Lukas Jutkiewicz.... is he worth signing?

[david in sweden]

...as the extra striker that we DIDN'T get in the summer? He has netted SIX times so far this season, and would certainly cost less than the other candidates we DIDN'T sign, and being a local lad wouldn't need much encouragement to sign for Saints, I'm sure.

 

What was the view of those who saw him today (or have him play seen this season) ?

 

OK ...WORTH signing (of course)

[Saint-Armstrong]

Do you LIKE capital LETTERS?

[david in sweden]

Do you LIKE capital LETTERS?

 

nOT nEceSSarilY - jUst dePendS On mY arTHritic fiNgerS....ANd emPHaSIS aT tHe TiMe oF WriTiNg.

[CWD]

Haven't seen an awful lot of him, but I don't think he's any better than what we have.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Based on what I saw today I wouldn't be keen and think we can do better. Whilst he only had scraps to feed on when he had the ball to his feet he didn't really show much quality. He is a real handful in the air due but that is due to his size.

 

I've no doubt he'd look better in our team than for one struggling at the bottom of the league, but are we going to spend money on him to be third or fourth choice striker? We want someone to provide real competition for places.

[Charlie Wayman]

No way. Didn't you hear Adkins diss him with faint praise?

 

We need intelligent footballers from now on. We have mostly intelligent footballers already - no place for bone-heads here.

[Dimond Geezer]

His sister is my sons PE teacher.

[SNSUN]

Coventry's best player? Selling him in January would surely send them down. I still think we should've signed him in the summer though - ticked a lot of boxes for me, not least because he would have been inexpensive and because he is a Saints fan.

 

As it happens, we haven't needed a striker, contrary to what I thought at the start of the season, as Guly has scored quite a few, Connolly has suprised us all, and we are blessed with the attacking nous of Lallana and Steeeeeve.

[Colinjb]

On the basis of today, no.

[The Kraken]

Coventry's best player? Selling him in January would surely send them down. I still think we should've signed him in the summer though - ticked a lot of boxes for me, not least because he would have been inexpensive and because he is a Saints fan.

 

As it happens, we haven't needed a striker, contrary to what I thought at the start of the season, as Guly has scored quite a few, Connolly has suprised us all, and we are blessed with the attacking nous of Lallana and Steeeeeve.

 

I'm not sure what he could do that Rickie Lambert couldn't. And being as RL is so important to us, in that we play through him and he will therefore not miss many games through choice, I don't see the point in signing someone similar but less good.

 

If we do sign a striker (and I do think we will in January) it will, I imagine, be someone very different from the options we have right now.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

I'm not sure what he could do that Rickie Lambert couldn't. And being as RL is so important to us, in that we play through him and he will therefore not miss many games through choice, I don't see the point in signing someone similar but less good.

 

If we do sign a striker (and I do think we will in January) it will, I imagine, be someone very different from the options we have right now.

 

 

I think it will be someone with pace. We saw today that Saints are trying to mix it up - Adkins alluded to it in his post-match interview. The opposition know our strikers like it to feet and try to press high up the pitch to suffocate the space knowing Lambert / Guly / Connolly aren't the quickest. Today we saw Lambert come short then peel away looking for the ball over the top. Now if we had a striker who had genuine pace (and quality) to do that not only does it become a more viable ball the player also creates space for others as teams won't press us so high up the pitch.

[M271]

...as the extra striker that we DIDN'T get in the summer? He has netted SIX times so far this season, and would certainly cost less than the other candidates we DIDN'T sign, and being a local lad wouldn't need much encouragement to sign for Saints, I'm sure.

 

What was the view of those who saw him today (or have him play seen this season) ?

 

OK ...WORTH signing (of course)

 

I thought that he looked very useful today (for the amount of chances that we gave him), that coupled with his connections with Southampton may make him a useful addition to the Squad. But that is the problem he would be an addition to the squad ahead of who ?

I see this as a big dilema in the January window, as it currently stands we are 5 points ahead of second so our squad can't be too bad, so would additions to the squad increase our ability to get better results or disrupt our togetherness and team ethic coupled with new players needing time to settle in. Any good player we sign (better than we have at the moment) should be good enough for the Premier League and would expect to play from the start of matches in the Championship, so who would we drop ?.

On balance the only signings that I would make would be to sign Hooiveld permanently, and a striker to partner Lambert (although the way the Gully has played recently I would hesitate to change that).

[Chez]

good in the air, won a lot, but whenever it was on the deck his shooting was woeful dragging a couple miles wide in the first half. Little threat really. Service **** though. Very hard to say if he is worth buying. I think I'd like a striker with more pace than he has. If we are going to spend millions then there are better options.

[SuperMikey]

He's still young, he's a Saints fan and a local lad and would definitely play his heart out for us every week. He's a physical presence up front as well, something that we don't have aside from Rickie and Guly.

[Saint Lindford]

On today's viewing a definite NO! We can and should do a lot better than him.

[Webby]

You can't judge a striker on one game. And you can't judge a good player in a bad team.

[S-Clarke]

I don't think he's what we particularly need up front. We need pace.

[View From The Top]

I'm absolutely sure we will buy a striker in Jan', but this lad won't be the one we shell out for.

[ThreeSixty]

Works very hard every game, always puts a shift in. Have a mate who is a Motherwell fan and he says when he was there he would regularly play injured and still produce the goods.

 

Get him on the bus.

[positivepete]

We should only be buying premiership quality players in January. If we go up we will probably need four quality strikers in our 25.

[Pilchards]

Many good players are struggling in some teams because they are not getting the service & their confidence is low, anyone one of Maynard, Rod, Lucas & Sharp would do well for us because Adkins would coach them to be great players.

 

Anyone of the our 11 yesterday would step into a championships first 11 because we have made them great players but it would not be long before they would struggle again as they would get drained of confidence playing crap football week in & week out.

[david in sweden]

Coventry's best player? Selling him in January would surely send them down[/b.

 

I certainly agree with that, but it depends on whether they can meet their debts with some other form of currency, instead? Drachmas maybe..?

 

.....if not they will certainly have to sell him to someone...

[Appy]

Maynard and Jay Rod seem a step up from him.

 

Can't imagine we'll be after him.

[shurlock]

Like a poor man's darius henderson. Nige has no interest in him - basically said that the only reason we've been linked to him is that he's a local lad.

[ericofarabia]

I think anybody we buy in Jan will be done with next season in mind which will hopefully be in The Prem - and I don't think the boy is ready for that step up - although many doubters said that of SRL's ability to step up to Championship.

 

I think SRL is key to much of what we do at the moment - injury to him would put a severe dent in our charge towards promotion.

[david in sweden]

Maynard and Jay Rod seem a step up from him.

Can't imagine we'll be after him.

 

...you're probably right in that case. Somebody said the " interest " was only because he was local ( So'ton ) and a former junior.

 

However, I did note that he has scored ..as many / more than.. the other two individuals so far, and I think I was not alone in wondering why we paid out about £1 million for Ricky Lambert - until we saw him in action, but I'd not seen Lukas in action which was my question in the first place.

[captainchris]

I thought that he looked very useful today (for the amount of chances that we gave him), that coupled with his connections with Southampton may make him a useful addition to the Squad. But that is the problem he would be an addition to the squad ahead of who ?

I see this as a big dilema in the January window, as it currently stands we are 5 points ahead of second so our squad can't be too bad, so would additions to the squad increase our ability to get better results or disrupt our togetherness and team ethic coupled with new players needing time to settle in. Any good player we sign (better than we have at the moment) should be good enough for the Premier League and would expect to play from the start of matches in the Championship, so who would we drop ?.

On balance the only signings that I would make would be to sign Hooiveld permanently, and a striker to partner Lambert (although the way the Gully has played recently I would hesitate to change that).

This all very dandy but what happens when we have Lambert in particular needing a rest, getting suspended, or injured - connelly cannot play that role and Guly would probably find it more difficult up front with him - I think we do need someone who can step in for RL and of course provide competition for RL.

[Ken Tone]

Like a poor man's darius henderson. Nige has no interest in him - basically said that the only reason we've been linked to him is that he's a local lad.

 

Has Adkins actually said that?

 

I've only seen him in this game, and kept an eye on hm because of the reported Saints interest. I thought he looked pretty good in a poor team, so could well look a lot better in a good team. What is more he is quite a big lad, so could be an understudy/competitor/eventual-replacement for Lambert. Coventry are skint (one of their fans told me they needed 23,000 gates to break even!) and run by a set of financial pillocks, so they might well have a forced fire sale in January if they are still in the bottom 3. As to whether a 22 (23?) year old, established, striker would be prepared to come to a club where he's most likely spend most of his time on the bench, that's a different question.

 

Mind you, given he is a Southampton lad and ex-season ticket holder, and his family apparently still watch Saints,and if his contract promised premier league wages if/when we go up, then maybe he would be tempted.

[corky morris]

I thought he was a handful & we struggled with his physical prescence. I would take a punt on him if it were for £250 - £500k. He would certainly be a very able deputy for Lambert.

Lets not forget, a lot of clubs did not want to gamble on Lambert until Pardew took a punt. He is young & has potential IMHO.

[Smirking_Saint]

Does it really matter if he is a Saints fan ?? Really ?

 

FWIW I don't think he is an better than we have already, Lambert is more effective in the air and is now playing such a vital role in that slightly deeper position that Lucas is just not intelligent enough to play in.

 

Guly is good in the air, normally decent on the deck, has a fair amount of pace and unpredictability.

 

Barnard last year was clinical, and a workhorse but you have to wonder how much all of the crap flying around is going to affect him.

 

Connolly is clinical and intelligent.

 

What we really need is something completely different, and that is a player with real pace upfront (but also ability - Sorry forte) which will enable us to change our game plan if required in much the same way as chucking SDR against tired legs often opens up defences. Another pop at Maynard would be my tip.

 

Also, why would Lucas come here to sit on the bench ? You are much more likely to see him move to a team whos front line he would actually improve.

[Window Cleaner]

I thought he was a handful & we struggled with his physical prescence. I would take a punt on him if it were for £250 - £500k. He would certainly be a very able deputy for Lambert.

Lets not forget, a lot of clubs did not want to gamble on Lambert until Pardew took a punt. He is young & has potential IMHO.

 

I think Fonte struggles with "physical presence" anyway.He always seems to be involved in wrestling matches with any big lump that the opposition may have.Unless he can stop all that bustling and holding and adopt a bit of the class we've seen from Jos we're going to have problems sooner rather than later.

[david in sweden]

]Does it really matter if he is a Saints fan[/b] ?? Really ?

 

FWIW I don't think he is an better than we have already, Lambert is more effective in the air and is now playing such a vital role in that slightly deeper position that Lucas is just not intelligent enough to play in.

 

Guly is good in the air, normally decent on the deck, has a fair amount of pace and unpredictability.

 

Barnard last year was clinical, and a workhorse but you have to wonder how much all of the crap flying around is going to affect him.

 

Connolly is clinical and intelligent.

 

What we really need is something completely different, and that is a player with real pace upfront (but also ability - Sorry forte) which will enable us to change our game plan if required in much the same way as chucking SDR against tired legs often opens up defences. Another pop at Maynard would be my tip.Also, why would Lucas come here to sit on the bench ? You are much more likely to see him move to a team whos front line he would actually improve.

 

I don't disagree with your comments but I think the answer is best summed -up in Ken Tone's response on # 29,

Reasoning ...?

Lambert is great, but we are still too dependent on him ..if he were to be out for any length of time we'd be in the ****.

Guly is in the same age bracket, and though good at present will develop a short "shelf life " once we get up into the Prem.

We forget that Barnard's future is "out of our hands" (pending court action) and even if he regains full fitness / form - there's a lot of uncertainty.

I'm as pleased as anyone that Connolly is fit and showing his class, but he's one of the oldest in the squad already, and only on a short-term contract.

 

We need to get some new young talent in and help develop it. If Lukas is doing so well as he is in a poor team, he'd surely be better in a good line-up.

 

Those with longer memories will recall that Ron Davies was a " fairly average striker " when he came to us in '66, and developed into " one of the best Centre-forwards in Europe "... QUOTE Sir Matt Busby ...and who remembers how " raw" the young James Beattie was when he first arrived at The Dell?.

 

AS... for the "Saints fan bit " maybe not so important ...but which footballer in the world wouldn't want to play for his home town side?

Edited 8 November, 2011 by david in sweden

[david in sweden]

We should only be buying premiership quality players in January. If we go up we will probably need four quality strikers in our 25.

 

yes that's correct BUT, we have only TWO so far; (Lambert and Guly).

Despite his obvious class, Connolly is aging fast, and Barnard's future is not dependent on our Physio, but the Judge in the Crown Court.

" Jonno" Forte isn't even in the running in the present set-up.... and any potential Academy prospects are minimum 1-2 years away from a regular spot, let alone a place in a Prem. side.

 

It may be a chance, but a lot of people were very doubtful about Lambert when he signed for £1 million...so why not Lukas?

according to your reasoning (which I don't disagree with) ..we'd still need a FOURTH striker...Jay Rod? Maynard ?...

[Norm]

.we'd still need a FOURTH striker...Jay Rod? Maynard ?...

 

Hmm, unsure if either of those would sign as a backup to Lambert. Therein, imho, lies a problem. Any quality striker we would like to sign (and I agree we need one) would want to come in as first choice.

 

I also feel that now is the time to look at a new keeper. I really like KD but we will need to look at his replacement soon.

[Andy Durman]

Very frustrated with some of the comments on here. He wa smarked by Jos for most of the game and he was a real handful. He was Coventry's Man Of The Match and I thought he did very well and scored a good header from the corner. Jos should have been marking him at the corner.

[david in sweden]

[quote=Norm;1182951

I also feel that now is the time to look at a new keeper. I really like KD but we will need to look at his replacement soon.

 

Agree with that one Norm,

.there's some sort of " legend " status grown up around Bart with a section of the fan base, after his teenage debut, etc, but that was a few years ago and he doesn't seem to have impressed too many people since then ..and I don't see him as a regular CC keeper, let alone anything higher than that.

 

I noted that most Premiership sides have TWO keepers with international experience.. Could be an Achilles heel when we go up, if we don't have that sort of quality / experience at the back, though I do think KD is worth his place at present.

[Trumush]

Apparently the Smoggies will make another bid for him in January having just missed out on him on deadline day in August when Coventry pulled out of a deal.

[The Kraken]

.we'd still need a FOURTH striker...Jay Rod? Maynard ?...

 

Hmm, unsure if either of those would sign as a backup to Lambert. Therein, imho, lies a problem. Any quality striker we would like to sign (and I agree we need one) would want to come in as first choice.

 

I also feel that now is the time to look at a new keeper. I really like KD but we will need to look at his replacement soon.

 

No reason they couldn't sign as a partner for Lambert, or just a completely different option. I'm sure Nigel Adkins would love a proper opportunity to rest RL once in a while for games, or certainly to bring him off after an hour or so as he has done with Connolly. To be fair to Guly though, since being moved up front he seems to be on a mission to prove he can do the striker's job himself. Also credit in that department to Chalow for his stints at RM (and LM against Reading) which have been superb.

 

Agree about a keeper; you just have to look at Ali Al Habsi at Wigan to see the level of goalkeeping that is now required at even a lower-ranked Premier League team. The standards that Niemi set while with us need to be the benchmark, and as decent as Kelvin has been for us I don't quite hold him up in that bracket.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Lol, definitely not, because he's not very good.

[david in sweden]

Agree about a keeper; you just have to look at Ali Al Habsi at Wigan to see the level of goalkeeping that is now required at even a lower-ranked Premier League team. The standards that Niemi set while with us need to be the benchmark, and as decent as Kelvin has been for us I don't quite hold him up in that bracket.

 

I agree with that part. I've watched Saints for over 50 years. some keepers are good for a season or two but don't make the grade.

 

Peter Shilton was undoubtedly UNIQUE (also garnered more caps than any other Saints in the clubs history) in only 5 seasons, left us in 1987 and was still first choice England keeper 4 years later. However, in Antti Niemi's (all too short) Saints career, he is my number 2 --- by a mile.

 

After that, you are looking at a lot of " short term" heroes.

 

Ron Reynolds and John Hollowbread were both well over 30 when they joined us in the early 60's, but both careers ended in injury.

 

Campbell Forsyth was a revelation, and the first real "international standard goalie" I ever saw but was never the same after breaking his leg.

 

Eight seasons with Eric Martin (289 games) is worth an "honourable mention ", and although Ian Turner's 1976 FA Cup winning exploits are almost legend, although brave he was inconsistant in his league games as was his successors Peter Wells.

 

Yugoslav Katalinic was more memorable for his walrus-moustache than much of his play, although his nickname " Cat " was most appropriate on many occasions when making breathtaking saves.

 

After many years as Shilton's understudy Tim Flowers finally got the shirt and managed over 250 games before moving to Blackburn for a world record £2 million fee for a keeper. Names of veterans like Burridge, Beasant and Grobelaar raise more of a smile than pride in their contributions.

 

Maik Taylor looked a good buy when bought by Graeme Souness, but soon left where he had an good career with Fulham. He was frozen out when Dave Jones arrived and bought in his old Stockport keeper Paul Jones who was the regular custodian for many years, and struggled to keep the spot after Niemi's arrival, but we saw the unusual sight of both keepers playing in the 2003 Cup Final.

 

Kelvin Davis has "earned " a good reputation in the last two seasons although he was very inconsistant in the beginning.

If he's still playing well after two seasons in the Prem...? .. I'll make him 3 on my list of "best keepers ", but he's not in the Shilton / Niemi class.

Edited 8 November, 2011 by david in sweden

[corsacar saint]

Eric Martin is worth far more than an honourable mention,he was a magnificent goalkeeper,lets not forget the defence he played behind for many of his performances were far from the best in the clubs history. One thing that can be said is that the likes of Webb,Kirkup,Mcgrath,Walker,Hollywood and Gabriel were a great bunch of characters. FWIW I think that Niemi is the best I have seen,Shilton was well past his best when we signed him.[When I saw him at The Dell in 1969 for Leicester as an 18

year old,now that is when he was really something special.

[Norm]

We have had some really first rate 'keepers wearing a Saints shirt! I have to agree with corsacar saint that Niemi was the best of them all. If I had to pick my favourites, they would be Eric Martin and Peter Wells.

[david in sweden]

Eric Martin is worth far more than an honourable mention,he was a magnificent goalkeeper,lets not forget the defence he played behind for many of his performances were far from the best in the clubs history. One thing that can be said is that the likes of Webb,Kirkup,Mcgrath,Walker,Hollywood and Gabriel were a great bunch of characters. FWIW I think that Niemi is the best I have seen,Shilton was well past his best when we signed him.[When I saw him at The Dell in 1969 for Leicester as an 18 year old, now that is when he was really something special.[/QUOTE]

 

 

I'm happy to re-word that.Eric Martin was an excellent keeper, unfortunately our league performances at that time don't do him justice.

 

Though history might provide some objections to your assessment of Peter Shilton. When he joined in 1982 he was the (then) current England keeper, and 242 games and 49 caps later, after he moved onto Derby County (1987)... he was still first choice and continued to be so, and later played in a World Cup series at age 40... If he was past his prime when with us, he was still "best goalie in the land" then.. and for a long time after.

Edited 10 November, 2011 by david in sweden

[Professor]

Last summer it was fair to see Lucas as a candidate, along with Championship strikers like Sharp and Maynard. As it is, Lambert and Connolly have stayed fit and with Guly as back-up we have been lucky not to need the extrea striker. With Barnard coming back, I'm not sure we now need anyone else at that standard. If the club does sign a striker in January I'd like to see a Premier standard signing as a start to building next season's team. Probably Connolly's replacement, even if DC acts as cover for another year.

[whelk]

Not at £1.75m that Boro apparently are willing to pay

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Middlesbrough-move-for-1-75m-Coventry-striker-Lukas-Jutkiewicz-article828858.html

[david in sweden]

Last summer it was fair to see Lucas as a candidate, along with Championship strikers like Sharp and Maynard. As it is, Lambert and Connolly have stayed fit and with Guly as back-up we have been lucky not to need the extrea striker. With Barnard coming back, I'm not sure we now need anyone else at that standard. If the club does sign a striker in January I'd like to see a Premier standard signing as a start to building next season's team. Probably Connolly's replacement, even if DC acts as cover for another year.

 

Find it difficult to go along with that I'm afraid, Professor.

Firstly, Barnard is "on the mend" but I would like to see him score a hat-trick or two in a few more " practice matches" before putting him up against

some of these CCC defenders...however, the most important fact is still "his brush with the law" last year...a matter which is still in the Courts.

Fit or not, if that goes against him we won't have any back-up at all for the rest of the season.

 

Despite all that's been written, I haven't seen Lukas in action (hence my opening thread).

I was one contributor who wanted to see us sign a striker and centre half in the summer ...whether it's Lukas (or someone else) is not my decision but if Jos Hooiveld solves the CH problem, the matter of the extra striker is still up in the air.

We don't want a couple of out-of form strikers on our hands, when we're in the promotion run-up in April, we need cover and soon.

 

INTERESTING NOTE;

Echo says... NA hasn't ruled out an emergency loan. After playing Coventry last week ..could we be considering a bid for Lukas, I wonder ?

If 'Boro are making a move for him, too.. you might ask yourself who he'd choose given the competition between us... and 'Boro?,

[John B]

I think we may be bidding for Lukas

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

echo reporting that we are interested in taking him on loan this week with view to a perm deal in January.

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9376436.Sky_Blue_Lukas_on_Saints_hit_list/

[itchen_dan]

Coventry Telegraph saying that we're gonna bid 3m but will try and secure him on loan before Thursday.

 

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/2011/11/22/southampton-preparing-3m-bid-for-lukas-jutkiewicz-92746-29818956/

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Bit uninspiring, but I suppose if he is a fan he won't mind sitting on the bench. He went to great lengths to shakes hands with every Saints player and Adkins at the end of the game a few weeks ago. He is a real handful in the air, so I suppose he can be insurance for a Lambert injury.