1 minute ago, yorkleyblue said:

You think so?  I think his value has dropped considerably this season, as people have seen that he is quite a donkey when it comes to quick one-touch football.  On the BBC scorer's list he has 8, the same as Mitrovic, Glenn Murray and Gylfi Sigurdsson.  Only 1 more than Pedro.  And I know how much we in this forum love our goal-scoring stats as a measure of a player.

Our record of dealing with United is pretty rubbish in recent times. So no doubt we would either be given the runaround or end up paying an extortionate amount for Lukaku. I could see him going for about 40-50m if he leaves for a team outside the top 6 though.

Despite clearly needing one, the idea of us signing a striker just worries me.

In my mind we have a pretty poor record when it comes to signing strikers, but is it really as bad as I envisage it? I first started watching Chelsea in the 1982/83 season and in that time, off the top of my head we have had three great strikers. Dixon, Hasselbaink and Drogba. We've had two or three that have been very good but haven't quite worked out for some reason Crespo, Costa, and we've had a pretty long list of failures/disappointments (Cascarino, Sutton, Fleck, Kezman, Batshuai, Mutu, Sturridge, Falcao, Shevchenko, Remy, Giroud, Lukaku and some very expensive failures - Morata and Torres. Then there have been some that have done alright, but nothing special, Flo, Anelka, Vialli, Hughes, Eto'o Pizarro and Ba as maybe they were at the tail-end of their careers or only signed as a stopgap.

I figure that whoever we sign will not work out. It's just how we roll when it comes to centre forwards. Maybe we'd be better trying to find a midfielder who can shoot straight and isn't afraid to. Lamps was certainly a better finisher than a lot of those listed above.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by Snedger
Just remembered a couple more less than stellar signings

4 minutes ago, Snedger said:

Despite clearly needing one, the idea of us signing a striker just worries me.

In my mind we have a pretty poor record when it comes to signing strikers, but is it really as bad as I envisage it? I first started watching Chelsea in the 1982/83 season and in that time, off the top of my head we have had three great strikers. Dixon, Hasselbaink and Drogba. We've had two or three that have been very good but haven't quite worked out for some reason Crespo, Costa, and we've had a pretty long list of failures/disappointments (Cascarino, Sutton, Fleck, Kezman, Batshuai, Mutu, Sturridge, Falcao, Shevchenko, Remy, and some very expensive failures - Morata and Torres. Then there have been some that have done alright, but nothing special, Flo, Anelka, Vialli, Hughes, Eto'o Pizarro and Ba as maybe they were at the tail-end of their careers or only signed as a stopgap.

I figure that whoever we sign will not work out. It's just how we roll when it comes to centre forwards. Maybe we'd be better trying to find a midfielder who can shoot straight and isn't afraid to. Lamps was certainly a better finisher than a lot of those listed above.

A couple of others not listed who worked out well. David Speedie was a great partner for Dixon and chipped in with a fair few goals himself. Eidur Gudjohnsen was very good for us and signed at a bargain price. I think you are a little harsh on some of those that you list as nothing special but I agree with you overall. Since Drogba we've only really had Costa who has worked out in terms of goalscoring, and unfortunately he came with other issues.

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I wonder if we would be tempted to go back in for Lukaku in the summer. 

I would rather sign Morata and Green to new five year deals with a clause that guarantees both full 90 minutes every game bar injury or suspension.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by Argo

4 minutes ago, forbzy said:

A couple of others not listed who worked out well. David Speedie was a great partner for Dixon and chipped in with a fair few goals himself. Eidur Gudjohnsen was very good for us and signed at a bargain price. I think you are a little harsh on some of those that you list as nothing special but I agree with you overall. Since Drogba we've only really had Costa who has worked out in terms of goalscoring, and unfortunately he came with other issues.

Yes, perhaps a bit harsh on a couple, Anelka certainly did pretty well really. I didn't list Speedie and Gudjohnsen as whilst they chipped in pretty well, I kind of saw them as a number 10 type (as was) that played off a main striker in the great days of having two upfront. I guess Zola could fall into that category too.

Even all of the younger prospects haven't worked out either. I think we had some hopes that Traore, Bamford and Solanke might have proven to be our next great centre forward, but they all went wrong too.

No we wont this window. Morata will go on loan, we wont pay up for higuain or Wilson, we go with Giroud and Hazard.

7 minutes ago, Argo said:

I would rather sign Morata and Green to new five year deals with a clause that guarantees both full 90 minutes every game bar injury or suspension.

I'm not advocating us signing Lukaku but would be interested to know why you're so against the idea of signing him? 

He's scoring record in the Premier League is pretty impressive, even this season he's got 8 goals in only 12 starts. 

As far as goal scorers in England only Kane and Aguero currently hold better records than him. 

6 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

No we wont this window. Morata will go on loan, we wont pay up for higuain or Wilson, we go with Giroud and Hazard.

If we do that then we should either recall Tammy, or promote Charlie Brown to the first team squad.

6 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I'm not advocating us signing Lukaku but would be interested to know why you're so against the idea of signing him? 

He's scoring record in the Premier League is pretty impressive, even this season he's got 8 goals in only 12 starts. 

As far as goal scorers in England only Kane and Aguero currently hold better records than him. 

I just don't think he has the all round game for the top level. He's a good top flight level goalscorer but we already have that profile on our books in Bats if that's all we are looking for. For me isn't enough at the very top, and that's before we get into how his game is pretty much the athesis of what Sarri is about. He's too lazy to/can't press, can't link up and his movement is far too predictable. I personally believe if Sarri inherited him he would be getting moved on by now like Morata is being. 

36 minutes ago, Snedger said:

Despite clearly needing one, the idea of us signing a striker just worries me.

In my mind we have a pretty poor record when it comes to signing strikers, but is it really as bad as I envisage it? I first started watching Chelsea in the 1982/83 season and in that time, off the top of my head we have had three great strikers. Dixon, Hasselbaink and Drogba. We've had two or three that have been very good but haven't quite worked out for some reason Crespo, Costa, and we've had a pretty long list of failures/disappointments (Cascarino, Sutton, Fleck, Kezman, Batshuai, Mutu, Sturridge, Falcao, Shevchenko, Remy, Giroud, Lukaku and some very expensive failures - Morata and Torres. Then there have been some that have done alright, but nothing special, Flo, Anelka, Vialli, Hughes, Eto'o Pizarro and Ba as maybe they were at the tail-end of their careers or only signed as a stopgap.

I figure that whoever we sign will not work out. It's just how we roll when it comes to centre forwards. Maybe we'd be better trying to find a midfielder who can shoot straight and isn't afraid to. Lamps was certainly a better finisher than a lot of those listed above.

I agree with your post but Mark Hughes did alot better than alright for a player reaching the end of his career. He helped Chelsea with some great performances in the FA Cup and his partnership with Zola was good to watch.

25 minutes ago, forbzy said:

If we do that then we should either recall Tammy, or promote Charlie Brown to the first team squad.

He'd cost peanuts!

 

I'll see myself out.

10 minutes ago, BordeauxBlue said:

He'd cost peanuts!

 

I'll see myself out.

On 13/01/2019 at 11:18, Charles Ryder said:

Whisper it quietly, but... Cutrone > Higuain.

We're after the wrong Milan striker.

Why? He scored 3 goals this season. 10 last season,  less than Callum Wilson who nobody wants.

Hes 21 too, far from what we need. What we need to be thinking about is the short term rather than long term, I know I’d rather have Higuain with bags of experience at top level or Callum Wilson who knows the premier league well.

If we’re going to sign a young striker with potential, i’d Rather us wait until summer for that

2 hours ago, forbzy said:

I still think that his second half of the season is a great opportunity to bring Tammy back and give him an extended run in the first team. None of the available strikers are really looking that great at the moment so it may be better to wait until the summer. If we give Tammy a chance maybe he will save us some money.

I was watching a bit of Tammy after reading some Villa comments on the Digital Spy forum, seems to have admirers there.

Both him and Lukaku for me have poor first touches, Tammy looks better in the air though Lukaku is the better finisher from shots. Tammy always seems to work the keeper from shots rather than being clinical.

Tammy can cover a lot of ground whereas Lukaku seems more of a stop start sprinter.

Just now, Strider6003 said:

I was watching a bit of Tammy after reading some Villa comments on the Digital Spy forum, seems to have admirers there.

Both him and Lukaku for me have poor first touches, Tammy looks better in the air though Lukaku is the better finisher from shots. Tammy always seems to work the keeper from shots rather than being clinical.

Tammy can cover a lot of ground whereas Lukaku seems more of a stop start sprinter.

Tammy is far from the finished article but he is young and can improve with the right coaching.

1 minute ago, forbzy said:

Tammy is far from the finished article but he is young and can improve with the right coaching.

Yes he has time on his side given the right coaching and temperament.

I was thinking more along the lines of a striker to get us to the end of the season and keep us in the top 4 this and next season and considering the less favoured options.

Tammy is also cheaper being a loanee.

Yup, just for this season Higuain definitely is the best stop gap we could get.

Having scored 38 goals in 1 season under Sarri, knowing his style of football I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t make an instant impact. He’ll make the right movements, passes, opening up defences and getting Hazard involved too.

I can’t see what could go wrong with Higuain personally. If he doesn’t work out well, we can always put Hazard back in middle. Giroud or Morata won’t be any better.

1 minute ago, dansubrosa said:

Yup, just for this season Higuain definitely is the best stop gap we could get.

Having scored 38 goals in 1 season under Sarri, knowing his style of football I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t make an instant impact. He’ll make the right movements, passes, opening up defences and getting Hazard involved too.

I can’t see what could go wrong with Higuain personally. If he doesn’t work out well, we can always put Hazard back in middle. Giroud or Morata won’t be any better.

Problem is that Juve aren't interested in a loan without including a clause that requires to buy him at the end. So the overall cost will be large and we would then be committed to a longer term deal with the player.

How about an option to buy, say for 20 million?

He scores 15 goals, 20 million will look like a bargain. Imagine having Higuain and a top class first choice striker as options.

43 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Why? He scored 3 goals this season. 10 last season,  less than Callum Wilson who nobody wants.

Hes 21 too, far from what we need. What we need to? be thinking about is the short term rather than long term, I know I’d rather have Higuain with bags of experience at top level or Callum Wilson who knows the premier league well.?

If we’re going to sign a young striker with potential, i’d Rat?her us wait until summer for that

 

It was a slightly facetious post made on the basis of Cutrone's scorcher against Samp. And the sheer, mind-boggling cost of soon to be 32-year-old Higuain.

27 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

How about an option to buy, say for 20 million?

He scores 15 goals, 20 million will look like a bargain. Imagine having Higuain and a top class first choice striker as options.

When you package in wages etc. he will cost a large amount. His current earnings would make him our highest paid player.

2 hours ago, forbzy said:

A couple of others not listed who worked out well. David Speedie was a great partner for Dixon and chipped in with a fair few goals himself. Eidur Gudjohnsen was very good for us and signed at a bargain price. I think you are a little harsh on some of those that you list as nothing special but I agree with you overall. Since Drogba we've only really had Costa who has worked out in terms of goalscoring, and unfortunately he came with other issues.

I await the abuse, but Durie was pretty good, until he left to go north!!!! For family reasons, Kevin Wilson was okay

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by chi blue

Poor old Kalou never even made the list. Watford away, putting it in Riise’s head and bringing us back level after being 3-1 down to Spurs at home are some of his achievements.

15 hours ago, chi blue said:

I await the abuse, but Durie was pretty good, until he left to go north!!!! For family reasons, Kevin Wilson was okay

Good shout. He did a good job, 51 in 123 according to Wiki. A little bit like Speedie, Jukebox tended to play alongside Kerry (if my memory serves me right). It's hard to imagine anyone ever playing two upfront ever again.

14 hours ago, Munkworth said:

Poor old Kalou never even made the list. Watford away, putting it in Riise’s head and bringing us back level after being 3-1 down to Spurs at home are some of his achievements.

I may be wrong but I never considered Kalou a striker, more a wide attacking midfielder.

1 hour ago, Snedger said:

I may be wrong but I never considered Kalou a striker, more a wide attacking midfielder.

He came as a striker but was moved out wide when we realised he couldn’t finish.