I would be very surprised by this if it is true yes we need players to get us up but then we would have to replace those players, and although we would have premiership money we would not gamble again like we did under Dowie.
[cite]Posted By: Barn Door Lisbie[/cite]I'd be a bit worried if we signed him to be honest. I may be doing him an injustice but another big lump up front would imply more long ball football.
Or it could imply we need someone to take the weight off Iwelumo who must be knackered, has played many games carrying knocks, and isn't actually that good.
Also agree with Ledge that he could get us out of this league but probably couldn't make the step up. But 1 step at a time, get out of the league then worry about premier league players later.
Guess he's something like Scowcroft, but scores more goals. Certainly has experience and a good record in this division, but was embarassing when flailing around for imaginary pens in the Prem. He'd certainly take some of the weight off Chris, but hopefully not at the expense of the encouraging pacy approach we saw v WBA on Saturday. Knows this division well and might add the necessary finishing - hopefully with someone quick alongside. No idea if either is financially realistic, but Roberts or Harewood might offer more variety.
One of the best strikers in The Championship & that is what we need unless we can get a proven Premiership striker on loan. So my opinion is it's money well spent if his goals get us up. Worry about next season if we get promoted.
[quote][cite]Posted By: Covered End[/cite]One of the best strikers in The Championship & that is what we need unless we can get a proven Premiership striker on loan. So my opinion is it's money well spent if his goals get us up. Worry about next season if we get promoted.[/quote]
Agreed, but don't forget folks that with the Prem money now on offer you can bring in plenty of fresh blood once you get there - let's worry about getting there first though and he would clearly be an asset for the squad.
Anyone who doubts what a useful player Gray is should check out his goalscoring stats in this league. Since going up front in 2002 at Bradford he's scored 73 goals in 200 games in THIS league which is a far better strike rate than our other strikers (who have done the biz at lower levels) and not too disimilar to the rate Super Clive had when he came to us.
How would he fit in? He isn't the most mobile or technical of forwards, and I think the forwards we have will score goals if we just managed to give them some decent service.
Fair play if we do sign him but I think the money would be better spent elsewhere on the side
Gray is not quick but reminds me a lot of Andy Hunt in that he has a decent touch, can hold the ball, is good in the air and has a decent strike rate.
Fact is folks that we are shopping at a different store these days, the likes of Harewood, Roberts and Zamora are NOT in our price range any more, even a loan deal might be stretching it.
Look at who actually leaves the Prem for the CCC on a permanent deal, its either veterans who can no longer cut it at the top level (Philips, Speed etc...) or youngsters who never quite made the top grade like Whittingham at Cardiff, Greening at WBA and so on.
I personally feel we need more 'proven' players at this level to help improve our consistency.
Totallt see what your saying Orm but I just don't think we need anymore centre forwards. I don't think that is where we have a weakness, midfield and the back is.
Its about getting the balance right and at the moment we have a leaky defence and a less than razor sharp attack. Look at the strikers we had in 97 and 99, Sir Clive and Andy Hunt. Have we got any now who approach their quality? Maybe Varney does but he hasn't fired yet, Big Chris certainly isn't although he does a decent job, Tody may have been that sort but he's out; and McLeod and Dickson just are too inexperienced. Thus a player like Gray might be what we need.
[quote][cite]Posted By: Carter[/cite]Totallt see what your saying Orm but I just don't think we need anymore centre forwards. I don't think that is where we have a weakness, midfield and the back is.[/quote]
The thing is though Carter, Ledge is that the only 'target' player we have is Iwelumo who is a real trier but not in the same class as Hunt or Bright, our best two players of that type in recent years.
After losing Toddy we really need someone who can make the ball "stick" up front so that the likes of ZZ and Ambrose can get into the box and score so Gray might be a better option than Iwelumo in that regard.
We really only have three senior strikers on the books (Iwelumo, Varney and McLeod - and the last two are not proven at this level) and three rookies in Dickson, Walker and Uchechi so we are not exactly flush with front men anyway.
Varney could be the next Andy Hunt, one injury hit season with few opportunities followed by goals galore - he has the talent and the desire. Let's hope that unlike Andy Hunt he doesn't burn out.
If Iwelumo is our only regular striker then we have a problem up front. He wasn't signed to be a first XI regular, he is good cover but we need more quality than he offers. I am hopeful McLeod can be our answer.
Not sure where the Press get their info re the numbers being banded about, think it's more likely Pards has just asked about the Players availability, Burnley have said he's not, so not really worth getting too excited about this story.
Better than what we have, will add another option to our game as more mobile than big chris as a target man. will get goals to get us out of this division so a yes from me.
Looks like Scunthorpe are in for Geoff Horsfield maybe this is to replace Gray as they seem to be the same sort of player, big man to hold the ball up? Maybe Gray could still be on his way for Charlton?
Also it seems that a fee of £150,000 was agreed with Pardew for Youga back in September but only didn't go through because Youga's agent advsed him against it, instead he signed a loan extension, his contract is up at the end of this season as well!
[cite]Posted By: Plaaayer[/cite]Looks like Scunthorpe are in for Geoff Horsfield maybe this is to replace Gray as they seem to be the same sort of player, big man to hold the ball up? Maybe Gray could still be on his way for Charlton?
Also it seems that a fee of £150,000 was agreed with Pardew for Youga back in September but only didn't go through because Youga's agent advsed him against it, instead he signed a loan extension, his contract is up at the end of this season as well!
Gray is at Burnley so I fail to see hoe Scunny buying Horsfield will alter the situation.
Comments
I don't rate him
That's about all I can say I am afraid
Didn't we pay £750k for a 30 year old good Championship striker a few years ago?
13 league goals this season is not bad though seems to know wgere the net is in this league?
I dont know enough about him to make a call on it
Or it could imply we need someone to take the weight off Iwelumo who must be knackered, has played many games carrying knocks, and isn't actually that good.
Also agree with Ledge that he could get us out of this league but probably couldn't make the step up. But 1 step at a time, get out of the league then worry about premier league players later.
I agree with the comment from 'one extreme to the other'. (Nth London)
He's age wouldn't be so much a problem if he was a proven prolific striker.
WBA have Phillips for instance, no spring chicken but has done it at the higher level so guaranteed at this level.
Worry about next season if we get promoted.
Worry about next season if we get promoted.[/quote]
Agreed, but don't forget folks that with the Prem money now on offer you can bring in plenty of fresh blood once you get there - let's worry about getting there first though and he would clearly be an asset for the squad.
Fair play if we do sign him but I think the money would be better spent elsewhere on the side
Fact is folks that we are shopping at a different store these days, the likes of Harewood, Roberts and Zamora are NOT in our price range any more, even a loan deal might be stretching it.
Look at who actually leaves the Prem for the CCC on a permanent deal, its either veterans who can no longer cut it at the top level (Philips, Speed etc...) or youngsters who never quite made the top grade like Whittingham at Cardiff, Greening at WBA and so on.
I personally feel we need more 'proven' players at this level to help improve our consistency.
Decent player at this level which is what his level is. another speculate to accumulate transfer IMHO
The thing is though Carter, Ledge is that the only 'target' player we have is Iwelumo who is a real trier but not in the same class as Hunt or Bright, our best two players of that type in recent years.
After losing Toddy we really need someone who can make the ball "stick" up front so that the likes of ZZ and Ambrose can get into the box and score so Gray might be a better option than Iwelumo in that regard.
We really only have three senior strikers on the books (Iwelumo, Varney and McLeod - and the last two are not proven at this level) and three rookies in Dickson, Walker and Uchechi so we are not exactly flush with front men anyway.
He wasn't signed to be a first XI regular, he is good cover but we need more quality than he offers.
I am hopeful McLeod can be our answer.
will get goals to get us out of this division so a yes from me.
Also it seems that a fee of £150,000 was agreed with Pardew for Youga back in September but only didn't go through because Youga's agent advsed him against it, instead he signed a loan extension, his contract is up at the end of this season as well!
Gray is at Burnley so I fail to see hoe Scunny buying Horsfield will alter the situation.