Not quite as straightforward as that. He is very quick & powerful

& can disrupt defences - they can't just ignore him on the grounds he may not score. But as a goalscorer he is clearly not effective enough.
I'm afraid I've seen nothing from Bamford to suggest he is a PL striker - although in fairness he's hardly had a fair crack of the whip. You can usually see something in a quality player almost immediately, even if he doesn't score or directly assist or whatever, & I just can't see it in him. However I think he should be given at least a half to prove he's got the right stuff.
To assert that Hooper would have improved us so much is ridiculous I feel. I remember the first goal he scored for us & thinking, wow, at last! The natural striker we're desperate for has finally arrived. He then missed a couple of sitters - then scored well - then missed ... & so on. I remember seeing stats that showed his percentage strike rate wasn't much better than Jerome's. And he didn't get into good positions to start with; his overall contribution just wasn't good enough.
Mbokani is a different case altogether. He is a genuine PL class striker, intelligent, inventive, powerful, tenacious - but slow. That is his Achilles heel. However I think with Redmond in a freer role & Naismith able to run beyond him (& Wes added to the mix) we may yet find he is our best option. Our first 3 goals against Liverpool bear testament to this.
I do think we need to use a mix of strikers in different games - & in particular bring subs on earlier. If Neil can master this art we may yet survive!

Posted By: dennis moore on February 28th 2016 at 22:33:50

Message Thread

Any thoughts on this CamJam piece? (NCFC) - Zummerzetyellow, Feb 28, 22:08:46
- Its an uneccessarily scathing article but he does have a basic point (NCFC) - Jim, Feb 29, 09:29:27
- The author is cross and frustrated (NCFC) - Under soil heating, Feb 28, 23:15:03
  - Good post, not sure Mbok finishing is much better though (NCFC) - roedtonowhere, Feb 28, 23:26:05
- Mbok was doing well considering the lack of service (n/m) (NCFC) - Larry Hagman, Feb 28, 22:58:12
  - We can't press at the same rate with him tho... (NCFC) - hoolahan, Feb 28, 23:05:21
- He is dreadful in front of goal (NCFC) - SCC 28, Feb 28, 22:46:11
- It's weird... (NCFC) - hoolahan, Feb 28, 22:42:11
  - I think it must be. Goal is the same size after all. Bizarre that (NCFC) - Jim, Feb 29, 09:32:48
- Not quite as straightforward as that. He is very quick & powerful (NCFC) - dennis moore, Feb 28, 22:33:50
- First line doesn't even make sense, not sure its proper English (n/m) (NCFC) - roedtonowhere, Feb 28, 22:23:02

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