Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Does no new striker signal the end of the season's hopes for you?

Assuming no new attacking player is signed...

  • I still feel we can make top two

    Votes: 54 25.1%
  • I feel we can reach the playoffs

    Votes: 122 56.7%
  • I've no faith in us being among the top six

    Votes: 36 16.7%
  • Relegation certs

    Votes: 3 1.4%

  • Total voters
    215






Giraffe

VERY part time moderator
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Aug 8, 2005
26,546
We will need to be very lucky with injuries to our forwards. Murray in particular will need to stay fit if we are to mount a top two challenge.

Overall we are stronger as a team but still lack strength in depth up front.
 


chucky1973

New member
Nov 3, 2010
8,829
Crawley
In Murray baldock and hemed we have 45-50 goals between then if they stay fit and get the service

But they need to stay fit

I'm in the staying positive camp.
 


Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
61,753
Location Location
We can't rely on Glenn being fit all season, and that certainly leaves us light up top. Hemed did well last season but tends to score in fits and starts, Baldock isn't a striker, and its been pretty clear that Manu isn't up to it. The DS squad never, ever provides strikers, that's just a fact, and nothing has changed on that front going into this season.

So if nobody else comes in today, then aside from our non-scoring striker, I guess we're looking at square pegs in round holes by shoving Murphy or Knocky down the middle and hoping they can "do a job". Not ideal. We'd better pray we can get 35+ games out of Murray, but its a big ask.
 


We will need to be very lucky with injuries to our forwards. Murray in particular will need to stay fit if we are to mount a top two challenge.

Overall we are stronger as a team but still lack strength in depth up front.

Agree - this division is much stronger than last season. We regrettably are not necessarily stronger up front. Playoffs at best for me & more of the same; us being knocked out as other sides will strengthen their attackers whilst our frontmen will be cream crackered
 






Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,667
West west west Sussex
I'll wait until the club tell us that no striker is coming in. I find it hard to believe that a club as well run as the Albion apparently are can fall short in this department every season :shrug:

We have done so well in every other department that I am still expecting to hear that we have signed a quality forward..
This.

Also no striker would make the £4m (?) on Duffy, one of the most bizarre transfers in recent history.

Spend a club record amount of money on a position that has decent cover, while not spending a penny on the only area of the pitch understaffed.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
This.

Also no striker would make the £4m (?) on Duffy, one of the most bizarre transfers in recent history.

Spend a club record amount of money on a position that has decent cover, while not spending a penny on the only area of the pitch understaffed.

I'm of the view that we needed both positions strengthened. We can now get away with two CBs injured/suspended/out of form. When, we inevitably get this scenario with the forwards we are basically fecked. Three forwards is definitely not enough and suggesting we move players around from other positions is not the way clubs get out of this league ,,,imo

So we MUST be about to sign somebody as I refuse to believe the club can't see this when most of the fans can..
 
Last edited:




severnside gull

Well-known member
May 16, 2007
24,540
By the seaside in West Somerset
We were always going to struggle. We need to find a way of winning away from home. Not convinced we have the creativity going forward to do that.
A lot will depend on how Stephens responds
 


Colossal Squid

Returning video tapes
Feb 11, 2010
4,906
Under the sea
In Murray baldock and hemed we have 45-50 goals between then if they stay fit and get the service

45-50 goals??

Even if Murray can grab 20 and Hemed manages to equal last season's tally, you're still relying on Baldock getting into double figures, which he has shown absolutely zero capability of doing in this division. He's not even in double figures over two years with us
 






Wrong-Direction

Well-known member
Mar 10, 2013
13,417
No, team just needs to turn it up a notch and we'll be underway again

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Comparing to the team that finished last season, i feel we are stronger in defence and midfield, but weaker upfront.

A striker is the difference between top 6 and top 2.

Murray will score more than Zamora did. Hemed & Baldock are the same although Hemed now has experience, so we're only missing Wilson, who didn't do that much.
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,667
West west west Sussex
I'm of the view that we needed both positions strengthened. We can now get away with two CBs injured/suspended/out of form. When, we inevitably get this scenario with the forwards we are basically fecked. Three forwards is definitely not enough and suggesting we move players around from other positions is not the way clubs get out of this league ,,,imo

So we MUST be about to sign somebody as I refuse to believe the club can't see this when most of the fans can..
Oh absolutely, just without a genuine 'promotion challenging' striker I don't see why the club needed a £4m international defender.

We are the Albion, any old mug can play centre back, brilliantly, for us. :lol:
 






Lawro's Lip

New member
Feb 14, 2004
1,768
West Kent
I'm of the view that we needed both positions strengthened. We can now get away with two CBs injured/suspended/out of form. When, we inevitably get this scenario with the forwards we are basically fecked. Three forwards is definitely not enough and suggesting we move players around from other positions is not the way clubs get out of this league ,,,imo

So we MUST be about to sign somebody as I refuse to believe the club can't see this when most of the fans can..

They must see it. Hence the bid for Pritchard. Unfortunately any alternatives have not materialised....yet?
 


Finchley Seagull

New member
Feb 25, 2004
6,916
North London
Play offs are still realistic and, to be honest, if you look at the money Villa and Newcastle are spending, it's hard to see top two even with a new striker. However, having shown ambition with the Pritchard bid, I'm very disappointed we've not managed to get an alternative over the line.

Assuming there's no issue with Stephens and he will give his all for us until January/the end of the season, it's been such a good transfer window with improving in all areas and keeping hold of our best players. It's just a real shame to fall at the last hurdle and not be able to add a really key player in the fourth striker. I assume with five wingers, one of them will be our first choice number 10 or we'll play Hemed/Murray but it would have been great to get that extra depth.
 






*Gullsworth*

My Hair is like his hair
Jan 20, 2006
9,351
West...West.......WEST SUSSEX
We were top scorers in this division last season. Why can't we replicate that again this season? We have replaced Zamora with Murray....A wise move....The only thing stopping us scoring as many goals is the standard of the relegated teams from the Premier league versus the teams that were promoted....Newcastle, Villa, Norwich versus Burnley, Boro, ect ect ect.......yup we need a striker!
 


BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
It all depends on Stephens if he stays we could finish in the play offs without him about 8th - 10 th. The top 3 places will be taken by the 3 that were relegated, as I have said from day 1 and their recruitment has strengthened that.
 


Albion and Premier League latest from Sky Sports


Top
Link Here