[Albion] Investment Required for Further Progress

[Reddleman]

For me the missing piece of the puzzle in relation to turning performances into results is our willingness to invest in a top striker.

I fully accept that during a pandemic Tony Bloom May judge that is not prudent to make that investment and I fully trust his judgement but until we can make that investment we will not significantly move forward. We should also stop laying so much of the blame on Potter as he hasn’t been given the tools to do the job properly.

Every week we say the same, play well but can’t finish the chances. That is because we have a youngster in Connolly who simply isn’t yet ready to lead the line in PL, Welbeck who has never been prolific and Maupay who is a good player but not a proven PL goal scorer. I’m not even counting the Swiss youngster as he’s nowhere to be seen. For the record I like all of our strikers and wouldn’t want to see them leave but none of them are a proven premier league striker that can guarantee goals.

Until we invest in one who can I expect this pattern to continue.

 

[Weststander]

Specialist DM required.
Leaving Bissouma to rampage, White as a CB.

An upgrade on Ryan.

I don’t think we require big investment. The margins are small.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

For me the missing piece of the puzzle in relation to turning performances into results is our willingness to invest in a top striker.

I fully accept that during a pandemic Tony Bloom May judge that is not prudent to make that investment and I fully trust his judgement but until we can make that investment we will not significantly move forward. We should also stop laying so much of the blame on Potter as he hasn’t been given the tools to do the job properly.

Every week we say the same, play well but can’t finish the chances. That is because we have a youngster in Connolly who simply isn’t yet ready to lead the line in PL, Welbeck who has never been prolific and Maupay who is a good player but not a proven PL goal scorer. I’m not even counting the Swiss youngster as he’s nowhere to be seen. For the record I like all of our strikers and wouldn’t want to see them leave but none of them are a proven premier league striker that can guarantee goals.

Until we invest in one who can I expect this pattern to continue.

This discussion just gies round in circles though doesn't it.

Which proven, clinical striker do you want us to go and get?
How much do you want us to pay for him?
What wages do you think we should pay him?

 

[The Fits]

This discussion just gies round in circles though doesn't it.

Which proven, clinical striker do you want us to go and get?
How much do you want us to pay for him?
What wages do you think we should pay him?

And just last week we were saying Wellbeck was the answer....

 

[Uh_huh_him]

And just last week we were saying Wellbeck was the answer....

Well quite.

We have Welbeck/Maupay/Connolly/Zeqiri and Andone to come.
Just adding more options won't guarantee more goals.

 

[Reddleman]

This discussion just gies round in circles though doesn't it.

Which proven, clinical striker do you want us to go and get?
How much do you want us to pay for him?
What wages do you think we should pay him?

I would like us to spend somewhere in the region of £25/30m as that seems to be the going rate for a top striker. We were clearly willing to do that on Nunez but he chose to go elsewhere. That’s for enough so who else is on the scouting teams radar in that bracket. Had we really only identified one target.

There are players on the books we could sell to fund most of that fee if required without seriously damaging the first team squad, Davy Propper being one. In hindsight maybe we should have also sold one of our multiple centre half’s to fund the deal.

In terms of wages they should be near the top of the salary bracket we have, you pay for what you get.

In 11 league games out strikers have 6 league goals between them. That’s what will see us relegated. You can only get away with doing it on the cheap for so long and if we chose to do that fine but let’s not blame Potter as we haven’t given him the tools for the job.

 

[RandyWanger]

Set piece specialist coach.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I would like us to spend somewhere in the region of £25/30m as that seems to be the going rate for a top striker. We were clearly willing to do that on Nunez but he chose to go elsewhere. That’s for enough so who else is on the scouting teams radar in that bracket. Had we really only identified one target.

There are players on the books we could sell to fund most of that fee if required without seriously damaging the first team squad, Davy Propper being one. In hindsight maybe we should have also sold one of our multiple centre half’s to fund the deal.

In terms of wages they should be near the top of the salary bracket we have, you pay for what you get.

In 11 league games out strikers have 6 league goals between them. That’s what will see us relegated. You can only get away with doing it on the cheap for so long and if we chose to do that fine but let’s not blame Potter as we haven’t given him the tools for the job.

Nope!

that's the going rate for an unproven prospect.
Maupay was that player last season, we got him for a steal.

The player you are looking for doesn't come in at that price.
What you are really saying, is "spend more on some more prospects and hope one of them is the answer."

 

[Wozza]

If we could take back time, like Cher wants, imagine selling Ben White (with a sell-on) and buying Ollie Watkins or even Jarrod Bowen.

 

[Insel affe]

If we could take back time, like Cher wants, imagine selling Ben White (with a sell-on) and buying Ollie Watkins or even Jarrod Bowen.

Nope, I refuse to imagine that

 

[Moshe Gariani]

If we could take back time, like Cher wants, imagine selling Ben White (with a sell-on) and buying Ollie Watkins or even Jarrod Bowen.

We also missed out on Rhian Brewster who was available for £24m.

 

[maltaseagull]

Specialist DM required.
Leaving Bissouma to rampage, White as a CB.

An upgrade on Ryan.

I don’t think we require big investment. The margins are small.

I have defended Ryan and like him as a player but have to admit that this season, he seems poor.
Even last night I saw the replay of their 1st goal and had a Spence moment and thought a taller keeper would have got to that.
But more than anything, we need a goal scorer. We have had loads of chances this season but either straight at the keeper or miles off target.
Bissouma has been superb in his current role and not sure if we should change his position.

 

[Reddleman]

Nope!

that's the going rate for an unproven prospect.
Maupay was that player last season, we got him for a steal.

The player you are looking for doesn't come in at that price.
What you are really saying, is "spend more on some more prospects and hope one of them is the answer."

Wilson at Newcastle falls into that price range and he wasn’t untried and has been scoring. Danny Ings also was in that price bracket. Raul Jimenez was only £30m so they do exist.

Also Puuki last season and Mitrovic the season before both scored more goals in the PL than Maupay did in his first season but in far worse teams than us. Puuki in particular would be worth an investment. He scored more goals last season than Welbeck has ever managed in a season even when he was playing for clubs like Arsenal and Man United.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I have defended Ryan and like him as a player but have to admit that this season, he seems poor.
Even last night I saw the replay of their 1st goal and had a Spence moment and thought a taller keeper would have got to that.
But more than anything, we need a goal scorer. We have had loads of chances this season but either straight at the keeper or miles off target.
Bissouma has been superb in his current role and not sure if we should change his position.

Yeah, I think I'm there too with Ryan. There was a moment quite late in the second half when Mccarthy came and claimed a corner fairly far from his line when we had them under pressure and it was an important moment. Ryan can't do that so I'm not criticising him, but it is the next step for us, more than another striker imo

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Well quite.

We have Welbeck/Maupay/Connolly/Zeqiri and Andone to come.
Just adding more options won't guarantee more goals.

Reeling off a bunch of names doesn't fix the issue either.

It just highlights we have too much invested in players that aren't getting the job done at this level.

 

[A1X]

It's actually been a little bit awkward seeing how big a step up it is from Connolly (talented but inconsistent kid) and Maupay (learning his way and inconsistent) to Welbeck. The quality of his ball control, the quickness of feet, those are the hallmarks of a PL striker.

 

[zefarelly]

It's actually been a little bit awkward seeing how big a step up it is from Connolly (talented but inconsistent kid) and Maupay (learning his way and inconsistent) to Welbeck. The quality of his ball control, the quickness of feet, those are the hallmarks of a PL striker.

If only we had another one. I think we possibly do, but we haven't seen it yet.

 

[LamieRobertson]

We also missed out on Rhian Brewster who was available for £24m.

Yep he’s pulling up trees for SU.....oh hang on where r they?

 

[Wozza]

Nope, I refuse to imagine that

And Dean Henderson on loan too.

We'd be top 8, I reckon.

 

[Insel affe]

And Dean Henderson on loan too.

We'd be top 8, I reckon.

Top 8 you say, wow imagine being at such dizzy heights, remind me what we win for finishing 9th, 8th or even 7th ?

I can hardly wait