Do we need another striker?

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Scoring goals aplenty at the moment but can't help feeling an extra option up front would really top things off, particularly if we start finding ourselves going behind in games. Would bringing an up and coming young Prem forward be the answer *****il Jan) or could it potentially disrupt our brilliant start to the season?

[Saint-scooby]

For back up, yes.

[hypochondriac]

I think it's much too early to say either way. At the moment we are scoring for fun but down the line we could have a period where we create less, especially if someone gets an injury. I would like to see another option off the bench or pushing for a starting place.

[hypochondriac]

For back up, yes.

 

That definitely shouldn't be the attitude. We don't need backup.

[Raging Bull]

Yes in Jan, as much as anything to create more competition and stop complacency if that's an issue. Still think Barney will be desperate to prove himself too & will up his level.

[Tokyo-Saint]

The problem we found against Leicester in the first half is that they played very high up the pitch and boxed us in. I know we like to play out from the back but when you have a really quick forward, a ball in behind now and again pushes the other team back and gives you space to play in. When De Ridder came on, Samba looked in trouble, it helped us to play a bit and push on. In the first half I remember thinking that if we do break, Lambert and Connolly would not have the pay to really make use of the space behind Leicester. So, in a word Yes a top quality fast young forward would come in handy now and again. This is especially true when playing teams that play with a high defensive line.

[This Charming Man]

That definitely shouldn't be the attitude. We don't need backup.

 

Of course we need a back-up striker. I can't believe we haven't signed someone on loan yet after missing out on our original choices. An injury to Connolly or Lambert and we're in trouble.

 

We don't really have anyone on the bench who is capable of coming on and changing the game, apart from De Ridder.

[Toomer]

We need to get both Barney and RJ back up and running to give that extra depth along with Harding and Butters that should see us through till Jan, but if the right players became available on loan would do no harm in getting them in as long they don't upset the balance.

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

The problem we found against Leicester in the first half is that they played very high up the pitch and boxed us in. I know we like to play out from the back but when you have a really quick forward, a ball in behind now and again pushes the other team back and gives you space to play in. When De Ridder came on, Samba looked in trouble, it helped us to play a bit and push on. In the first half I remember thinking that if we do break, Lambert and Connolly would not have the pay to really make use of the space behind Leicester. So, in a word Yes a top quality fast young forward would come in handy now and again. This is especially true when playing teams that play with a high defensive line.

 

Wasn't Jonno Quick meant to provide that option though? Probably allies this thread to the other I started about whether or not we need a keeper on the bench but, in the majority of games, who would we probably use more, Jonno (or another striker) or Bart?

[stkev7]

The thing is that we're in a great position now to encourage a young Premier League striker to join us on loan. I'm sure Adkins has got someone in mind but I agree that we should have signed someone by now just in case either Lambert or Connolly get injured. Not to mention the Carling Cup tie against Preston where resting both would have been ideal if we had that option.

[warsash saint]

Still got Barney to come back (providing he aint sent down)

[david in sweden]

The thing is that we're in a great position now to encourage a young Premier League striker to join us on loan. I'm sure Adkins has got someone in mind but I agree that we should have signed someone by now just in case either Lambert or Connolly get injured. Not to mention the Carling Cup tie against Preston where resting both would have been ideal if we had that option.

 

I agree. I've been advocating an extra striker since January, if for no other reason than that sometimes *hit happens, and it

would be tragic if we had an injury problem now and no respectable cover up front ...

[Saint_Ash]

That definitely shouldn't be the attitude. We don't need backup.

 

Wow, an agreement with Hypo for a change

 

I think we should still only bring players in that will provide competition for the starting line up not only to be considered as back up, so if we are to bring in a striker he has to be damn good, good enough to compete with Lambert and Conners.

[The Kraken]

Of course we need a back-up striker. I can't believe we haven't signed someone on loan yet after missing out on our original choices. An injury to Connolly or Lambert and we're in trouble.

 

We don't really have anyone on the bench who is capable of coming on and changing the game, apart from De Ridder.

 

We already have a backup striker; his name is Jonathan Forte.

 

Any striker coming in needs to be better than that, and capable of disposing Connolly; I would say Lambert too but he's the focal point of our team and, I'd suggest, the first name on Adkins' team sheet every week.

[Minsk]

I DON'T think we should bring a young prem forward in right now.

 

RIGHT NOW we are playing very well. Who would he replace in the team/on the bench? (Apart from Bart, different arguement and on another thread.)

 

We have the speedy option of Forte, who cannot make the bench (although I am sure he would be on it every week if we were still allowed 7 subs). We also have Barney to come back. And, as was mentioned, de Ridder who cannot buy a start at the moment (in the league at least).

 

SHOULD there be an injury crises THEN we can bring in an emergency loan IF we can find someone good enough.

 

Buy someone in January by all means, providing they will compete for a place in the first 11. But not a loan of a prem youngster right now.

 

As an aside, for those who do want this youngster loaned in, who do you think we could honestly bring in right now?

[hypochondriac]

Of course we need a back-up striker. I can't believe we haven't signed someone on loan yet after missing out on our original choices. An injury to Connolly or Lambert and we're in trouble.

 

We don't really have anyone on the bench who is capable of coming on and changing the game, apart from De Ridder.

 

No we really really don't.

[Giordano]

Yes we do need another striker and i think Nigel has already sent a letter to Father Christmas about it.

[Badger]

Yes,we need one especially as LB is injured and has an uncertain future at the moment.

 

I fear we are only an injury away in that department to see our good start drain away.

[Window Cleaner]

No, not for mega bucks anyway.We have options a plenty; still think we should be looking to the defence myself, still looks shaky

if an opposition striker has a good day we'll ship a cricket score at sometime or other.

[Saint Charlie]

No we really really don't.

 

So Connolly breaks down in training tomorrow, out for 2 months. Lambert gets sent off at Burnley. Do you think we would win any of the next 3 games?

 

Currently Lambert and Connolly are pretty much playing 90mins every game. Would be nice to have an option of subbing them sometimes to give them a rest, especially when we go Sat to Tues.

 

Im sure we would enter the loan market if we have to but a bit of a shame we didn't get a striker in the summer.

Edited 19 September, 2011 by Saint Charlie

[Window Cleaner]

So Connolly breaks down in training tomorrow, out for 2 months. Lambert gets sent off at Burnley. Do you think we would win any of the next 3 games?

 

has Lambert ever been sent off?? is he likely to start now? we have Forte,we can send Guly or De Ridder to point there is no need for a striker costing 4/5/6 million right now,we'd just need to alter our game plan a bit, versatility it's called.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I think the question is quite comprehensively answered by the fact that NC and NA made such strenuous efforts to get a stiker in before the deadline.

[Saint Charlie]

Forte isn't a replacement for Connolly, he isn't anywhere near his class. Ok Lambert might not get a red card but perfectly plausible he and Connolly might both get injured, Barnard is currently out as well. Just feel with our great start it would be a shame for us to not be prepared for injuries up front. Im sure Nigel has it covered though.

[Saint Charlie]

I think the question is quite comprehensively answered by the fact that NC and NA made such strenuous efforts to get a stiker in before the deadline.

 

Exactly. For the whole summer.

[hypochondriac]

So Connolly breaks down in training tomorrow, out for 2 months. Lambert gets sent off at Burnley. Do you think we would win any of the next 3 games?

 

Currently Lambert and Connolly are pretty much playing 90mins every game. Would be nice to have an option of subbing them sometimes to give them a rest, especially when we go Sat to Tues.

 

Im sure we would enter the loan market if we have to but a bit of a shame we didn't get a striker in the summer.

 

We need a striker to challenge for a first team place. We don't need a backup striker.

[This Charming Man]

No we really really don't.

 

Sorry, you're right, 2 fit strikers is more than enough. I don't know what I was thinking.

[hypochondriac]

Sorry, you're right, 2 fit strikers is more than enough. I don't know what I was thinking.

 

Sigh. You cannot read.

[This Charming Man]

Sigh. You cannot read.

 

It's highly unlikely whoever we bring in on loan is going to be better than Connolly or Lambert, so of course they are going to act as a back-up to them. Also, the way the 2 are playing, it would be mad to drop either of them anyway.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

Guly, De Ridder and Lallana are options to play up front when needed. Not sure about Forte myself and agree with others that being top of the league and way we bring through young players should make Saints attractive for a loan of a talented young premier league striker who can push for a starting place.

[beatlesaint]

I think its a shame when all these big money bids were knocked back we didnt take a punt on Adam Le Fondre. Didnt cost Reading a fortune and just the sort of player NA and co, could have bought on.

[Rebel]

Yes - Nicky Maynard or Jay Rodriguez

[Chez]

It's highly unlikely whoever we bring in on loan is going to be better than Connolly

do you mean in the emergency window or January as well, because come January if we are near the top then perhaps we might gamble especially on a Prem loanee.

[Professor]

In August it seemed that NA and NC both thought we needed a third striker not a back-up, otherwise they wouldn't have chased the players we are told they tried for. The absence now of a loan could be because Connolly and Lambert are playing too well to be rotated or because no one suitable has been found. We must assume that NC thinks the injury risk is manageable by a reshuffle involving Guly, Lallana, de Ridder and Chaplow as well as Forte in reserve and thats before he goes to the under 21s for bench cover.

[hutch]

In the car on the way to the office this morning I was thinking about the team for the Preston game. Bearing in mind the objective of giving first choice players a rest if possible, and keeping other first team squad players match fit, I came up with the following:

 

Bart

 

Butterfield

Martin

Hoofit

Dickson

 

de Ridder

Morgan

Chaplow

Holmes

 

Forte

?

 

With Lallana, Lambert & Cork on the bench just in case.

 

I don't think our current injuries are in any way excessive, so my conclusion was yes, the squad is not quite as complete as Nigel would like it to be. Particularly as this is likely to be DC's last full season at this level.

[Gingeletiss]

We need a striker to challenge for a first team place. We don't need a backup striker.

 

Blimey! after six months of banging on about backup, you have finally seen the light! Any player coming into this team now, needs to be capable of a first team place, we have the back up. Please count all those capable of playing up front, including the youth,remember them, the ones that NC is building the clubs fortunes on.

[dellgirl]

Yes ,and the yoof are being bigged up on OS so perhaps we are looking inward not outwards already,too early maybe ?

[for_heaven's_Saint]

IIRC, Chaplow was signed so that his 'emergency' loan ran out on January 1st, so that we could re-sign him immediately if we so wished. Assuming that was done deliberately, it may be that we will attempt a similar deal this season. I make it about 104 days until January 1st, and the emergency loan period I think is maximum 93 days? So I wouldn't be surprised to see someone come in in about 11 days, around October 1st.

[NickG]

I think the question is quite comprehensively answered by the fact that NC and NA made such strenuous efforts to get a stiker in before the deadline.

 

and decided we didn't need one looking at prices, personalities etc available!

 

nice to have rather than need - think that was shown by them looking at good deals / young players but not signing for the sake of it

[Benali Saint]

I think we do need another striker. It concerns me that we dont have 1 on the bench to bring on.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

That young owen lad at Manchester has just scored a couple of good goals. CHDAJFU?

[up and away]

The problem we found against Leicester in the first half is that they played very high up the pitch and boxed us in. I know we like to play out from the back but when you have a really quick forward, a ball in behind now and again pushes the other team back and gives you space to play in. When De Ridder came on, Samba looked in trouble, it helped us to play a bit and push on. In the first half I remember thinking that if we do break, Lambert and Connolly would not have the pay to really make use of the space behind Leicester. So, in a word Yes a top quality fast young forward would come in handy now and again. This is especially true when playing teams that play with a high defensive line.

 

This is exactly how I see it, there is insufficient threat from Lambert or Connolly to get their defence worried if they hold a high line. The other very similar point from this is that if you want to bolster the midfield and play on the counter, this is exactly what is needed. No point mentioning Jonno quick until he brings Jonno skill on board. Adkins must be well aware from the attempts we have made in this area, so a loan would not come as a surprise.

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Don't get me wrong, IMO it was a reasonable point yesterday, especially having only equalised on 80 mins, but could we have nicked all 3 if we'd had another striker to turn to on the bench (not just a winger who can play up front)?

[S-Clarke]

We definitely need an extra striker if Barnard isn't back anytime soon.

 

If Connolly isn't having a great game then we have no alternatives on the bench what so ever at the moment.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Absolutely

You only has to go to the Swnidon and Preston League Cup games to see our lack of depth in this crucial area.

[Sour Mash]

Yep, we do. I've been banging on all season. We lack a 'plan b', we lack the threat of pace going forward and we lack any decent back up if Lambert or Connolly can't play.

[aintforever]

We should have stumped up the cash for CMS.