We've got real creativity in midfield, and a pacy striker helps create space for them as defences can't play a high line and squeeze the midfield. So it works well with Jerome or Grabban up top, but even at his fittest Hooper was never blessed with blistering pace. On top of that, Grabban runs the channels well, and Jerome also bullies centre backs. Hooper is weaker in both of those areas. In his favour, few would dispute that Hooper is the most natural finisher, and he can drop deep and be creative in the middle of the park. In the past I've been impressed with how he links up with Wes and Redmond. But, with Wes, Dorrans and Howson all creative in the centre of the pitch, Hooper is surplus to requirements in the build-up phase.
This'll sound bizarre, but potentially the key to whether RvW or Hooper can work in our system might be Redmond. If he continues to develop this season into a player that really terrifies defences, you might find defences are scared deeper to combat him, even if the lone striker doesn't have quite the same pace. If that can create the space in midfield we currently find with Jerome/Grabban up top, then RvW with his excellent off the ball movement, or Hooper's finishing, might bring them back into contention.
