RUMOUR - Bertrand, Clyne and Zaha

[Ian Royal]

weve got loads of strikers, some of them are even quite good

That is two of us then. I am not sure where this overwhelming need for a 5th striker in the squad has stemmed from (and, if you allow for recalls for the loanees it would give us 7 or 8 strikers).

Two players for each position would be Roberts /Pogrebnyak for the 'big front man' and Hunt/ ALF for the other one? Looks pretty much ok to me I have to say.

+1

Ideally we'd have someone better than Roberts, Hunt, Church & ALF to partner Pog and at least one of them out the door. But as it goes, once you get past Pog, there isn't a great deal of a drop in quality for this level. (CHurch'll do better with Guthrie in the side)

[who are ya?]

FOAD

[urz13]

weve got loads of strikers, some of them are even quite good

The Pog played a good cameo role last season with Fulham, ALF is improving and may (hopefully) start to blossom in the Prem. However, our strikers could not hit a barn door with a banjo last season - as the stats show! WE NEED A BLOODY GOOD STRIKER NOW if we are not to flirt with relegation.

And if Alf continues to blossom, he'll soon be worth £40m, right?

[royalZILLAAA]

"Summer has been good. We've signed seven players," McDermott told Sky Sports News.

"We've got the group that we had together last season and we're looking forward to Saturday."

Asked if he was looking to bring in more players this summer, McDermott said: "Not overly. We've got two players for every position which is what I always wanted.

"If something comes off late in the window then maybe but there's nothing in the pipeline."

That last line kind of stuck out to me as an example of a change of mentality, financially speaking. It's like saying "We've got all the groceries we thought we needed, but you never know what will happen when you stroll past the impulse aisle to the till..."
A cheeky little kit-kat or some strawberry laces might be enough to keep the kids happy.

[West Stand Man]

weve got loads of strikers, some of them are even quite good

However, our strikers could not hit a barn door with a banjo last season - as the stats show!

Just checked the stats for last season. Apparently we won the league?

[ZacNaloen]

The stats actually show that we were highly clinical and put away most of our chances, we just didn't create loads of chances a game.

[Up_The_Royals]

Zaha is looking less and less likely as the days drag on. Any news?

[Royal Ginger]

The stats actually show that we were highly clinical and put away most of our chances, we just didn't create loads of chances a game.

Well, that's really hopeful. We've just gone up a division and last season we didn't create much! No-one. whoever you are, think about us buying a top-class striker who can make goals on his own. Let's all remember (to paraphrase some of you), we are a crap club who should not aspire to the heights that clubs like WHUFC will reach. Well you clowns think what you like. I believe that RFC, given a couple of sensible transfers, could go the whole season without relegation being mentioned!

Bellend

[maffff]

The stats actually show that we were highly clinical and put away most of our chances, we just didn't create loads of chances a game.

Which then begs the question "is the issue the strikers?". If they were clinical were they not getting in the positions for the chances or were the chances not being created by those meant to be supplying them?

[ZacNaloen]

With so many chances coming from wingers and set pieces, with the style we play, we were never going to create many chances. But by the same token, the chances we create, because our wingers (and Ian Harte) are as good as they are at championship level were always going to be gold plated.


I'm personally not convinced by them against premier league full backs, but that's one of those things that remains to be seen. I've never felt our issue with strikers (except church, who really can't hit a barn door)

[MouldyRoyal]

Probably because we played two mostly defensive midfielders. Supply typically came from the wings and the the centre mids usually passed out to them unless we were making a fast counter attacking break. The addition of Guthrie should give us the ability to make some more incisive through balls to our strikers...theoretically anyway.

[melonhead]

With so many chances coming from wingers and set pieces, with the style we play, we were never going to create many chances. But by the same token, the chances we create, because our wingers (and Ian Harte) are as good as they are at championship level were always going to be gold plated.


I'm personally not convinced by them against premier league full backs, but that's one of those things that remains to be seen. I've never felt our issue with strikers (except church, who really can't hit a barn door)

i we create, they will score


church can hit a barn door, but only if hes stood 2 ft away, and it just needs a nap in

[Extended-Phenotype]

Aye, Hunt, Roberts and ALF actually had a pretty strong conversion rate. We've already invested in creative areas like the wings and central midfield, so not sure what the issue could be.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

All dried up on the Zaha front? Still would love him here.

[Big Ern]

Haven't been getting many updates as away on my Hols, but it appears there is a stalemate between the clubs. In fact it doesn't apper any serious discussion have taken plave for nearly a week of so. Either er have dropped our interest or we are trying to play hardball with Palace. From what I have heard, the chances of this happening are diiminishing daily. Could all change though is either cl
up give a bit of ground.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

With Palace getting thumped 4-1 this evening, maybe Zaha fancies a change of scenery?

[Snowball]

Bertrand would have been the right signing to play LB and maybe we could have got him.

He will probably end up at least a regular top-half Prem player but I fancy that
the Chelsea management still don't see "star quality" there, and are likely to buy
players to keep him out of the first 11, barring an injury crisis.

IMO he would have been a huge addition to us. His defending is improving
(Tho' he isn't a GREAT defender) and he's good going forward.

[howser]

Daily Mirror running the story that Mcdermott is launching a pre-window closure for Zaha at around £4m


www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfe ... ha-1285747

[moonwalklikebas]

Heard 4m plus 2m with appearances and call up to national side.

[loyalroyal4life]

£4M and church will do it