by ivor_the_injun » Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:30 am
Yeah, but Carling Cup semis, last 16 of the CL and 4th in the prem really isn't what we're looking for. I know it's a transitional year, but that represents the very bare minimum for me, and I still think that the right signings in January can make our season a hell of a lot better.
My proposal isn't and never has been to buy Fowler to go straight into the first team. You bring him in as third choice striker, but obviously think in terms of bringing him on as sub for his first game back at the club to see how he responds.
Signing Morientes (still not a certainty) would still leave us with only Baros, Mellor and Pongolle to see us through the Champions League matches. Kewell and Garcia aren't good enough as fill-in strikers for me, and Baros has been injured enough this season to make me wonder if his next niggle will coincide with the next round match.
Oh, and while I apologise for reeling off the stats, Fowler actually scored 10 last season despite almost half of his appearances being as sub, and being injured for something like 2 months throughout the term. And he's in far better nick this year than last anyway.