Does no new striker signal the end of the season's hopes for you?

[Colossal Squid]

It's no secret that we need a new striker, the club are looking for a new striker and ultimately we'd all feel a lot more positive if we brought in a new striker.

However, as the clock ticks down and there are whispers that there won't actually be any new business completed by the end of the day, would NOT signing a new attacking player be so disappointing and deflating for you that you'd fail to have any hope in us achieving that much desired top two position this season?

Is our attack stronger than last season with Murray in place of Zamora and Wilson? Or is this just not enough to get the job done?

 

[pornomagboy]

yes

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[Knockaert Punch]

No, I'd be optimistic that we've held on to Knockaert, Stephens and Dunk (touch wood), and that March is coming back into fitness, allowing a system where March takes AK's right-midfield position and AK sits behind Murray or Hemed.

 

[Icy Gull]

I'll wait until the club tell us that no striker is coming in. I find it hard to believe that a club as well run as the Albion apparently are can fall short in this department every season

We have done so well in every other department that I am still expecting to hear that we have signed a quality forward..

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

No, but we are winging it a bit by hoping for minimal striker injuries and expecting Elvis to come good.

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

No - I think we can still make the top two - whether we will is another question.

But I think we can - will probably finish around 4th and fail in the playoffs - again.

To me the Newcastle game would not have been changed by a top striker and was more a case of us losing in the midfield and not creating enough chances, Knockers was taken out of the game well. I would have rather had some pace on both wings to make their defence struggle a bit more

 

[Withdean11]

Comparing to the team that finished last season, i feel we are stronger in defence and midfield, but weaker upfront.

A striker is the difference between top 6 and top 2.

 

[spence]

Ends a challenge for top 2.

Top 6 should be achievable.

 

[Don Tmatter]

What are the chances all 4 strikers avoiding injury/suspension until January? Need to be no more than 7-8 points off top two by then, which is likely barring bad luck, then reinforce in Jan and get on a good run in the new year a lá Burnley last season.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

For me it would mean the top two would be too much. Play offs would still be possible, but we are gambling on the fitness of Murray and Hemed.

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[spence]

Comparing to the team that finished last season, i feel we are stronger in defence and midfield, but weaker upfront.

A striker is the difference between top 6 and top 2.

Lightening strikes twice eh? Failing to land another striker last year cost us i feel. Some of those draws could have turned to win.

 

[British Bulldog]

Lack of a 4th striker and Stephens seemingly desperate to leave will make things very difficult for a promotion push imo, Would'nt be so bad if we had a few youngsters ready to push on into the first team up front but we don't by the looks of it.

 

[Luke93]

Hmm, it's a tough one. 5 excellent wingers (some of whom can play centrally) with Hamed, Murray and Baldock is what we've got. 1 extra striker will tip the balance towards automatic promotion, but is it possiple in terms of funs? If the funds are there and the club feel an extra player is needed, I'm sure it'll happen. The squad, in its current state, is just about good enough as it's currently better than last years side that got 89 points!

The problem is, as soon as Hamed or Murray get injured, we lock incredibly light. The competition is as tough as ever too.

 

[Colossal Squid]

The trouble is we need to go one better than last season, when we were the division's top scorers.

Obviously having Murray up front is great and I have faith Hemed will pitch in BUT I worry that if Murray gets injured we'll just end up toothless and that'll cost us

 

[Guinness Boy]

Great poll.

Last season we had Hemed and Baldock plus Wilson when he wasn't too sick. Zamora was crocked for most of the second half of it. We finished third, lost 5 games all season and got the sort of points that almost - but not quite - guarantees you automatic promotion. Scoring wasn't our problem either, witness the 4-0 over QPR and 5-0 over Fulham.

Since then we've replaced the injured Zamora with Murray )3 goals already) and improved, in depth terms, at CM, left back and centre back. We have one of the most exciting attacking players in the division and we got him for 2 million while, apparently, no one else noticed he was for sale.

Blackman at Derby? A complete flop. Vydra at Reading? Ditto. McCormack hardly helped Fulham light up the division. Rhodes was just a cog in the wheel at Boro and, at times, didn't play. Only Gray was a success of the big names.

I think we'll be fine.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

If Solly March can play a number 10 role we may just be ok.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

No. We have March, Uwe and Goldson coming back, we have 3 capable forwards.

If we go 4-4-1-1, we have Knocky or Solly.

Whilst we could struggle to go up as champions, we remain very capable in all departments.

 

[Bra]

Top six probably but injury to murray and or hemed would change my thoughts. We are needing a bit of luck now and perhaps after the last few years we may get it

 

[Withdean11]

Lightening strikes twice eh? Failing to land another striker last year cost us i feel. Some of those draws could have turned to win.

Yep. We've always been shit at signing strikers.

 

[RandyWanger]

Current squad as it is should be a play-off squad. But taking a gamble on fitness and injuries.