[Albion] REALISTIC signings for next season?

[WATFORD zero]

We were never even in the discussion for Watkins as Villas wages blew us out the water.

Look, we’re all frustrated we didn’t get “the” striker we wanted in the past few windows. You’re acting like you’re the only person here to think this. I’m sure the club are frustrated as well given we’ve been clearly been chasing targets.

But I think there’s a degree of realism you need to accept. Given the recruitment have largely hit it out the park with every other position I now believe landing a top quality striker is one of the most complex and in demand positions in world football. It’s not FIFA. And as much as you want Tony Bloom to press a button to magically sign a £40m striker who will turn down every other club... a signing like that is not going to happen.

Exactly.

I think that REALISTICALLY (as in the thread title) going into next season with the same squad, keeping Biss, Sanchez, White and getting Webster, Lamptey, March and Andone fit wouldn't be a bad situation at all. It would mean having Wellbeck, Andone and Maupay as the senior strikers supported by Zeqiri and Connolly and, what I suspect is a realistic signing, one more young up and coming striker.

Boring for those excited by spending money in the Summer transfer window, but realistic

 

[Frankworthington]

Exactly.

I think that REALISTICALLY (as in the thread title) going into next season with the same squad, keeping Biss, Sanchez, White and getting Webster, Lamptey, March and Andone fit wouldn't be a bad situation at all. It would mean having Wellbeck, Andone and Maupay as the senior strikers supported by Zeqiri and Connolly and, what I suspect is a realistic signing, one more young up and coming striker.

Boring for those excited by spending money in the Summer transfer window, but realistic

No £40 million striker then? Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WATFORD zero]

No £40 million striker then? Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barber, Ashcroft, Uncle Tone OUT

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Exactly.

I think that REALISTICALLY (as in the thread title) going into next season with the same squad, keeping Biss, Sanchez, White and getting Webster, Lamptey, March and Andone fit wouldn't be a bad situation at all. It would mean having Wellbeck, Andone and Maupay as the senior strikers supported by Zeqiri and Connolly and, what I suspect is a realistic signing, one more young up and coming striker.

Boring for those excited by spending money in the Summer transfer window, but realistic

Then I honestly think we could go down.

Maupay is not good enough.
Welbeck fitness wise is difficult to rely on.
I think Andone will be gone.

Which leaves Zeqiri, a year older, might be the answer.....

If we sell a couple I would hope we sign a forward......

 

[WATFORD zero]

Then I honestly think we could go down.

Maupay is not good enough.
Welbeck fitness wise is difficult to rely on.
I think Andone will be gone.

Which leaves Zeqiri, a year older, might be the answer.....

If we sell a couple I would hope we sign a forward......

If it actually happens, then we'll find out which of us is right and which is wrong. But since this is the REALISTIC thread, it's more likely we'll have to agree to disagree about a hypothetical situation that probably won't happen

(Although I agree that if Andone can't bet back to what he was, he'll need replacing).

 

[macbeth]

If it actually happens, then we'll find out which of us is right and which is wrong. But since this is the REALISTIC thread, it's more likely we'll have to agree to disagree about a hypothetical situation that probably won't happen

(Although I agree that if Andone can't bet back to what he was, he'll need replacing).

Was Andone ever that good? Never scored more than 3 league goals in a season for us. I really don't get the sentiment that we don't need a striker. Okay, spending £40 million on one is never going to happen, but it's the one area that's consistently let the team down all season, to an absolutely mind-numbing extent. Surely the sensible thing to do is go out and use the transfer window to address it? That's not too unrealistic, is it?

 

[GT49er]

Was Andone ever that good? Never scored more than 3 league goals in a season for us. I really don't get the sentiment that we don't need a striker. Okay, spending £40 million on one is never going to happen, but it's the one area that's consistently let the team down all season, to an absolutely mind-numbing extent. Surely the sensible thing to do is go out and use the transfer window to address it? That's not too unrealistic, is it?

To all intents and purposes Andone has only played for us in a Hughton team. I've no idea what our xG was back in those heady days, but I'm pretty sure that it was considerably lower than it is now. If Andone converts one chance out of every X at the same rate as he did under Hughton, he'll score a lot more now than he did back then.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

To all intents and purposes Andone has only played for us in a Hughton team. I've no idea what our xG was back in those heady days, but I'm pretty sure that it was considerably lower than it is now. If Andone converts one chance out of every X at the same rate as he did under Hughton, he'll score a lot more now than he did back then.

If he’s able to stay on the pitch

 

[WATFORD zero]

Was Andone ever that good? Never scored more than 3 league goals in a season for us. I really don't get the sentiment that we don't need a striker. Okay, spending £40 million on one is never going to happen, but it's the one area that's consistently let the team down all season, to an absolutely mind-numbing extent. Surely the sensible thing to do is go out and use the transfer window to address it? That's not too unrealistic, is it?

I believe he has always scored goals everywhere he has played if not prolific. IIRC when we got him, we were after him for quite a while and when we bought him we were prepared to pay a lot more than we did, but got him for a knockdown price. Certainly, from what I saw of him he looked a bigger, quicker and stronger Maupay (and that's not meant as a slight on Maupay, who is only 24).

 

[macbeth]

To all intents and purposes Andone has only played for us in a Hughton team. I've no idea what our xG was back in those heady days, but I'm pretty sure that it was considerably lower than it is now. If Andone converts one chance out of every X at the same rate as he did under Hughton, he'll score a lot more now than he did back then.

By the same measure, do we even know if he CAN play in a GP team? From what I remember, his link up play and passing were never anything special, he was generally just fully of running and a decent finish here or there. GP tends to demand more from his strikers, I would say

 

[WATFORD zero]

If he’s able to stay on the pitch

That same season, Lewis Dunk's sending off for a two footed flying lunge against palace (and I accept that is sufficient justification ) was far worse than Andone's v Southampton and Lewis has managed to get quite a few minutes on the pitch since

 

[macbeth]

I believe he has always scored goals everywhere he has played if not prolific. IIRC when we got him, we were after him for quite a while and when we bought him we were prepared to pay a lot more than we did, but got him for a knockdown price. Certainly, from what I saw of him he looked a bigger, quicker and stronger Maupay (and that's not meant as a slight on Maupay, who is only 24).

All of that is true, but he's been out injured for nearly two years now. He may have lost his pace, he may have lost his bite, we have no idea if he's going to be the same player he was before injury. I'm not saying we shouldn't give him a chance to prove himself under GP, my point is that I think relying on him as opposed to investing is a massive, massive gamble, and in my mind an unnecessary one

 

[WATFORD zero]

All of that is true, but he's been out injured for nearly two years now. He may have lost his pace, he may have lost his bite, we have no idea if he's going to be the same player he was before injury. I'm not saying we shouldn't give him a chance to prove himself under GP, my point is that I think relying on him as opposed to investing is a massive, massive gamble, and in my mind an unnecessary one

All valid points, and if he doesn't get back to what he was, I believe we need a third senior striker alongside Welbeck and Maupay. I'm not sure Zeqiri or Connolly are that player yet

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

That same season, Lewis Dunk's sending off for a two footed flying lunge against palace (and I accept that is sufficient justification ) was far worse than Andone's v Southampton and Lewis has managed to get quite a few minutes on the pitch since

It’s safe to say Andone has a shorter fuse than Dunk though I’d say.....

WBA away in the cup retrospective ban......

Re the two footed lunge, I would argue that the stamp vs Southampton was pretty bad as well.

 

[Hugo Rune]

If he’s able to stay on the pitch

Injury is the thing most likely thing to keep him off the pitch.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Injury is the thing most likely thing to keep him off the pitch.

Possibly......... as well.

Hope he gets fit though for his sake.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Plus I'm not giving up on the possibility of this



When our teamsheet goes in at Arsenal next season with Maupay and Andone up front

 

[GT49er]

By the same measure, do we even know if he CAN play in a GP team? From what I remember, his link up play and passing were never anything special, he was generally just fully of running and a decent finish here or there. GP tends to demand more from his strikers, I would say

If he successfully buries 15 or more of the Xg chances created, believe me he will be considered able to fit in to a GP team!

 

[vagabond]

Then I honestly think we could go down.

Maupay is not good enough.
Welbeck fitness wise is difficult to rely on.
I think Andone will be gone.

Which leaves Zeqiri, a year older, might be the answer.....

If we sell a couple I would hope we sign a forward......

Was Andone ever that good? Never scored more than 3 league goals in a season for us. I really don't get the sentiment that we don't need a striker. Okay, spending £40 million on one is never going to happen, but it's the one area that's consistently let the team down all season, to an absolutely mind-numbing extent. Surely the sensible thing to do is go out and use the transfer window to address it? That's not too unrealistic, is it?

I do think we will sign a striker or two, but it’s not going to be the magic bullet £40/50m type of player some want.

We’ll identify targets from another lower league or from the South American market. Also remember we have some real talent coming through the academy/u18’s. Young Zak is breaking all kinds of records, will be interesting to see how we develop him next year.

I remain confident that assuming we stay up, we’ll be fine next season as well. Hopefully progressing further.

 

[macbeth]

If he successfully buries 15 or more of the Xg chances created, believe me he will be considered able to fit in to a GP team!

I thought this thread was all about being realistic...