Yes, he’s very crap. When he joined I wondered why he never played much football given his goal record and hoped that he’d scale up but his overall play has shown that he’s just crap. Andre Gray is similar. But I do think he is effective as a super sub coming on to grab goals and his minutes/goal ratio shows that. Which would be part of the role here as third choice. I’d happily get rid if we can get most of our money back, but don’t think Assombalonga is much of an improvement.
What level striker do you think we can get as 3rd/4th choice? Can't really have any more loans so can't pick up a young player from a big club, can't get someone in their prime and in form as won't come here for that role.
Given that Araujo and Davis (probably) won’t be hear next season I’d like to have someone who can be third choice this season and bedded in and then first or second choice next season. Let’s convince a player of the level of Archer/Gelhardt/Simms (none of whom are available) - young players at PL clubs who won’t get a look in - to join us on a perm rather than have a parade of loans.
We are already lumbered with Bayo and Manaj as third or fourth choice this season. Why tie yet more crap down to a permanent contract? It's yet another pointless, tragic signing if it happens.
Well, presumably we'd bin one of those off. Do agree length of contract will be key but solely for the purposes of the 20 odd games left this season, I'd rather he came on if we needed a goal than Manaj.
I've never heard of the other two but presumably a player of Archer's quality and track record after last season would only go for £5m+ on a permanent deal? I really doubt we have that much money to spend.
It's just replacing crap with different crap, basically. None of them are really going to offer anything, and I'd be amazed if anyone actually took Bayo or Manaj off our hands. Three strikers tied down to permanent contracts, all of which aren't good enough for this level, never mind if we by some miracle do go back up. Would probably be the worst selection of strikers to ever be promoted to the Premier League.
We spent a similar amount on Kone and on Bayo. Simms was on loan at Sunderland earlier in the season but got recalled to Everton and replaced by Gelhardt from Leeds. Both good young strikers. Would probably cost around £5m, maybe more.
Well, yes. But there's a limit to how many players of that value we can bring in and suspect we're at it, hence looking at cheaper, stop gap options that might be able to contribute something...
Don't know how we can have a thread about next season's strikers and Fletcher hasn't been mentioned. Hugely disrespectful.
Both. He's rubbish at general play but he has a knack of scoring. I think he's more likely to get on the end of a move than "past-his-best" Assombalonga who is no longer the goalscorer he once was.
Certainly agree that we've yet again ****ed up with Bayo and Manaj. But I think the club is probably thinking 'we really need to get promoted otherwise we're screwed financially' and if they see Assombolonga as a better back up option to achieve that than those two, then can see why they'd be interested on a short term contract. It would be a roll of the dice for now rather than thinking he'd play any significant role going forwards. And they'd be the worst set of forwards to get promotion since... a finished Deeney and Gray, a callow Pedro and Perica!
Signed crap strikers in the summer, so to plug the gap, we’re signing a crap striker now? Don’t need him. Best days are gone. Not worth the energy.
I think I’d prefer Adeyamo as a potential backup. Although he’s very young, I think he’s done pretty well in both of his appearances & would prefer developing him rather than using either Assombalonga / Bayo.
Never understood why the club let him go all those years ago as I always rated him. I know he must be getting on now, but even if he is currently only half the player he has been in the past he should make a good backup striker and could possibly reach double figures if he gets the playing time.
It must be something to do with Watford youth status. Can't think of another reason. Pushing Bayo out to give us the opportunity to put an extra overseas player in the matchday squad.
If he comes I guess it means we’re not registering Manaj right? Surely? Think Bayo’s been too involved to suddenly be left out a 25.
Don't really see the problem with this, especially if it means Bayo and/or Manaj are jettisoned As others have said, what profile are we expecting for a player to be 3rd choice striker?
In fairness, in the few games Manaj has been fit for, he's been preferred to Bayo, under both Edwards and Bilic
I don't think coming through the club's academy means anything in terms of registration rules in the Championship, but of course, it does mean that he'd be homegrown
I know. I think I said in an earlier post that he wouldn’t be available. Just highlighting him as the kind of profile we should be getting in.
