Replacement striker suggestions

I'd go for Sam Smith from Cambridge United. He scored three in the two league games against Cheltenham Town last season, including two in their 2-2 draw and one in their 0-5 away win. Duff will know him and he played for him on loan from Reading earlier in his career. Still young and just coming good. I think that Plymouth would want over a million for Jephcott, so that probably rules him out.

 

Never seen him play live so can't comment on his capabilities but surely we must sign him, if only because his middle name is Toby!

 

Had go for George Hirst and Alfie May, Hirst loaned or signed if possible and May signed for 500k no more. Both scored lots of goals in league 1 last year and at 500k for May I think worth the risk.

 

These 2 would be my picks too. Signing Hirst would just be class to see Wednesday fans imploding and especially if he scored for us against them, it would feel to them like it did for us when Winnall scored for them.

If we can get May for £500K it’s a risk worth taking IMO, yes he’s only really had 1 decent season in terms of scoring goals but that was literally last season so the guy must still be feeling on a high. At his age too he’d be a decent guy to have around the likes of Marsh to bring on his game.

 

I agree with Hirst, I think he looked the part last season at Pompey and he has a lot of similar qualities to Morris IMO.

I still am unsold on May tbh but that aside, I would be more tempted to go for Sam Smith from Cambridge. Saw him mentioned a few times on here and as I hadn't heard of him before I did a bit of a look around for stuff on him and I think he would suit us a little better with Duff wanting us to cross a fair bit and focus on set plays. Smith is fairly tall and scored a lot from headers but still has a bit of pace. He is also 24 so a lot younger and he like May has worked with Duff before.

If Duff prefers May though then that will do for me and if that is the case get May in.

 

What about Daniel Jebbison at Sheffield Utd?

I'm not normally one for developing young players of other teams, but he's likely to be available for loan again this season.

Scored 7 in 20 for Burton in the first half of last season, before being recalled due to injuries at Sheff Utd.

Only 18 though.

 

He is rated very very highly by many blades fans. If he was available he would be a good option I think but as you say it is not ideal developing players for other clubs. Especially if that club is the Blunts.

 

Wonder if we could get Ellis Simms on loan from Everton…

 

There was talk of Hearts buying him for around 500k after he impressed there. If that is the fee it would take we should buy him. Decent player. Did well and got promoted with Blackpool from L1 a few seasons ago.

 

That’s seems incredibly cheap.

 

It does, saw an article about it online. Could have been a load of rubbish but that was the fee quoted.

 

He’s the Man City play the guy named above plays for Grimsby

 

ah my bad got them mixed up.

 

Attempting the impossible task of searching for foreign signings… (bit of fun)

Christoph Daferner - 24 year old striker Dynamo Dresden (German Division 2)

20/21- 12 goals in 37 games.
21/22 - 13 goals in 32 games.

Jay-Roy Grot - 24 year old Viborg FF striker (Denmark Top Division)

Not the best goal scoring record but Leeds took a chance on him in 2020 and things didn’t work out, could be worth giving one more chance, powerful, athletic and 6’4’. Think he would get goals in league 1.

Mickaël Biron - 24 year old striker Oostende (Belgium Top flight) also spent time at Nancy.

20/21 - 12 goals in 31 games.
21/22 - 7 goals in 31 games.
Links to our sister clubs. Do think he will play a part for Oostende this coming season. But may be loaned out again to gain experience.

 

Anthony Scully at Lincoln. Scored 15+ goals in all competitions the last 2 seasons at this level. He's in the final year of his contract. Small, pacey striker who likes to run at players. A bit similar to Adam Armstrong.

 

Josh Coburn on loam from Boro.

 

Possible cheaper non league options

Kabongo Tshimanga - Won golden boot in National League despite breaking his foot in Feb missing the last bit of the season. Now back in training but would be a bit of a risk given his injury.

Alfie Rutherford at Dorking - Only 23 but has a prolific record in non league. Scored 30 in 35 last season in National League South. Again be a bit risky given the level he has played at but certainly knows where the net is.

Possible loan option or permanent I guess depending on what we have to spend could be Uche Ikpeazu. Would offer a very different option to a lot of what has been mentioned before but he is a tricky player to defend against due to his height and strength. Scored against us in his last few apps against us I think for Wycombe and Cardiff. Not been included in Boro's pre season squad along with a few others including Akpom but think Ikpeazu is the most likely to drop to L1. Still only 27 and got a lot of games under his belt at Championship level. Apparently linked to Rotherham as they are also desperate for strikers so if they are in for him, his wages can't be too much of an issue as they don't pay much and Warne was moaning this week about having targets stolen from him by L1 clubs (Barkhuizen was one of those) as well as others that we don't know about.

 

One thing for certain, we won't be paying a fee for a striker or any other player we recruit this summer. It's free agents or loans only and explains the delay in getting any one in.
The loan market doesn't generally kick in to action until the back end of the window.

 

https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/a...or-2-strikers-but-look-to-strengthen-all-over

 

Definitely loans then, that nails it.