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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


Colossal Squid

Returning video tapes
Feb 11, 2010
4,906
Under the sea
It's no secret that we need a new striker, the club are looking for a new striker and ultimately we'd all feel a lot more positive if we brought in a new striker.

However, as the clock ticks down and there are whispers that there won't actually be any new business completed by the end of the day, would NOT signing a new attacking player be so disappointing and deflating for you that you'd fail to have any hope in us achieving that much desired top two position this season?

Is our attack stronger than last season with Murray in place of Zamora and Wilson? Or is this just not enough to get the job done?
 




pornomagboy

wake me up before you gogo who needs potter when
May 16, 2006
6,015
peacehaven
yes

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk
 


Apr 14, 2016
55
No, I'd be optimistic that we've held on to Knockaert, Stephens and Dunk (touch wood), and that March is coming back into fitness, allowing a system where March takes AK's right-midfield position and AK sits behind Murray or Hemed.
 


Icy Gull

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


Blue Valkyrie

Not seen such Bravery!
Sep 1, 2012
32,165
Valhalla
No, but we are winging it a bit by hoping for minimal striker injuries and expecting Elvis to come good.
 




Paul Reids Sock

Well-known member
Nov 3, 2004
4,458
Paul Reids boot
No - I think we can still make the top two - whether we will is another question.

But I think we can - will probably finish around 4th and fail in the playoffs - again.

To me the Newcastle game would not have been changed by a top striker and was more a case of us losing in the midfield and not creating enough chances, Knockers was taken out of the game well. I would have rather had some pace on both wings to make their defence struggle a bit more
 


Withdean11

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2007
2,771
Brighton/Hyde
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.
 


spence

British and Proud
Oct 15, 2014
9,814
Crawley
Ends a challenge for top 2.

Top 6 should be achievable.
 




Don Tmatter

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
4,993
dont matter
What are the chances all 4 strikers avoiding injury/suspension until January? Need to be no more than 7-8 points off top two by then, which is likely barring bad luck, then reinforce in Jan and get on a good run in the new year a lá Burnley last season.
 


S'hampton Seagull

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2003
6,809
Southampton
For me it would mean the top two would be too much. Play offs would still be possible, but we are gambling on the fitness of Murray and Hemed.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 


spence

British and Proud
Oct 15, 2014
9,814
Crawley
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.

Lightening strikes twice eh? Failing to land another striker last year cost us i feel. Some of those draws could have turned to win.
 




British Bulldog

The great escape
Feb 6, 2006
10,893
Lack of a 4th striker and Stephens seemingly desperate to leave will make things very difficult for a promotion push imo, Would'nt be so bad if we had a few youngsters ready to push on into the first team up front but we don't by the looks of it.
 


Luke93

STAND OR FALL
Jun 23, 2013
5,030
Shoreham
Hmm, it's a tough one. 5 excellent wingers (some of whom can play centrally) with Hamed, Murray and Baldock is what we've got. 1 extra striker will tip the balance towards automatic promotion, but is it possiple in terms of funs? If the funds are there and the club feel an extra player is needed, I'm sure it'll happen. The squad, in its current state, is just about good enough as it's currently better than last years side that got 89 points!

The problem is, as soon as Hamed or Murray get injured, we lock incredibly light. The competition is as tough as ever too.
 
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Colossal Squid

Returning video tapes
Feb 11, 2010
4,906
Under the sea
The trouble is we need to go one better than last season, when we were the division's top scorers.

Obviously having Murray up front is great and I have faith Hemed will pitch in BUT I worry that if Murray gets injured we'll just end up toothless and that'll cost us
 




Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
34,119
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
:lolol:

Great poll.

Last season we had Hemed and Baldock plus Wilson when he wasn't too sick. Zamora was crocked for most of the second half of it. We finished third, lost 5 games all season and got the sort of points that almost - but not quite - guarantees you automatic promotion. Scoring wasn't our problem either, witness the 4-0 over QPR and 5-0 over Fulham.

Since then we've replaced the injured Zamora with Murray )3 goals already) and improved, in depth terms, at CM, left back and centre back. We have one of the most exciting attacking players in the division and we got him for 2 million while, apparently, no one else noticed he was for sale.

Blackman at Derby? A complete flop. Vydra at Reading? Ditto. McCormack hardly helped Fulham light up the division. Rhodes was just a cog in the wheel at Boro and, at times, didn't play. Only Gray was a success of the big names.

I think we'll be fine.
 


Blue Valkyrie

Not seen such Bravery!
Sep 1, 2012
32,165
Valhalla
If Solly March can play a number 10 role we may just be ok.
 


One Teddy Maybank

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 4, 2006
21,603
Worthing
No. We have March, Uwe and Goldson coming back, we have 3 capable forwards.

If we go 4-4-1-1, we have Knocky or Solly.

Whilst we could struggle to go up as champions, we remain very capable in all departments.
 


Bra

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2009
1,366
patcham
Top six probably but injury to murray and or hemed would change my thoughts. We are needing a bit of luck now and perhaps after the last few years we may get it
 








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