Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[pauliewalnuts]

What a load of bollocks this 'we must replace Benteke crap' is. Benteke was Benteke and he's gone. As good as he was, he was still part of a side that finished 17th. It shouldn't be too hard to rebuild a team and make it good enough to be a mid-table (for now) side.

I think the point isn't that we must replace Benteke with a player just like him, it is that we need to find a player who can reasonably be expected to weigh in with a few goals.

You're right, he was part of a side that finished 17th. Which is why it is so important that we get someone in to score the goals, because he supplied most of them in that team.

We don't necessarily need a 20 goal a season man, but the front three need to contribute 10-12 each. Sinclair and Gabby are certainly capable and have done so in the past, Gestede and Ayew look like they also are capable.  The challenge is playing in a way that will create the space and chances that those 3/4 players will need to get those goals.

There are two choices; retain the style of play and directly replace Benteke, or, change style and utilise other players strengths.

I honestly wouldn't rely on Gabby for anything.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I honestly wouldn't rely on Gabby for anything.

Certainly not a Gabby that's been injured and carrying around niggles, that's for sure.

On the other hand, a fully fit Gabby.. keep slagging him off. If there's one thing he's great at is rubbing in the face of those that right him off.

[pauliewalnuts]

I honestly wouldn't rely on Gabby for anything.

Certainly not a Gabby that's been injured and carrying around niggles, that's for sure.

On the other hand, a fully fit Gabby.. keep slagging him off. If there's one thing he's great at is rubbing in the face of those that right him off.

I would imagine that from the statistics below he hasn't been fully fit for five whole years now. These are pathetic tallies.

26 league goals in 5 years. And you think we should rely on him for goals under any circumstances?

I like the bloke, he's a local boy done good, who doesn't like that sort of thing? The problem is he has had a pathetic scoring record for five years now, and has never been anything like prolific.

14-15: 5 league goals
13-14: 4 league goals
12-13: 9 league goals
11-12: 5 league goals
10-11: 3 league goals

[tomd2103]

What a load of bollocks this 'we must replace Benteke crap' is. Benteke was Benteke and he's gone. As good as he was, he was still part of a side that finished 17th. It shouldn't be too hard to rebuild a team and make it good enough to be a mid-table (for now) side.

I think the point isn't that we must replace Benteke with a player just like him, it is that we need to find a player who can reasonably be expected to weigh in with a few goals.

You're right, he was part of a side that finished 17th. Which is why it is so important that we get someone in to score the goals, because he supplied most of them in that team.

I agree, but improving as a team can also be achieved by conceding less goals.  Our problems have not only stemmed from not scoring enough, but also conceding far too many. 

[ChicagoLion]

I honestly wouldn't rely on Gabby for anything.

Certainly not a Gabby that's been injured and carrying around niggles, that's for sure.

On the other hand, a fully fit Gabby.. keep slagging him off. If there's one thing he's great at is rubbing in the face of those that right him off.

I would imagine that from the statistics below he hasn't been fully fit for five whole years now. These are pathetic tallies.

26 league goals in 5 years. And you think we should rely on him for goals under any circumstances?

I like the bloke, he's a local boy done good, who doesn't like that sort of thing? The problem is he has had a pathetic scoring record for five years now, and has never been anything like prolific.

14-15: 5 league goals
13-14: 4 league goals
12-13: 9 league goals
11-12: 5 league goals
10-11: 3 league goals

Those are damning stats. Awful.

[ROBBO]

He has had his day and having to rely on him for so long has been one of our problems he would be better off dropping to the championship.

[silhillvilla]

Shocking stats for Gabby , 5 last season and 2 of those were in the Sunderland rout

[edgysatsuma89]

I honestly wouldn't rely on Gabby for anything.

Certainly not a Gabby that's been injured and carrying around niggles, that's for sure.

On the other hand, a fully fit Gabby.. keep slagging him off. If there's one thing he's great at is rubbing in the face of those that right him off.

I would imagine that from the statistics below he hasn't been fully fit for five whole years now. These are pathetic tallies.

26 league goals in 5 years. And you think we should rely on him for goals under any circumstances?

I like the bloke, he's a local boy done good, who doesn't like that sort of thing? The problem is he has had a pathetic scoring record for five years now, and has never been anything like prolific.

14-15: 5 league goals
13-14: 4 league goals
12-13: 9 league goals
11-12: 5 league goals
10-11: 3 league goals

Cue 'yeah but he scores important goals'.

[GarTomas]

When you finish 17th every goal is important

[ciggiesnbeer]

A goal in the FA Cup final would have been an "important goal".

[GarTomas]

Not when you concede 4!!

[*shellac*]

4? I lost count after the first.

[Matt Collins]

To be fair to gabby the team basically created about five chances between September and February last season

No longer first choice for me but I'd definitely keep him this year.

[PaulWinch again]

To be honest I think we should be looking more towards Sinclair for guaranteed goals. I bet he gets at least 8-10.

[Goldie.7]

Stay off twitter for any news for at least a week, so many people creaming themselves over an emoji.