Striker?

[Baby Ate My Eight Ball]

Nine days from the start of the season, no striker in and no rumours. Are we looking for one?

Ward and Rhodes as our only senior strikers is a bit concerning. Campbell has left and has not been replaced.

[Dan]

Jul 20, 2022 9:33:24 GMT 1 Baby Ate My Eight Ball said:

Nine days from the start of the season, no striker in and no rumours. Are we looking for one?

Ward and Rhodes as our only senior strikers is a bit concerning. Campbell has left and has not been replaced.

I know its Nixon etc, but he reckons we're definitely after one...

[Headless Chicken]

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

[kennyk2]

Jul 20, 2022 9:41:22 GMT 1 Dan said:

Jul 20, 2022 9:33:24 GMT 1 Baby Ate My Eight Ball said:

Nine days from the start of the season, no striker in and no rumours. Are we looking for one?

Ward and Rhodes as our only senior strikers is a bit concerning. Campbell has left and has not been replaced.

I know its Nixon etc, but he reckons we're definitely after one...

I'm not sure whether that tweet suggests we're after one, or Nixon is suggesting that we need one. It would be good to have three frontmen. Did Tino play as a striker with previous teams?

[bluestripe]

Jul 20, 2022 9:51:12 GMT 1 Headless Chicken said:

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

So to your point then, Ward does not exact have a good injury record. Is Rhodes up to leading the line match after match in that eventuality?

[garyroberts'leftfoot]

Jul 20, 2022 10:06:37 GMT 1 bluestripe said:

Jul 20, 2022 9:51:12 GMT 1 Headless Chicken said:

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

So to your point then, Ward does not exact have a good injury record. Is Rhodes up to leading the line match after match in that eventuality?

And who would be a game changing option off the bench?

[Tiro]

In my mind it’s clear we have targeted/ are targeting a striker given our interest in Morris. I don’t think other matters will have changed that.

[runner76]

I though the remit this year in recruitment was to build the attack …. Yet we’ve not signed a striker….we need at least one as far as I can see!!!

[Headless Chicken]

Jul 20, 2022 10:06:37 GMT 1 bluestripe said:

Jul 20, 2022 9:51:12 GMT 1 Headless Chicken said:

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

So to your point then, Ward does not exact have a good injury record. Is Rhodes up to leading the line match after match in that eventuality?

Not for me; not at all. Be happy to be proven wrong though (not wishing an injury on Ward 😄)!

PS - I don't get why Town aren't looking at a striker; not the OP.

[hoggy1975]

Jul 20, 2022 9:33:24 GMT 1 Baby Ate My Eight Ball said:

Nine days from the start of the season, no striker in and no rumours. Are we looking for one?

Ward and Rhodes as our only senior strikers is a bit concerning. Campbell has left and has not been replaced.

I think once O’brien/Toffolo deals are confirmed we will get a young striker on loan from the prem. Hopefully he’s better than Mipo!

[dirtyoldtown]

Jul 20, 2022 9:51:12 GMT 1 Headless Chicken said:

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

 Phillips is way off a Championship standard player. 

Would be more than happy to go into the Season with Ward, Rhodes and new striker. 

Sorba and Koroma can also be used up top if needed. 

[Lovechops]

I’m sure I read somewhere Adebayo is wanting out of Luton 🤷🏻‍♀️

[ritchie]

Jul 20, 2022 11:01:05 GMT 1 Lovechops said:

I’m sure I read somewhere Adebayo is wanting out of Luton 🤷🏻‍♀️

will they sell us him for nowt

[Headless Chicken]

Jul 20, 2022 11:00:58 GMT 1 dirtyoldtown said:

Jul 20, 2022 9:51:12 GMT 1 Headless Chicken said:

I just don't get it.

Ward did well last year and has a broad enough game to do what a team like ours needs.

Rhodes had a few very good cameos and full games, but for the majority of the time was bullied and brushed aside. I expect the same of Phillips at the moment.

They're both useful subs, Rhodes obviously so, but I'd be concerned if either were starting regularly.

 Phillips is way off a Championship standard player. 

Would be more than happy to go into the Season with Ward, Rhodes and new striker. 

Sorba and Koroma can also be used up top if needed. 

He wasn't pulling up trees on loan, so probably so. I was maybe very generous stating 'useful'. I'm usually a perceived happy clapper, so hard to be harsh 😉

[terriersyndrome]

Jul 20, 2022 11:01:05 GMT 1 Lovechops said:

I’m sure I read somewhere Adebayo is wanting out of Luton 🤷🏻‍♀️

If we'd have had a little more patience in that window he'd probably be here already.

[Deleted]

Is there really a rush we have 8 league games before the window shuts, and we have a fit Ward, Rhodes and Koroma. Ward was plenty good enough last season so why would we panic into buying a striker lets wait and be patient I am sure one will come in. 

Signings so far are very encourging, lots more still to happen in and out, but we have done a large part of our business already unlike many clubs in the championship who still have lots of in/outs to deal with in the next 5weeks. 

[Baby Ate My Eight Ball]

Would be good to get a Rudoni-level prospect as a number nine.

Strikers are most likely to go for big money so it’s always puzzled me that this isn’t an area we prioritise our spending on.

[terriersyndrome]

Reckon if we do bring in a striker it'll be a loan.

[townohiofan]

Hard to recruit for a third striker. Getting mins is far from guaranteed so it's not ideal for a loanee or really anyone since players will want the chance to prove themselves. I think it's more likely that Koroma is deployed there at times.

[iangreaves]

It sounds like we were prepared to let Rhodes go, but Middlesbrough thought we were asking too much.

[arry11]

Jul 20, 2022 12:54:12 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

Hard to recruit for a third striker. Getting mins is far from guaranteed so it's not ideal for a loanee or really anyone since players will want the chance to prove themselves. I think it's more likely that Koroma is deployed there at times.

I would hope we are looking for a striker who will be a first choice pick not a back up.

[jqhtfc]

As much as I think we could do with a proper striker I’m not sure it’s what we’re looking for, think will more be after utility and someone who can play a number of forward roles striker included.

[townohiofan]

Jul 20, 2022 13:09:39 GMT 1 arry11 said:

Jul 20, 2022 12:54:12 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

Hard to recruit for a third striker. Getting mins is far from guaranteed so it's not ideal for a loanee or really anyone since players will want the chance to prove themselves. I think it's more likely that Koroma is deployed there at times.

I would hope we are looking for a striker who will be a first choice pick not a back up.

Ward was one of our top players last season. Unless we are planning on playing 2 up top he's the only striker that looks like they'll start week in and week out. We need a 3rd striker to offer something different to what Rhodes offers and insurance for injuries. I think it's a need but would imagine it's difficult to recruit when there's no obvious path to playing so filling internally is likely the path they'll have to go down. If you're a striker and you look at town you see maybe a dozen substitute appearances as available. That's not going to be of interest to many decent options. It's much easier to say Kasumu and Rudoni are replacements for O'Brien and Rudoni and Mahoney are replacements for Sinani. Between those 3 there's 80+ appearances from last season to go around. That's a pretty obvious opportunity for those 3 and that makes it much easier to recruit for those 2 spots than for a quality 3rd striker. Maybe you sign a guy like Mumbongo who you hope can be ready for first team football quickly like Russell last season.

[arry11]

Jul 20, 2022 13:29:41 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

Jul 20, 2022 13:09:39 GMT 1 arry11 said:

I would hope we are looking for a striker who will be a first choice pick not a back up.

Ward was one of our top players last season. Unless we are planning on playing 2 up top he's the only striker that looks like they'll start week in and week out. We need a 3rd striker to offer something different to what Rhodes offers and insurance for injuries. I think it's a need but would imagine it's difficult to recruit when there's no obvious path to playing so filling internally is likely the path they'll have to go down. If you're a striker and you look at town you see maybe a dozen substitute appearances as available. That's not going to be of interest to many decent options. It's much easier to say Kasumu and Rudoni are replacements for O'Brien and Rudoni and Mahoney are replacements for Sinani. Between those 3 there's 80+ appearances from last season to go around. That's a pretty obvious opportunity for those 3 and that makes it much easier to recruit for those 2 spots than for a quality 3rd striker. Maybe you sign a guy like Mumbongo who you hope can be ready for first team football quickly like Russell last season.

You're points are valid and thats why we should be aiming for a striker thats going to play week in week out.

[townohiofan]

arry11 Who would be willing to come to Town/on the wages we'd offer that is a clear upgrade on Ward?  I volunteer that it is unlikely that such a person exists.  

[harris]

Not a rumour but a couple of people on Twitter have mentioned it’d be worth a look at Sam Surridge on loan from Forest

[arry11]

Jul 20, 2022 13:47:10 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

arry11 Who would be willing to come to Town/on the wages we'd offer that is a clear upgrade on Ward?  I volunteer that it is unlikely that such a person exists.  

I know it will be hard but that doesn't stop us trying we have picked up some good players before.

[wigster]

Jul 20, 2022 11:35:03 GMT 1 @htafc35 said:

Is there really a rush we have 8 league games before the window shuts, and we have a fit Ward, Rhodes and Koroma. Ward was plenty good enough last season so why would we panic into buying a striker lets wait and be patient I am sure one will come in. 

Signings so far are very encourging, lots more still to happen in and out, but we have done a large part of our business already unlike many clubs in the championship who still have lots of in/outs to deal with in the next 5weeks. 

All a matter of opinion. You think that Ward was "plenty good enough" last season, I would not want to be starting a new season in the Championship with him as our first choice striker. In my opinion we've needed a new first choice striker for quite a while.

Not saying they are easy to get, but with the Pipa/Toffolo/O'Brien/Wembley etc money (I know...) there are surely better strikers out there we could get, even if on loan.

We may well be trying to get one, so it's not a criticism aimed at DH, just a wish. I think what we do with our incoming transfer money will speak volumes about where this club/Dean Hoyle is at now.

[townohiofan]

Jul 20, 2022 13:51:25 GMT 1 arry11 said:

Jul 20, 2022 13:47:10 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

arry11 Who would be willing to come to Town/on the wages we'd offer that is a clear upgrade on Ward?  I volunteer that it is unlikely that such a person exists.  

I know it will be hard but that doesn't stop us trying we have picked up some good players before.

Hard in this instance=incredibly unlikely.  Much more likely that the staff adds options to the B team, looks into retraining Koroma, considers exercising break clauses in January for Harratt/Hudlin, etc.  

[arry11]

Jul 20, 2022 14:02:58 GMT 1 townohiofan said:

Jul 20, 2022 13:51:25 GMT 1 arry11 said:

I know it will be hard but that doesn't stop us trying we have picked up some good players before.

Hard in this instance=incredibly unlikely.  Much more likely that the staff adds options to the B team, looks into retraining Koroma, considers exercising break clauses in January for Harratt/Hudlin, etc.  

Wow hope our recruitment department don't have defeatists like you.