We need a striker.

[Melville Red]

I still don't feel like I know how good Hojlund is.

On one hand, he did well last season with absolutely no service. He generally plays in between two greedy wingers who run like headless chickens and play like school-children. He created chances on his own and then scored those chances on a number of occasions.

On the other hand, I'm still not entirely sold. I don't get this feeling that we should be building around him and not signing another striker incase it hinders his development. I don't feel very confident that he's a world class talent in the making.

All that to say, I believe we do need a striker. It doesn't have to be Osimhen or anyone of that stature, but there's something to be said for a Toney or Calvert-Lewin to help carry the load.

The only thing Calvert-Lewin is good at carrying is a bloody injury and his sick note.
Unfortunately Toney is too expensive and that coupled with his expected wages rules him out.

 

[troylocker]

We'll never sign another striker knowing that we have both Hojlund and Zirkzee.

Imagine if we buy Toney and he flourishes as a 9, you play Rasmus only 10mins here and there ? And what about Zirkzee ? You play him off the striker ? But what do you do then with Bruno and Mount?

Unfortunately it will not happen.

This is just like the "what about Martial and Greenwood?" comments from back in 2019 when we almost signed Haaland. We cannot avoid signing obvious upgrades to protect lesser players. That's the problem with buying players like Hojlund and Zirkzee. They're good, but you can't trust them to provide enough goals (at least not yet) and they need to make room if a markee signing comes in. That's just how it is.
I'm a bit scepticle to Toney though. Is he good for the group?

 

[saivet]

This is just like the "what about Martial and Greenwood?" comments from back in 2019 when we almost signed Haaland. We cannot avoid signing obvious upgrades to protect lesser players. That's the problem with buying players like Hojlund and Zirkzee. They're good, but you can't trust them to provide enough goals (at least not yet) and they need to make room if a markee signing comes in. That's just how it is.
I'm a bit scepticle to Toney though. Is he good for the group?

I agree but Toney isn't a guy you sign, that will hinder the development of a pair of strikers that cost nearly £100m. If the feeling, is that we need a striker, then to me that puts into question the Zirkzee signing. I don't know if they are good enough but I'm fine going into the season with Hojlund and Zirkzee as our main no.9 options.

It's also too early to determine that we need another striker in my opinion. Hojlund is injured and Zirkzee hasn't started a game yet.

 

[Sylar]

I agree but Toney isn't a guy you sign, that will hinder the development of a pair of strikers that cost nearly £100m. If the feeling, is that we need a striker, then to me that puts into question the Zirkzee signing. I don't know if they are good enough but I'm fine going into the season with Hojlund and Zirkzee as our main no.9 options.

It's also too early to determine that we need another striker in my opinion. Hojlund is injured and Zirkzee hasn't started a game yet.

It wouldnt because Zirkzee is only 23 and im sure we want him long term. Theres nothing wrong with options.

This is just like the "what about Martial and Greenwood?" comments from back in 2019 when we almost signed Haaland. We cannot avoid signing obvious upgrades to protect lesser players. That's the problem with buying players like Hojlund and Zirkzee. They're good, but you can't trust them to provide enough goals (at least not yet) and they need to make room if a markee signing comes in. That's just how it is.
I'm a bit scepticle to Toney though. Is he good for the group?

Similar to the arguments we had of why are we signing RVP, when we already had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez

 

[saivet]

It wouldnt because Zirkzee is only 23 and im sure we want him long term. Theres nothing wrong with options.

Similar to the arguments we had of why are we signing RVP, when we already had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez

I just don't see how signing Toney would be wise squad management as I don't think he will come cheap, nor will he happy to sit on the bench. It would also puts into question why we spent so much money on Zirkzee (and Hojlund) in the first place.

RVP was a world class striker and none of Rooney, Welbeck or Hernandez were recent big money signings - RVP was a short term signing, but he was a short term signing for us to try and win the league.