Centre Forwards

[Jakubs Tash]

Interested to now which centre forwards posters think we could/should realistically target for January.

Are there any obvious candidates that stand out?

Someone from a European league or South America, perhaps?

A player who might not be as fashionable but could do a job?

Someone who has always had potential but lost their way?

An U21 from one of the Premier League’s elite clubs?

Let’s have some names!

[blatherwickstattoos]

Ton ton Zola makouko on a free

[TheFamilyCat]

No name suggestions but a Danny Ings type who can create his own chances.

A Charlie Austin type would just be stood around waiting for crosses that never come.

[NewClaret]

Think we could sign Wood & Haaland and not score any more goals with how infrequently we get the ball anywhere near the box.

In my view it’s what’s behind them that needs to be improved first.

[Jakubs Tash]

Think we could sign Wood & Haaland and not score any more goals with how infrequently we get the ball anywhere near the box.

In my view it’s what’s behind them that needs to be improved first.

I’m inclined to agree….but, as people keep telling us, Redmond, Tresor, Benson, Ramsey all to come back and hopefully help with the creativity in the wide / no 10 areas.

We’re clearly short on effective strikers though…..

[colne-claret]

I haven’t seen much of him but seen Stoke fans raving about Tom Cannon. 21yo and available for about 10 mil. Anyone rekon he’d fit the mould at Burnley?

[Newcastleclaret93]

At least 3 other positions that need to be prioritised ahead of striker

[NewClaret]

I’m inclined to agree….but, as people keep telling us, Redmond, Tresor, Benson, Ramsey all to come back and hopefully help with the creativity in the wide / no 10 areas.

We’re clearly short on effective strikers though…..

I think they’ll definitely help improve things. Our luck with injuries has been horrendous and unfortunately mainly with our more creative players.

I think a fit Foster, Flemming, Hountondji and Jay really should be enough in this league. I doubt many others will have such strength in depth. Although I imagine the club will look again given the lack of goals.

I just find it hard to imagine any striker really helping us with the lack of service they have.

[Stonehouse]

Fulham’s right back Robinson is better than any of our wingers.

[beeholeclaret]

My thoughts the other day are that most quality strikers have been hoovered up by Premier League clubs. Once of a day most clubs at Level 2 had one if not two decent strikers. Now you will see these types sat on the bench at Premier League clubs. It’s all about money really nowadays I’m afraid.

[Benson]

Interested to now which centre forwards posters think we could/should realistically target for January.

Are there any obvious candidates that stand out?

Someone from a European league or South America, perhaps?

A player who might not be as fashionable but could do a job?

Someone who has always had potential but lost their way?

An U21 from one of the Premier League’s elite clubs?

Let’s have some names!

Uraguay international Maxi Gómez has been without a club since the summer, don’t know how realistic a signing like this is though.

[hoosier-daddy]

Even if all 4 are fit I'm not convinced we have enough ammo.
We certainly need someone in January. Even a loan player would be welcome. Someone who can bag us 10-15 goals from early January who isn't getting enough first team football for a top 6-10 Prem side.

[bfcjg]

TBH who would want to play for us ?
Re a forward I'd go all out for a Tella style forward.

[BigGaz]

We've had Foster, Hound, Flemming, J-Rod there. Cast aspersions on their relative qualities all you like but they're all competent footballers. They're not getting a sniff. I would like a striker for definite but it's not them that are the problem.

Anthony rarely looks to beat his man down. I don't understand why that is as he looks to have real pace. this is Exacerbated when Humphries plays as he either does not want to or has been told not to Overlap.

On the other side. Koleosho is busy but his end product is just not there. Any good work he does do is made redundant simply because he won't find his man.

We have not yet found the right man to play in the ten and link the play effectively. It is clearly the idea for that to be Flemming but due to circumstances out of everyone's control he's having to moonlight as our 9.

Further back, Cullen and Brownhill are not shifting the ball quickly enough, are happy to retain and facilitate what Guardiola called 'Sterile' possession - keeping it for keeping Its sake, will not break lines and will not look for an incisive pass often enough.

Even further back, Roberts and CJER look like they can play a pass but there's often absolutely eff all going on in front of them.

I'd be looking at all or any of that first. New striker without resolving any of these issues is deck chair/titanic stuff.

[ClaretAL]

For me we never replaced Berge, and we are missing his creativity.

[Steve1956]

Would Ings drop a division?
Would he even want to come back?
I'd give it a try in January he would rip this division a new arse.

[louieollie]

But what actual difference would getting a new centre forward in make when we've got "cardboard cutouts " for a midfield three!, innifective wingers and no options to change personnel!!.

[GetIntoEm]

i think things will improve when foster is back, genuinely

[Foshiznik]

Ton ton Zola makouko on a free

Maxim Tsigalko or Ibrahim Bakayoko wouldn't be a bad plan B.

[Tricky Trevor]

We've had Foster, Hound, Flemming, J-Rod there. Cast aspersions on their relative qualities all you like but they're all competent footballers. They're not getting a sniff. I would like a striker for definite but it's not them that are the problem.

Anthony rarely looks to beat his man down. I don't understand why that is as he looks to have real pace. this is Exacerbated when Humphries plays as he either does not want to or has been told not to Overlap.

On the other side. Koleosho is busy but his end product is just not there. Any good work he does do is made redundant simply because he won't find his man.

We have not yet found the right man to play in the ten and link the play effectively. It is clearly the idea for that to be Flemming but due to circumstances out of everyone's control he's having to moonlight as our 9.

Further back, Cullen and Brownhill are not shifting the ball quickly enough, are happy to retain and facilitate what Guardiola called 'Sterile' possession - keeping it for keeping Its sake, will not break lines and will not look for an incisive pass often enough.

Even further back, Roberts and CJER look like they can play a pass but there's often absolutely eff all going on in front of them.

I'd be looking at all or any of that first. New striker without resolving any of these issues is deck chair/titanic stuff.

I agree with all of that but the last paragraph. JRod has, sadly, reached the age where it stops going in for you. Foster hasn’t got it. I’ll bide my time on Hountondji but we need a finisher now. We need early balls into the box and we need a midfielder getting up alongside or just behind said striker.

[RVclaret]

We need Foster and Flemming as a duo, there’s real potential there as I think both profiles suit each other as a partnership. Obviously Foster’s unreliability in terms of fitness is a clear concern on that front though.

[gandhisflipflop]

We've had Foster, Hound, Flemming, J-Rod there. Cast aspersions on their relative qualities all you like but they're all competent footballers. They're not getting a sniff. I would like a striker for definite but it's not them that are the problem.

Anthony rarely looks to beat his man down. I don't understand why that is as he looks to have real pace. this is Exacerbated when Humphries plays as he either does not want to or has been told not to Overlap.

On the other side. Koleosho is busy but his end product is just not there. Any good work he does do is made redundant simply because he won't find his man.

We have not yet found the right man to play in the ten and link the play effectively. It is clearly the idea for that to be Flemming but due to circumstances out of everyone's control he's having to moonlight as our 9.

Further back, Cullen and Brownhill are not shifting the ball quickly enough, are happy to retain and facilitate what Guardiola called 'Sterile' possession - keeping it for keeping Its sake, will not break lines and will not look for an incisive pass often enough.

Even further back, Roberts and CJER look like they can play a pass but there's often absolutely eff all going on in front of them.

I'd be looking at all or any of that first. New striker without resolving any of these issues is deck chair/titanic stuff.

Your second paragraph nails it and been saying this since the plymouth game. The full backs just do not overlap and until this changes it will be more of the same.

[hoosier-daddy]

We need Foster and Flemming as a duo, there’s real potential there as I think both profiles suit each other as a partnership. Obviously Foster’s unreliability in terms of fitness is a clear concern on that front though.

I agree but it's going to be one of those this season I feel, where one of them is always out. We might get 5 games with them both upfront, but that's about it. We need more like 25. Like I say we must be able to get a quality signing in on loan.

[KRBFC]

We need Foster and Flemming as a duo, there’s real potential there as I think both profiles suit each other as a partnership. Obviously Foster’s unreliability in terms of fitness is a clear concern on that front though.

The best striker in the league Mr Foster?

[summitclaret]

All very well, especially a Foster/Flemming duo, but not the key issue, which is the tactics being used. There's only ever 1 player in the box when we occasionally get a cross in.

Also, Pires needs to play left back and we need to double up on the opposition when attacking on the wings to give our wingers a chance of creating.

Additionally, we need to play much further up the pitch.

[jojomk1]

i think things will improve when foster is back, genuinely

They can't get any worse

But yes, the only option we have yet to see is Flemming behind Foster

And don't forget Tresor

[NewClaret]

All very well, especially a Foster/Flemming duo, but not the key issue, which is the tactics being used. There's only ever 1 player in the box when we occasionally get a cross in.

Also, Pires needs to play left back and we need to double up on the opposition when attacking on the wings to give our wingers a chance of creating.

Additionally, we need to play much further up the pitch.

This is it, I just cannot understand the clamour from fans for strikers when the way we’re playing means we never get it anywhere near them. The style needs to change, first.

Completely agree about Pires. Parker is making his own bed persisting with a CB at FB.

Also agree about playing further up the pitch but I’m not sure who Cullen would be able to pass backwards to if we did

[kentonclaret]

They can't get any worse

But yes, the only option we have yet to see is Flemming behind Foster

And don't forget Tresor

Tresor? The last Resort?

[GetIntoEm]

lot riding on tresor coming back, not sure what people have seen. but i'll keep some hope

[bobinho]

I haven’t seen much of him but seen Stoke fans raving about Tom Cannon. 21yo and available for about 10 mil. Anyone rekon he’d fit the mould at Burnley?

We seem to be playing around a striker, not for one. Like Spain 15 years ago, they set up without one - we’re doing the same but with a striker in the team.

[kentonclaret]

When it comes to scoring goals in the Championship sometimes clubs just strike it lucky, as VK did with Nathan Tella during our title winning season. Nothing in Tella’s record suggested that he would end up scoring as many as 17 goals. Likewise, this season with Norwich and Borja Sainz, who heads the scoring charts with 11 goals but was available at 80/1 or bigger to end up as Golden Boot winner.

[cockneyclaret]

All very well, especially a Foster/Flemming duo, but not the key issue, which is the tactics being used. There's only ever 1 player in the box when we occasionally get a cross in.
Additionally, we need to play much further up the pitch.

Absolutely spot on.. just crossed into the area where we have one man surrounded by 2-3 defenders and 2 or 3 of our players not even close to the box.
Too easy for any team to deal with.

[RVclaret]

The best striker in the league Mr Foster?

If Lyle gets to the level he showed in the PL last season aside from around his physical and mental illnesses, then yes I believe he’s the best n9 in the league (his competition is Josh Sargent who was shocking in the PL, Mateo Joseph who’s still a bit young and Adebayo (also struggling despite 10 PL goals). He looked a bit off that level pre-latest injury, mind. I’d like to see him paired with Flemming, I think they’d be a real handful and there are goals there.

[warksclaret]

Dont forget the Africa Cup Of Nations from mid Jan to mid Feb that will inevitably mean Foster is out for that period. My thoughts are we move on several centre halves coming back into fitness (we currently have 8 on the books), loan out Hountondji and get a proper No 9 (in the mould of Che Adams), and go balls out to get Tella on a 6 month loan (we hear he is getting no game time)or Danny Ings, if we are serious about a big push. What we don't want is a bench with Jay or Hountondji on it when we are trailing

[warksclaret]

If Lyle gets to the level he showed in the PL last season aside from around his physical and mental illnesses, then yes I believe he’s the best n9 in the league (his competition is Josh Sargent who was shocking in the PL, Mateo Joseph who’s still a bit young and Adebayo (also struggling despite 10 PL goals). He looked a bit off that level pre-latest injury, mind. I’d like to see him paired with Flemming, I think they’d be a real handful and there are goals there.

Foster shows great glimpses of being a great No 9 probably every 4 or 5 games-no doubt when he is focused and fired up. However to be the best No 9 in the Division you need to have one major quality-CONSISTENCY

[KRBFC]

If Lyle gets to the level he showed in the PL last season aside from around his physical and mental illnesses, then yes I believe he’s the best n9 in the league (his competition is Josh Sargent who was shocking in the PL, Mateo Joseph who’s still a bit young and Adebayo (also struggling despite 10 PL goals). He looked a bit off that level pre-latest injury, mind. I’d like to see him paired with Flemming, I think they’d be a real handful and there are goals there.

Lol he’s not fit to lace Piroe or Morris’ boots respectfully

[fidelcastro]

If Lyle gets to the level he showed in the PL last season aside from around his physical and mental illnesses, then yes I believe he’s the best n9 in the league (his competition is Josh Sargent who was shocking in the PL, Mateo Joseph who’s still a bit young and Adebayo (also struggling despite 10 PL goals). He looked a bit off that level pre-latest injury, mind. I’d like to see him paired with Flemming, I think they’d be a real handful and there are goals there.

He's not even close to being the best in the league.

Although like with most of our players on here, he'll no doubt become a better player whilst injured!

If Tresor ever returns, I'd be expecting him to be the next Maradona, based on the comments on here!

[RVclaret]

He's not even close to being the best in the league.

Although like with most of our players on here, he'll no doubt become a better player whilst injured!

If Tresor ever returns, I'd be expecting him to be the next Maradona, based on the comments on here!

In my view his ability puts him in the conversation for the best in the league. I know last season often gets forgotten about or thought of terribly, but he was superb in the first 10 games (4 goals, should of been 5 at Forest, 3 assists) and Villa away was probably one of the best centre forward displays I’ve seen for us (given opposition). Sadly he’s not got back to that level and I don’t have the exact answer why (fitness, system challenges, transfer window unsettling), but hopefully a break from the team now gives a chance to re-charge.

As for Tresor, he put up 24 assists and 8 goals at a level similar to this, to put that into context that’s 10 more goal contributions than Tella got for us in the promotion season, so it’s no surprise folk think he’d make a difference.

[fidelcastro]

In my view his ability puts him in the conversation for the best in the league. I know last season often gets forgotten about or thought of terribly, but he was superb in the first 10 games (4 goals, should of been 5 at Forest, 3 assists) and Villa away was probably one of the best centre forward displays I’ve seen for us (given opposition). Sadly he’s not got back to that level and I don’t have the exact answer why (fitness, system challenges, transfer window unsettling), but hopefully a break from the team now gives a chance to re-charge.

As for Tresor, he put up 24 assists and 8 goals at a level similar to this, to put that into context that’s 10 more goal contributions than Tella got for us in the promotion season, so it’s no surprise folk think he’d make a difference.

The fact that people keep harping on about this villa game, which was how long ago now? Shows that people are desperate for him to succeed, but he's shown virtually nothing since.
He'd only kept his place this season, because there was no one else good enough to be starting, not because he was playing well.
He's certainly not shown anything at this level, either this season, or when he first signed to suggest he's the best in the league. That's just silly.

[Goliath]

The fact that people keep harping on about this villa game, which was how long ago now? Shows that people are desperate for him to succeed, but he's shown virtually nothing since.
He'd only kept his place this season, because there was no one else good enough to be starting, not because he was playing well.
He's certainly not shown anything at this level, either this season, or when he first signed to suggest he's the best in the league. That's just silly.

He also mentioned his 4 in 10 record at the start of last season.
Its been just over a year since then. I doubt he's suddenly lost all of that ability in that time.

There's not many strikers in this division that would ever get 4 in 10 in the Prem, so there's clearly huge potential and we know Kompany felt the same. Remember he could have signed a striker last summer and decided that Foster was good enough even without any experience at that level to take that responsibility.

[hoosier-daddy]

In my view his ability puts him in the conversation for the best in the league. I know last season often gets forgotten about or thought of terribly, but he was superb in the first 10 games (4 goals, should of been 5 at Forest, 3 assists) and Villa away was probably one of the best centre forward displays I’ve seen for us (given opposition). Sadly he’s not got back to that level and I don’t have the exact answer why (fitness, system challenges, transfer window unsettling), but hopefully a break from the team now gives a chance to re-charge.

As for Tresor, he put up 24 assists and 8 goals at a level similar to this, to put that into context that’s 10 more goal contributions than Tella got for us in the promotion season, so it’s no surprise folk think he’d make a difference.

The thing with Foster is he seems to be better when the opposition attack and don't have 11 men behind the ball for most of the game.

[brexit]

Tresor? The last Resort?

until you did that, i had not noticed the anagram

[brexit]

Kemar Roofe is a free agent

[fidelcastro]

He also mentioned his 4 in 10 record at the start of last season.
Its been just over a year since then. I doubt he's suddenly lost all of that ability in that time.

There's not many strikers in this division that would ever get 4 in 10 in the Prem, so there's clearly huge potential and we know Kompany felt the same. Remember he could have signed a striker last summer and decided that Foster was good enough even without any experience at that level to take that responsibility.

Right, so how long do we give it until he rediscovers this form? Do we just keep playing him regardless?

[NewClaret]

The thing with Foster is he seems to be better when the opposition attack and don't have 11 men behind the ball for most of the game.

True enough, although when we do have opportunities to counter we don’t bother and let them get back in shape by playing slow three passes too many!

[Goliath]

Right, so how long do we give it until he rediscovers this form? Do we just keep playing him regardless?

We should probably build a team that suits him a bit more.
You usually see teams built around certain players to get the best out of them. I'm not sure that's the case with us, Parker seems to have a set way of playing that he hasn't adapted for the personnel.

Our biggest strengths are the pace of Koleosho and Foster, and the strength/power of Fleming. We are basically nullifying all of those assets with our style of play which is a bit bizarre when you think about it.

[dougcollins]

Cullen is almost always facing his own goal, and the vast majority of the balls he plays go that way.

I assume he's been instructed to do that.

[IanMcL]

Tresor? The last Resort?

That is a gold medal post! Well done.

Tresor
resorT

[claretspice]

Probably a bit of a punt, but I've just seen a kid called Richard Kone absolutely demolish Stockport, playing for Wycombe. Great touch and link with his back to goal, strong, quick and made good runs. Should've scored 5 and I gather he's been playing that all season. Looks destined to go well above League One.

[Quicknick]

Irvine and Lochhead. Or, more recently, Chris Wood.