Relegation targets

[Midostouch]

We were asked who we would cherry pick but at no point did anyone suggest they would be in the first 11... in fact if you read carefully just about everyone to a man who has mentioned squad status for these choices have said back up. In the specific case of Kiston for example, he's been firmly placed in the 4th striker catergory.

The idea that not one of the players in the relegation teams is good enough for a squad place at a higher team is silly. you tried to put a west ham one off get out clause but West ham are not an exception. For christ sakes a squad memeber from our own 5th placed finish last year, plays for Derby. Lescott was mid table championship last term, Davies was at play-off failures westbrom...

It's nonsense and does you no credit to throw a blanket over all the players in the teams getting relegated. Almost as little credit as posting accusations of us promoting Kitson to fill berbatovs boots, when we quite clearly posted in English (all be it spelt iffily) that we consider him a good punt for a 4th striker.

I was merely making the point that if Berbatov goes we need someone else of his quality - I wasn't suggesting for one moment that you were offering Kitson in that role, and I would rather focus on that than getting in more average squad players when we have a good squad already. Kenwynne Jones is the only person mentioned who offers us something we lack in my opinion.

I'm not sure why you are questioning my ability to read English either - just because I misguidedly thought Mido was going to be the dog's bx doesn't mean I'm Egyptian or illiterate.:wink:

 

[Kendall]

What profile of player would you have as a 4th striker?

I wouldn't have one.

4th strikers are rarely ever effective.

 

[TopSpurMan]

the talk about strikers is depressing - the most important striker at the club is robbie - what we need to hit top 4 is a solid defence starting with our dodgy keeper. however to be fair to him not many keepers have covered themselves in glory this season.

look at us against the psv defence - they looked so solid dealt with everything - consistently and that is surely the key consistency - dawson is excellent in certain games and keystone (cops) in others - that is exactly what we cannot have - game in game out top teams are built on excellent defences - that is why i was astounded last season when we bought bent not because we bought him for that sum but because we did not spend where we all knew we needed to spend shoring up our dodgy defence. look at how the arse season fell apart - leaking too many goals, can you say that about manure?

 

[guy]

unfortunately it was plain for all to see (incl Jol by all accounts) bar comolli and levy.

Instead of buying an experienced CB (or getting one on a free ffs in distin) we chose kaboul who as you would expect has not settled yet.

This has to go down as one of the biggest blunders imo

 

[smithym]

unfortunately it was plain for all to see (incl Jol by all accounts) bar comolli and levy.

Instead of buying an experienced CB (or getting one on a free ffs in distin) we chose kaboul who as you would expect has not settled yet.

This has to go down as one of the biggest blunders imo

:rofl: been a long night?

 

[Dougal]

Hunt from Reading. A proper unlikeable **** to stir up our midfield.

 

[DC_Boy]

As I've said elsewhere if Berbs goes I think it's too high risk to go much if any above £12m for a striker - I'd rather get get in one or a couple of decent ones - prem proven or well scouted- and spend any extra on other areas of the team

hence my interest in Kitson Crouch and Jones for example

 

[DC_Boy]

yep hunt is a good shout too

 

[eddiebailey]

I wouldn't have one.

4th strikers are rarely ever effective.

I agree it is impossible to keep four established strikers match sharp, but I also recall the injury crises we had back in the day that saw the likes of Gary Doherty and Andy Booth playing up front.

What you really want in a fourth choice striker is a lad with potential who does not expect to start but is going to be highly motivated to make the best of any chances that come along. They do not necessarily have to be world beaters, just capable of doing a job.

The Lee Barnard of a few years ago, but as fifth or sixth choice he never got a look in. Terry Dixon if his career had not been cut cruelly short would also have been ideal.

Unfortunately I do not see anyone at the club at the moment who can step up and do the job. Barcham is not a natural finisher, and while I like Dawkins he needs time out on loan. Pekhart for me is not even an option at the moment.

Nor do I see any midfielders who can play of a lone striker. Taarabt plays like a schoolboy and Lennon does not score (and we would miss his width). That only leaves the huff and puff of Malbranque.

So I think we do need to start looking for a promising youngster as fourth striker. I do not really see anyone at the relegation clubs though.

 

[Netty]

Giles Barnes? Awful! Almost all of my mates from back home are unfortunate to be Derby fans and they all say if they can £3mil for him they would be happy to drive him to his next destination. So over-rated its silly. Wouldn't get anywhere near our team.
/quote]

I was just thinking about him, he looked really good in the Championship but I suppose it's a different kettle of fish to the Prem. Haven't heard much of him the season, has he been injured a lot? I know he was the back end of last season.

 

[tRiKS]

I wouldn't have one.

4th strikers are rarely ever effective.

If thats what you think it's fair enough. I think i tend to agree with you on the whole but can see ecpetions depending on the player which is the reason i asked about a profileof player.
A player of the profile of Defoe (midtable to UEFA cup club team starter and international sqaud memeber) isn't a profile of player i think works as a 4th possibly even 3rd.

I think in the case of jones and crouch and doyle having them as a bit part 4th striker woudln't work becasue of the reasons you give BUT there are things about Kitson, on merit which make him a good candiadte... and that thing in his case is his passion and love of Tottenhamhotspur football club. I daresay If teddy had got his wish to sign back to us from West ham he would have been a well behaved passionate and contributory 4th striker.

Beyond specific mertis for individuals like Kitson, then the 4th striker role I think is best suited to one or more younger players dipping in and out of the reserves and youth team as required.

 

[Teemu]

If we signed Kenny Miller I would weep for days on end. He is so mediocre it hurts. He'd be an average signing for a mid-table Championship team.

I'd like Kitson as a fourth striker though, he's not going to take us into the Champions League but he's a decent player who'd work his heart out for the team and score a few goals. Having said that I'd rather see one of our reserves promoted, but from the looks of things Pekhart isn't good enough and Ramos doesn't appear to rate Taarabt.

Whoever said that they wouldn't mind Keane, Bent and Kitson as our three main strikers has got to be kidding though. Bent and Kitson are only proven at mid-table teams so far, and Keane can't do it all on his own.

Btw, does anyone know how Dag Alexander Olsen is doing?

 

[Marty]

Olsen?

Mostly injured and hasn't played well when he's been fit from what I've heard.

 

[michaelden]

Zarate
L. Baines
K. Jones
C. Gordon

 

[Chinaspur]

It seems to me that the conclusion of this thread is that there isn't much worth having, unless sunderland go down...which seems pretty unlikely. Interesting to note that Clough always made sure he had a great keeper, and that Keane, who was under Clough at the beginning of his career paid a huge amount (for Sunderland) for a top quality keeper, one that we would all be interested in.

 

[DC_Boy]

It seems to me that the conclusion of this thread is that there isn't much worth having, unless sunderland go down...

Hi Chinaspur - well that's not the conclusion I and some others make - we think Kitson & Hunt from Reading would be well worth a punt at the right price etc

 

[Disconosebleed]

There are plenty of players who would improve our current squad, but considering we want and need to VASTLY improve our squad, most of them aren't good enough for where we want to be. For example Jaaskelainen would be better than any of the keepers we currently have, but I don't think he's a top class keeper which is what we should be aiming for - certainly keep him on the list, but only if moves for better keepers don't come off.

The only players I wouldn't mind seeing at the Lane are...

-One of Dave Kitson or Kenwyne Jones, brought in as fourth-choice striker. I imagine Jones would cost a bomb, probably close to 10m - Kitson would be a better bet as he would cost relatively little, I imagine.

-Controversial, but El-Hadji Diouf. Horrible little arsehole but a very decent footballer playing for an awful team that doesn't play to his strengths whatsoever. I thought he was wrongly hammered for his lack of goals at Liverpool - he was brought in as a striker but barely ever played there, yet people dogged him for a lack of goals. Can play on either wing or through the middle, and IMO is better than either Steed or Lennon. I imagine I'm probably alone on this one, though. He'd probably cost fuck all as well, seeing as his contract is running down and he's told the world that he's off whether Bolton stay up or not.

-Assuming we give Ledley the benefit of the doubt that his knee isn't knackered completely and so we don't go for a top class centre back, Ridgewell from Birmingham is a very competent centre back, better than Dawson or Kaboul for me. A genuine leader as well. Alternatively, Cahill from Bolton is in much the same boat - wouldn't want him if we were going for first-choice centre back, but as a squad player I'd prefer him to Dawson or Kaboul.

That's about it, to be honest. The bottom clubs nowadays are absolutely shite, there are far better players at the top end of the Championship.

 

[Marty]

Zarate
L. Baines
K. Jones
C. Gordon

Baines went to Everton last summer.

I definitely wouldn't mind the other three though.

 

[jerseyspur]

That Palacios (sp) and Valencia from Wigan...but they wont go down
Kevin Nolan (if he played anything like he did a few years ago)

But that is scraping the barrell!

If sell Berbs and have people talking of signing players like Davies, Kitson, Shorey, McBride, Miller (****ing Miller of all people) then we don't stand a chance of progression next season. Thank god some of you guys aren't in charge!

Give me an Albelda, Capel, Amelia etc any time...

 

[Dougal]

That Palacios (sp) and Valencia from Wigan...but they wont go down

Maybe if you buy them dinner?