So halfway through this rollercoaster of a season, the number one shout from all the Town faithful has to be - sign a striker!

Simple enough to say but exactly how hard is it to do?

We all play our computer games where we manage to sign Tevez and Ronaldo for Town and we manage to win everything in Europe, but real life certainly doesn't provide those luxuries.

Having 22,000 plus supporters continually asking Keane to sign a striker, you may think why hasn't he done it yet?

Looking at the market, there are a few out there but there are also some other clubs like Newcastle looking for a striker.

Take a player like Jermaine Beckford for example, striking hot in League One for Leeds and out of contract in the summer. So, scoring goals for fun in League One but could he actually hack it in this division, tight marking, pressing defenders etc, that's the question.

We all say how bad Priskin has been, but he was scoring goals for Watford, we paid the fee and look where it got us, would us Town fans be happy to pay that sort of money for Beckford for him to suddenly not score goals?

Then the player himself, does he want to join a team in the lower reaches of the table, yes improving but near the bottom, or join Newcastle up top and getting promoted. I know which one I'd choose if I had no connections with Ipswich.

Look at the offer offerings, League One even League Two players, who could make the step up? Who's looking to move, who's available to move, names on a postcard anyone?

We've been linked with Derby's Rob Hulse who being honest I wouldn't mind, but then I read the possible fee was £2.5 million, if the papers are to be believed. There's no way he's worth that, although his attributes would warrant it his age certainly wouldn't.

Being honest I really don't know of any strikers out there that could get us the goals to push up the league, certainly not without taking risks and I don't think a lot of the Town faithful are happy for Keane to take risks - Healy, for example.

So as much as I would love a new striker at the club, I really can't see us signing one, not without risk or by paying a fortune.

Be patient fans, let's get behind the team, enjoy what's left of this season and being honest if we manage to get to mid-table be happy that we have survived and look forward to next season, where we really could be ready to fly - with the new striker we want.

TractorBoy added 15:53 - Jan 12 It will be difficult, but he should be able to get at least 1 decent striker. I personally would like to see Ricky Lambert or Ricardo Fuller. Up the Town!
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mistleyblue added 16:01 - Jan 12 Frazer Campbell of Sunderland ? not getting a game in the league, did it for Hull in this league... worth a loan punt
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shropshiretractor added 16:04 - Jan 12 Jamie Scowcroft...
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Surco72 added 16:04 - Jan 12 Firstly its not just a scoring striker we need ,we are lacking goals from everywhere .Our midfielders have scored 6 times in 88 starts between them Whittingham,Ambrose,Nolan,Johnson,Adam,Cleverly,Buzaky have all scored more than that on their own . Secondly 15 goals in over 65 games for Watford isnt that great a record for a striker 1 in 4.5 games ,so maybe we paid over the odds on the Priskin signing ? And what seperates good or great managers from average is seeing the talent in a player ,taking the gamble and getting the best out of them

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xrayspecs added 16:16 - Jan 12 Could we actually afford the wages of a proven scorer at this level? How much a week would a regular 20-goal-a-season Championship striker command? Which takes us into calculated risk territory - a striker from the lower leagues (Grant Holt and Ricky Lambert are scoring for fun but both wear the journeyman label); a proven scorer from a foreign top division side (would suspect that you can rule out the major leagues- France, Italy, Spain etc); or try and get a season or two out of an ageing Prem League forward who would genuinely relish the challenge and take the wage cut? David Nugent would seem a prime candidate - proven scorer at this level but has not got the pace of finesse to really make the grade in the Premiership. That he earns over a £1m a season in wages is the reason he will not be dropping out of the Premiership (until he has no choice).

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brockleyblueboy added 16:24 - Jan 12 Kevin Phillips.
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TheFace added 16:29 - Jan 12 Sorry if this shocks you but actually "we" don't "all play computer games!!"
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Lightningboy added 16:29 - Jan 12 It's a well known fact that all strikers thrive on confidence..I don't think Keane's done us,himself or our strikers any good this season by continually rotating the front 2 almost for every game. I'm sure if he'd decided on his first choice 2 at the beginning of the season (e.g. Counago & Stead) they'd both be in/or nearing double figures by now.
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mightytown added 16:29 - Jan 12 I agree, we definitely need a striker with that cutting edge up front but now may not be the best time. Getting the right person in, for the right price is going to be very difficult. We've been on a good run of form of late but have failed to really move ourselves away from the relegation spots, if we were a little further up the table with twice as many wins under our belt, maybe bringing in a striker would be good to drive forward a late playoff charge but we've left ourselves too much to do. The thing is, the midefeild really needs to chip in with goals aswell, as a team we need that cutting edge in front of goal, the blame can not lie entirely with our strikers. I feel confident that in upcoming weeks we can convert our form into wins to push us up the table and away from the bottom. If we do that then we will build momentum for next season but to spend big(ish) money now when we are not strictly our of danger could be a massive mistake. we have been in a dogfight all season and we really need to distance ourselves from the threat of relegation, the team we have is more then capabale of finishing this season strong, with a top ten finish but id say that would be it. Healy has never disgraced himself playing for ipswich and for the money we paid for him, hes not really a risk that has flopped. His loan move to falkirk could do him the world of good and is a credit to him that he wants to be playing regular football. if he comes back a rejuvenated player, like we hope with trotter and smith, then he could still play a part for town, dont forget, who knows where colback will be playing at the start of next season. we will be stronger next season. we all expect good things to come from wickham and i cant believe priskin's town career will ultimately end in such dire straits. our priority for this season has to be a strong mid table finish, lets get excited about a big summer signing in the summer, not waste it in January. finish strong and move upwards and onwards - COYB

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brockleyblueboy added 16:36 - Jan 12 Gio Dos Santos
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tom_the_blue added 16:44 - Jan 12 i agree with most of this. it is very hard to sign a striker, sepecially at this level. most fans ask for a "20 goal a season player, proven at this level", but they are few and far between. Those that have scored 20 goals in a side that don't get promoted get snapped up by prem side, the most recent example of this is Scotland, formerly of swansea, or Kuqi and Bent for us. That only leaves us with player like Priskin and Lisbie, who have one decent season when they score a few but fail to do anything otherwise, and players who are 'past it', having been good a few years back, and loan signings form the prem, who are unlikely to set the world alight, with exceptions like Gio. i still think we need a striker, but it is no good wasting it on players like lisbie if they are not going to proove their worth

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xrayspecs added 16:46 - Jan 12 Kuqi arguably had just one good season before departing to the Prem.
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blueherts added 16:48 - Jan 12 Marcus Stewart , David Johnson , Darren Bent , Shefki Kuqi ... All did well for us .. I think we should we look at Simeon Jackson ..Keep the Caribbean connection going!!
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blueherts added 16:48 - Jan 12 Marcus Stewart , David Johnson , Darren Bent , Shefki Kuqi ... All did well for us .. I think we should we look at Simeon Jackson ..Keep the Caribbean connection going!!
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pottyblue added 16:52 - Jan 12 give priskin a go HE IS A GOOD STRIKER just needs a chance or 4
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wazza added 16:58 - Jan 12 In my opinion had we given either pablo or priskin the same amount of game play as stern john in the last few weeks either of them would have score at least a couple
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itfckieren added 17:05 - Jan 12 There are clearly players out there.. Question is has he approached them & they simply aren't interested or is he just not looking hard enough?? Gio Dos Santos.. Redknappp said he wouldnt let him go as he has a part to play.. When was the last time he played for Spurs (even off the bench) David Healy.. Clearly not getting a look in at Sunderland (Keane has the connection) Darren Ambrose.. Why dont we chuck a bid a palace, they clearly need the money & no reason why he wouldnt come back again, especially now Magilton has gone & was a fool not to sign him when he was on loan Michael Misfud.. Banged them in for Coventry, where is he now? Worth a punt for a small fee you would think Gregor Rasiak?? Aaron Mclean?? Clinton Morisson??

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FriskinPriskin1 added 17:09 - Jan 12 We need to find another David Johnson. When George signed him from Bury his record was not anywhere near the level that Simeon Jackson currently has. It comes down to good old fashion scouting in the basement. It can be done. But there is a risk, but at the level of Colin Healy rather than £1-2m that someone like Jackson may cost.
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brockleyblueboy added 17:11 - Jan 12 I agree with all comments above, especially lightningboy. we need someone but have we got someone in the ranks anyway? How much were people on steads back (me included) at the begining of the season? He bangs in a few goals and my thought process changes to "Oh god he isn't playing against lleicester, we aere going to struggle. It is crazy to think of the money we paid for priskin and he isn't getting a look in. And Counago, has proved tjhat he is a confidence striker that needs a run in the team. Bottom line I still have £125 on that we will make the play offs (Blind optimisim or just blind drunk when I made the bet) but lets have a strong finish and galvanise a team ready to win the league next season.

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xrayspecs added 17:33 - Jan 12 Friskin So what you are saying is that we need to find a player like Simeon Jackson - someonw who is banging in the goals in a lower league - yet pay only about 50k for him. How hard can that be?
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bringonthetractor added 17:35 - Jan 12 I wonder if Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe is worth a punt? He's got 31 in 62 for them (1 in 2), and 8 in the league this season. We would need to let someone go if we sign another striker though I think, as we've got Stead, John, Priskin, Counago and Wickham (and even Walters, but I think he's better in midfield).
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cbower added 17:49 - Jan 12 Spot on FrisknPriskin with the reference to David Johnson. Johnson had scored goals for Bury at a lower level and Burley took the risk (1 million was alot of money for Town in those days if my memory serves me right!) What is all this "proven at this level" nonesense? Frazier Campbell helped "lowly" Hull get promoted when on loan and he was not "proven" at Championship level. Other comments about "good old scouting in the basement" are bang on the money. Take a punt on someone who is hungry - either from the lower leagues or a youngster in Prem reserves. Also, Priskin has not been given a proper run in the team - one or two games in and then straight back out will do nothing for his confidence - key to striking success - you have to miss a few to score a few and not think that you'll be dropped (or have the crowd on your back) if you don't score in any given game! Once again, Simeon Jackson for me - explosive pace and this will be effective against Championship defences, especially in a side that creates as many opportunities as we have this season.

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Lowestoft_Tench added 18:27 - Jan 12 totally agree with cbower - what has happened to our scouting system?? we rely too heavily on bringing youth through the ranks but they need time to step up from the youth league. do we actually employ scouts anymore? i'm sure that when we bought marcus stewart halfway through the promotion season most people didn't rate him or hadn't heard him, the same with david johnson. we should be looking at a striker with attributes that we are currently lacking - a striker with pace is a must, we haven't had one since bent left and simeon jackson fits the bill perfectly. i hate the people who say " not proven in the championship" and campbell is a good example. A goalscorer is a goolscorer no matter what league they play in. A punt on a lower league player is a good option. They will have a desire to play in a higher league, which is a lot more than i have seen from priskin this season, who for me is very lazy in an almost marcus bent style way, i think he has a "i'll just collect my money and not bother " attitude IMHO.

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jas0999 added 19:08 - Jan 12 If we fail to bring in a striker, I can see us finishing somewhere between 17-20th. If however we sign a goalscorer, I think we could push top 10. Certainly 10-13th or so.
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siralfstrackie added 19:35 - Jan 12 Haven't seen any mention of Billy Sharp yet. 10 in 17 games ain't a bad return and Sheffield would probably pay attention to a sensible bid, especially as he's out on a season long loan at Doncaster. COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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