| Striker talk 16:28 - May 15 with 8828 views | ThisIsMyUsername |
A lot hinging on what Leicester decide to do with Hirst. Should we not be looking to sign more than one anyway? Someone of equal quality and/or potential to Hirst? Ladapo only 9 Championship goals (admittedly that's 9 more than Hirst has scored) and 30 now so unlikely to develop much further. Good at League 1 but is he good enough to be number 2 in the Championship for a team with higher ambition? I'd be surprised if the club aren't looking to add two strikers (one hopefully will be Hirst), rather than betting everything on Hirst/another + Ladapo.
Apologies if this thread has already been done.
Discuss. |  |
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| Striker talk on 16:30 - May 15 with 4898 views | tractorboy1978 |
Marcus Forss. |  | | |
| Striker talk on 16:33 - May 15 with 4876 views | Herbivore |
Ladapo has improved over the course of this season though and has just had probably the best year of his career under McKenna. He's more than adequate as a second choice striker going into next season, imo. If we decide to bring TJJ back he can also play that role, though I imagine will more often play as a 10. Assuming Hirst or an equivalent signs that'll be more than enough. I'm not sure we need three specialist number 9s going into next season, Ladapo plus one (hopefully Hirst) and then a 10 who can also lead the line (possibly TJJ, Broadhead can also play as a 9 too though) and that'll do for us. |  |
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| Lucas Joao. **taps nose** (n/t) on 16:33 - May 15 with 4866 views | Bloots |
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| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| Striker talk on 16:33 - May 15 with 4848 views | homer_123 |
The player we are looking for is Batistuta...watch this space. |  |
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| Lucas Joao. **taps nose** (n/t) on 16:36 - May 15 with 4825 views | cressi |
| Lucas Joao. **taps nose** (n/t) on 16:33 - May 15 by Bloots |
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Why Foss 10 in 38 average | | | |
| Striker talk on 16:37 - May 15 with 4821 views | ThisIsMyUsername |
| Striker talk on 16:33 - May 15 by Herbivore |
Ladapo has improved over the course of this season though and has just had probably the best year of his career under McKenna. He's more than adequate as a second choice striker going into next season, imo. If we decide to bring TJJ back he can also play that role, though I imagine will more often play as a 10. Assuming Hirst or an equivalent signs that'll be more than enough. I'm not sure we need three specialist number 9s going into next season, Ladapo plus one (hopefully Hirst) and then a 10 who can also lead the line (possibly TJJ, Broadhead can also play as a 9 too though) and that'll do for us. |
You make some fine points, and ultimately if KM and co do decide to go with the two number 9s then in them we trust. | |
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| Striker talk on 16:40 - May 15 with 4791 views | cressi |
| Striker talk on 16:33 - May 15 by Herbivore |
Ladapo has improved over the course of this season though and has just had probably the best year of his career under McKenna. He's more than adequate as a second choice striker going into next season, imo. If we decide to bring TJJ back he can also play that role, though I imagine will more often play as a 10. Assuming Hirst or an equivalent signs that'll be more than enough. I'm not sure we need three specialist number 9s going into next season, Ladapo plus one (hopefully Hirst) and then a 10 who can also lead the line (possibly TJJ, Broadhead can also play as a 9 too though) and that'll do for us. |
See I'd prefer Joel Piroe swansea to Foss 41 in 88 games also aged 23 years consistent last two seasons in championship for a average team | | | |
| Striker talk on 16:40 - May 15 with 4789 views | clive_baker |
Hirst is clearly the top target and I do think it'll happen but we wont be putting all our eggs in that basket, I'm sure there's a shortlist.
I think Ladapo might be on his way so I wouldn't be surprised if we bring 2 in. |  |
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| Striker talk on 16:42 - May 15 with 4767 views | strikalite |
It's going to be interesting to see, we've had good Championship players this season to get us out of this league, will we now need Premier League players to get out of the Championship? He'll know that in football you have to keep moving forward and trying to improve....though having said that Sunderland have had a great season with basically the same group of players who were playing in League One last season. |  | | |
| Lucas Joao. **taps nose** (n/t) on 16:42 - May 15 with 4757 views | clive_baker |
| Lucas Joao. **taps nose** (n/t) on 16:36 - May 15 by cressi |
Why Foss 10 in 38 average |
Hirst wouldn't have joined based on that logic. | |
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| Striker talk on 16:44 - May 15 with 4739 views | FrimleyBlue |
Dane Scarlett. |  |
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| Striker talk on 16:52 - May 15 with 4672 views | cressi |
| Striker talk on 16:44 - May 15 by FrimleyBlue |
Dane Scarlett. |
No he done nothing after 3 /4 months at Pompey if we go for Hirst we need a proven goalscorer championship level not a maybe | | | |
| Striker talk on 16:59 - May 15 with 4621 views | Herbivore |
| Striker talk on 16:37 - May 15 by ThisIsMyUsername |
You make some fine points, and ultimately if KM and co do decide to go with the two number 9s then in them we trust. |
I think whilst it's good to have squad depth there has to be a limit to how many players we have. Two for each position with one or two versatile options on top is about right to give us enough cover and have competition for places whilst keeping everyone largely happy and feeling like they are a part of it. As someone else has mentioned, it's not impossible we let Ladapo move on if he wants to be the main man somewhere and with the season he's just had I could see a top end League 1 side of a lower Championship side wanting to take a punt on him. If that happens it gives us the chance to upgrade but I doubt we'd be actively looking to sell him. He's got better and better this season, imo, and physically he should be up to Championship football. He did okay there in a not great Rotherham side and I'd say he's a better player now under McKenna. | |
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| Striker talk on 17:10 - May 15 with 4570 views | ThisIsMyUsername |
| Striker talk on 16:59 - May 15 by Herbivore |
I think whilst it's good to have squad depth there has to be a limit to how many players we have. Two for each position with one or two versatile options on top is about right to give us enough cover and have competition for places whilst keeping everyone largely happy and feeling like they are a part of it. As someone else has mentioned, it's not impossible we let Ladapo move on if he wants to be the main man somewhere and with the season he's just had I could see a top end League 1 side of a lower Championship side wanting to take a punt on him. If that happens it gives us the chance to upgrade but I doubt we'd be actively looking to sell him. He's got better and better this season, imo, and physically he should be up to Championship football. He did okay there in a not great Rotherham side and I'd say he's a better player now under McKenna. |
I probably didn't express it clearly enough in my OP but the main point was around the strength in depth rather than numbers per position, and like you I wouldn't be too surprised if we go into next season with the two number 9s (Hirst + one other new player). | |
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| Striker talk on 17:12 - May 15 with 4537 views | Illinoisblue |
| Striker talk on 16:52 - May 15 by cressi |
No he done nothing after 3 /4 months at Pompey if we go for Hirst we need a proven goalscorer championship level not a maybe |
Didn’t KMac talk of Scarlett being one of the best young strikers in Europe? Clearly a fan. |  |
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| Striker talk on 17:18 - May 15 with 4497 views | Herbivore |
| Striker talk on 16:52 - May 15 by cressi |
No he done nothing after 3 /4 months at Pompey if we go for Hirst we need a proven goalscorer championship level not a maybe |
There's no way Hirst will be coming here to be second choice. | |
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| Striker talk on 17:18 - May 15 with 4497 views | PioneerBlue |
When starting all these types of topics speak in terms of attributes rather than a striker that has scored 30 goals a season in the champ. The idea is profiles of players that can take us forwards, scoring goals is an outcome of many things and will come cheap if we are looking at proven talent, if it exists at this level. | |
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| Striker talk on 19:50 - May 15 with 4099 views | Parky |
Jay Stansfield. | | | |
| Striker talk on 20:58 - May 15 with 3890 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Striker talk on 17:12 - May 15 by Illinoisblue |
Didn’t KMac talk of Scarlett being one of the best young strikers in Europe? Clearly a fan. |
Indeed was very complimentary about him. And fits that potential high ceiling transfer policy that's been mentioned on here a few times. | |
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| Striker talk on 21:04 - May 15 with 3852 views | BigCommon |
| Striker talk on 16:44 - May 15 by FrimleyBlue |
Dane Scarlett. |
I remember KM saying how DS was one of Europe's best young players. Im sure he was just trying to heap a bit onto Cowley, though. Being as Cowley kept mouthing off about the quality of our squad, compared to theirs,at the time....
I wouldn't judge anyone's performances under Cowley, to harshley. He's a two Bob PE teacher. KM would get a lot more from any player, imo, than the Cowley sisters could..
Don't think Scarlet is the worse shout in the World. He's got the speed and energy for our press. And as we know, goals aren't the be all and end all, for a striker in a KM side..( Hirst 6 in 21).. |  | | |
| Striker talk on 21:05 - May 15 with 3836 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Striker talk on 21:04 - May 15 by BigCommon |
I remember KM saying how DS was one of Europe's best young players. Im sure he was just trying to heap a bit onto Cowley, though. Being as Cowley kept mouthing off about the quality of our squad, compared to theirs,at the time....
I wouldn't judge anyone's performances under Cowley, to harshley. He's a two Bob PE teacher. KM would get a lot more from any player, imo, than the Cowley sisters could..
Don't think Scarlet is the worse shout in the World. He's got the speed and energy for our press. And as we know, goals aren't the be all and end all, for a striker in a KM side..( Hirst 6 in 21).. |
I think it could be one.
Dane
JJ
Hirst
Ladapo
That's enough for the champ imo. | |
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| Striker talk on 22:07 - May 15 with 3672 views | TalkingBlues |
Ladapo as one of the 2 main 9’s would be an absolute disaster for us in the Championship, people have very short memories indeed on this thread, we had to bring 2 forwards to the club in Jan cos the existing players (Harness and Ladapo) couldn’t hit a barn door with a Banjo and not only that, but Ladapo despite being 8 feet tall can’t head a ball for toffee and is painfully slow! Hirst has been a marginal improvement on Ladapo, but he’s still a long way off being a decent player and his only claim to fame for us, was being a marginal improvement on Ladapo, hardly a claim to fame, he’s brilliant at chasing defenders down, but nowhere near clinical, even by league 1 standards. Could Hirst improve? Sure, but he needs to do it fast and If the club holds out any hope of promotion again any time soon, we’ll need at least 2 new proven forwards. |  |
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| Striker talk on 22:17 - May 15 with 3638 views | HungryLikeTheWoolf |
I'm not gonna spend any time worrying about who we may or may not sign - I have full faith that our scouting and analytics teams, as well as Ashton, McKenna and co, will already have a list of targets that are well suited to our team in the championship.
We spent all of last summer fretting about the will-he-won't-he saga of Celina and in the end we were fine without him! |  | | |
| Striker talk on 22:22 - May 15 with 3619 views | Churchman |
| Striker talk on 22:07 - May 15 by TalkingBlues |
Ladapo as one of the 2 main 9’s would be an absolute disaster for us in the Championship, people have very short memories indeed on this thread, we had to bring 2 forwards to the club in Jan cos the existing players (Harness and Ladapo) couldn’t hit a barn door with a Banjo and not only that, but Ladapo despite being 8 feet tall can’t head a ball for toffee and is painfully slow! Hirst has been a marginal improvement on Ladapo, but he’s still a long way off being a decent player and his only claim to fame for us, was being a marginal improvement on Ladapo, hardly a claim to fame, he’s brilliant at chasing defenders down, but nowhere near clinical, even by league 1 standards. Could Hirst improve? Sure, but he needs to do it fast and If the club holds out any hope of promotion again any time soon, we’ll need at least 2 new proven forwards. |
Hirst ‘a long way off being a decent player’. Are you serious?
Ladapo ‘couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo’. Just the 20 goals. Dear oh dear.
I’m sure you’re just doing that ‘edge Lord’ thing, but ok I’ll bite. Which two ‘proven forwards’ should we target? |  | | |
| Striker talk on 22:28 - May 15 with 3568 views | farkenhell |
| Striker talk on 22:07 - May 15 by TalkingBlues |
Ladapo as one of the 2 main 9’s would be an absolute disaster for us in the Championship, people have very short memories indeed on this thread, we had to bring 2 forwards to the club in Jan cos the existing players (Harness and Ladapo) couldn’t hit a barn door with a Banjo and not only that, but Ladapo despite being 8 feet tall can’t head a ball for toffee and is painfully slow! Hirst has been a marginal improvement on Ladapo, but he’s still a long way off being a decent player and his only claim to fame for us, was being a marginal improvement on Ladapo, hardly a claim to fame, he’s brilliant at chasing defenders down, but nowhere near clinical, even by league 1 standards. Could Hirst improve? Sure, but he needs to do it fast and If the club holds out any hope of promotion again any time soon, we’ll need at least 2 new proven forwards. |
I've read this three times now and I still can't work out whether you are trying to be serious or not.
Regardless, you are talking out of your @rse. | | | |
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