role - as whilst he may do in the future, the fact is there's only four months left of the season. Automatic promotion requires someone who can do this job now.
Agree agree Someone with the close control and an ability to get half a yard in the box to finish a move will be a greater asset to the team than sheer pace, but that doesn't mean that pace in the squad would not be a welcome asset. If someone is available that has both then hip hip hooray. I'm confident after hearing the interview with Adkins before the Palace match that the club are not going to miss the opportunity our 1st half of the season performance has given us. We will be strengthening and i'm looking forward to seeing who comes in.
This is my feeling, as well. Pace isn't really a huge part of our style, but as teams increasingly push up on us, we're likely going to need that option to open up space for our passing game.
Players with pace are two a penny, but players who know how to use it and do so consistently are pretty thin on the ground. Adding in the abitlity to play and the ability to cross/finish consistently narrows it down still further. A striker, for us anyway, only needs enough pace to get infront of a defender, which seeing as most defenders are built like cruise ships and move like them too, isn't a whole lot. The players that don't have natural pace or athleticism in abundance tend to develop better technically, as they need to in order to compete against athletes.
I certainly wouldn't bring in a pacey player with little technical skill, but I'd preference it to some degree if we're looking at a selection of quite-talented players. We certainly don't need to redefine our style, but a player with the pace to break behind defenders when they push too far upfield could be of great benefit to our build-up play. Right now, teams are swarming to the ball and disrupting our passing game because they don't really need to worry that we'll try to spring someone.
I think it'll be Nicky Maynard that is bid for And I hope the 'big signing' is done and dusted. Where is RocketSwanie when you need him...? Yes he was never 100% but he did have his contacts and his no how
I've seen from Football Rumours.. i know not a reliable source.. but N. clyne.. butterfield and Sharp
Fair play to him... If huddersfield get promoted.. he deserves the chance to play at a higher level for them. he is INTEGRAL
We need to get Rocket back in, with his successful information reaching a grand total of ONE - being Radhi Jaidi who was all over the papers anyway I'm waiting to see Adu unveiled.
