Our strikers in the Premier League

[fidelcastro]

Are any of our current strikers good enough for the PL?

It seems a churlish question after the season we've just had, but we all know there is a big difference between this division and the one above.

Barnes and Dervisoglu aren't going to be here in any case.

Jay Rod was disappointing last time we were there, and let's just say we're yet to see the best of Foster and Obafemi.

Do we realistically have to be looking to sign two or three new strikers?

[jdrobbo]

New strikers needed.

Tella (counting him as a forward in this instance)
Foster
Obafemi
Jay
Gyokeres

[NewClaret]

Definitely not two or three. Maybe another one though.

Foster - has looked great in his build up play. Watched Toney yesterday and Foster does remind me of how he plays, obviously not at his levels yet. His finishing remains the question mark, but if he can build on his strength and learn the dark arts a bit more, I think he could be a real surprise next season.

Obafemi - not really seen him play through the middle yet. I think he’s a more natural goal scorer than Foster and his pace will be a real asset.

Jay - think he did really well in VKs system prior to injury. Still has a lot to offer, especially in terms of experience next year.

I think Twine will stay and has goals in him too, before considering Zaroury & Benson who you’d expect to improve given their ages.

And hopefully Tella stays too.

Maybe one striker in required but for me it’s midfield that will see the most work this summer.

[kentonclaret]

Are any of our current strikers good enough for the PL?

It seems a churlish question after the season we've just had, but we all know there is a big difference between this division and the one above.

Barnes and Dervisoglu aren't going to be here in any case.

Jay Rod was disappointing last time we were there, and let's just say we're yet to see the best of Foster and Obafemi.

Do we realistically have to be looking to sign two or three new strikers?

A quick glance at the current PL Table and occupying the bottom 3 places you will see the 3 lowest scoring teams. The same as in the Championship last campaign. So scoring goals is of massive importance if we are to stay up so we will need to reinforce that area of the squad.

[Neil]

I think of us as a mini Man City and we'll play they way they did between Aguero declining/leaving and Haaland joining.
No out and out striker needed but a really good link up man required who will still get 12-15 goals.
Gyokeres would be perfect but probably unlikely.

[Colburn_Claret]

I think Tella (if we get him) will be fine, although unlikely to gat as many goals as this season. I also think the prem will suit Fosters game, more than the championship.
We still need another, main striker, but as this season, I would hope, and expect goals to be spread throughout the squad.

[DanH90]

We definitely need at least 1 striker, if not 2.

Foster- showing signs of improvement but I don’t think we can rely on him to be our main striker in the PL.

Jay Rod - still think he has something to offer as a squad man but again, if he was starting as our main striker I’d be concerned.

Obafemi/Tella - not an out and out striker in the system we use. Do their best work as wide forwards.

Twine - again not an out and out striker, if he does play will play behind the front man in the number 10 role.

So for me; that leaves 2 proper strikers in our system, 1 who is brand new to the English game, and 1 who has a bad injury record and is coming towards the end of a career.

At least 1 striker who can nab 10 PL goals and also act as a focal point, holding up the ball and dropping into midfield to link
The play is a must.

[RVclaret]

We definitely need at least 1 striker, if not 2.

Foster- showing signs of improvement but I don’t think we can rely on him to be our main striker in the PL.

Jay Rod - still think he has something to offer as a squad man but again, if he was starting as our main striker I’d be concerned.

Obafemi/Tella - not an out and out striker in the system we use. Do their best work as wide forwards.

Twine - again not an out and out striker, if he does play will play behind the front man in the number 10 role.

So for me; that leaves 2 proper strikers in our system, 1 who is brand new to the English game, and 1 who has a bad injury record and is coming towards the end of a career.

At least 1 striker who can nab 10 PL goals and also act as a focal point, holding up the ball and dropping into midfield to link
The play is a must.

Agree with most of this - worth adding though that Bournemouth are comfortably staying up without a 10 goal striker (closest is Solanke on 7), they’ve done well at spreading the goals (which is also what we’ve done this season and I expect will continue to do). I think 1 new striker is fine, someone in the Gyokeres mould (don’t think we will get him over the others interested).

[jojomk1]

Definitely not two or three. Maybe another one though.

Foster - has looked great in his build up play. Watched Toney yesterday and Foster does remind me of how he plays, obviously not at his levels yet. His finishing remains the question mark, but if he can build on his strength and learn the dark arts a bit more, I think he could be a real surprise next season.

Obafemi - not really seen him play through the middle yet. I think he’s a more natural goal scorer than Foster and his pace will be a real asset.

Jay - think he did really well in VKs system prior to injury. Still has a lot to offer, especially in terms of experience next year.

I think Twine will stay and has goals in him too, before considering Zaroury & Benson who you’d expect to improve given their ages.

And hopefully Tella stays too.

Maybe one striker in required but for me it’s midfield that will see the most work this summer.

Foster/Toney - absolutely miles apart in every aspect of a strikers attributes He is one for the future but next season may be too soon

Obafemi - Not seen him play through the middle yet because VK rated Jay, Ash and Foster as better, which gives a reasonable indication of his skills set

Twine - too lightweight

Jay - Age will catch up on him next year

We need two strikers capable of starting

And, agree, we need two CM's with strength, height and pace

In VK we have someone who can sort these areas with suitable replacements this summer

[Silkyskills1]

I mentioned a few weeks ago that striker/ strikers is a major issue for us. Ridiculous as we have scored more goals than anyone in the Championship, I think. Far from convinced that any of the ones we have currently are of the quality needed. VK has given Foster especially some good game time recently buy it's just not happening for him, so I wouldn't expect it to happen for him in a higher division. Of course I hope I'm wrong so I'll just have to wait and see.

[Quickenthetempo]

I think of us as a mini Man City and we'll play they way they did between Aguero declining/leaving and Haaland joining.
No out and out striker needed but a really good link up man required who will still get 12-15 goals.
Gyokeres would be perfect but probably unlikely.

A link up player that can score 12-15 goals will be 40m minimum.

[louieollie]

I've got a sneaky feeling Twine won't be in the equation next season, I think he'll get shipped out on loan to a championship team. If I'm honest up to press I'm not convinced any other than Tella( should he stay) have what's needed for the step up BUT I hope I'm wrong. Therefore I do feel we need a marquee signing in the striking dept.

[Socrates]

A link up player that can score 12-15 goals will be 40m minimum.

A player that you’ve heard of will be.

If you wanted to sign Manuel Benson now you’d be talking £20 million plus but less than a year ago we got him for less than £3 million.

Ditto Zaroury.

Cullen was a snip but now you’d want north of £15 million for him.

We are a different beast now. That’s why I’m absolutely convinced we won’t be in for Gyokeres and will still sign players the bulk of us have never heard of (except for those who lie about how much football they watch but really play a lot of Football Manager).

[daveisaclaret]

There aren't any players in the Premier League who score 12-15 goals a season and aren't an out and out striker who don't play for the top six teams. Maybe we'll break that trend but it wouldn't hurt to be realistic.

[beddie]

Not sure VK is convinced with either Foster or Oberfami. He’ll need at least one if not two. Another ball winning midfielder for me with a tackle in him along with an engine. For those of us old enough and lucky enough to watch Graham Souness that’s what you call a proper midfielder.

[Neil]

There aren't any players in the Premier League who score 12-15 goals a season and aren't an out and out striker who don't play for the top six teams. Maybe we'll break that trend but it wouldn't hurt to be realistic.

Yeah I was probably a bit over ambitious. 10 goals would be a good return.

[ClaretTony]

Clubs like ours will always struggle for quality strikers at Premier League level.

But

VK has real faith in Jay Rod so let’s hope he has a season away from injuries. I hadn’t been impressed with Foster until last week but thought he looked the part at Bristol City. We’ve not seen Obafemi other than short cameos so can’t comment on him. I Just think we need to replace Barnes.

[jedi_master]

We absolutely need a striker and I think it’s a certainty that we’ll sign one (in addition to Tella, if you regard him as one). Jay, if he’s sticking around, will be a bench option as would Foster/Obafemi. Gyokeres would be fantastic and I still think there is a possible deal there with McNally, but that depends on whether the rumoured interest from other clubs crystallises into anything more tangible. I can’t see Coventry winning the play-offs personally so he will definitely be sold this summer, if that comes to pass.

I think Socrates probably has it right a bit further up though in that the the strategy that has served us so well will still be the case this summer. I fully expect 3/4 players that I have never heard of to come in and I find that exciting.

[NRC]

I would love to have seen either of Kevin Reeves or Danny Ings in their pomp in this side. In fact, put Danny Ings in it for just one season will see us comfortably survive, and therefore provide us with a platform to continue to develop our business model

[andyh]

We need a replacement for Ash. He was no 1 choice for most of the second half of the season so we need a no 1 choice replacement. Probably Vinny’s biggest challenge to date.

[Clive 1960]

We definitely need a striker who can at least score ten goals, where he is I don't know but I hope Vinny does .

[4midable]

Foster and Obafemi
Not good enough

We need 2 more

[clarethomer]

It will be interesting to see what happens on the transfer business as I am sure we will be looking at whats out there.

I keep getting De-ja-vu when I read things like - not good enough and needing proven X no of goal striker. Pretty much what was said last summer and we have done ok.

Clearly PL is a step up but I for one are relaxed because for the first time in many many years of approaching a season, it feels like we are happy to invest.

We don't have a pending sale, pandemic or other crisis going on with friction between manager and owner. And unlike last season, our Manager knows this league inside and out.

[warksclaret]

Our current strikers , with the possible exception of Tella , would not get into the first team of any of the current PL teams, and I include those sides on the verge of being relegated. The way we have brushed people aside this season has been through the brilliance of Benson, Zarourry and Tella. Jay, Barnes and Foster collectively have missed numerous chances, more than they have scored, and many were easy ones.

Hopefully Benson, Zarourry and hopefully Tella if he signs, can do the business again next season. However its amazing how many clubs in the PL get absolutely outplayed and out possessed but get one or two chances only and convert one,to go away with one or three points. If we are relying on Jay or Foster to convert that one chance we will be disappointed. The beauty of having VK on board is he will already be aware of thise and may already have targets, and for one I am so pleased the transfer embargo has now been lifted

[RVclaret]

It will be interesting to see what happens on the transfer business as I am sure we will be looking at whats out there.

I keep getting De-ja-vu when I read things like - not good enough and needing proven X no of goal striker. Pretty much what was said last summer and we have done ok.

Clearly PL is a step up but I for one are relaxed because for the first time in many many years of approaching a season, it feels like we are happy to invest.

We don't have a pending sale, pandemic or other crisis going on with friction between manager and owner. And unlike last season, our Manager knows this league inside and out.

Yes me too. Last summer it was ‘Can’t get promoted without a 20 goal a season striker’ ‘where’s the Andre Gray signing!?!’ and now it’s ‘need a 10 goal a season striker to stay up’.

Interestingly only 1 team in the entire bottom half of the Prem has a striker on more than 7 goals right now and they are level on points with the bottom 3.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Yes me too. Last summer it was ‘Can’t get promoted without a 20 goal a season striker’ ‘where’s the Andre Gray signing!?!’ and now it’s ‘need a 10 goal a season striker to stay up’.

Interestingly only 1 team in the entire bottom half of the Prem has a striker on more than 7 goals right now and they are level on points with the bottom 3.

I’ve noticed that all of the teams ranked 12th-17th all have at least three players with five or more goals.

Perhaps that’s what we need to aim for.

I can certainly see Benson getting Five. Difficult to judge foster right now but I would suggest he will get that.

However not sure who else could get five or more in the squad currently.

[AlargeClaret]

Tella is an absolute must for us . The rest..who knows ? Obafemi certainly has something but not sure we really play to his style . Jay ( if he says fit -very unlikely ) could be a useful back up and he’s showed he can score when playing way out of position . Foster - not seen anything to get excited about . Twine - too lightweight but could well develop into a decent bench player .
Verdict -we absolutely need 1 proven “ off the peg” prem CF

[Taffy on the wing]

Are any of our current strikers good enough for the PL?

It seems a churlish question after the season we've just had, but we all know there is a big difference between this division and the one above.

Barnes and Dervisoglu aren't going to be here in any case.

Jay Rod was disappointing last time we were there, and let's just say we're yet to see the best of Foster and Obafemi.

Do we realistically have to be looking to sign two or three new strikers?

I thought J-Rod was off to MLS?

[fidelcastro]

I thought J-Rod was off to MLS?

You obviously know more than me.

I was just asking the question with regards towards our current strikers.

[ClaretPete001]

Jay Rod was brilliant prior to Christmas.... but at 34 I think he is likely to play the withdrawn role . Traditionally, he has scored more in the EFL than the PL.

If he had stayed fit and mainatined his form he would have hit 20 goals this season and as brilliant as Ashley Barnes has been a fit Jay Rod would probably have been number one after Xmas.

Obviously, we have to buy Tella so I guess we can't include him

Not sure what is going to happen to Weghorst. He has scored loads in the Bundesliga but doesn't even look likely in the PL.

I think a 28 year old Jay Rod would be just the job....! So, if we can find someone like that then that would be a good addition to the squad.