New signings

[Stranded]

Really can't see peoples problems here, I doubt they were knee jerks to the Smith saga. Given how quickly they were announced and the cost of them, it's likely they were coming in as well as Smith.

Both have more than decent records at this level and performed well by all accounts under the manager we have.

These have the potential to be excellent signings.

[Thaumagurist*]

There's a tidal wave of positivity rushing through hna this evening!

Steady Rother....a home win for Barnsley on Saturday will change all that.

That will be a pretty good achievement.

[PieEater]

I look at the teams who struggled last year with a similar style compared to how we play now. Doncaster, Soton and Swansea took a similar approach, only Swansea were successful, most because of Jason Scotland. The others played pretty football but no end product. I can see the new signnings making a difference, but Rasiak will need to get the goals on his own a bit like Scotland could rather than the team provide him with gilt edge chances.

Our form is following what Charlton did following their relegation, but they kept more experienced players, their problem was relying on a crap forward to get goals.

[Elliott]

I hear Anderson is out of favour at Man Utd... worth a cheeky bid?

[Row Z Royal]

There's a tidal wave of positivity rushing through hna this evening!

Steady Rother....a home win for Barnsley on Saturday will change all that.

That will be a pretty good achievement.

There was an away win for Barnsley this week, so a home one is not beyond the realms of possibility.

[Thaumagurist*]

I hear Anderson is out of favour at Man Utd... worth a cheeky bid?

WCBAP

There was an away win for Barnsley this week, so a home one is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Trust me not to read his post properly.

[Row Z Royal]

There was an away win for Barnsley this week, so a home one is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Trust me not to read his post properly.

[Ryn]

Whether Rasiak is a stopgap or not, it's still better than having no target strikers at all.

That's like saying that you would rather contract cholera than diptheria

At least with either of those two there's a chance of survival.

[Ian Royal]

Really can't see peoples problems here, I doubt they were knee jerks to the Smith saga. Given how quickly they were announced and the cost of them, it's likely they were coming in as well as Smith.

Both have more than decent records at this level and performed well by all accounts under the manager we have.

These have the potential to be excellent signings.

This.

[Royal Rother]

I look at the teams who struggled last year with a similar style compared to how we play now. Doncaster, Soton and Swansea took a similar approach, only Swansea were successful, most because of Jason Scotland. The others played pretty football but no end product. I can see the new signnings making a difference, but Rasiak will need to get the goals on his own a bit like Scotland could rather than the team provide him with gilt edge chances.

Rasiak seems to know where the goal is which is one plus for us, but I suppose the fact that he is big and strong and able to hold the ball up and can give the supporting players (in whatever bloody formation we play) time to join up is another.

Long & Hunt are fine at running forward and chasing but they don't play with their backs to goal, hence no-one has a chance to join up. If Rasiak can receive the ball, hold it up for a second, then feed the others and sprint (or whatever he does) into the box (with one or more of our young and energetic midfielders in support) we will surely create more chances and score more goals. Or problem in 2009 has been that our strikers are rarely in the box early enough if at all, so cross balls, when getting past the first defender, are a few feet in front of the nearest attacker.

Somebody suggested the likes of Adebola a few weeks ago, and I sniffed a bit at the suggestion. I guess Rasiak isn't too far removed from him, although he probably runs about a bit less, but at least he has a decent scoring record.

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

I look at the teams who struggled last year with a similar style compared to how we play now. Doncaster, Soton and Swansea took a similar approach, only Swansea were successful, most because of Jason Scotland. The others played pretty football but no end product. I can see the new signnings making a difference, but Rasiak will need to get the goals on his own a bit like Scotland could rather than the team provide him with gilt edge chances.

Somebody suggested the likes of Adebola a few weeks ago, and I sniffed a bit at the suggestion. I guess Rasiak isn't too far removed from him, although he probably runs about a bit less, but at least he has a decent scoring record.

In terms of general footballing intelligence and awareness, Rasiak is by far the better player. But it all boils down to how badly he wants to perform - which is why I think we've done the right thing with his contract; 2 years plus an option of a third. (This assumes we learnt our lesson in handling this type of deal with John Salako).

[RoyalBlue]

I look at the teams who struggled last year with a similar style compared to how we play now. Doncaster, Soton and Swansea took a similar approach, only Swansea were successful, most because of Jason Scotland. The others played pretty football but no end product. I can see the new signnings making a difference, but Rasiak will need to get the goals on his own a bit like Scotland could rather than the team provide him with gilt edge chances.

Somebody suggested the likes of Adebola a few weeks ago, and I sniffed a bit at the suggestion. I guess Rasiak isn't too far removed from him, although he probably runs about a bit less, but at least he has a decent scoring record.

In terms of general footballing intelligence and awareness, Rasiak is by far the better player. But it all boils down to how badly he wants to perform - which is why I think we've done the right thing with his contract; 2 years plus an option of a third. (This assumes we learnt our lesson in handling this type of deal with John Salako).

I'm surprised his agent fell for the 'option of a third', given the way RFC have conducted themselves in the past!

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

I'm surprised his agent fell for the 'option of a third', given the way RFC have conducted themselves in the past!

Maybe because he realised that this is the last time he'll be able to earn a significant sum from a Rasiak sigining-on fee.

Cynical, moi?

[BR2]

I look at the teams who struggled last year with a similar style compared to how we play now. Doncaster, Soton and Swansea took a similar approach, only Swansea were successful, most because of Jason Scotland. The others played pretty football but no end product. I can see the new signnings making a difference, but Rasiak will need to get the goals on his own a bit like Scotland could rather than the team provide him with gilt edge chances.

Rasiak seems to know where the goal is which is one plus for us, but I suppose the fact that he is big and strong and able to hold the ball up and can give the supporting players (in whatever bloody formation we play) time to join up is another.

Long & Hunt are fine at running forward and chasing but they don't play with their backs to goal, hence no-one has a chance to join up. If Rasiak can receive the ball, hold it up for a second, then feed the others and sprint (or whatever he does) into the box (with one or more of our young and energetic midfielders in support) we will surely create more chances and score more goals. Or problem in 2009 has been that our strikers are rarely in the box early enough if at all, so cross balls, when getting past the first defender, are a few feet in front of the nearest attacker.

Somebody suggested the likes of Adebola a few weeks ago, and I sniffed a bit at the suggestion. I guess Rasiak isn't too far removed from him, although he probably runs about a bit less, but at least he has a decent scoring record.

Don't disagree with your post RR but my grouse is that despite Rodgers being quoted today as always wanting a big man up front it has taken so long to get somebody.
Rasiak has been available all summer or do people think we were waiting to see where Crouch went before persuing this player?
Hopefully Rasiak can get back to somewhere near the form he showed when he first came to this country but contrary to Mr Angry's info on another topic my Saints fan connections think he is slow and not very brave-we shall see.
Personally with Wolves already having Ebbanks-Blake,Keoghand Doyle and now rumoured to be looking at the giant Rapid Vienna striker to replace the injured Iwelumo,might they not be tempted to part with Sam Vokes who is big,strong,speaks English,is young and scores goals-that would fit in with our longer term strategy and whereas I think he is still only 20 he has played league football for 4 years which is more experience than our kids.

[Thaumagurist*]

Rasiak has been available all summer or do people think we were waiting to see where Crouch went before persuing this player?

Well, considering he was talking to Watford and his club were talking to two other clubs about the fee and also...we were talking to other people about other players. Transfers aren't done in the blink of an eye, you know.

[Royal Rother]

Don't disagree with your post RR but my grouse is that despite Rodgers being quoted today as always wanting a big man up front it has taken so long to get somebody.

Sam Vokes who is big,strong,speaks English,is young and scores goals....

I don't know what it is, but there will a reason why we didn't go for Rasiak earlier. I just don't go with all the 2nd guessing nonsense. These sorts of negotiations can be very delicate and dependent on a load of things outside of the club's control - we don't know all the full facts so it just seems like a pointless exercise to debate ad nauseum what might have been done earlier / better / instead.

Do you think Rasiak's English is lacking then? After 6 years of playing here I should hope he can shout "ON ME 'EAD!!!" by now.

[Thaumagurist*]

I agree with you, RR. So many reasons and do you think the club would explain every single thing that happens behind the scenes?

[rabidbee]

The world is upside down. I just read a post by Spacey replying to Rother not only without insulting him but actually complementing him. WTF?!

EDIT: ^^^^ And another?!

[Thaumagurist*]

Where did I compliment him?!?

[rabidbee]

You said "Good digging", and it didn't seem you were being sarcastic.