Embarrassment of Riches: Forwards

[pineapple stu]

I don't think it is an attempt at being funny. I think JRG genuinely believes that, and the responses seem fair in that case

[Eirambler]

Ferguson is 20 months younger than Delap to be fair. 20 months ago Delap wasn't doing a whole lot and there was a sense that his career could have gone either way.

[EalingGreen]

To be clear I am not saying that either Newcastle or Arsenal would be interested in Ferguson - what I am saying is that they should. He would be an ideal replacement for Isak if he left and would score a lot of goals there. I argued that Arsenal should have taken a punt on Ferguson when he went out on loan because they create a stack load of chance that they don't convert - the types of chances that Ferguson would thrive on.

When was the last time a team of Newcastle or Arsenal status, ambition and money signed a 20 y.o. striker who in his previous season had struggled to get a game first for a middling BHA, then for a pitiful WHU, eventually scoring once in 19 appearances? Then put him straight into their first team? (I've not bothered to check, but only because I know the answer is "Never".)

Chris Wood is 33 and would not be able for a full season of PL and Euro games - again - the way they play would suit Ferguson. Man U want Wadkins and are supposedly offered Rashford in exchange.

The way Marinakis talks and spends, he'll be fishing in rather deeper waters for a replacement for Woods than s.o. like EF (no offence). I mean, the summer window they got promoted, they signed 22 (yep, twenty two) players on a permanent! The following summer, it was another 16, with "only" 11 permanents last summer, when they'll surely have known about EF. (This doesn't include loans in or winter window signings btw). So yeah, they might want/need a CF this summer, but they'll surely demand one who's "oven ready"

As for Man U, I fail to see what Rashford or Watkins has to do with EF, seeing as EF is an entirely different player.

Palace do play a system more suited to Ferguson - as for Spurs - Son is 32 and gone off the boil, Werner is go back to the Bundesliga, Richarlson did nothing and Johnson is more of a winger these days. Ferguson could be accommodated but it should be noted that Solanke has only played 25 times in the PL this season and only scored 8 times - not great for a £55m investment.

Althugh I saw Palace earlier this season live, and will see them again on Sunday, I don't know nearly enough about them to comment.

As for Spurs, Son may have played as a central striker in emergency this season, but by far his best position is wide left in a front three i.e. nothing like EF. At all. In any way. While Tel is clearly being considered as his replacement/back-up. As for Richie, I agree he's been poor enough this season (tho excellent vs Bodo), but that's basically because he's frequently been injured and besides, as a central striker, he's Ange's back-up for Solanke. Speaking of whom, when not carrying injuries himself, or playing in an ever changing line-up every game, Solanke's actually been very good for Spurs, and a key reason why only the top four teams have scored more than Spurs*. Of course he was clearly an Ange signing, but even if/when Ange goes, I can't see Levy shelling out for a replacement without getting the bulk of his £55m back upon selling Solanke, who's 27 with three(?) years left on his contract.

While Werner and Johnson (not "more of a winger", but a winger!) are entirely irrelevant to EF's position. Literally.


* - Matthew Benham always says he doesn't care how many goals a striker scores, it's how many the team scores while he's on the pitch which counts.

At 22 Kane went to Leicester in the Championship - started 5 times and made 8 sub appearances and scoring two goals - Its nonsense to suggest he was ready for the PL. The following season he only played 10 times in the PL and scored 3 goals. He was 24 before he began to show his potential and perform at a high level.

I don't know what went on at Leicester, but considering they had Nugent (20 league goals) and Vardy (16) as they clinched promotion, it's hardly surprising HK struggled for game time, all the more so when you appreciate that he was still only (ahem) 19 when he went there! (Born July 1993, signed for Leicester on loan for four months in Feb 2013)

When he came back for season 2013/14, Spurs had just spent £26m on 27 y.o Spanish international striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia. The then manager, Villas-Boas had to give him his chance (fair enough) and when AVB was binned mid-season, his replacement Tim Sherwood lacked the balls to drop Soldado either, hence Kane's lack of game time.

But when Pochettino replaced Sherwood for season 2014/15, he had no such qualms, he made Kane his first choice CF and he scored 21 goals in 31 PL games (31 in all), while still young enough to win the PFA Young Player of the Year. And as a ST Holder throughout all that time, I can assure you that every Spurs fan was wondering how the hell he hadn't got his chance much earlier, since he was clearly ready for it.

All of which means that it is unfair, unrealistic and miles wide of the mark to compare a player like EF, talented though he is, with a phenomenon like Kane.

Everton would be a good move - Moyes would definitely know what to do with Ferguson.

The value is not comparable - Delap has a relegation release clause and that is where his fee comes from. Bloom knows the value of Ferguson and I can't see any way he lets him go for less than £40m (and by the way - I think Fergson is better than Delap).

Say all this I still think that a loan is the most likely prospect - he is under contract until 2029 and Brighton are under no pressure to sell. Keep in mind that Welbeck is 35 and Pedro could be sold (if not this season then next). Brighton would have to get a big offer to be enticed to move him on.

Who knows what Everton will do. Under FFP, they might have no choice but to take a punt on s.o. like EF, esp if DCL leaves. Otoh, the new owners might push the boat out on some big names?

Either way, anyone looking at him and Delap today would consider the latter a helluva sight less of a punt than EF. That said, that comparison is irrelevant, too, since Delap will have his pick of considerably better teams than Everton.

I personally suspect BHA may seek another loan for EF, in order to get him back on track, esp since they have the money to strengthen their team/squad wioth new signings for next season. But I may be wrong, EF may return, and he might click into gear? We'll see.