Mason Holgate

[Tubey]

Mirallas cant lead a line and neither can Kone. There is no able deputy at the club for Lukaku if he gets injured.

Yarmolenko would be a welcome addition, but we're not likely to get him. They're asking big sums for a player who's near the end of his contract and he;ll be off to a club in the CL anyway.

He's not near the end of his contract, he signed an extension.

And again, regardless of who we signed, Shane Long or whoever - nobody could come in at this point and offer half of what Lukaku is doing, so we'd be relying on him not getting injured either way.

So the choice is bringing in someone who will deputise for Lukaku, or someone who will make Lukaku even more effective. I'd go with the latter.

 

[davek]

He's not near the end of his contract, he signed an extension.

And again, regardless of who we signed, Shane Long or whoever - nobody could come in at this point and offer half of what Lukaku is doing, so we'd be relying on him not getting injured either way.

So the choice is bringing in someone who will deputise for Lukaku, or someone who will make Lukaku even more effective. I'd go with the latter.

Do that and Lukaku (already showing signs of wear and tear in a season where he's played nearly every game) gets injured and the provider you're saying we should get in is looking like a waste...besides, Lukaku is being well catered to as it stands. The demands for a playmaker last summer dont seem so urgent when we have Deulofeu and Barkley playing so effectively in and around Lukaku.

 

[Tubey]

Do that and Lukaku (already showing signs of wear and tear in a season where he's played nearly every game) gets injured and the provider you're saying we should get in is looking like a waste...besides, Lukaku is being well catered to as it stands. The demands for a playmaker last summer dont seem so urgent when we have Deulofeu and Barkley playing so effectively in and around Lukaku.

We're playing Kone wide left in games right now - starting games. And Tom Cleverley. Two out of position players. That seems a much more urgent thing to remedy than bringing in an understudy to a striker who will play every minute of every game from now till the end of the season if fit.

If Lukaku gets injured, it's season down the pan time no matter what anyway. Bring in Yarmolenko, and he's not cup tied, he's another X Factor in the one off games.

It's not even a contest for me; a potentially world class wide playmaker, or a back up striker who will hardly get a game.

Even if it weren't Yarmolenko, I'd still say a wide left player is the bigger priority for us this window than a striker. I'd even say a goalkeeper is a bigger priority than a striker.

 

[davek]

We're playing Kone wide left in games right now - starting games. And Tom Cleverley. Two out of position players. That seems a much more urgent thing to remedy than bringing in an understudy to a striker who will play every minute of every game from now till the end of the season if fit.

If Lukaku gets injured, it's season down the pan time no matter what anyway. Bring in Yarmolenko, and he's not cup tied, he's another X Factor in the one off games.

It's not even a contest for me; a potentially world class wide playmaker, or a back up striker who will hardly get a game.

Even if it weren't Yarmolenko, I'd still say a wide left player is the bigger priority for us this window than a striker. I'd even say a goalkeeper is a bigger priority than a striker.

We can make do and mend on the flanks. We have Cleverley, Lennon, Deulofeu, Mirallas...even Osman has had a go. We have NO ONE to try and replicate what Lukaku does. If he gets injured that really is it. We cant struggle on and look to anyone.

 

[catcherintherye]

Last January we defo needed someone like Lennon in. We were insipid on the ball going forward and needed someone who could turn defence into attack quickly. Lennon fitted the bill. It was a season changing deal. He offered a lot of energy we were desperate for, chipped in with a couple and got us on the front foot as an attacking force...and defended well too.

By the same token we need a game changer now in terms of a GK deal. We wont get it, but he could at least move decisively for a forward to come in and provide insurance for the injury to Lukaku which will inevitable come if he keeps playing every game.

Lennon made a massive difference. I suppose what I meant was that he had already bought a right winger the previous year in McGeady and had Naismith who could operate there. Numerically we were fine.

I think Lennon made a massive difference to the season but I am not sure it was a masterplan from Martinez, if it was he would have had no need to sign Deulofeu back. I think there was a pragmatism that paid off.

Martinez clearly thinks Kone is a useful back up. I don't think he can be relied upon game in game out. I am surprised we let Naismith go for that reason who fills in quite well as a striker, but I suppose the money we were offered is crazy and we couldn't turn it down.

 

[Tubey]

We can make do and mend on the flanks. We have Cleverley, Lennon, Deulofeu, Mirallas...even Osman has had a go. We have NO ONE to try and replicate what Lukaku does. If he gets injured that really is it. We cant struggle on and look to anyone.

And barring signing Suarez or Lewandowski, we won't if we bought someone either. Shane Long, a definitive 1 in 4 striker, wouldn't change anything.

 

[davek]

Lennon made a massive difference. I suppose what I meant was that he had already bought a right winger the previous year in McGeady and had Naismith who could operate there. Numerically we were fine. I think Lennon made a massive difference to the season but I am not sure it was a masterplan from Martinez, if it was he would have had no need to sign Deulofeu back. I think there was a pragmatism that paid off. Martinez clearly thinks Kone is a useful back up. I don't think he can be relied upon game in game out. I am surprised we let Naismith go for that reason who fills in quite well as a striker, but I suppose the money we were offered is crazy and we couldn't turn it down.

I think he probably knows leading the line is beyond him. Even at Wigan he had Di Santos partnering him and he was less injury probe then too...and younger.

He also knows Naismith is poor at the role too. He cant play up on his own. He was pathetic when we tried it last time. I\m banking on Martinez now seeing sense and using the cash that would have been used on Byram to put toward a Lukaku understudy/partner. We could do with options upfront in any case.

 

[davek]

And barring signing Suarez or Lewandowski, we won't if we bought someone either. Shane Long, a definitive 1 in 4 striker, wouldn't change anything.

He's coming off the bench mostly. If he was a starter it'd be higher.

 

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I'm with davek on this one. Some teams have 4 strikers in their squad, most have 3.

We literally have one proper striker, and Kone.

If Lukaku picks up an injury we are royally screwed. Shocking lack of depth in the striking department.

 

[Tubey]

I'm with davek on this one. Some teams have 4 strikers in their squad, most have 3.

We literally have one proper striker, and Kone.

If Lukaku picks up an injury we are royally screwed. Shocking lack of depth in the striking department.

Teams don't have three or four Lukakus.

We have Kone and Mirallas, both significantly worse than Lukaku but the equivalent of what other clubs have as a back up.

We don't have that depth at left wing - we have players out of position in Cleverley and Kone backing up an inconsistent Mirallas. Unlike the striker position, we have no one of any actual consistent class starting there.

 

[Lanolin]

Holgate's boss though lads yeah? Or he might not be. No idea to be honest, I don't even know what he looks like.

 

[marsh]

Have i clicked the wrong thread? It says Mason Holgate on my screen

 

[Nymzee]

Holgate is a centre-half as is Browning whether they've played there or not it means absolutely jack in the long run - David James went up front once. Byram was a logical target considering we have zero quality cover at RB who is fit and even when fit Browning or Holgate aren't long-term cover for Coleman.

 

[McBain]

Wowgate.

 

[Groucho]

Have i clicked the wrong thread? It says Mason Holgate on my screen

He does have a bit of a point chaps. Mason Holgate in here please.

And barring signing Suarez or Lewandowski, we won't if we bought someone either. Shane Long, a definitive 1 in 4 striker, wouldn't change anything.

I think he probably knows leading the line is beyond him. Even at Wigan he had Di Santos partnering him and he was less injury probe then too...and younger.

He also knows Naismith is poor at the role too. He cant play up on his own. He was pathetic when we tried it last time. I\m banking on Martinez now seeing sense and using the cash that would have been used on Byram to put toward a Lukaku understudy/partner. We could do with options upfront in any case.

He's coming off the bench mostly. If he was a starter it'd be higher.

I'm with davek on this one. Some teams have 4 strikers in their squad, most have 3.

We literally have one proper striker, and Kone.

If Lukaku picks up an injury we are royally screwed. Shocking lack of depth in the striking department.

Teams don't have three or four Lukakus.

We have Kone and Mirallas, both significantly worse than Lukaku but the equivalent of what other clubs have as a back up.

We don't have that depth at left wing - we have players out of position in Cleverley and Kone backing up an inconsistent Mirallas. Unlike the striker position, we have no one of any actual consistent class starting there.

Thanks.