Have we got a better strikeforce now?

[TheBigMatch]

Having sold off Defoe/Keane/Berbatov for circa £60 million, and waved goodbye to their 60 odd goals per season,

and set ourselves up with Bent and Pav for circa £30 million and their 30, or is it 60, odd goals per season,

have we got a better strikeforce?

Don't think so.

If Ramos gets us to January still in the League Cup, the UEFA Cup, and in contention for Top 6, he will have seriously proven his worth and an improved strikeforce in January will have us pushing for glory.

Our new midfield and defense may be our saviour.

Otherwise reality will strike back at us big time.

 

[rabbikeane]

Of course not, but our midfield is way better and a lot more creative. Hopefully enough for our new strikers to feed of.
We were pretty much a one man team with Berbatov.
Although I fear we can become close to it with Modric as well, I must say it seems we have more strings to play this season.

 

[DJS]

Berbs and Keano were the bees knees and was really looking forward to maybe seeing them in action this season with Bentley, Modirc and Dos Santos providing them with a better quality of service.

Sadly this is not the case, but from what I've seen of Pavy he looks pretty decent at help build up play (maybe needs to polish off his finishing a bit) and Bent is arguably a better finisher than Keano or Berbs so should gobble up any chances that Pavy / the midfield present him.

Luckily Bent won't have to play up front on his own anymore so we should see big improvements from him.

Keano and Berbs were so beautiful together though... I think I need a moment...

 

[Dr Know]

I think its way too early to ask this, we should first see how Pav & Bent links up, plus we may well get a new CF in the Jan window

 

[Flatters]

You can't say yes, but it's silly to just say no. Let's wait and see. Pav's gonna be immense.

 

[Azrael]

I have optimism for the new boys, but this thread is just silly as the answer is damned obvious. If most of the fans and the club accept that we have a weaker strike force then I 'd say it's pretty clear.

 

[SpurSince57]

Has there been a club statement accepting that we have a weaker strike force, then? I must have missed that.

 

[worcestersauce]

Strikeforce or strikers? there is a distinction.

It may be that Bent & Pav are not as good as Keane & Berbatov although it remains to be seen but if so then you may argue that we don't have better strikers but then our midfield is better and so our "Strikeforce" may be better, and to be honest with you when it really gets going I think it will surprise you.

 

[PT]

I'm struggling to understand where you got sixty goals per season from our previous incumbants. If it's true and the records are inaccurate we've massivly undersold those players...

 

[Azrael]

Has there been a club statement accepting that we have a weaker strike force, then? I must have missed that.

So we're gonna debate demantics then? If Levy says that he is dissapointed that he was unable to get another striker then it isn't hard to read between the lines that he's dissatisfied with the current state of the strikeforce.

 

[Krafty]

I think, as all round players, they are worse, and certainly Bent + Pav gives less options than Defoe/Keane/Berbatov (and Bent), but I can see them scoring the same number of goals as a pair as any combination of the three previous strikers

 

[worcestersauce]

I think, as all round players, they are worse, and certainly Bent + Pav gives less options than Defoe/Keane/Berbatov (and Bent), but I can see them scoring the same number of goals as a pair as any combination of the three previous strikers

I guess we'll have to wait and see but then as long as we score more than our opponents each time we are in with a chance.

Don't forget we have Campbell too.

 

[tRiKS]

are we not allowed to add Fasier and Dos Santos? as they are listed as strikers.

Berbs + anyone is wonderful and we'll no doubt see Rooney turn into something more like prolific than at any other time in his career to date. So of course our strikers are not as good BUT the gap isn't as wide as some suggest.

Look at it from another persepctive, how does our strike forces compare with the striking options in the season we first fisnihed 5th and were closest in points to CL qyaulifaction than ever? ...Mido/Keane/Defoe.

Pav/Bent/Campbell you still may argue is a bit worse than that even, but in the same breath I bet no-one would commit to them being much better. I daresay however the creation in the Midfield you would all say is better now and with Woodgate next to King and Gomes in goal, the centre of defence is technically as good as it's ever been.

 

[tRiKS]

I would also argue that Pav/Bent work harder and with more humility than Berbs/keane. That will count for something even if it's in the golas conceeded column

 

[SpurSince57]

So we're gonna debate demantics then? If Levy says that he is dissapointed that he was unable to get another striker then it isn't hard to read between the lines that he's dissatisfied with the current state of the strikeforce.

So we got ourselves Campbell on loan. Given some of the names that have been bandied around I'd have been disappointed if we had signed them. Heskey? Doyle? FFS…

We have three strikers. Funnily, that's what we've managed with for some time now, effectively. Of course, if you're one of those who's decided they're all shit before we've got started it's a different matter entirely.

 

[Azrael]

So we got ourselves Campbell on loan. Given some of the names that have been bandied around I'd have been disappointed if we had signed them. Heskey? Doyle? FFS…

We have three strikers. Funnily, that's what we've managed with for some time now, effectively. Of course, if you're one of those who's decided they're all shit before we've got started it's a different matter entirely.

Who is suggesting they are shit? Merely not as good as we had....

 

[tommo84]

Cant say yes or no as the strike pairing we have now is suited to a very different style of play than the 3 we sold, and the same goes for the midfield behind them.

 

[SpurSince57]

Who is suggesting they are shit? Merely not as good as we had....

You may not have suggested it, but some most certainly have.

Last season Keane and Berbatov managed three more goals than Keane and, er, Mido in 2005-2006. Big deal. The way some people are carrying on you'd think we'd lost Henry and RvN.

 

[JKSpurs]

Has there been a club statement accepting that we have a weaker strike force, then? I must have missed that.

Of course not we all know the club only puts out positive PR and Spin. We'd never get a honest statement like that. :wink:

 

[chkthfc82]

Only time will tell but on paper i'd say no. I'd be very suprised if we didn't sign another forward in jan.