So RBMB - Graham, Bent, Cisse or Finnbogasson?

Lets tie our four most mentioned striking targets, and decide given the choice of all four which one we would want most. Here's my analysis -

Danny Graham - Probably the most experience in the championship with several years at Malky's old turf at Watford. A fine player, left out in my opinion purely because he doesn't fit the teams ethos rather than ability. He's not the quickest out there though, and I'm fully expecting the likes of Reading and QPR to become interested if he truly becomes for sale.

Darren Bent - A true veteran of the premiership and English football, with plenty of talent to his name. He doesn't know the championship as well as Graham, but I doubt Cristiano Ronaldo knows it too well either, doesn't mean he wouldn't tear it apart. You can look at players like Carlton Cole for examples of what a player with Bent's experience can do to invigorate a team at this level. I expect him however to demand a quite stee wage, and there's no knowing just well he'll be able to settle into a new team so late in his career.

Djibril Cisse - My least favourite personally. Impressive in Greece but inconsistent and sloppy with QPR. At 31 he's not exactly a spring chicken and he seems a bit mouthy for my liking (going to the papers to critiscise the referee after last weeks game, for example). I'm trying not to be negatively biased, but very little about Cisse excites me.

Finnbogason - Completely unproven in English football, yet his scoring record is better than Van Nistelrooy's in the same clubs records, that's enough to make any championship fans's mouth water. He's big and powerful but also would become one of our faster players too, in stark contrast to Cisse I can't think of anything I don't like about him. My only negative point is with the likes of AC Milan now interested he's looking like a tricky signing to swipe from the table.

While my heart goes for Finnbogason, my head lies with Graham. Finnbogasons talent would be an awesome thing to have but I'm not sure it will happen, plus there's no guarantee he won't 'do a Velikonja'. Graham on the other hand has been there and proved himself in the past. He would stick with us for a while, and he's plenty capable of seeing us through our early days in the premiership too if they happen.

I'm totally with you Red (again!). As I understand it, Finnbo is just over 6ft which would give him more of an aerial threat (I would assume ) than the rest of our short ass forward line (excluding Rudy). Not that I wish us to play hoofball, but it's nice to have the option should we need it. However, unless Malky is willing to show immediate faith with him then I don't see the point.

Graham makes most sense; he has a relationship with Malky already, won't cost as much as Bent (who I believe has suffered with injuries this season too) and has a proven record at this level.

So, err, (but referring to YOUR comment, not mine)

Bilbo Baggins then Bent. That's a weird sentence.

Slumdog's Son wrote:Bilbo Baggins then Bent. That's a weird sentence.

Someone is still enjoying the Christmas Sherry then?


I agree with you Red, Graham seems the most likely than Finnbo - but it would be frikking sweet if we could land them both. Let's face it, attack is by far is our weakest area and could do with some proper strengthening.

I still think there could be a Malky style surprise... FinbarSaunders sounds intriguing but after the whole Velcro affair I would rather see Malky spend on someone who will come straight into the team with no acclimatisation....

To be fair, Velcro is a nippy 5'10, while Finnbogasson is a bulky 6'1. If Celikonja is currently considered too weak for the premiership physically, our Icelandic should in theory settle much quicker. But with Malky, who knows.

I still think there's something more fundamentally askew with Velcro other than his physicality... Noone, Mason and Bellers are hardly titans... I still think we'll see him in the first team in 2013 (just maybe not Cardiff's)

Speculation update - Aston Villa are the only
Club officially confirmed to be compiling an offer for Finnbogason, expected to be in the region of 2.5 million. In theory we would have to at least match this and then still have our fingers crossed. I'd be less worried if someone like Liverpool had come in instead, because he would probably only be bench support for Suarez for some time and might be tempted to learn the British trade elsewhere. Aston Villa are a weak enough team to put him straight into the starting 11, and they're offering premiership football that at least this season we cannot.

I've a feeling that MM, if he brings in a striker, will go for an experienced goalscorer who's done the business in the English leagues. I also believe it wil be someone who has the physicality to cope with the uncompromising defenders in the Championship. A bit like Helguson, but younger. If they are going to pay big money then it will also have to be someone who will hold their own in the Premiership, assuming we get there.
Cisse, in my opinion, is a non-starter. He might be good technically but is known to have a big ego! Not Malky's type of player.
If he has the money that he apparently had in the close season to make a £6 million for Jay Rodrigues, then I think he might go for Charlie Austin of Burnley. Unfortunately there appear to be a couple of Premiership clubs interested but will they pay big money in January for a player unproven at that level.

Red614 wrote:Speculation update - Aston Villa are the only
Club officially confirmed to be compiling an offer for Finnbogason, expected to be in the region of 2.5 million. In theory we would have to at least match this and then still have our fingers crossed. I'd be less worried if someone like Liverpool had come in instead, because he would probably only be bench support for Suarez for some time and might be tempted to learn the British trade elsewhere. Aston Villa are a weak enough team to put him straight into the starting 11, and they're offering premiership football that at least this season we cannot.

Well if Villa sign Bilbo Baggins, that pushes Bent further down the pecking order...and in to the clutches of City! [insert evil laugh]



N.B. I would be happy with Charlie Austin!

The only problem is, when we have Maynard back next season whoever we sign will be rendered to the bench.

*** G L O V E S *** wrote:The only problem is, when we have Maynard back next season whoever we sign will be rendered to the bench.

I don't think so, Id like to think it would be Helguson who would then be benched. The majority of the players rumoured thus far utilise the same role as Helguson's, except they are all younger and bigger. I'm expecting Helguson to be entering retirement possibly next year. FIFA 13 agrees with me and goes even further, Helguson declaring he will retire at the end of the season in each of the five different managerial careers I've created. That is 100% reliable evidence too, dammit.

Our first team partnership in my eyes should be Maynard and new guy. What that means for Velcro I'm not sure, hopefully a rotation system with Maynard but Malky doesn't seem fond of that system.

EDIT - for clarification I seemed to be talking about 'next year' for most of this. This season if hope it would be the same, new guy replacing Helguson at least in 50% of our matches.

*** G L O V E S *** wrote:The only problem is, when we have Maynard back next season whoever we sign will be rendered to the bench.

Whichever league we are in next season we will need four strikers. Hulguson won't be here and Velikonja and Gestede as yet are still unproven in my opinion. I also think that any signings MM makes now will be with one eye on us being in the Premiership next season.

Valley Trash wrote:I still think there's something more fundamentally askew with Velcro other than his physicality... Noone, Mason and Bellers are hardly titans... I still think we'll see him in the first team in 2013 (just maybe not Cardiff's)

I think his "chat" to the press about his lack of opportunities didn't go down well.

The Devil's Advocate wrote:

Valley Trash wrote:I still think there's something more fundamentally askew with Velcro other than his physicality... Noone, Mason and Bellers are hardly titans... I still think we'll see him in the first team in 2013 (just maybe not Cardiff's)

I think his "chat" to the press about his lack of opportunities didn't go down well.

I totally agree.

But our next striker signing will probably become our number one, Maynard number two and spot on Phil, Helguson will be gone or too old. The new striker will be signed with a view to playing at Prem level.