Three good players in very different ways. But if we stay up we need another two quality forwards.

Any suggestions for our scouts to track?

Aguero, Costa and Kane.

Sorry, you only wanted two, maybe give Costa a miss then.

Kane would be a backwards step. How about Neymar and Saurez - I suspect Messi and Ronaldo will be out of our wage bracket (cheeky bid??)

Shane Long would be a good signing for me

Upgrade on what we have now.
Within our price and salary range
Mates with Brady, Hendrick, Ward
Usually on the bench at Southampton
Loves a move
Pace and good in the air
Loads of Premier League experience

I'd be surprised if there are any more realistic quality targets that people could name than Shane Long.

Shane Long always makes me think back to that game with Leon Cort.

TVC15 wrote:Shane Long would be a good signing for me

Upgrade on what we have now.
Within our price and salary range
Mates with Brady, Hendrick, Ward
Usually on the bench at Southampton
Loves a move
Pace and good in the air
Loads of Premier League experience

I'd be surprised if there are any more realistic quality targets that people could name than Shane Long.

Isn't he about 45 now, plus we have 3 of the Ireland team already, they will be taking over shortly.

Long would a perfect upgrade for Gray, if he leaves.
Bags of pace, works his socks off and a finisher.
Wages could be a problem so more chance of getting JayRod back.

CnBtruntru wrote:Isn't he about 45 now, plus we have 3 of the Ireland team already, they will be taking over shortly.

He's only 30, always think he looks good if not spectacular whenever I see him play.

Gotta go in for Bamford he will be going cheap when Boro go down, I mean this lad is a world beater, just watch he will play Saturday and score

Shane Long is a good shout.

I do think we need someone a bit more prolific also though. Even if that is at a lower level. Like we got with Austin, Gray etc. Someone we can develop and if they get 10 goals in the first season would play a big part in keeping us up again and earning more for them in the future.

Either a young up and comer or an unhidden gem. I think our own Agyei is an example of the former. Think he will start to play a big part over the next two years.
Matty Godden is an example of the latter. Has had a similar career trajectory to Gray and Vardy and is firing in goals for Stevenage this year.

There is plenty overseas to look at. I doubt we will though.

minnieclaret wrote:Long would a perfect upgrade for Gray, if he leaves.
Bags of pace, works his socks off and a finisher.
Wages could be a problem so more chance of getting JayRod back.

Can someone come up with a Jay Rod meme!!!!?!?!!?! ARRRGH!

Niasse

Hear me out here, but Tom Lawrence has had a really good loan spell down at Ipswich this season. Scored a few worldies and generally been the shining light in a largely dull season for them.

He's a player in the Danny Ings mould I think.

Lawrence has served this club very well already

I agree we would need someone else alongside Long - this could be Gray but I would also go for a good young striker from abroad or the lower leagues.

Tom Lawrence might be a decent shout - he has looked decent in a very poor Ipswich side. I am sure we are looking at these lower league strikers to see if they can make the step up.

£15m for Hogan from Brentford after half a good season just shows the risks though - has he even scored for Villa ? West Ham changed their mind about him at the last minute.

Shane Long is very Andre Gray-like in his control and staying onside though.

If Gray goes, we need two forwards. If Gray doesn't go, we need one, although we might also be in the market for a pacey winger who can play as a withdrawn forward, particularly if 4-5-1 is on the agenda next season. Lawrence is a pretty good shout for that latter role.

If Hull go down, the Niasse is a very good shout to replace Gray, particularly if Everton want to business with us re: Keane. Beyond him, I struggle a bit to see a like for like replacement for Gray and we might well be looking at someone more in the Ings role - capable of playing off someone like Vokes. Lawrence again springs to mind, as do a couple of lads at Huddersfield - Wells and Kachunga. Beyond that, hard to think of too many options (Long misses far, far too many chances) that are realistic from the domestic leagues.

If Gray stays, then I remain of the view that someone like Rodriguez, or someone in that mould, is the perfect foil.

Go all in for defoe

Jay
Son Heung-min
Long

Tammy Abraham on a permanent deal.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see us go for Chris Wood for the big man role.

I'm still unsure what people see in Nahki Wells. He's been mentioned on UTC/CM for years, but we've had much, much better players at the club that entire time. This season, in a good team, he's scored less than half what Vokes got a few seasons back, and 2/3rds what he got last season. He's nowhere near good enough for us.

I too agree with Long,

Works very hard off the ball. Would be a great partner for Andre.

Nostaliga and Romanticism should never influence a team's decision so put that Rodriguez decision in the bin, nobody would be suggesting him if he wasn't from Burnley.

Have to agree with KRBFC, first name I thought of, but feel Chelsea wouldn't let go on permanent deal. With our recent loans from Chelsea I don't hold up much hope. I personally wouldn't be adverse to having Defoe for a season but think its a very long shot.

KefkaClaret wrote:Nostaliga and Romanticism should never influence a team's decision so put that Rodriguez decision in the bin, nobody would be suggesting him if he wasn't from Burnley.

Oh yes they would!

Another for Tammy Abraham. Heard nothing but good things from a Brizzle City supporting friend of mine. Plus 19 goals in 33 for a relegation battling side is no mean feat.

Zach Clough, decent scoring record (25 in 55 starts), age 22, a lot like Ings from what I've seen of him (on the ball), not sure about his defensive/pressing/work rate though. Moved to Forest in Jan but they might go down.

Long would be great if we could get him here.

Have always liked Hull's Abel Hernandez. Might be worth an enquiry if they get relegated.

ksrclaret wrote:Hear me out here, but Tom Lawrence has had a really good loan spell down at Ipswich this season. Scored a few worldies and generally been the shining light in a largely dull season for them.

He's a player in the Danny Ings mould I think.

When isn't an Ipswich season dull?

I was surprised at how few goals Shane Long has scored this season.

Spijed wrote:I was surprised at how few goals Shane Long has scored this season.

he's never scored many.

People would suggest Jay Rod if not from Burnley. He's a very good player whose link up play would help us. As for Shane Long no thanks. He's scored 18 in 82 for Southamton and somiliar for W Brom.

quoonbeatz wrote:he's never scored many.

So what's the big deal with Shane Long if he doesn't score many?

i'm not sure there is a big deal, spijed.

he's quick, he works hard and pops up with a goal every now and then.

a decent lower PL/upper Champ forward so he's in our bracket.

not particularly a player i'd want here though, as spice says, he misses far too many chances and we don't create enough to afford him that luxury.

KRBFC wrote:Tammy Abraham on a permanent deal.

Agreed.

Nakhi Wells and Patrik Schick for me please. Schick has been immense for Sampdoria this season. Would he come here?

claretdom wrote:Lawrence has served this club very well already

...........and we can wish him Merry Christmas.

That Bowie film is 35 years old, great soundtrack.

Blackrod wrote:People would suggest Jay Rod if not from Burnley. He's a very good player whose link up play would help us. As for Shane Long no thanks. He's scored 18 in 82 for Southamton and somiliar for W Brom.

Their goalscoring records are almost identical for Southampton. Both 1 in 4 strikers.

The difference with Long is that he has pace and stays fit! That aside similar players.

If we could sign a winger who crosses (or play Brady more often) if they go down Llorente should be top of the list.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:If we could sign a winger who crosses (or play Brady more often) if they go down Llorente should be top of the list.

He's like 42 years old isn't he?

Time to start printing those old Claretsmad Dad's army t-shirts again if we sign him!

Abraham has been impressive at Brizzle as has Kodjia at Villa.

I only mentioned JRod because he seems to have fallen down the line at Saints. Not sure how he's got over his injury?
They might be looking to offload?
But he can play alone up front or make a great partner in a two up.

I personally am not sure why Hennings hasn't been given more of a chance considering in the short appearances he made last year he got a goal and an assist, but maybe he messed up more than I noticed idk

TVC15 wrote:Shane Long would be a good signing for me

Upgrade on what we have now.
Within our price and salary range
Mates with Brady, Hendrick, Ward
Usually on the bench at Southampton
Loves a move
Pace and good in the air
Loads of Premier League experience

I'd be surprised if there are any more realistic quality targets that people could name than Shane Long.

Would like to see Shane Long at Burnley. He'd be ideal. And fairly realistic too. Different position but if Swansea go down, we should go in for Nathan Dyer too. I know it's the easy option to name former players but we've never replaced him - even though we never really had him. And since leaving Burnley, he's proven he can do it in the Prem. A quick (lightning) winger who scores goals, who you'd imagine wouldn't cost a fortune.

Not Shane Long, we already have enough strikers who struggle to score.

I've been watching a fair bit of Bundesliga this season and Bobby Wood looks like he'd be a good replacement for Gray if we have to move him on (last year of contract)

He's not at Gray's level for finishing but he's got the same pace and physicality as well as having a bit better technique. Could also raise our profile in the US from a commercial side of things.

I think Long would be ideal for us. Very good at pressing and forcing defenders into mistakes - something Barnes/Vokes lack with their 'pace'. He'd be a decent partner for Gray - or replacement. I also think we need two strikers coming in - although it depends on Gray's situation and if Dyche sees Agyei ready to challenge more for game time next season.

KRBFC wrote:Tammy Abraham on a permanent deal.

given Chelsea's record they would want more than we could get for Gray - that would be a hell of a risk for us on what is essentially potential - no matter how good he appears - and if it proved successful I would be amazed if we kept hold for more than a season - not to mention he probably earns more than Keane does now and would have to be the clubs top paid player with a transfer of that size

Mattster wrote:I've been watching a fair bit of Bundesliga this season and Bobby Wood looks like he'd be a good replacement for Gray if we have to move him on (last year of contract)

He's not at Gray's level for finishing but he's got the same pace and physicality as well as having a bit better technique. Could also raise our profile in the US from a commercial side of things.

I like Bobby Wood every time I see Hamburg play - ITV highlights, granted but he seems to always be involved in their attacks. He's nippy too. Hamburg aren't safe by any stretch so I'd love to see a bid go in.

HelloHiGoodbye wrote:I like Bobby Wood every time I see Hamburg play - ITV highlights, granted but he seems to always be involved in their attacks. He's nippy too. Hamburg aren't safe by any stretch so I'd love to see a bid go in.

It was the similarity to Gray that made him stand out to me and I thought he'd be a great replacement with potential to improve. I think in some ways he'd be better to suited to English football than German football.

He's been linked with a few Prem teams (Liverpool, Everton, Leicester) with mention of a release clause but it mostly reads like agent talk which means he'd probably be interested in a move.

if we had joe allen from stoke, perhaps gray and barnes and vokes would be available in goalscoring positions instead of faffing about all over the shop. We do though seem to be without a cutting edge.