& 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, Feb 28, 22:33:50
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