by maffff »
14 Aug 2017 11:04
paddy20 maffff paddy20 I still think all of Stams signings this year are punts. Each signing has come off the back of less than impressive performances. I'm not saying thats wrong as they have all been relatively cheap and if just a couple come off its probably worth it.
If this is a policy however we can see from Saturday the lack of real investment on a striker will cost us dearly.
All slightly higher level/proven in some way punts compared to previous years though, hence the fees touted.
If we were talking top end Championship players, we couldn't compete financially. Best we can do given the situation.
What you say makes sense but to have team without a striker is the road to disaster. Spending a bit more now would safeguard our situation and protect the high investments in all our infrastructure. I don't think Mendes is ready as he still needs to improve his first touch and become sharper. If it takes £10m to get D'Olivera we should spend it before Wolves move in.
I wasn't on about the main striker - I meant with the likes of Mannone (82 games experience in the Prem, including one very good year at Sunderland), Bacuna (85 games experience in the Prem over 3 seasons - one good year in them and two difficult ones in a team struggling) and Bodvarsson (done well elsewhere, a proven international - even if he doesn't score a lot, had a very difficult season in a struggling team but now has some experience in our league). All good ages.
It's clear we need something, the club knows it, the fans know it. Expect it'll be a little different to our usual recruitment technique with this.
Be that a more expensive signing with British experience - Oliveira, Wells.
or a loan - Long (unlikely)
Then slightly less favourable but probably solid enough - a foreign import proven in another league - back for Juric or Weghorst, or someone like Uth/Armenteros.
My concern would be if we ended up going for a complete unproven punt (Bogle) or someone that probably wouldn't suit us, has flattered to deceive, despite being proven in the past would be moved on for odd reasons (McCormack/Rhodes), or seems to be living a career on a very short purple patch (a la Blackman) - Bamford, Wilson.