Yes I agree with all of this.
I caste my mind back to 2004-5. Once Bent left the side, in favour of the more prolific Beattie the results didn't return. Bent didn't score many goals but he helped the team enormously.
For a similar reason I'd have signed Stracalursi who was a threat. Arguably our best football under Moyes came with Cahill/Fellaini through the middle who were a menace to opponents without every scoring bundles of goals.
Don't get me wrong, if we can sign a Harry Kane, or even a Lukaku then I'd do that. I think it's extremely unlikely though. And frankly if we had Lukaku I'd find a way to play 2 up front, as he would have scored bundles more goals with Calvert Lewin alongside him (he'd be the perfect foil for Rom).
I agree with Silva too. For me we need to find a lad with pace, who can play across the front 3 (so if DCL form dips, he needs a break, he's injured) he can fill in and also in some games someone who is capable of playing alongside Calvert Lewin if we are chasing the game.
That player is completely different to both Niasse & Tosun.
I still think Calvert Lewin will score between 10-15 league goals next season, which if done alongside driving defenses back will be absolutely fine for me. He may even surprise us all and continue to improve his finishing.
I know where you are coming from mate, Bent was immense that season and it really was a surprise when he left the following summer, DCL has similar attributes if not a bit more savy and a higher headroom to develop. Like we were talking about i think there needs to be a mental shift form an out and out forward to the concept of hybrid footballers and positions, a rotating front three during a game who are all comfortable playing a wide role and central one depending on the in game situation.
When i think of our best strikers of recent years i think of the YAk and Rom, i do however feel that neither would be a good fit for us under Silva. When i look at the side i see key attributes looked for as mobility, adaptability, athleticism and critically and engine and a desire to press. I think its pretty straight forward what we want in a striker offensively to compliment DCL, yet the defining factor will be the role they can play defensively.
The high press is critical to what we want to do, its why DCL has been effective, the constant pressure was telling in our last few games, that starts from front to back. Most strikers dont have that natural skill set, i can think of very few who are prolific and also have the high press capabilities, or need to be coached to get there. Thats why i say a Lukaku or Yak signing wouldn't work for us. To be honest i see us going for someone more in the Andy Johnson mold, quick mobile, good work rate and engine with the ability to slot. I think we can expect that type of addition up front. In actual fact someone like Sandro isnt miles of it, but i think that bridge may be burned or im being to hopeful.
One of my bug bears is that we seem absolutely inept at signing forwards, hopefully that is about to change, but we have Sandro, Niasse, Tosun still on our books, Kone, Valencia before that by a very big margin signing forwards has been by far our worst area to try and recruit, we have been terrible.
Like i say hopefully that will change.
