How long are we gonna get away with it?

[LadyRed]

Not putting our chances away that is.

Now, don’t get me wrong I’m not one of these doom and gloom supporters that looks for the negative even after an amazing result like last nights. Getting past Barca was a phenomenal achievement and nothing can take that away.

But it can’t paper over cracks that we know have been there all season.

The way we have the ability to dominate games and not capitalise on it, we performed so well in every other department last night which meant we managed to get away with it.

At the end of the first half last night we’d had ten attempts at goal, compared to their one. TEN attempts! Against a team of Barcelona’s calibre, you cannot afford to do that and not capitalise on it.

It obviously isn’t the first time we’ve done that this season, you only have to go as far back as Saturday to see the last occasion. It’s happened time and time again all season. Even the two worst results of the season, the two Arsenal games, we had periods of dominance when we created chances, that we couldn’t put away.

In every other area, we are as good as anyone, the defence and midfield. The fact that we’ve beaten the best club side in the world to find ourselves in the quarter finals of the CL is testament to how good we are in these areas.

The strikers are the only part of the squad that consists of Rafas own signings, so it shouldn’t be the area that we are so lacking in.

It needs to be sorted and soon, that said after we’ve allowed another transfer window to pass. Kuyts good, as a second striker. Between Fowler, Bellamy and Crouch, who is our 20plus goals striker? We haven’t got one.

[JohnOK]

We'll get somebody in the summer of that there is little doubt, but if Voronin replaces Fowler, who will the incoming striker replace?

[Red Chilli]

Well I don't think we have gotten away with it this season, we have dropped a lot of points because of our poor finishing.
Rafa has never really picked a great striker in terms of transfers. He's signed great players in defence and midfield but he seems to have a bit of a blind spot with strikers.
I think he'll endeavor to correct this in the summer. Who knows, Voronin might be the answer

[LadyRed]

We'll get somebody in the summer of that there is little doubt, but if Voronin replaces Fowler, who will the incoming striker replace?

How confident are you about who we'll sign?

As I said the existing strikers are all Rafas players. So if he acquires more strikers of a similar standard we're still no better off.

[The Glove]

They maybe Rafa's choices but good strikers dont come cheap in the main. We simply havent had the reddies to buy what we need. Rafa has gone for a few strikers instead of just one. Probably because we would be even more ****ed if that main striker got injured.

[lfc4ever]

We'll get somebody in the summer of that there is little doubt, but if Voronin replaces Fowler, who will the incoming striker replace?

Might be in addition to - think of the times we could use Bellamy right - Kuyt left and SG in the hole, with someone who knows where the net is upfront, 4-2-1-3 style.

[LadyRed]

Well I don't think we have gotten away with it this season, we have dropped a lot of points because of our poor finishing.
Rafa has never really picked a great striker in terms of transfers. He's signed great players in defence and midfield but he seems to have a bit of a blind spot with strikers.I think he'll endeavor to correct this in the summer. Who knows, Voronin might be the answer

Totally agree with that.

Bits and parts player. Thats all Voronin is, just like at least 50% of the other strikers he's signed.

I don't think when he signed Crouch last season he thought he would be his main striker, as he did last season, I think he saw him as 'the other option', Fowler...well that seemed to be a gift for the fans to distract us from the fact that we had failed to sign a RW. Bellamy-cos he was cheap.

The only one that he's signed long term, thats is real quality, in my opinion is Kuyt.

[LadyRed]

They maybe Rafa's choices but good strikers dont come cheap in the main. We simply havent had the reddies to buy what we need. Rafa has gone for a few strikers instead of just one. Probably because we would be even more ****ed if that main striker got injured.

True about the financial restrictions, however when you sell/loan out a player, his replacement has to, at the very least be as good as him. Realistically a club of our stature, he needs to be better than who he's reaplacing.

Is Crouch better then Baros? Hmm...I don't know.

Is Bellamy better than Cisse? Not in my opinion. Cisse as a bits and parts player scored 20 goals for us last season, I don't think Bellamy will get us 20 this season.

[glynner]

I wonder how many of those he signed were his first choice ?

I do agree, though - his transfer record with strikers is still lacking a little

[Red Chilli]

I wonder how many of those he signed were his first choice ?

I do agree, though - his transfer record with strikers is still lacking a little

How many managers always get their first choice?

Probably zero.

You have to go for strikers who are available and who are willing to sign.

[badpiggy]

Well I don't think we have gotten away with it this season, we have dropped a lot of points because of our poor finishing.
Rafa has never really picked a great striker in terms of transfers. He's signed great players in defence and midfield but he seems to have a bit of a blind spot with strikers.
I think he'll endeavor to correct this in the summer. Who knows, Voronin might be the answer

i can't believe after the greatest performance by any team in any sport in all past, present and future humanoid lifeform/football-supporting planets, that a so-called "fan" would have the disgusting defeatist temerity
to question the dear leader of this epoch-defining masterclass. for christ's sake, some people are never happy. you can't just go asking realistic questions today of all days.

i'm going to bed. you all watched a different season than me. i'm heartbroken etc..........


well at least rafa had the good sense to get rid of cisse. if he wants eto'o, you'd think he's thinking along the right lines...

[Red_Polo]

Crouch has been instrumental as a team player for us in a way that Baros never was, and it's not like Baros can claim to have scored more goals for us than Crouch has.

Cisse scored 9 league goals for us last season and Bellamy has come close to that in his first season for us with games still to play and having made for more chances than Cisse ever did. I know Cisse was played out of position for quite a few of our league games, but he was also used to take the piss out of tired defences that were leaving gaps at the back because they had to chase the game. If it boiled down to who I'd want to start a crucial game for us I know who I'd want. Bellamy is a much smarter player

Before we get too worried about Rafa's ability to find the right striker, let's not forget Rafa wanted to sign Villa before he became a massive name. I think we'll be signing a striker similar to him, if not the man himself. We've got enough strikers who can retain possession for the team and knit things together - what we'll be looking for is someone with pace, good touch, movement and finishing.

The reason we haven't had signed someone like that already is because it's so rare to find one that's affordable and we've had so many other positions to fill. With many of those positions sorted, and with a change in what is now affordable to us, I think we can look forward to snapping up a striker with the kind of quality we need.

[Red Chilli]

i can't believe after the greatest performance by any team in any sport in all past, present and future humanoid lifeform/football-supporting planets, that a so-called "fan" would have the disgusting defeatist temerity
to question the dear leader of this epoch-defining masterclass. for christ's sake, some people are never happy. you can't just go asking realistic questions today of all days.

cut down on the sugar mate

[The Glove]

True about the financial restrictions, however when you sell/loan out a player, his replacement has to, at the very least be as good as him. Realistically a club of our stature, he needs to be better than who he's reaplacing.

Is Crouch better then Baros? Hmm...I don't know.

Is Bellamy better than Cisse? Not in my opinion. Cisse as a bits and parts player scored 20 goals for us last season, I don't think Bellamy will get us 20 this season.

Crouch is a differnt player so you cant really compare them. Baros and Bellamy would be a better comparison. For me, Bellamy offers more to the team than Baros did.

Like everything buying players is a risk. We bought Morientes. Everyone and anyone thought we had signed someone who would bang in goals left right and centre like he had done before. That proved not to be the case, I dont think thats Rafa's fault and with it not working Nando got shipped out.

In my opinion Bellamy is by far and away a better player than Cisse. Im sure that if Bellamy had the chance to play against TNS he would increase his goal tally but nevermind.

Once, hopefully, Rafa gets a good wodge of cash to spend, he will go after a striker who costs the amount you'd expect to pay for a proven goalscorer at the highest level.

[lfc4ever]

Before we get too worried about Rafa's ability to find the right striker, let's not forget Rafa wanted to sign Villa before he became a massive name. I think we'll be signing a striker similar to him, if not the man himself. We've got enough strikers who can retain possession for the team and knit things together - what we'll be looking for is someone with pace, good touch, movement and finishing.

The reason we haven't had signed someone like that already is because it's so rare to find one that's affordable and we've had so many other positions to fill. With many of those positions sorted, and with a change in what is now affordable to us, I think we can look forward to snapping up a striker with the kind of quality we need.

I think Rafa might even try & find the next up & coming big name - rather than splash the big cash on the big name.

Just having the cash doesn't mean he will blow it on the big names already, it just means he can afford to get the number 1 target instead of having to settle for second best, and turn them into the big names we all crave.

Give him time to develop his squad into the one he wants with the money now available, as has been said many times - we won't be doing a Chelsea in season 1 with money.