What it means about WBA and Leicester is that they have had scouts watching him, which is miles away from putting in a bod for him. We should definitely be in for him, but he probably will cost something not far short of Hume's price tag. I am certain he would make the step up and he looks the best-value striker available at present. Why should we undersell ourselves? We should offer him a better chance of getting regular starts than WBA, Leicester, or Newcastle. We are financially stable, whereas other clubs may not be so. I would think that we are in with a shout if he wants a better chance of getting regular games and wants a club with which he can make an impact and further progress in terms of status. I agree with Journo - I have seen most of the goals he has scored and it is a matter of the quality as well as the technique involved. I think, however, that he would be best played alongside a minder-type target man - Macken would do the trick, but not Bogdanovic. It will make the close season for me if we were to land him. Best prospect by far.
RE: Totally different types of player then when another team signs him for peanuts and he starts knocking them in for fun, everyone will be asking why we never sign these players. we'll be stuck with another over the hill "proven" 8 goals a season striker like macken
It's not about a difference in opinion You just clearly cannot spot the difference between a lower league player who may be able to step up and one who may not - it's down to how they score their goals a lot of the time. For example, Kevin Phillips used to score many goals from 20-25 yards for Sunderland in the Championship (Division One at the time), and I always thought he'd do well in the Premiership. The likes of Geoff Horsfield and Nathan Blake largely relied on brute force and aerial ability which got them nowhere in the Premier League. As regards Taylor, so what if he's been linked with Premier League clubs? He's still there isn't he, and no-one's come in for him yet. Cox should have been in the League One team of the year, scoring 28 goals for a side nearly relegated, as opposed to Fryatt who fed off Howard for a lot of his goals, and was playing for the best team in the League. Who do you suggest as a proven Championship goalscorer that a) we can afford to buy b) we can afford their likely wage demands and c) would come to Barnsley ahead of 'bigger clubs' if they're such a good goalscorer at this level? I'm intrigued as to your list of names. Fire away.
RE: FAO Dreamboy Dunno who's available so I can't really give names. Nobody really stands out at the moment. We will find out soon enough who's surplus to requirements at places.
Thing is Dreamy There are very few strikers who are proven goalscorers of say 15(?) goals a season at this level, that are not past it. And those that there are are highly in demand from bigger clubs with more mney than us. I think Phillips would have been good the season just gone but signing him now would smack a little of desperation I think. We should be looking at younger, hungrier players. The few there are, like Ebanks Blake for example, are bought for multi millions of pounds by the top sides. However - there are plenty of lower league strikers who have the necessary footballing brain, technique and ability to play at our level - it is a skill for scouts/managers to spot these and sign the right players. Look at Wolves - they signed Vokes from Bournemouth in League Two, Keogh from Scnuthorpe, Kightly from Grays in the Conference and Edwards from Luton who were in League One. All those players have played important parts for them this season. They have the hunger and desire that lazy feckers with inflated egos like Rigters don't possess. I'll be very very surprised if Cox doesn't succeed at whoever he ends up with if in the Championship.
Watch out for Reading clear-out David Mooney knocked a few in on loan at Norwich, but is very inexperienced - good potential, though, but not a fully-proven goalscorer yet - would be worth a £100-200 bid, but no more. Leroy Lita - proven scorer, but would cost up to £2 million, I would think.
Gosh! I was wrong about Mooney .... Playing career record of 42 goals from 32 games, mainly at top Irish clubs - Cork was one, where there is the link with Stephen Hunt etc. He is 25? years old, so not so inexperienced. 6'2" tall - might be worth a tout at a reasonable price, put not as good as Simon Cox!!!!