I can’t say I necessarily agree with Neil Warnock’s judgment, for a change! As a squad I certainly think we possess a variation of strikers and I think we also have a set of strikers that have goals in them. Granted from the outside Frazier Campbell and Dwight Gayle seem like very similar players because of their pace and build but in reality offer a very different skill set. For a small man Campbell holds the ball up fantastically well and is excellent with his back to goal. Dwight is a typical goal scorer, you can’t teach what Dwight possesses – it is a natural talent that you are born with.
We also have a player in Marouane Chamkah who divides opinions like no other, love him or hate him you can’t knock his effort and the yards he puts in for the squad. Chamkah offers height and presence going forward but isn’t a natural goal scorer and that is why he has molded to the ‘number 10’ position so well.
Our biggest January signing could be Glenn Murray, he has found his goal scoring touch again at Reading and offers something different to what our current strike force does. Muzza hold the ball up magnificently well and his movement is second to none. Lots of fans and ‘experts’ doubt Murray’s ability at this level but without a clear run of games I don’t think anyone is in a position to make that judgment. To score 31 goals at any level is outstanding and that is quickly forgotten by most people, If players like Grant Holt and Ricky Lambert can step up to the Premier League and make an impact who says Glenn is any different?
At the very least Glenn should be included in the 25-man squad as lets face it, he offers 50 times more than what Kevin Doyle did.
Where I tend to disagree with Warnock on this statement is in recent weeks and matches we haven’t missed many clear cut chances, well the strikers certainly haven’t. I think the bigger issue is in the distribution of the ball in the final third, the players we expect to make the killer ball like Puncehon, Bolasie and Zaha haven’t done so. With the three wingers not hitting their best form and us being thin on the ground on options out wide that has to be the main target area in January. I believe we have a more than capable front line to tuck the chances away; it’s just a case of creating those chances.
CPFC2010 and Mr Warnock himself will have to be shrewd with trying to sign the striker they are craving. I have seen lots and lots of names mentioned and can’t say I have been overly inspired and am yet to find a name that is both realistic and going to improve on what we already have. A player of this type is probably the hardest to sign, they aren’t easy to come across and when you do they usually cost a fortune.
The January window will be make or break for us this year, if they don’t do the business we face the drop – I just hope Warnock’s scouting team have done their homework properly.
