So the scum have even more Euro trophies than us.

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Originally Posted by Peter

What if spend 60 million on a striker who is no better than Havertz? Or not a better fit for us than Havertz? Very, very few strikers will do a better job for us than him. A striker to replace Jesus and give us two viable options at centre forward is a great idea. But there seems to be an assumption that we can chuck out 70 or 80 million and get ourselves a Haaland or an Isak. That is a big, big ask.

No doubt we will sign someone. But from what I have seen of this Zubimendi, signing him will likely improve us in a way that no striker will.

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I just think it?s inconceivable that we won?t sign a striker. The club have been widely criticised for leaving this door ajar for too long. You?re right to say there are no guarantees in terms of quality. Solanke, Werner, Felix, Jackson, Nunez, all show poor returns, even Marmoush, from the reliable Pep, looks a work in progress.
We should have sufficient options up front to support a new CF. A new winger is on the radar, fairly sure Trossard will roll forward his contract, Havertz & Jesus to return, alongside Martinelli and Saka.
A CF and a wide player with Zubimendi going into the new season and I can?t see many fans moaning

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

The new striker must have more strings to his bow than mere goalscoring.

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I quite agree, but banging in them in is the priority.



Can you score more than 50% of half chances? :rubchin:

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

Amen, P

as well, I think what people missed in the Jesus/Havertz absences is that they are both more naturally better at holding the ball up/causing a nuisance up front. No reflection on Merino, who did a superb job in the circumstance, but that didn't come naturally to him. The new striker must have more strings to his bow than mere goalscoring.

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Very true. Jesus is actually a very fine player. But his finishing is just not good enough and he cant stay fit. Havertz is a very good centre forward. Like many others, he wasn't at his best this season but he was superb in the second half of last season. I am not convinced that any of the strikers we have been linked with (excluding Isak) are better than him.

We shall see. But without question, Saka and Odegaard are exceptional players and the most important in our creative third. A striker who works well with them and puts away chances is the priority. Some big lump who scores 30 a season and does sod all else wont necessarily make us better.

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Originally Posted by Peter

Very true. Jesus is actually a very fine player. But his finishing is just not good enough and he cant stay fit. Havertz is a very good centre forward. Like many others, he wasn't at his best this season but he was superb in the second half of last season. I am not convinced that any of the strikers we have been linked with (excluding Isak) are better than him.

We shall see. But without question, Saka and Odegaard are exceptional players and the most important in our creative third. A striker who works well with them and puts away chances is the priority. Some big lump who scores 30 a season and does sod all else wont necessarily make us better.

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A fully fit and firing Odegaard would make a huge difference

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Originally Posted by Peter

Some big lump who scores 30 a season and does sod all else wont necessarily make us better.

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It would be nice to have that option tbh. #Biereth

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

I just think it?s inconceivable that we won?t sign a striker. The club have been widely criticised for leaving this door ajar for too long. You?re right to say there are no guarantees in terms of quality. Solanke, Werner, Felix, Jackson, Nunez, all show poor returns, even Marmoush, from the reliable Pep, looks a work in progress.
We should have sufficient options up front to support a new CF. A new winger is on the radar, fairly sure Trossard will roll forward his contract, Havertz & Jesus to return, alongside Martinelli and Saka.
A CF and a wide player with Zubimendi going into the new season and I can?t see many fans moaning

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Oh, don't get me wrong. We are going to buy a striker and we should do. I just think that when we do you will see it isn't quite the panacea that lazy pundits have been talking about for the last two years.

Last season they went on about it all year, in a season where we outscored everyone in the league and finished with the best goal difference.

The three things you point to are the obvious priorities- a striker, a midfielder and another wide forward. But our transfers don't always follow the expected path...... :-)

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Originally Posted by PSRB

A fully fit and firing Odegaard would make a huge difference

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He is the heartbeat of the team. If he is off, we are off. And it throws off Saka.

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Originally Posted by IUFG

It would be nice to have that option tbh. #Biereth

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True. But their cost in the market massively outweighs their value to us.

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Originally Posted by IUFG

It would be nice to have that option tbh. #Biereth

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How's Balogun doing after his one good season in France?

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

I just think it?s inconceivable that we won?t sign a striker. The club have been widely criticised for leaving this door ajar for too long. You?re right to say there are no guarantees in terms of quality. Solanke, Werner, Felix, Jackson, Nunez, all show poor returns, even Marmoush, from the reliable Pep, looks a work in progress.
We should have sufficient options up front to support a new CF. A new winger is on the radar, fairly sure Trossard will roll forward his contract, Havertz & Jesus to return, alongside Martinelli and Saka.
A CF and a wide player with Zubimendi going into the new season and I can?t see many fans moaning

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As an aside, is it only me who thinks that recently, when we've had Leo and Gabby M alongside B up top that we looked better with Gabby centre and Leo on the wing as opposed to vice versa?

Gabby and Leo have different skill sets as LWs. I think Gabby is very good at beating two when down by the byline just outside the box. He often gets his cross in. But his height up front and his back to goal work and lay offs have been pretty decent imo.