Striker Recruitment

All hail the James Cryne spreadsheet

 

and Tedic.

 

You can couple that with Defender recruitment & reads just as bad, absolutely shocking mismanagement over a number of years.

 

Its been a common theme for the last few years now, we seem to spend little on many average or below average players on the hope its saving money when we could actually save money on buying the one decent player rather than the many dross ones we do. False economy. The fact were not top 2 in this terrible division with the income we had from players sales is very poor indeed. Just a million or so pound outlay and better targeted recruitment would have seen us easily promoted with the players we already had and ready to recoup the 6-8m we get being in the championship. This penny pinching is false economy in Lg1.

 

Over the last 20 years or so I would say that striker recruitment has been our worst position of signings. We really have had some stinkers.

Maceo Rigters
Onome Sodje
Barry Conlon
Mark Stallard
Michael Boulding
Kevin Gallen
Marcus Pedersen
Jabo Ibhere
Kim Christensen
Geronimo
Michael Mifsud
Gary O'Connor
Frank Nouble
Mamadou Thiam
George Miller
Elliott Simoes
Mido
Patrick Schmidt

 

The striker recruitment hasn’t been great over the last few years but we’ve scored plenty of goals this season.

The defensive recruitment has been pretty excellent in recent times but this season we’ve got it horribly wrong really. We look a shambles at the back. No pace, not much height, can’t seemingly win headers in our own box. They can barely manage to achieve a simple pass back to the keeper. I’m hoping Pines can sort a few of these issues out but I’m wary about putting all my hope in him just yet. As much as I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far with him.

Keepers I think we’ve done really well over the last few years at recruiting and midfield as well has been decent.

 

How do you know we weren't interested in May? I've read that a lot this season, particularly surrounding May. We didn't sign him because we didn't want to, with no consideration for the fact that he simply chose to go elsewhere.

We might not have like, given his likely wage demands, the strikers we already had on the books and his age. Norwood was still at the club iirc when May went to Charlton.

I don't think it's a recent problem though, difficulty recruiting strikers. As someone has mentioned above, certainly over the last 25 years or so, the number of bad ones has significantly outweighed the good, particularly in relation to defenders and goalkeepers we've had over the same period.

I don't think drawing comparisons to Alfie May though is particularly relevant, as I don't think we could have afforded his wage demands. As an aside, Charlton were splashing the cash in the summer, and it's culminated in them swapping managers, selling their best player and staving off relegation.

 

Up to December we just relied on Cole. Since his goal drought its been MacAtee on and off but beyond those 2 what have Watters Cosgrove Marsh done?


Our back up players really aren't of the quality for a promotion chasing league 1 team.

 

I guess with our team, like last season too, we have goals from elsewhere. Phillips and Kane have both got a decent amount this season to back the strikers up.

I’d agree with your last point but I’d add that it’s a case for all over the pitch, not just the strikers. Our first 11 should be good enough for this division but once you go beyond that, we are struggling for depth. With the possible exception of midfield, when everyone is fit.

 

Easily done.

 

I actually do mean all over the park our subs bench and beyond (loaned out players) really aren't good enough to compete.

Killip
Cotter
Lopata
Shepherd
Mccarthy
Cundy
Lofthouse
Benson
Grant
Watters
Marsh
Dallas
Shaw


Doesn't fill you with much confidence.

 

I will say it again All Hail the James Cryne Spreadsheet

 

Yea plus I think we gets bodies in and try develop them for money, rather than get the one bloke who is oven ready. What did Hecky once say....everybody else is trying to build a team.....we are trying to sell one?
I know that's not entirely true, as most teams have to sell in this division.
The art is all about who comes in as replacements.

 

Ooh...just as an add on.....I found out yesterday that Brian Young is back on staff as a recruitment / overseer/ scout type role. Good bloke Brian, hope he brings some good stuff in in the summer.

 

Ahh okay, we’re on the same page then, which I’d assume most of us are tbf.

I think Benson offers us something, it’s just about keeping him fit. Lofthouse is probably hard to judge but I imagine we may see him next season. The rest? Hmmm.

Big summer up ahead replacing the out of contract and loan returnees as well as trying to beef up our squad. Could be a tough season ahead unless we can somehow find a few gems.

 

It its probably fair to say that Styles does not want to be here and when Sunderland say they don't want to make his loan deal permanent it will be hard to move him on.

 

Can't like this post enough 100% spot on.
Scoring goals as not been a problem, keeping clean sheets as.