Should NCFC survive this season, does CJ have a future at Carrow Road? I said at the end of last season that I did not think he would get double figures in goals this season and it seems highly unlikely that he will even get close to that many. Can we really justify keeping him as a "main" striker threat for another season in the PL? Not for me. Should City go down however, I dare say he has 20+ goals in him at that level and would be worth keeping and sold off on promotion (should that happen).
Thai, Cams is a bit of an enigma and sort of mirrors what we are about as a club. Lacks the necessary quality to be a top class striker in the PL but is a superb option in the Championship (as we saw last season) and will get goals in that division. If we stay up we need someone else for sure, if we go down he'll be a real threat and I'd like to keep him. Honest, hardworking and gives all for the team - if only he could be a bit more clinical - if only ............................
He´s a lot like our Club has been for several years now, too good for the Championship, but not quite good enough, regularly enough, for the Premier League. Considering who he´s competing with at the moment, and if there´s no real plan of action to up the quality of our striking options, we´d be daft to get rid of him.
Interesting that since he's been playing up front we've conceded less and at least competed for points. It would be great if his fighting character rubbed off on some of his team mates. Not sure who we've got who is better, if only he could take some of the chances he gets.
Excellent posts on the topic and I pretty much agree with them all. CJ offers the team a lot, but just isn't clinical enough for me and we will have to have an upgrade IF we stay in the PL, as we create very few chances for our strikers. As has been said, he would be invaluable if we get relegated, but I'd really like to see if any of our youngsters could make the grade. I liked the look of Carlton Morris in the youth cup and he seems to be faring OK for Accies. Also the Murphy twins are making a positive contribution at their respective loans.
It's one thing faring OK at the Accies but PL no chance. If he was lighting up the SPL then there maybe some argument about his readiness, but CM has to still be a mile away from the 1st team squad. The Murphy's I would like one to be available as competition/backup to Redmond and I don't think they would look so out of oplace in the PL. If the worst was to happen I could see Redmond leaving and then I would love to see the Murph's showing their magic turns down the wings. Bah!
Completely agree - we were having a conversation a couple of weeks ago - with Cameron Jerome starting we defend from the front. Mbokani is twice the striker, but I think I'm beginning to realise he is something of a fairweather player - we need the team to have good morale and comfortable defending. Not much we can do at this stage unfortuantely
I just saw Cameron Jerome in your loss to Leicester. When he missed that sitter, the commentator said "How has he missed that?". I said "Well, he's Cameron Jerome". I suppose your manager plays him because he scored 20 goals in the Championship. But, in the Premier League, Jerome's history of being a donkey up front is well-known: 2010/11: 42 games, 5 goals (Birmingham relegated) 2011/12: 36 games, 8 goals (Stoke) 2012/13: 30 games, 4 goals (Stoke) 2013/14: 29 games, 2 goals (Palace) -one good season in the Championship- 2015/16: 23 games, 3 goals (Norwich) This guy is going to get you relegated. Have you got no-one better? I mean, there was a point in that game where there was a throw in, and Redmond (I think) was running onto it towards goal. But, Jerome was still looking the other way , so Redmond had to have a shot. He doesn't even seem interested. Either Jerome or your manager has to go.
In a word - Nope! Gary Hooper (Now at Sheff Wed) may have been a better bet but also untried and untested at this level. Our strike force (a loose definition) was always in question since promotion and the situation really has not got much better.
Whilst I basically agree with what you've said and no we haven't really got better, should you be casting that stone in your glass house? You are a club of great resources and has continually looked short of the requisit quality up front to turn 2-4th into a title winning effort. Looks very much like another choke this season, it would be a horribly bitter pill if your inadequet striking options saw you miss out on this most open of seasons at the top to the spuds! Theo, Giroud and Wellbeck as strikers to win the PL? You're avin a laugh! Bah!
I'd now be very worried if CJ starts against the Swans. In a game that we really need a win can we afford for him to keep missing our best chances? Yes we defend better as a team and from the front with him there but he should not be primarily there for that. If we are playing one up top then they must carry a goal threat or bring others into positions to score and as far as I can tell Mbok is better at that. Bamford? who knows, he can't be impressing that much on the training field if he has got so few minutes thus far. Bah!
I know I'm going to contradict myself but after last night I have to agree with you Melchy. We might play better with him but he had five shots from inside the penalty are and only one on target - for a PL striker that is totally unforgivable. I think Bamford is best suited against the Swans and has looked more likely to fashion a goal scoring chance than the others. Mbokani I maintain is our best striker at the moment but he doesn't offer enough elsewhere
I know you sometimes like to give the benefit of the doubt but even I was taken aback last night when you said what you did about CJ. To avoid any cross-words I decided it best to leave alone and let CJ prove me wrong. Shame he failed as we really do need him to at least look like confident in the box. He still runs his nuts off and gives all he has, of that I have no doubt, but that is simply not enough.
I agree with the 3 previous posts, but he should have scored at least once (or forced a save from the keeper) last night when we were quite dominant in the 2nd half. I would probably start with Bamford and see if he can ruffle a few feathers - he must be desperate to get game time.
It's an unenviable position for AN. Bamford is a huge untested gamble and given the importance of the game may be too much of one. On the other hand, Jerome is a gamble, he has had oportunities aplenty but has been found wanting, that said we know that he makes us harder to beat and we don't know that for Bamford. Mbokani I think offers the likeliest scorer and assister, though that too is not nailed on. He probably doen't work as hard as Jerome and as a consequence the oposition will likely get more time and space to work at the back, but this is Swansea so letting them pass around in front of you is pretty much par for the course. Could Mbok beat up there centre halves a bit and make some chances? I think so, so I'd go for Mbok and look to bring Bamford on early enough to make adifference if we don't look like scoring. What money Fer will see game time and score against us!?! Bah!