Striker crisis?

[Dubai Mark]

or, is Hooper perhaps just the next victim of continual critique regardless of how he is playing now Turner is not in the side ......if I am not mistaken just about all of the side under performed vs Wigan and did not create for the forwards, yet Hooper gets it? 

 

[Salopian]

Our loss, with Grabban's absence, is not that of a prolific striker, - Andreu had already scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership when he came to us, and apart from Hooper and Jerome we have Morris and Loza waiting in the wings. Was the appearance of Morris on Wednesday a sign that Neil is already thinking about the problem.

In some ways, despite his goals, and misses, what we shall lose most while he is out is his pace and energy. Over the past month he has shown a great appetite and enthusiasm. Redmond has been rather in the shade.Perhaps it's the winger's opportunity to win back his virtually automatic selection, and provide the kind of service which was becoming so impressive.

Do we need a a loan striker who is either an untried youth or else someone surplus to requirements elsewhere? It may seem a risk to carry on with only two first team strikers. What if one was injured? As I have tried to argue, with Andreu a neat converter of chances from late bursts into the area, and the promising Morris and Loza, plus Vadis, Howson, Johnson and company from the midfield, so we might have to adopt a single striker policy.

Has Becchio gone?

 

[RhythmicTheory]

or, is Hooper perhaps just the next victim of continual critique regardless of how he is playing now Turner is not in the side ......if I am not mistaken just about all of the side under performed vs Wigan and did not create for the forwards, yet Hooper gets it? 

Hooper gets it from me because his attitude and application when we were fighting for our lives was pretty absent, towards the end of last season.  Then he's missing for half of this with an "injury" (see tubby's size during pre season).  Yes he has had some good games and he may be fine for the rest of the season and I cant comment on Wednesday night as I weren't there (as you say the whole team seemed to under perform), but he isnt someone I would want to rely on given the above.

 

[GJP]

It's hard to create when you've not got much to play into. Redmond was doing the minimum and no more. Hooper was static.

 

[Wiz]

Wasn't he just recovering from a virus infection?

 

[RhythmicTheory]

I don't think Hooper played any worse that anyone else on the night, I thougth it was a tactical change rather than based on performance, you cant say him and wes are similar players. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

there will come up a day when he gets his decision making wrong - it will happen I recall were his words. Last night possibly he did not get it right. However he is young, honest and will learn from it.

Every manager will make mistakes, noone is super-human. Alex Ferguson playing Ronaldo up front against Barcelona in the CL final anyone?

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Our loss, with Grabban's absence, is not that of a prolific striker, - Andreu had already scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership when he came to us, and apart from Hooper and Jerome we have Morris and Loza waiting in the wings. Was the appearance of Morris on Wednesday a sign that Neil is already thinking about the problem.

In some ways, despite his goals, and misses, what we shall lose most while he is out is his pace and energy. Over the past month he has shown a great appetite and enthusiasm. Redmond has been rather in the shade.Perhaps it's the winger's opportunity to win back his virtually automatic selection, and provide the kind of service which was becoming so impressive.

Do we need a a loan striker who is either an untried youth or else someone surplus to requirements elsewhere? It may seem a risk to carry on with only two first team strikers. What if one was injured? As I have tried to argue, with Andreu a neat converter of chances from late bursts into the area, and the promising Morris and Loza, plus Vadis, Howson, Johnson and company from the midfield, so we might have to adopt a single striker policy.

Has Becchio gone?

There must be someone not getting a look in at a Prem team who would be keen to come and play a few games? Crouch and Hucks did

 

[Moosheep]

Has Becchio gone?

No, but AN has dismissed the suggestion that he might be drafted back into the side. Apparently he has not played a game of football in months!

 

[SussexYellow]

Has Becchio gone?

No, but AN has dismissed the suggestion that he might be drafted back into the side. Apparently he has not played a game of football in months!

Which really does leave us short of experienced strikers. Alex Neil was non committal on a loan option - but if we are to make a serious promotion push then it would be sensible to strengthen. Whether there is anybody suitable available is of course another matter.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Hooper certainly put in a shift in the Millwall game. IMO, he's at his best when playing alongside Jerome with Wes behind them in the hole. That combination tore Millwall apart and I think we'll see it again against Derby.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Seeing as we're in this position (table wise), it would be indefensible to not at least look at a loan to cover this area. I dont think Morris and Loza are ready to be carrying us over the line if it came to that do you?

 

[Yellow Fever]

It looks like Derby will still be missing both Martin and Bent on Saturday. We think we have striker problems!