Luke McNally : Officially signed (4 year deal)

[Puckle_red]

1 hour ago, Jeez said:

Why don’t you just wait & see what the squad looks like when window closes, how we set up & how we perform before wetting yourself about transfer strategies.

That's a kind way of looking at things. How strange.

[bpexile]

6 hours ago, Davefevs said:

possibly clubs are hanging fire

Hopefully no-one comes in for him Dave....................imho he's a valuable player to our side .

[Jerseybean]

Stoke and Brum interested according to this, https://www.footballinsider247.com/birmingham-city-stoke-city-bristol-city-race-to-sign-luke-mcnally-sources/

[Lorenzos Only Goal]

1 hour ago, Edgy Red said:

Not having a dig, but surely Nige brought him in as a centre back? (on very decent wages).

It's what we assume, Nige also played him in a defensive midfield role Infront of the back 4 and he played some very progressive football. He's always been versatile player so I find it odd we see him as a converted defender.

[cidercity1987]

3 hours ago, GrahamC said:

At present we have a decent number of senior defenders (8) not too few, not too many.

If we did sign McNally we are probably carrying one too many.

Logic would dictate one is probably on the move if that’s the case.

As Tanner & McCrorie are our RBs & Pring is our LB with Roberts as cover, it wouldn’t make sense if it was any of them.

Put it this way, if we end up with 5 quality CBs and yet striking options of Wells, Armstrong and Mayulu then that is a monumental failure of budget and squad planning.

I will wait to see what transpires as the above will surely not come to pass

[MythikRobins]

8 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Put it this way, if we end up with 5 quality CBs and yet striking options of Wells, Armstrong and Mayulu then that is a monumental failure of budget and squad planning.

I will wait to see what transpires as the above will surely not come to pass

Those will be our striking options, no? Don’t expect it to change. 

[westonred]

Knowing the clubs track record of selling anyone we can get money for, if anyone is to leave for McNally to come in it would either be Vyner or Pring our more saleable assets

[grifty]

10 hours ago, tin said:

If McNally is a target, that’s seven who can do a decent job at centre-back (him, Dickie, Vyner, Roberts, Atkinson Tanner, Pring). Surely, one of those has to be on their way.

Also, if we want to play with a back three why not go for a specialist wing-back who can play on either side? That’d provide back up for Pring and McCrorie, who I’m not sold on. 

It feels to me that we are going down the clubs-in-the-bag route well trodden by LJ and MA. 

Pring is not a centre back, he was only played there because we had no-one else so that's down to 5 current players who can play there. If we play 3 at the back and wingbacks (e.g. Vyner, Dickie, Roberts) that will leave Atkinson as the only cover.

Tanner is back up for McCrorie or first choice for games we are setting up defensively. Roberts is also back up for Print at LWB. I would actually ay for RCB we are light with Vyner first choice with Tanner back up but then he is covering two positions.

I see this as us putting together a strong squad so if we do have the mis-fortune of long term injuries we are not relying on players to play every game ala Dickie and Vyner last year because Atkinson and Naismith were injured for all of it.

[bristol red]

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

[westonred]

3 minutes ago, bristol red said:

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

I think they would be lucky to get 40 goals between them

[Fuber]

10 hours ago, HengroveReds said:

I would’ve thought McNally (24, OOC 2026) & Twine Twine (OOC 2027) would cost a lot more than a wantaway Tommy Conway who’s out of contract next year. 

Alternatively strikers always more expensive.

Burnley think Twine, according to all the reports I've read want ballpark of £3-£3.5m. McNally it seems they want basically what they paid - circa £1.2m

If the mooted up to £5m Boro offer for Conway is at all accurate, it's not outside the realms of possibility.

[Redshorts]

1 minute ago, westonred said:

I think they would be lucky to get 40 goals between them

I think if you look at there scoring records they only scored 40 goals between them in 2 seasons!

[robin_unreliant]

3 minutes ago, bristol red said:

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

Out of that lot Wells is the only one with a proven record of scoring at this level. Very much a gamble to aim for top half based on this as our attacking line up. Squad looks fine defensively though.

[INCRED]

9 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Out of that lot Wells is the only one with a proven record of scoring at this level. Very much a gamble to aim for top half based on this as our attacking line up. Squad looks fine defensively though.

Go back to 2008, we didn’t exactly have a prolific set of forwards then but it got us to a play off final 

 

[Son of Fred]

24 minutes ago, bristol red said:

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

Bearing in mind our problem last season was lack of goals,do you see an improvement here??? - not too good.

Imo certainly not,quite the reverse - some will require considerable time to bed in/adjust, and should we get off to an indifferent start life could become rather difficult.

Edited August 2 by Son of Fred

[Bcfc24]

Stoke have bid 3 million for him… Next

[steveybadger]

Just now, INCRED said:

Go back to 2008, we didn’t exactly have a prolific set of forwards then but it got us to a play off final 

 

Byfield with maybe 11 was top scorer?

Not sure it’s a consistent strategy mind, or having a negative goal difference as I think we did that season. Then again, if you get over the line….

[Cov 77]

5 minutes ago, Bcfc24 said:

Stoke have bid 3 million for him… Next

Where does it say that? 

[Galley is our king]

10 minutes ago, INCRED said:

Go back to 2008, we didn’t exactly have a prolific set of forwards then but it got us to a play off final 

 

And that's also why we didn't get the win and Premier league football!

[tin]

38 minutes ago, grifty said:

Pring is not a centre back, he was only played there because we had no-one else so that's down to 5 current players who can play there. If we play 3 at the back and wingbacks (e.g. Vyner, Dickie, Roberts) that will leave Atkinson as the only cover.

Tanner is back up for McCrorie or first choice for games we are setting up defensively. Roberts is also back up for Print at LWB. I would actually ay for RCB we are light with Vyner first choice with Tanner back up but then he is covering two positions.

I see this as us putting together a strong squad so if we do have the mis-fortune of long term injuries we are not relying on players to play every game ala Dickie and Vyner last year because Atkinson and Naismith were injured for all of it.

I never said Pring was a CB; I said he was an option in that position and that’s based on him putting in some steady performances there in the past. He offers cover, if necessary. 

Yes, Tanner and McCrorie cover RB - I’m not having Tanner as cover at RWB. Defensively, he’s pretty solid there but he offers little going forward. 

Like Tanner, Roberts can do a job at LWB but he admits CB is his best role and I thought he was outstanding when played at CB last year. Given the club’s radio silence on him this summer, maybe his injury is worse than feared and that’s why we’re interested in McNally?

Those things considered, that’s why I think it makes more sense to sign a utility WB signed ahead of another CB - if that’s how Manning wants to play. 

As for you seeing us putting together a strong squad together, you’re entitled your opinion and time will tell. My opinion is we’ve signed a lot of hopeful punts (and I am not sold on Manning either).

Edited August 2 by tin

[Robbored]

5 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

Bearing in mind our problem last season was lack of goals,do you see an improvement here???

Imo certainly not,quite the reverse - some will require considerable time to bed in/adjust, and should we get off to an indifferent start life could become rather difficult.

Absolutely I see an improvement. 

With more strikers Manning will have better choices deciding what formation and style of play to adopt. The lack of goals last season came from not having enough quality options when getting out wide. That’ll be different this coming season.

[Crimson Crayola]

27 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Out of that lot Wells is the only one with a proven record of scoring at this level. Very much a gamble to aim for top half based on this as our attacking line up. Squad looks fine defensively though.

That's the point, city are in a position financially (wage and fee structure) where we have to take a gamble on forward players. 'Proven' players, unless they're past their best are for the big boys only.

[RedRoss]

20 minutes ago, Bcfc24 said:

Stoke have bid 3 million for him… Next

What are you getting this from? A random twitter account is all I can see?

[Gimme Shelton]

21 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

Bearing in mind our problem last season was lack of goals,do you see an improvement here??? - not too good.

Imo certainly not,quite the reverse - some will require considerable time to bed in/adjust, and should we get off to an indifferent start life could become rather difficult.

I see our problem as lack of chances created,which leads to lack of goals. Didn't we have a very good conversation rate of chances Vs goals last season? 

[mozo]

47 minutes ago, westonred said:

I think they would be lucky to get 40 goals between them

Mehmeti will score 40 on his own this season 

[Red Skin]

1 hour ago, bristol red said:

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

 

1 hour ago, westonred said:

I think they would be lucky to get 40 goals between them

 

1 hour ago, Redshorts said:

I think if you look at there scoring records they only scored 40 goals between them in 2 seasons!

I'm not saying these players are enough, but for balance Tommy was playing as lone striker for most of the last 2 seasons so will have affected our players opportunity to score.  Also Bell injured most of last season.  Armstrong limited opportunities at QPR. 

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 hour ago, steveybadger said:

Byfield with maybe 11 was top scorer?

 

You're being generous to him there.

Single figures for league goals, if I recall correctly.

Edited August 2 by Merrick's Marvels

[kidjupiter]

1 hour ago, INCRED said:

Go back to 2008, we didn’t exactly have a prolific set of forwards then but it got us to a play off final 

 

Didn’t Adebola come in halfway through that season? He wasn’t what you’d call prolific but he was proven at this level. I get the sentiment though.

[Bcfc24]

44 minutes ago, RedRoss said:

What are you getting this from? A random twitter account is all I can see?

It’s all over the stoke forums 

[Roger Red Hat]

1 minute ago, Bcfc24 said:

It’s all over the stoke forums 

I'm old enough to remember the '£8m for HNM' being all over city forums!

[Bcfc24]

2 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

I'm old enough to remember the '£8m for HNM' being all over city forums!

Still signed though didn’t he…

[Redrascal2]

1 hour ago, bristol red said:

I think our striking options are not too bad.. Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti

Where is the 20 goal striker amongst that lot. Some are new to us and hopefully will score regularly but for Wells, Bell,Cornick and Mehmeti we might struggle to get 20 goals between them.

[Supersonic Robin]

2 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

I'm old enough to remember the '£8m for HNM' being all over city forums!

Just now, Bcfc24 said:

Still signed though didn’t he…

But he only signed as we had an agreement with Chelsea that he'd join them in 12 months.......

[Roger Red Hat]

1 minute ago, Redrascal2 said:

the 20 goal striker

Haven't seen that phrase for a while!

[Cov 77]

11 minutes ago, Bcfc24 said:

It’s all over the stoke forums 

I guess we will have to see , but James Peircy says it’s his exclusive and he’s a god on here

[Simon bristol]

21 minutes ago, Redrascal2 said:

Where is the 20 goal striker amongst that lot. Some are new to us and hopefully will score regularly but for Wells, Bell,Cornick and Mehmeti we might struggle to get 20 goals between them.

And bell would get most of them,, I wouldnt count on anymore than 3 each from the others.

[Selred]

1 minute ago, Simon bristol said:

And bell would get most of them,, I wouldnt count on anymore than 3 each from the others.

I can see Bell pushing double figures if stays fit, think he's a great finisher. Also I have a hunch Armstrong will go very well this year.

Fally however...

[Shauntaylor85]

Nige must be thinking he was only offered to sign an unfit Ayala last September…..seriously! Still disgusted with way he was moved on. 

[fly in the air]

even stoke won't pay 3m when he is valued at 1.2. as for goals what about this mystery winger from abroad people have mentioned. if true

[ohhhshauntaylor]

56 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

You're being generous to him there.

Single figures for league goals, if I recall correctly.

8!

[Banjo Island]

1 hour ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

You're being generous to him there.

Single figures for league goals, if I recall correctly.

How many was pen’s thou

[Bcfc24]

54 minutes ago, Cov 77 said:

I guess we will have to see , but James Peircy says it’s his exclusive and he’s a god on here

Lots of journalists saying the swap deal is highly unlikely

[Silvio Dante]

1 hour ago, mozo said:

Mehmeti will score 40 on his own this season 

 

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, Redrascal2 said:

Where is the 20 goal striker amongst that lot. Some are new to us and hopefully will score regularly but for Wells, Bell,Cornick and Mehmeti we might struggle to get 20 goals between them.

Bet Ipswich are still regretting that their top scorer last season got 13?

Oh look, they went up automatically…

None of us have a clue how Mayulu will do, he could be another Kodjia or another Engvall..

Armstrong too…

We have decided that these two will improve us, let’s at least give it a dozen games & see how that’s panning out, eh?

[Bcfc24]

58 minutes ago, Cov 77 said:

I guess we will have to see , but James Peircy says it’s his exclusive and he’s a god on here

And regardless of this when it doesn’t come off he’ll do what all journalists do and just say ‘I only stated the interest not that it was going to happen’

[westonred]

4 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Bet Ipswich are still regretting that their top scorer last season got 13?

Oh look, they went up automatically…

None of us have a clue how Mayulu will do, he could be another Kodjia or another Engvall..

Armstrong too…

We have decided that these two will improve us, let’s at least give it a dozen games & see how that’s panning out, eh?

You dont mention that Ipswich had 19 different scorers 3 in double figures two scored 7 and Wes Burns rocked up with 6

[BristolGit]

50 minutes ago, Shauntaylor85 said:

Nige must be thinking he was only offered to sign an unfit Ayala last September…..seriously! Still disgusted with way he was moved on. 

BORING

[GrahamC]

3 minutes ago, westonred said:

You dont mention that Ipswich had 19 different scorers 3 in double figures two scored 7 and Wes Burns rocked up with 6

Because the quote was about a 20 goal striker.

Obviously we will need more than one player to chip in.

Sykes has 5 in his two seasons with us, Dickie got that last year, Knight 7, Bell 5 & Mehmeti 4, all would be expected to contribute alongside the strikers chosen.

[Roger Red Hat]

1 minute ago, GrahamC said:

Because the quote was about a 20 goal striker

Exactly. How many '20 goal a season' strikers are there in the championship generally?

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 hour ago, Selred said:

Also I have a hunch Armstrong will go very well this year.

Seen a few people say this now - and I genuinely hope you're right - but.... 

What are your reasons for thinking this?

Because so far, all that's happened is he's swapped one middling Championship team for another and I can't see any reason why that suddenly turns the lad into a deadly goalscorer.

I guess, by "go very well" you don't necessarily mean score loads of goals?

As I say, I genuinely hope you're right.

But there's an argument to be made that he's left a team with far superior attacking players and joined one where the options are rather ordinary - Chair, Willock and Andersen would surely walk into our team, as it stands. Although Albert, at the grand old age of 36, might just miss out. Only just though, as who wouldn't want to see him "run down the wing for me" just one last time? But Armstrong - apparently - missed chances for fun playing with that lot - so why he'll be better off playing with Sykes and Mehmeti is not entirely obvious to me.

The reason we've signed Armstrong is there for all to see, of course it is, but I just don't see it involving scoring goals very often next season.  Hopefully I'm wrong!

 

Edited August 2 by Merrick's Marvels

[petehinton]

21 minutes ago, Bcfc24 said:

And regardless of this when it doesn’t come off he’ll do what all journalists do and just say ‘I only stated the interest not that it was going to happen’

Tbf he is pretty explicit in saying “very ambitious”, I don’t think anyone expects it to actually happen. 

[GrahamC]

8 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

Exactly. How many '20 goal a season' strikers are there in the championship generally?

Last season there were two & one of the 2 sides that had one finished in the bottom six..

[Bcfc24]

20 minutes ago, petehinton said:

Tbf he is pretty explicit in saying “very ambitious”, I don’t think anyone expects it to actually happen. 

I think in that case then some things are better left unsaid, no point putting things in the public domain if they are highly unlikely to happen

[Eddie Notgetinya]

27 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Seen a few people say this now - and I genuinely hope you're right - but.... 

What are your reasons for thinking this?

Because so far, all that's happened is he's swapped one middling Championship team for another and I can't see any reason why that suddenly turns the lad into a deadly goalscorer.

I guess, by "go very well" you don't necessarily mean score loads of goals?

As I say, I genuinely hope you're right.

But there's an argument to be made that he's left a team with far superior attacking players and joined one where the options are rather ordinary - Chair, Willock and Andersen would surely walk into our team, as it stands. Although Albert, at the grand old age of 36, might just miss out. Only just though, as who wouldn't want to see him "run down the wing for me" just one last time? But Armstrong - apparently - missed chances for fun playing with that lot - so why he'll be better off playing with Sykes and Mehmeti is not entirely obvious to me.

The reason we've signed Armstrong is there for all to see, of course it is, but I just don't see it involving scoring goals very often next season.  Hopefully I'm wrong!

 

Bobby Reid did it….

[Mr Popodopolous]

20 is great but 10-15 can suffice provided:

A) You get some others on top scoring 10-15 or close to.

B) Your defence is watertight.

Realistically Top 2 is off limits anyway, Top 6 the best we dan hope for.

Edited August 2 by Mr Popodopolous

[Merrick's Marvels]

15 minutes ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

Bobby Reid did it….

By changing position. And Reid was a completely different type of player. So bad comparison, imo. 

Armstrong is a Semenyo type. As I say, I can see why we've bought him but personally don't expect him to "go very well" this coming season - if that means score us some goals.

I hope I'm wrong but what I expect to see is another Semenyo who we watch for a season or two charging around like a bull in a china shop, hoping that eventually the penny will drop between his ears.    

Edited August 2 by Merrick's Marvels

[italian dave]

47 minutes ago, westonred said:

You dont mention that Ipswich had 19 different scorers 3 in double figures two scored 7 and Wes Burns rocked up with 6

That’s exactly the point though. You don’t need a 20 goal a season striker to achieve success if  you’ve got other players who can get goals and/or a defence that doesn’t concede.

Our best shot at reaching the Prem was the season when our top scorer got 8 goals! And 17 other players chipped in with goals. The two times we’ve had a 20 goal striker in the Championship we finished 17th both times!!

[mozo]

35 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Seen a few people say this now - and I genuinely hope you're right - but.... 

What are your reasons for thinking this?

Because so far, all that's happened is he's swapped one middling Championship team for another and I can't see any reason why that suddenly turns the lad into a deadly goalscorer.

I guess, by "go very well" you don't necessarily mean score loads of goals?

As I say, I genuinely hope you're right.

But there's an argument to be made that he's left a team with far superior attacking players and joined one where the options are rather ordinary - Chair, Willock and Andersen would surely walk into our team, as it stands. Although Albert, at the grand old age of 36, might just miss out. Only just though, as who wouldn't want to see him "run down the wing for me" just one last time? But Armstrong - apparently - missed chances for fun playing with that lot - so why he'll be better off playing with Sykes and Mehmeti is not entirely obvious to me.

The reason we've signed Armstrong is there for all to see, of course it is, but I just don't see it involving scoring goals very often next season.  Hopefully I'm wrong!

 

His performances in the friendlies so far have give reason to be optimistic. 

People were worried about his endurance and his end product. Well so far we've seen a smart finish in the closing stages of a 90 minute shift, and a smart finish early in the following friendly.

Just friendlies, but it shows he's capable, and now we need to see if he can convert that to Championship gameweeks.

The other reason I'm looking forward to seeing him is his physical attributes. Pace is always dangerous, and none of our other forwards have his strength. 

None of us know how it will pan out, but I don't understand why anyone would write him off at this stage, especially as he's at an age where he is likely to develop and improve. 

[westonred]

2 minutes ago, italian dave said:

That’s exactly the point though. You don’t need a 20 goal a season striker to achieve success if  you’ve got other players who can get goals and/or a defence that doesn’t concede.

Our best shot at reaching the Prem was the season when our top scorer got 8 goals! And 17 other players chipped in with goals. The two times we’ve had a 20 goal striker in the Championship we finished 17th both times!!

When have i mentioned a 20 goal striker ? My point was that Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti would be lucky to get 40 goals between them and we seem to have less goals in the squad than last season

[Eddie Notgetinya]

7 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

By changing position. And Reid was a completely different type of player. So bad comparison, imo. 

Armstrong is a Semenyo type. As I say, I can see why we've bought him but personally don't expect him to "go very well" this coming season - if that means score us some goals.

I hope I'm wrong but what I expect to see is another Semenyo who we watch for a season or two charging around like a bull in a china shop, hoping that eventually the penny will drop between his ears.    

Fine. Wilbraham then.

[Merrick's Marvels]

2 minutes ago, mozo said:

His performances in the friendlies so far have give reason to be optimistic. 

People were worried about his endurance and his end product. Well so far we've seen a smart finish in the closing stages of a 90 minute shift, and a smart finish early in the following friendly.

Just friendlies, but it shows he's capable, and now we need to see if he can convert that to Championship gameweeks.

The other reason I'm looking forward to seeing him is his physical attributes. Pace is always dangerous, and none of our other forwards have his strength. 

None of us know how it will pan out, but I don't understand why anyone would write him off at this stage, especially as he's at an age where he is likely to develop and improve. 

No-one's "writing him off".

I'm looking forward to seeing a physical mobile striker too.

But he's scored 3 goals in 60 Championship appearances playing for a team with better attacking options than us, imo.

Supporters of that team say he misses chances for fun.

I'm interested in why that will change between May and August of this year.

That is all.  

2 minutes ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

Fine. Wilbraham then.

A completely different type of player. So bad comparison, imo.

[Atyeo's Love Child]

These threads all seem to go off piste, Is Luke McNally a goal scorer? 

[mozo]

1 minute ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

No-one's "writing him off".

I'm looking forward to seeing a physical mobile striker too.

But he's scored 3 goals in 60 Championship appearances playing for a team with better attacking options than us, imo.

Supporters of that team say he misses chances for fun.

I'm interested in why that will change between May and August of this year.

That is all.  

If it was as simple as goal record in last 60 games = goal record in next 60 games, we wouldn't have signed him!

Those first 60 games were his first experience of Championship football. In the 2022-23 season he'd just turned 19!

So, his track record doesn't mean a great deal to me. His attributes, and potential goalscoring threat, are what I'm interested I'm, and hey, he might have a Mehmeti first season, or he might have a Conway first season. Let's see.

[Merrick's Marvels]

Just now, mozo said:

If it was as simple as goal record in last 60 games = goal record in next 60 games, we wouldn't have signed him!

Those first 60 games were his first experience of Championship football. In the 2022-23 season he'd just turned 19!

So, his track record doesn't mean a great deal to me. His attributes, and potential goalscoring threat, are what I'm interested I'm, and hey, he might have a Mehmeti first season, or he might have a Conway first season. Let's see.

Agree with all that.

Several people have said they expect him to "go very well" - I'm interested in their reasons. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

He may chip in Goals and Assists, all-round product like Semenyo.

Semenyo wasn't a pure goalscorer Sinclair may take time to develop.

[italian dave]

5 minutes ago, westonred said:

When have i mentioned a 20 goal striker ? My point was that Fally, Armstrong, Wells, Bell, Stokes, Hirakawa, Cornick and Mehmeti would be lucky to get 40 goals between them and we seem to have less goals in the squad than last season

This whole bit of the discussion started off with the assertion that Armstrong wasn’t what we needed because he won’t get us 20 goals a season.

I don’t agree that we’ve got fewer goals than last season (add Knight, Dickie, Bird to that list) although I’d agree that whether we can land Twine will make a difference.

But that’s all conjecture at this stage. And even if you’re right, our top 8 scorers in 07/08 managed the grand total of, yes, 40 goals!!

[Redrascal2]

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

Bet Ipswich are still regretting that their top scorer last season got 13?

Oh look, they went up automatically…

None of us have a clue how Mayulu will do, he could be another Kodjia or another Engvall..

Armstrong too…

We have decided that these two will improve us, let’s at least give it a dozen games & see how that’s panning out, eh?

We had  problem scoring goals last season and converting the chances we created. My concern is that we have not signed a proven goal scorer and might not have solved that issue. I hope I am wrong and  the new players will step up. Time will tell. I don't think the comparison to Ipswich is relevant.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Didn't Ipswich score 90 League Goals last year?

They spread it well..several in the 10-15 bracket and 5-10.

[Shauntaylor85]

6 minutes ago, Redrascal2 said:

We had  problem scoring goals last season and converting the chances we created. My concern is that we have not signed a proven goal scorer and might not have solved that issue. I hope I am wrong and  the new players will step up. Time will tell. I don't think the comparison to Ipswich is relevant.

Losing Conway has no bearing. He scored 5 pens, Wells or another puts those away. So we aren’t worse off, don’t understand that. 

[italian dave]

26 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

By changing position. And Reid was a completely different type of player. So bad comparison, imo. 

Armstrong is a Semenyo type. As I say, I can see why we've bought him but personally don't expect him to "go very well" this coming season - if that means score us some goals.

I hope I'm wrong but what I expect to see is another Semenyo who we watch for a season or two charging around like a bull in a china shop, hoping that eventually the penny will drop between his ears.    

I think what he will bring us is pace and a physical presence.

And we’ve been distinctly lacking both recently. I love TC, and he’s got plenty of great attributes, but bullying big defenders isn’t one of them! And just doing that effectively will create space for others. 

Plus, he’s a bit older than Semenyo in his china shop days, so maybe closer to the penny dropping (as it did in the end with AS).

Who knows……that’s the joy of football!