SCP knows all about this league. League One would have been more of a learning experience than The Championship should be. He knows what we need. What the Owners' plans are and whether we can get what SCP wants is another issue.
That said...I expect a couple of so called marque signings along with a few we don't know much about. If the scouting & signing of Kermorgant is anything to go by then we'll be in good shape.
Freddy Eastwood has just been relegated with Coventry, is he the kind of player Powell can take and get him playing to his full potential?
He's been doing alright on loan at Southend and once he gets back to full fitness he's a good striker. If they get promoted though doubtless he'll wanna join Southend permanently.
If we can get Rhodes definitely we should but can't see us spending that much on one player. Of the relegated Championship clubs Kitson's been around years and is a reliable, experienced striker. Also Mcsheffrey at Coventrys got 9 this year for a club that have been pretty awful.
Or backtrack and sign Rivaldo. Even at 40 he's still Rivaldo.
Lets not forget that BWP has previous experience at both Premier league and Championship level. It is fair to say he didn't set the world alight during his time playing at that level but he has a few extra years under his belt and a good couple of seasons in league one will do wonders for his confidence.
I am confident he knows what is required to make that step back up to the Championship and as others have already said I think he will do well next year alongside Yann.
Saying that another striker with solid Championship experience to provide competition/back up to them both is essential IMO.
Obviously I agree. Has not played much for Reading, but has scored a few (5 this year?), but is now aclimatised. He would be my number one choice given his age etc. But SCP is God and will know best.
SCP has not let us down at all this season and I don't think he will again this coming season. I had no idea who Kermogant, Wiggins, Hollands, Pritchard, Morrison etc etc were until I started watching them play early last season and haven't been disappointed. I simply hope for the same again and re some of the posts I've seen, believe BWP will still notch 15 goals next season - tons of respect for his efforts and goals this season!
I think alf has notched 11 this season, could be wrong?
That sounds about right, but I think he has scored 5 or 6 recently. By this year I meant since Jan 1st. If it is 11 I think that is a good return as I do not think he has been a regular. Maybe he will go up a division then.
No need for a new signing of bwp doesn't do it next season ( which I think he will). Waggy will be ideal partnering Yann. Has the pace and can finish as good as anyone imho.
No need for a new signing of bwp doesn't do it next season ( which I think he will). Waggy will be ideal partnering Yann. Has the pace and can finish as good as anyone imho.
I agree that waggy is a better striker than winger. Do you not think Danny Haynes will be good enough to step up to the mark?
When Waggy goes up front he's looked better playing behind the main striker and supporting the midfield, rather than trying to get in behind big strong centre backs.
Haynes hasn't had much of a chance yet but hasn't looked better than BWP so far.
bwp deserves a crack at the championship but oppositions will be better, chances will be fewer and he has to step up his chance conversion. i get the sense he feels he belongs here and the club means something to him after such a good year. he won't get as many many goals next season in my opinion but is still a threat. a good proven championship striker would be ideal to sign even if he's getting on a bit, like Reading did with jason roberts.
Lewis Grabban has attracted interest from teams higher up the leagues than Rotherham. Did not set the world alight at Milwall or Brentford but has had a good season and we may be one of the teams rumoured to be in talks with Rotherham. Can't say I know too much about him and it's a big step up, but he may be in the Championship next season anyway.
Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips, Haynes plus one significant other. Waggy is not a striker at least not yet and I personally doubt will ever make that switch for anything other than the odd occasion. To suggest we start next season with the three we have plus Waggy is pure folly.
Based on what I've seen so far, I rather keep N'Guessan and get shot of Haynes again. If we're looking to get promoted again next season, then I personally think we need a better partner for Kermorgant than BWP. If we're looking to secure our position in the Championship and then take anything additional as a bonus (as I believe we should) then our current front 2 are good enough. What I would say is, no matter how highly or lowly you rate BWP, there is no guarantee we'll be so lucky with his dodgy knees again next season and we'll need to have oiptions for cover - finding a good goalscorer at short notice on the loan market would be very difficult.
If you judge BWP by recent months, where admittedly things have been a bit of a struggle for him, well possibly. But if you judge him by one of the most instictive natuaral finishers we have had in recent years, which he showed last season and the first half of this- well why can't he step up to the Championship plate?
I do have a feeling that a good pre-season and lessons learned this year will mean we have the deadly BWP back and he will have an impact in the Championship.
if BWP run of freely scoring came at the end of the season and not at the start I guarentee people would not be questioning if hes good enough for the champ
Powell seems to have two options. He spends a lot of money on a youngish, preferably largish and mobile proven striker .. to replace who?. He has 'pledged' to give this year's team a fair run in the c'ship and who can deny that Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant deserve it. Or, Powell can sign a journeyman that no-one else wants and ask him to sit on the bench until circumstances dictate that either Kerm or WP are injured/out of form/suspended. Why bother with the latter? .. We have Smith and Clarke (a quick pause for howls of derision here), Wagstaff and Haynes as well as the promising youth players. So, to my mind, either sign a really expensive proven man (Austin, Madine, Le Fondre, along those lines) or don't bother signing any striker. I am sure however that Chris Powell has more than one ace hidden up his sleeve and I wait with anticipation to see this card laid on the table
Comments
SCP knows all about this league. League One would have been more of a learning experience than The Championship should be. He knows what we need. What the Owners' plans are and whether we can get what SCP wants is another issue.
That said...I expect a couple of so called marque signings along with a few we don't know much about. If the scouting & signing of Kermorgant is anything to go by then we'll be in good shape.
If we can get Rhodes definitely we should but can't see us spending that much on one player. Of the relegated Championship clubs Kitson's been around years and is a reliable, experienced striker. Also Mcsheffrey at Coventrys got 9 this year for a club that have been pretty awful.
Or backtrack and sign Rivaldo. Even at 40 he's still Rivaldo.
I am confident he knows what is required to make that step back up to the Championship and as others have already said I think he will do well next year alongside Yann.
Saying that another striker with solid Championship experience to provide competition/back up to them both is essential IMO.
Rhodes would be great - would we do a deal with BWP going in the other direction?
Just a thought.
Jackson at Norwich ---sure they will go for Rhodes again and he may be free.
Just believe - whoever he decides to bring in will step up to the plate & deliver.
2010/11 in Championship: 20(19) appearances, 13 goals
Haynes hasn't had much of a chance yet but hasn't looked better than BWP so far.
Still banging them in for Orient.
I do have a feeling that a good pre-season and lessons learned this year will mean we have the deadly BWP back and he will have an impact in the Championship.