The season Payne is having I do wonder this. Suppose we'll never know for sure of course but surely he'd offer more than Ugbo.
I liked Luke Berry and when we were in league 1, I thought we let him go too early. Not sure he’d cut it in the championship though. Some people on here used to rave about Stefan, I never saw it (albeit limited gametime). I imagine we’ll bring in better in January.
It’s hard to say. Don’t forget that Hammill & Bradshaw were outstanding in league one, both more impressive than Payne at that level & aren’t consistent performers at this level. It’s a big jump in class
I'd have liked to have seen more of both of them. I'd add George Williams to the list too. Player of the year at MK Dons last season.
But we buy players from lower levels. Had Payne not been here, he would probably be one we would be chasing.
Suppose the thought process is some will make the step up some won't. Payne didn't work out. That's not to day he won't . Ale a championship striker in the future.
Hammill and Bradshaw are both out of contract I think this summer. Should we go down we could do a lot worse than giving them both a new deal.
Thing is with Payne, he made a massive jump from Dover Athletic to us in the Championship. It was asking a lot, as it is for quite a lot of our current squad, who in most cases haven't had to make such a leap in standard. He's gone from being a first team regular and main striker to getting very few chances, most of them off the bench. Being at league one could be the step he needs in between. I liked him. I didn't think he was awful and no worse than Thiam or Ugbo.
I think Payne would have done very well. Just being up there with his physical presence making things difficult for defenders and Bradshaw feeding off him. A bit like Andy Lockhead and our ex manager use to do for Leicester City back in the Day. I don't know if it's just my perception but modern Day strikers seem to play as individuals not as strike partnerships feeding off each other.
Feels like that to me too. The Aylott/Parker team-up days seem to be long gone, more's the pity. Or perhaps I've just seen too much 451 recently and my minds gone blank.
Did they? Or did they just both get on the end of things individually at different times in a game? I don't remember one setting up the other too often. But us goats have shocking memories, so I could be completely wrong.
Can't argue with the logic on that one...but there's just a nagging doubt in me that with more development time he'd have been an asset here.