Billy Davies: "I want five strikers"

[Jonathan]

I know, as do many others, that Billy Davies has long said that he wants at least five quality strikers, so there's no need for this thread at all.

Someone was bound to create it at some point, so I thought that rather than me putting it in the David McGoldrick thread and then some illiterate bugger starting a new thread saying the same thing, I'd save them the effort.

Anyway, the NEP today links us with both McGoldrick and, more importantly, Ched Evans. I know we've been linked with him before, but this is another sign that we're looking up rather than down and he'd be an exceptional signing.

Earnshaw
Blackstock
Garner
Evans
Tyson

:drool:

BILLY Davies today confirmed he wants FIVE senior strikers at Forest next season.

And former Notts County front-man David McGoldrick and Manchester City's Ched Evans are both high on his shopping list.

As revealed in the Evening Post at the start of the week, the Reds are already in negotiations to sign Dexter Blackstock permanently following his successful loan spell from QPR, which would leave the club with a quartet of quality strikers.

But Davies today revealed that he is looking to add more attacking options to his side as well and is working on potentially adding a fifth forward.

"I will be looking to bring in at least one more striker. We need that if we are to compete at the top level," said Davies who saw both Joe Garner and Robert Earnshaw find the back of the net against Southampton on Sunday.

"It was a great finish by Joe but that is what he is all about. He is a fox in the box, just like Robbie Earnshaw is.

"What we need to find now is the kind of strikers who can complement them (and Nathan Tyson), who can play at certain grounds at certain times and give us the rotation option that we have lacked over the last few months."

As another man with powerful physical attributes, McGoldrick is the type of player Davies is likely to target to add more strength to his front-line.

With financially-stricken Southampton having been relegated, manager Mark Wotte will be under pressure to sell some of his bigger earners. McGoldrick, 21, has netted 14 goals for the Saints this season, making him far and away the club's top scorer.

McGoldrick could be available for around £500,000, although Forest may have to pay more than £2m to land Welsh international Evans who scored ten goals for Norwich during a loan spell at Carrow Road in the 2007/08 season.

Evans featured regularly for City in their Uefa Cup campaign this season as well as making three Premiership starts and 12 sub appearances.

He is also 6ft and is a solidly built 20-year-old but is more of an all-round front-man.

Forest have already paid a six-figure loan fee to QPR for Blackstock's services over the few months, which would be taken off the final agreed price.

http://www.thisisnottinghamforest.co.uk/news/Davies-wants-strikers-Forest/article-964367-detail/article.html

 

[king_congo_red]

Calderwood had five strikers though...

...is Billy not counting Emile Sinclair and Big Wes? lol

 

[DanR]

There were loads of strikers in the Barnsley crowd. :dry:

 

[removed user]

There were loads of strikers in the Barnsley crowd. :dry:

:mellow:

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

There were loads of strikers in the Barnsley crowd. :dry:

lol and they said you weren't funny anymore

 

[tom1990]

I know, as do many others, that Billy Davies has long said that he wants at least five quality strikers, so there's no need for this thread at all.

Someone was bound to create it at some point, so I thought that rather than me putting it in the David McGoldrick thread and then some illiterate bugger starting a new thread saying the same thing, I'd save them the effort.

Anyway, the NEP today links us with both McGoldrick and, more importantly, Ched Evans. I know we've been linked with him before, but this is another sign that we're looking up rather than down and he'd be an exceptional signing.

Earnshaw
Blackstock
Garner
Evans
Tyson

:drool:

http://www.thisisnottinghamforest.co.uk/news/Davies-wants-strikers-Forest/article-964367-detail/article.html

That would be the best strikeforce in the league without a shadow of a doubt. There are so many attributes in those 5 players including pace, power, excellent finishing, aerial prowess etc. I would prefer to see Evans here over McGoldrick, as he has been excellent whenever I've seen him, however, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see McGoldrick come here either. He scored 14 goals in a relegated Southampton side this season which is very impressive. He also offer a physical presence as the article says, and at 21 he has plenty of time to develop.

Is anyone else already getting excited for the new season?! We are looking at bringing some top quality players to the club, players with Premiership credentials. The majority of them are young hungry players, who albeit still have a lot to learn, but with the right coaching from BD and his team, should make it and hopefully will do with us. If we can get Gunter, Anderson, Blackstock and Osbourne to sign permanent contracts, then that will be a massive coup for the club. All these players, or the vast majority, will play Premiership football one day. I really do think that if we sign these players, plus Evans, McGoldrick etc etc, and add to that players already at the club e.g. Cohen, who I already think is ready for the Premiership, then there are some very exciting times ahead for this club. The main objective for BD this summer, which I'm sure he's aware of, is to tie as many of these people down to permanent contracts, and then build on that. If we can bring them to the club and play them together for a whole year, they will forge an understanding between one-another and will push this club closer to where it should be.

 

[Capital Girl]

That would be the best strikeforce in the league without a shadow of a doubt. There are so many attributes in those 5 players including pace, power, excellent finishing, aerial prowess etc. I would prefer to see Evans here over McGoldrick, as he has been excellent whenever I've seen him, however, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see McGoldrick come here either. He scored 14 goals in a relegated Southampton side this season which is very impressive. He also offer a physical presence as the article says, and at 21 he has plenty of time to develop.

Is anyone else already getting excited for the new season?! We are looking at bringing some top quality players to the club, players with Premiership credentials. The majority of them are young hungry players, who albeit still have a lot to learn, but with the right coaching from BD and his team, should make it and hopefully will do with us. If we can get Gunter, Anderson, Blackstock and Osbourne to sign permanent contracts, then that will be a massive coup for the club. All these players, or the vast majority, will play Premiership football one day. I really do think that if we sign these players, plus Evans, McGoldrick etc etc, and add to that players already at the club e.g. Cohen, who I already think is ready for the Premiership, then there are some very exciting times ahead for this club. The main objective for BD this summer, which I'm sure he's aware of, is to tie as many of these people down to permanent contracts, and then build on that. If we can bring them to the club and play them together for a whole year, they will forge an understanding between one-another and will push this club closer to where it should be.

Just out of interest, which of those strikers, which would be the "best in the league without a shadow of a doubt" has Premiership credentials? None of them have ever even been promoted out of the Championship.

People need a healthy dose of realism or before long you'll be on Billy's back because we're not 20 points clear by October.

Sorry to put a downer on things, I do like the strikeforce above but only 2 can play at any one time!

 

[Rich]

There were loads of strikers in the Barnsley crowd. :dry:

You're on your way back, DanR.

 

[king_congo_red]

None of them have ever even been promoted out of the Championship.

Didn't Earnshaw win promotion at Norwich?

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Someone was bound to create it at some point, so I thought that rather than me putting it in the David McGoldrick thread and then some illiterate bugger starting a new thread saying the same thing, I'd save them the effort.

You underestimate the power of the illiterate bugger. They will start a new thread (ir )regardless.

 

[EmJay]

Didn't Earnshaw win promotion at Norwich?

I don't think so, think it was West Brom.

 

[andyred]

Just out of interest, which of those strikers, which would be the "best in the league without a shadow of a doubt" has Premiership credentials? None of them have ever even been promoted out of the Championship.

People need a healthy dose of realism or before long you'll be on Billy's back because we're not 20 points clear by October.

Sorry to put a downer on things, I do like the strikeforce above but only 2 can play at any one time!

Earnshaw has been promoted and has played in the Premiership. Garner, Evans and Blackstock are all at the start of their careers. Dosn't mean they aren't capable of promotion because they havn't done it yet. Evans is impressive in the Uefa cup and has played Premiership football already.

How many of the Wolves team had been promoted before?

I'm not saying we need to expect promotion but there is nothing wrong with a bit of optimism and ambition. I think top 6 is realistic. We have not been far of that since BD took over and as we all know his record in the Championship is second to none.

 

[Capital Girl]

Didn't Earnshaw win promotion at Norwich?

Nope, he was signed from Cardiff by the Baggies after they'd been promoted, then signed by Norwich when Norwich were in the Championship, then signed by the sheep after they'd been promoted, and now us.

 

[Beasty]

Calm down people, we are being "linked" with quality players and that is all.

 

[tom1990]

Just out of interest, which of those strikers, which would be the "best in the league without a shadow of a doubt" has Premiership credentials? None of them have ever even been promoted out of the Championship.

People need a healthy dose of realism or before long you'll be on Billy's back because we're not 20 points clear by October.

Sorry to put a downer on things, I do like the strikeforce above but only 2 can play at any one time!

Earnshaw has scored goals wherever he has been (excluding Derby) including the Premiership and was promoted with West Brom. Evans has played and scored goals in the Championship whilst on loan at Norwich, and is currently on the bench at the richest club in the world and has scored several goals in the Premiership, as well as offering other qualities such as an aerial threat, link up play with the midfield etc, and is only 20 let's not forget. Blackstock has consistantly scored goals at Championship level as well as supplying goals for others and is only 22 himself. Tyson may not be a 30 goal a season striker but he offers sheer pace which stretches teams and creates opportunities for himself and others. Garner is only 21 I think, and was our second top scorer this year, even though he missed much of the season through injury and time on the bench, but he is a clever striker who will score goals.

 

[Randy Bumgardener]

Brum only have 2 players with Premiership experience ! I do think we need an old head, but not a team full of them. Youthful exuberance and drive along with BD's motivational qualities should be as much a factor as experience !

 

[Capital Girl]

Earnshaw has scored goals wherever he has been (excluding Derby) including the Premiership and was promoted with West Brom.

No, he wasn't.

 

[andyred]

Why does it matter? He has consistently scored around 20 goals a season in this league. How can you doubt his quality because he hasn't been promoted before? It's not relevant.

 

[adam09]

Not sure about Ched Evans, too similar to Joe Garner. Not really what we need. We could do with either another Blackstock (target man) or another Tyson (fast as f***).

Brum only have 2 players with Premiership experience ! I do think we need an old head, but not a team full of them. Youthful exuberance and drive along with BD's motivational qualities should be as much a factor as experience !

Carsley, Taylor, Phillips, Larsson, Quedrue, McFadden, Jerome? Those are just off the top of my head!

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Not sure about Ched Evans, too similar to Joe Garner. Not really what we need. We could do with either another Blackstock (target man) or another Tyson (fast as f***).

Carsley, Taylor, Phillips, Larsson, Quedrue, McFadden, Jerome? Those are just off the top of my head!

That confused me too.

Most of that squad got relegated from the premiership the year before with them didn't it?

 

[Capital Girl]

Why does it matter? He has consistently scored around 20 goals a season in this league. How can you doubt his quality because he hasn't been promoted before? It's not relevant.

Of course it's relevant. Successful teams don't build themselves around him. He invariably plays for teams at the weaker end of the division, this season was no different. I'm grateful for what he's done this season but I have a feeling he won't be Billy's first choice next year.

And he's only once scored 20 goals in this league, which was 6 years ago, and once he's got 19.

 

[trent-ender]

Of course it's relevant. Successful teams don't build themselves around him. He invariably plays for teams at the weaker end of the division, this season was no different. I'm grateful for what he's done this season but I have a feeling he won't be Billy's first choice next year.

And he's only once scored 20 goals in this league, which was 6 years ago, and once he's got 19.

I'm not sure invariably is fair! How many teams has he played for in the championship??
I'd say cardiff were a pretty succesful team while he was with them, making their way up through the divisions, and it was his goals that played a big part.
Then he moved onto west brom where, in the premiership, he scored something like 12 in around 20 odd starts... not bad, a ratio that many of the big names up there now haven't managed!
Then in the championship with Norwich, admittedly they had a fairly poor season (though better than the current one!!!) but he still scored 19 league goals in a season seriously hampered by injury. If memory serves me correctly he'd got 16 odd by January!
Then we get to derby, which was indeed a blip in his career, but he was never given a chance and was playing in a team that was exceptionally poor.

I think we've got one of the best strikers in the league on our hands, certainly in pure goalscoring terms, and for him not to be a regular starter next year would be a bad mistake.

 

[sam.oc235]

he says on forest website he wants 6 top sharp shooters

 

[lancecunno]

I'm not sure invariably is fair! How many teams has he played for in the championship??
I'd say cardiff were a pretty succesful team while he was with them, making their way up through the divisions, and it was his goals that played a big part.
Then he moved onto west brom where, in the premiership, he scored something like 12 in around 20 odd starts... not bad, a ratio that many of the big names up there now haven't managed!
Then in the championship with Norwich, admittedly they had a fairly poor season (though better than the current one!!!) but he still scored 19 league goals in a season seriously hampered by injury. If memory serves me correctly he'd got 16 odd by January!
Then we get to derby, which was indeed a blip in his career, but he was never given a chance and was playing in a team that was exceptionally poor.

I think we've got one of the best strikers in the league on our hands, certainly in pure goalscoring terms, and for him not to be a regular starter next year would be a bad mistake.

Yeah, i do agree he's being kinda harsh on Earnshaw. Whether he played in successful teams or not, there's no doubting his ability to score goals.

I worked out that in around 136 games in this division (including sub apps) he's scored 71 - i doubt there's a player in the league that can rival that.

Any team in the league would benefit from having Earnshaw in their squad.

 

[lancecunno]

he says on forest website he wants 6 top sharp shooters

I guess that's fair; Tyson can also be used as a winger. (some might say he's even better there)

As well as that, Earnshaw and Tyson can be injury prone. It's just a matter of keeping all of them happy if everyone's fit.