Do we sign a striker this month?

[dm]

It would seem we can now choose from 7 strikers: Smith, Sylla, Washington, Mackie, Oteh, Smyth and Eze. We can debate the quality of these players and even whether one or two might be better suited to a different position, but that's what we have right now.

It's encouraging to see Smyth and Oteh both score on their full debuts but, at 20 and 19 respectively, they're unlikely to play consistently yet. That goes for 19 year old Eze too.

Mackie's spinal injury will keep him out until March if not longer.

Smith, Sylla and Washington we know all about.

So, do we sign a striker this month?

EDITED

[Devonranger]

Depends on the deal and quality of the striker maybe. You've got Mackie in there twice DM, so are we talking about 6 options?

If IH is staying then seems little point keeping Sylla.

[Greyhound]

If we sign anyone at all, and I don't care if we do, it should be a striker. The youngsters are bonuses for this season, and it would be a gamble to rely on Smith, Wash and Syl given their returns so far. So yes, a cheap striker on low wages, who's going to bang them in, yes please.

[westlondonlalala]

I doubt you’ll see Mackie again contract runs out in the summer.

Sylla & CW have a year left on contracts in summer so it’ll be decision time soon weather we’re offering contracts or cashing in on them.

Oteh I believe is a loan from Spurs so he’ll go back.

Smyth & Smith will stay I have no doubt.

Eze isn’t really a striker again might go out on loan or be involved in the first team next season.

As for this season no we don’t need a striker as for the Summer I reckon we will see a fair bit of movement in the striking dept.

[stainrod's elbow]

According to the stats I read, Conor's scored 12 goals in 78 games (including 29 sub) - less than one in six. Without wishing to piss on his chips today - when, to his credit, he seems to have actually both performed and scored for the first time in an aeon - for an international striker (even one who works hard and runs around a lot) who seems to need to be frozen out for a few games to get him to perform and get on the scoresheet, that's a Zamora-esque level of lethality. Smyth looks like a thrilling prospect, but I'd see him more as a winger than a central striker. Eze and Oteh are for the future, not likely to be Championship-consistent in the present. Sylla, seemingly the most gifted goalscorer of the lot, seems not have not so much gone off the boil as off the simmer.

So I'd say, uh, yes, we need a striker, who actually strikes. And have done since Charlie was our darling.

[dm]

Oteh I believe is a loan from Spurs so he’ll go back.

Oteh is a QPR player contracted until the end of this season. I'd expect his contract to be extended.

[SheepRanger]

Oteh I believe is a loan from Spurs so he’ll go back.

Oteh is a QPR player contracted until the end of this season. I'd expect his contract to be extended.

Unless Everton offer us £20k in advance of him being a free agent.

[Satch]

I doubt you’ll see Mackie again contract runs out in the summer.

Sylla & CW have a year left on contracts in summer so it’ll be decision time soon weather we’re offering contracts or cashing in on them.

Oteh I believe is a loan from Spurs so he’ll go back.

Smyth & Smith will stay I have no doubt.

Eze isn’t really a striker again might go out on loan or be involved in the first team next season.

As for this season no we don’t need a striker as for the Summer I reckon we will see a fair bit of movement in the striking dept.

Oteh is all ours, released by Spurs. He looked better through the middle than i was expecting, assuming he was more of a wide player naturally, from what i'd seen.

I'd keep Sylla, I don't think Washington is as bad as people make out, but i do think he needs to play off a bigger man and i'm not sure that will be part of our future plans.

I agree Eze looks more like an attacking midfielder and I think Smyth looks more like he'd play slightly off a striker.

If we found a promising striker then of course we should go for it but i don't see us being able to afford anyone with proven quality and until we start using people to their strengths then it's not really worth it.

[White Duck]

Unless we get rid of a couple this window I would stick with what we have until the summer: the young lads coming through remove the need for buying IMO.

[kernowhoop]

The ones that can grab goals out of nothing are few and far between and tend to be expensive.

And, even big name strikers can mis-fire:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/201 ... u-premier/

I have a feeling that - given the service - we have players in the squad that can put the ball in the net. Should we not be working on them and also trying to make more of the opportunities that the midfield players get, but, do not convert often enough?

[Satch]

The ones that can grab goals out of nothing are few and far between and tend to be expensive.

And, even big name strikers can mis-fire:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/201 ... u-premier/

I have a feeling that - given the service - we have players in the squad that can put the ball in the net. Should we not be working on them and also trying to make more of the opportunities that the midfield players get, but, do not convert often enough?

Agreed, this division is full of average strikers who get a few, just look at Leon Clarke. We need to properly get at teams and create chances, most teams in this division have their frailties if you test them. Our strikers aren't world beaters but they aren't regularly missing sitters either. I don't think the midfield can be blamed though. If we create more space and use the flanks better that will give them more time and space to support the attack, rather than having to be the creators as they predominantly are now.

[Damien]

If the chance comes along to sign someone, we should. Of course that means we will need to let someone go. A bit of real experience upfront could be the making of some of our striking options.

[notlob66]

Matt Smith has scored the most headed goals in the division, and that's without wingers and not playing all games. I know he has limited ability but if we played to his strengths , who knows where it could get us.

[Systemsguy]

Matt Smith has scored the most headed goals in the division, and that's without wingers and not playing all games. I know he has limited ability but if we played to his strengths , who knows where it could get us.

oh we have an international class winger it's just he's either playing at wing back or sitting on the bench....

[SM]

It’s a difficult one, but I probably wouldn’t sign a striker this month.

Personally speaking, I would have loaned Eze back out and worked with what we have.

Presumably we won’t be buying anyone in January, I don’t see any real options available. And even if we go for a loan, I would rather see Ollie work with the youngsters that he’s bringing through and build for next season.

I know we’ve had a couple of bad runs, but I’ve never believed we would go down with this side. Stick with the youth.