[Albion] Don’t want a striker

[dazzer6666]

The bigger picture would be to sign a better forward otherwise the players that entertained you last night won’t be hanging around for that long. We need to show these players we mean business. I would go as far as saying we need a couple of forwards for competition.

It could be, but that hinges on finding one that meets most of the criteria the club look for when recruiting. Simple fact is we aren’t going to sign a proven PL striker that’s banging them in now, because they’re too expensive and on wages that would bust our structure, so before we even start any incoming forward is going to be unproven at this level (or be out, or close to out of contract) - the ‘desperate for a striker posters’ probably won’t be happy even if we do sign someone because of that.

From my perspective the ‘bigger picture’ is actually gradual evolution - pick up Welbeck-types where we can for example, but essentially continue to grow our own through the academy and pick up hot prospects at lower cost from less-tapped markets and develop them. The club have done this incredibly well over the last 5-6 seasons and will continue to expand the production line. Personally I don’t need the instant gratification of a top 6/8 finish this season that chucking 10s of millions at a striker might bring (with no guarantee at all). We’re very evidently improving, and have potential solutions (even if not for a season or two) coming through in increasing numbers for strikers so the future is bright - and the need to punt maybe £50m+ on a couple of strikers to gain a place or two this season not necessarily that strong.

We’re playing the longer game and just need a bit of patience IMO. It’s brilliant.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

9 points from 18.

Eeking out 2 or 3 more (deserved) points from those last 6 games could have been very valuable.

I don't disagree. But that's 57 points across the season. I'd take that.

 

[Stat Brother]

I don't disagree. But that's 57 points across the season. I'd take that.

But as said, right at the start of this thread, the club can't keep what it's got if other clubs can easily turn our players heads.

Tuesday night's defence and midfield wasn't the defence and midfield of a 57 points team.
They're looking at all London clubs above us, thinking we're better than them.

Whereas the 'strikeforce' is that of a 42 point team.


Not wanting a striker, settling for 57 points, makes assembling this young vibrant best ever squad completely pointless.

Without the striker the Albion is just a recruitment agency for Arsenal et al.
Instead of being Arsenal.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

But as said, right at the start of this thread, the club can't keep what it's got if other clubs can easily turn our players heads.

Tuesday night's defence and midfield wasn't the defence and midfield of a 57 points team.
They're looking at all London clubs above us, thinking we're better than them.

Whereas the 'strikeforce' is that of a 42 point team.


Not wanting a striker, settling for 57 points, makes assembling this young vibrant best ever squad completely pointless.

Without the striker the Albion is just a recruitment agency for Arsenal et al.
Instead of being Arsenal.

I think everyone agrees that we would benefit from a more reliable striker. Imagine this team with "at his peak" Vardy on the front of it. What people can't agree on is how to find one that is guaranteed to make the difference.

 

[zefarelly]

I think everyone agrees that we would benefit from a more reliable striker. Imagine this team with "at his peak" Vardy on the front of it. What people can't agree on is how to find one that is guaranteed to make the difference.

There is no guarantee.

What I don't understand is the thought of not wanting another/better striker, that's like saying you don't want to see goals, or wins. In which case footballs not for you, try knitting or something maybe.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Well this is the main reason there is no new striker in the team. They wont just sign anyone, it needs to be the right guy. Better to sign no one than someone who is shit or doesnt fit in.

This.

 

[Stat Brother]

I think everyone agrees that we would benefit from a more reliable striker. Imagine this team with "at his peak" Vardy on the front of it. What people can't agree on is how to find one that is guaranteed to make the difference.

It's lucky then that it's not our job to find one.


Nobody is guaranteed to make a difference.
If that guarantee was available player recruitment would be so much easier.

As easy as finding Cucu, Lamptey, Moder, Alzate, Sanchez and all the others.
It feels like the club implicitly trust's it's process right up to the opposition penalty area, then goes all weak at the knees.


The club (and player) fudged Connolly, although there's still time.
The next man, men, up are still boys.
While the current incumbents either need help or are unavailable to help.

There's a hole to be filled and it's going to be expensive.
The club needs to put it's big boy pants on and finally trust it's process.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I think everyone agrees that we would benefit from a more reliable striker. Imagine this team with "at his peak" Vardy on the front of it. What people can't agree on is how to find one that is guaranteed to make the difference.

And in a few noisy cases, bang on and on and on about how our recruitment team is shit, Potter clueless, and that anyobody who can't see this is blind. If these sorts learned to button it nobody would feel the need to start a thread like this.

 

[Eric the meek]

It could be, but that hinges on finding one that meets most of the criteria the club look for when recruiting. Simple fact is we aren’t going to sign a proven PL striker that’s banging them in now, because they’re too expensive and on wages that would bust our structure, so before we even start any incoming forward is going to be unproven at this level (or be out, or close to out of contract) - the ‘desperate for a striker posters’ probably won’t be happy even if we do sign someone because of that.

From my perspective the ‘bigger picture’ is actually gradual evolution - pick up Welbeck-types where we can for example, but essentially continue to grow our own through the academy and pick up hot prospects at lower cost from less-tapped markets and develop them. The club have done this incredibly well over the last 5-6 seasons and will continue to expand the production line. Personally I don’t need the instant gratification of a top 6/8 finish this season that chucking 10s of millions at a striker might bring (with no guarantee at all). We’re very evidently improving, and have potential solutions (even if not for a season or two) coming through in increasing numbers for strikers so the future is bright - and the need to punt maybe £50m+ on a couple of strikers to gain a place or two this season not necessarily that strong.

We’re playing the longer game and just need a bit of patience IMO. It’s brilliant.

Good post.

You mentioned evolution. When Dan Ashworth arrived, he said 'evolution, not revolution'.
In using that phrase, he signaled that the future would be pretty much as you've described it.

I agree - I think the present is indeed brilliant. But we aren't a team frozen in time. As a work in progress, we're constantly moving, improving, learning, tweaking.

Wouldn't it be great if we could start to see the goals coming from all the outfield players, and not having to rely on an expensive striker, who may not stay anyway?

If the goals come from all over the pitch, it means lower cost, less risk, more options, more players to occupy the opposition and a more sustainable wage bill.
Why, it's got Tony Bloom written all over it !

 

[Stat Brother]

Good post.

You mentioned evolution. When Dan Ashworth arrived, he said 'evolution, not revolution'.
In using that phrase, he signaled that the future would be pretty much as you've described it.

I agree - I think the present is indeed brilliant. But we aren't a team frozen in time. As a work in progress, we're constantly moving, improving, learning, tweaking.

Wouldn't it be great if we could start to see the goals coming from all the outfield players, and not having to rely on an expensive striker, who may not stay anyway?

If the goals come from all over the pitch, it means lower cost, less risk, more options, more players to occupy the opposition and a more sustainable wage bill.
Why, it's got Tony Bloom written all over it !

But as Moder is currently proving that just simply isn't the case.

I'll Eden a guess he'd have 5 goals and 10 assists by now, were he playing his football anywhere else on Planet Football.
But he's not, he's in The Premier League and those goals don't come easy and they sure as hell aren't cheap.

 

[keaton]

But as said, right at the start of this thread, the club can't keep what it's got if other clubs can easily turn our players heads.

Tuesday night's defence and midfield wasn't the defence and midfield of a 57 points team.
They're looking at all London clubs above us, thinking we're better than them.

Whereas the 'strikeforce' is that of a 42 point team.

Not sure about that, three defence and midfield are not that of a better team when it comes to decision making, creating and finishing in the final third. This isn't just strikers missing easy chances but wrong or poor crosses, not making the right runs etc

 

[Stat Brother]

Not sure about that, three defence and midfield are not that of a better team when it comes to decision making, creating and finishing in the final third. This isn't just strikers missing easy chances but wrong or poor crosses, not making the right runs etc

Yes very true.

But in the mix of youth v experience, youth is winning out - fantastic.
They've still got 1001 lessons to learn.

My point being they're going to learn, develop and grow considerably better in a complete side instead of the current 1-1 specialists.



Anyhoo this is probably all academic.

With a downbeat Leicester, + Bumley Villa and Watford on the horizon we'll be back to boogate before we know it.

 

[dazzer6666]

But as Moder is currently proving that just simply isn't the case.

I'll Eden a guess he'd have 5 goals and 10 assists by now, were he playing his football anywhere else on Planet Football.
But he's not, he's in The Premier League and those goals don't come easy and they sure as hell aren't cheap.

It's not proving anything yet - he's still in the early stages of development in PL terms. If he's not scoring regularly by say the middle of next season then fair enough but it's too early to say. He's scored in the cup, and won us points at Burnley with a great assist. Can easily see him, Ali Mac and maybe Mwepu getting 5/6 goals each next season - and that potentially translates 5 or 6 draws into wins.

 

[raymondo]

Last night was frustrating watching the forwards. Welbeck is class but completely missed the ball Billy Paynter style with a presentable chance and 2020 Maupay subbed on last night. He could have had a hat trick but didn't even get a shot off.

Both have won us points this season and played well but they were the weak links last night. I thought pre game that Alazate would struggle - he was bullied out the game at West Brom - but he was absolutely superb.

Strange times where there is a tinge of dissapointment not seeing the Champions of Europe off. It is remarkable how well a team with arguably half the better players out can dominate a game against top class opposition. It would probably do us all good to have Big fat Sam to come in as guest manager for 6 games to realise how good we've got it.

Sorry, but I disagree about Maupay - one chance maybe, hard to get straight up to the speed of that game. We could have a go at Tross for not curling the short cross more into Maups, but ...it was just one of those things Shirley?

 

[zefarelly]

I think we could go out and play in a way to score more goals, BUT, that wouldn't be the way HAirPot wants us to play, and it would almost definitely be at the expense of game control/management which would mean we end up losing more than we win, and getting tonked far too regularly . . . a la Leeds for example.

without a billion pound team its impossible to do both.

 

[Stat Brother]

It's not proving anything yet - he's still in the early stages of development in PL terms. If he's not scoring regularly by say the middle of next season then fair enough but it's too early to say. He's scored in the cup, and won us points at Burnley with a great assist. Can easily see him, Ali Mac and maybe Mwepu getting 5/6 goals each next season - and that potentially translates 5 or 6 draws into wins.

But we ALWAYS say that!

and sure I always agree, but it just isn't that easy.
It's not even easy for the players who make it look easy!

Although I'll tell what would make it considerably easier.
Being 2-0 up with an accomplished striker on the pitch with you.


Having just berated CBH for talking of guarantees.
I'll guarantee the rest of the team would take their chances better if they weren't so put off by the enormity of the potential goal.


More commonly known as The Solly March Effect.

 

[rippleman]

Danny Welbeck is great, but those 3 chances last might all fell on his left, and he most certainly is not left foot dominant

He did seem to be well off of the pace on Tuesday; perhaps that stood out because all of the others were very much on it. I think his best days are well behind him and I would never place him above Maupay in the pecking order. Factor in that Welbeck is never that far from another sicknote and we do need to strengthen (unless Potter sees Ferguson as being ready to start in the PL next season and that would of course be a risk)

 

[macbeth]

15 shots today. zero on target. one league goal since january

 

[Springal]

Could have Mo Salah and it wouldn’t matter as we can’t stop conceding due to stupid mistakes

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Could have Mo Salah and it wouldn’t matter as we can’t stop conceding due to stupid mistakes

Just not true.

Maupay falls over in the box today
Trossard blazes over from close range at the weekend.

Neither are sharp enough in thought or movement to get into the right position and neither work hard enough to make a run in behind defenders.

That's not to let the midfield off the hook or to say we can't defend better, but our strikers aren't good enough to take our club forward