New Striker

[Davie]

His partner/wife has just had a baby.

My mates Mum delivered it.

That is all.

 

[DanR]

My mates Mum delivered it.

That is all.

First class?

 

[adam09]

I wouldn't swap Earnshaw for Hoskins and any amount of money. Even if Hoskins is scoring for Watford now, he's not in Earnie's class. The reality is Hoskins has played most of this season and has been able to count on better support. Once Earnie is match fit, he'll fire the goals.

Also, the money was there for Watson. We had a bid accepted, but he wanted hilarious wages.

Yeah, and we would have been able to afford them. I think, even with us, Hoskins showed he is of the same ilk as Earnshaw, though Hoskins is proving to be a better finisher so far this season.

I rate Earnshaw, but I think he's playing quite poorly. That chance where he was through on goal against Derby, for example. A better striker would have got the ball down and shot. He waited, let it bounce and the defender came in and made an easy interception. That's the difference between 1 and 3 points in this league.

Probably just a confidence thing, perhaps.

 

[congo_red_49]

Probably just a confidence thing, perhaps.

Confidence and sharpness. Both of which a striker will be short of when coming back from injury.

Just a shame then that we have seemingly the most injury prone strike-force in the known galaxy.

 

[Brolin]

Yeah, and we would have been able to afford them.  I think, even with us, Hoskins showed he is of the same ilk as Earnshaw, though Hoskins is proving to be a better finisher so far this season.

I rate Earnshaw, but I think he's playing quite poorly.  That chance where he was through on goal against Derby, for example.  A better striker would have got the ball down and shot.  He waited, let it bounce and the defender came in and made an easy interception.  That's the difference between 1 and 3 points in this league.

I am in total disagreement.

Will Hoskins has not achieved half of what Robert Earnshaw has, and he will never be as good as him.

Earnshaw, with the exception of Derby who provided zero service, has scored goals wherever he has played. He has been particularly prolific with Cardiff and Norwich in the Championship. The stat of him scoring a hat-trick in every competition going isn't just an empty fact, it is proof that he is a goal scorer.

Hoskins was good for Rotherham in the lower leagues, but other than an average scoring record this season, producing only four league goals despite being fully fit, he hasn't achieved at this level. Hoskins struggled for Watford last season, hence why he came to us on loan in the first place. He's fit at the moment and I hope it continues, but would you bet on him not breaking down again? Gamble, my friend, Hoskins is a gamble.

So you can pick one chance where Earnshaw, playing in his second match of any kind since injury, could have been sharper. In a couple of games, maybe even tomorrow, he'll be banging them in. How do I know this? Track record.

As for Watson's wages, it wasn't that the cupboard was bare in terms of money, it was that the wages he demanded were well outside what the club considered him to be worth. You can take that as the club being stingy if you like, but we would have been unlikely to pay them regardless of the money Earnie's getting.

 

[Johno22]

First class?

No, snail trail mail.

 

[clabbyash]

So you think Andy (sorry Andrew) is a LUMP ?

 

[adam09]

I am in total disagreement.

Will Hoskins has not achieved half of what Robert Earnshaw has, and he will never be as good as him.

Earnshaw, with the exception of Derby who provided zero service, has scored goals wherever he has played. He has been particularly prolific with Cardiff and Norwich in the Championship. The stat of him scoring a hat-trick in every competition going isn't just an empty fact, it is proof that he is a goal scorer.

Hoskins was good for Rotherham in the lower leagues, but other than an average scoring record this season, producing only four league goals despite being fully fit, he hasn't achieved at this level. Hoskins struggled for Watford last season, hence why he came to us on loan in the first place. He's fit at the moment and I hope it continues, but would you bet on him not breaking down again? Gamble, my friend, Hoskins is a gamble.

So you can pick one chance where Earnshaw, playing in his second match of any kind since injury, could have been sharper. In a couple of games, maybe even tomorrow, he'll be banging them in. How do I know this? Track record.

It's not one chance though, he's missed a few and he missed a few before he was injured, so the sharpness argument doesn't really wash with me. Some of his shooting has been worse than what Tyson gets slated for. But I'm of the opinion that if you don't shoot, you'll never score, so I wouldn't overly slate any player for shanking a shot or three.

Track record is all well and good (Hoskins - 4 in 9 starts, Earnshaw - 2 in 9 starts, if you want to play the statistics game)but games will soon start to run out. I have no doubt he's a good player, but the sooner he starts to show it the better.

And I'm sure Will Hoskins is about 7 years younger than Earnshaw. I reckon he'll probably get 15 or so goals this season.

 

[Brolin]

It's not one chance though, he's missed a few and he missed a few before he was injured, so the sharpness argument doesn't really wash with me. Some of his shooting has been worse than what Tyson gets slated for. But I'm of the opinion that if you don't shoot, you'll never score, so I wouldn't overly slate any player for shanking a shot or three.

Track record is all well and good (Hoskins - 4 in 9 starts, Earnshaw - 2 in 9 starts, if you want to play the statistics game)but games will soon start to run out. I have no doubt he's a good player, but the sooner he starts to show it the better.

And I'm sure Will Hoskins is about 7 years younger than Earnshaw. I reckon he'll probably get 15 or so goals this season.

In a team lacking Championship experience, ravaged by injuries and with the exception of the now departed Andrew Cole, young - you would choose to add a young, injury prone striker, who failed to deliver in his only forray into the Championship?

Earnshaw is exactly what we need. He was in the summer and we need him now more than ever. You run through the squad, who is going to keep us up? No, seriously. Who are your matchwinners that can get you points when you don't deserve them? Earnshaw is one of the few. Teams will fear him, they know he's got goals. He might miss a couple, but you know eventually he will hurt you. He's probably scored against every team in the league at some stage in his career.

Earnie is five years older than Hoskins, give or take a month. Five seasons ago, he scored 31 goals in all competitions. The year before that he dominated what is now League One, getting 36 in the season. This pattern continued pretty much through all the years that followed.

Hoskins won't be scoring that many goals this season. He might get 15, if he stays fit, and fair play to him if he does. He's an honest player, but he's not in Earnshaw's class. Hoskins won't get into the starting XI of a top Championship side, Earnie would.

I respect that you are saying Hoskins has potential and that he is younger, and at £500k, staying injury free, would have represented a good buy. But instead of Earnshaw? I can't even entertain the idea.

 

[lancecunno]

He would definitely do the job for us. His energy and enthusiasm alone would do enough to please the forest faithful!

 

[winnits]

My mates Mum delivered it.

That is all.

Is your mate a stork?

 

[Shanks]

Darius Vassell - Man City have about 6 strikers and he is at least 5th in the current ranks! still only 28 and would be a great loan signing. With the amount of money they have now though they can leave him in the reserves.

I wonder if anyone's asked about him??? Birmingham is his home town so he'd be closer as well........!!