| Topic: New striker? |
|---|
| 1. Author: Par-timer Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:04 As Scotland’s lowest scorers last season, and with Craig Wighton leaving the club, we can safely assume that the Pars will be in the market for a proven striker at Championship level to boost the goals tally next season. It could be argued that creative midfield play is what is lacking rather than a striker, given that (when fit) we already have a solid Championship goalscorer (34 in 80 games) in Chris Kane, and this year’s champions got promoted without any individual player scoring more than ten goals. But with only Lewis McCann (11 goals in 112 Championship games), the inexperienced Sutherland brothers and the untried Connor Young (0 goals in eight matches so far) to support then injury-prone Kane, another striker is a must. No-one in League One managed more than thirteen individual goals this season, and few in the Championship have bettered that mark in recent seasons either (only Brian Graham in 24/25, for example), so there are not many obvious candidates. Looking at the free transfer market, both Lewis Moult (3 goals in 17 for Dundee Utd) and Tony Watt (1 in 26 on loan at Motherwell) had poor seasons and are out of contract, but both have good records in the second flight (Moult 18 in 33, Watt 13 in 37), although they are both the wrong side of 30. The new owners have shown (with Connor Young) that they are not averse to paying a transfer fee, unlike almost all of our rivals, so a bid for a player with one year left on their contract might have some success. Dipo Akinyemi managed only four goals in 25 matches in York’s stellar season, and if they do get promoted, they may be looking for an upgrade on a striker with a great Championship record (20 in 36 games at Ayr). Or another option could be underperforming players with two years left on their contract whom teams might be happy to sell at a loss, such as Port Vale’s Ruari Paton, who scored just one goal in 28 appearances for Dundee United last term, but has a 20 in 70 games record in the Championship. For financial reasons, Hamilton will surely also listen to offers for Oli Shaw (25 in 64 Championship games), whose alertness and finishing have always impressed against the Pars. Other proven Championship strikers with a year on their contract (Brian Graham, 115 goals in 316 games, George Oakley, 41 in 138, Lewis Vaughan, 40 in 153 and Robbie Muirhead, 40 in 169) are unlikely to be keen to switch to the Pars for various reasons, even if a bid were to be made. Which of the above would be the best bet, and who else is missing from my list or would be a better option? Reply |
| 2. Author: Bertie Paton Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:12 Mentioned on another forum but Kai Fotheringham at Dundee United has been getting very little game time this season. Scored 14 in the Championship the year before. Would be worth an enquiry at least. Young player too, which will appease the owners as there would be a bit on long term growth potentially there. Reply |
| 3. Author: AlterPar Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:13 Martin Boyle, Johnny Kenny. 2 players above our station but the Lennon link is there. I can see us signing a few players we don’t expect. Probably some from down south. I can’t see us making a move for any of the above. Another player id like to see us move for is Scott Tiffoney. Post Edited (Thu 08 May 12:13) Reply |
| 4. Author: Paralytic77 Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:17 Daniel Cummings on loan from Celtic would be good, 6 goals in 7 appearances in the uefa youth league this year , he`s 19 years old Reply |
| 5. Author: Bandy Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:20 Having visited the Hive a few times this season I think Callum Stead would be perfect for the pars. He`s quick, has an incredible work rate, and his finishing has improved a lot..(it was awful prior to this season). Under contract for another year though, and probably keen to have a crack at EFL league 2, so most likely a complete non starter. Reply |
| 6. Author: 1985Par Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:41 As was eluded to in the OP, a couple of players who can actually create chances would probably be my preference. Any striker would struggle on the service last season’s team provided. Reply |
| 7. Author: Bandy Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:42 That`s why I`d love Stead at the Pars - he creates loads of chances with his high work rate and pressing. Reply |
| 8. Author: Par-timer Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:43 A couple more left-field names to throw into the mix. Connor Shields (17 goals in 65 Championship games for QOTS and QP) will be out of contract after a disappointing couple of seasons (4 goals in 41) for Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Premier League and is still only 27. Greg Stewart (25 goals in 90 Championship matches) will also be out of contract in India but is now 35. Reply |
| 9. Author: Kdy Par Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:45 Jason Cummings was heavily linked a few weeks ago. Reply |
| 10. Author: GJS93 Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:49 "a couple of players who can actually create chances would probably be my preference. Any striker would struggle on the service last season’s team provided" ^^ this, which is going to be difficult if the midfielders in particular that are still in "dialogue" re-sign and if Lennon sticks with 3 at the back. Reply |
| 11. Author: ParfectXI Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 12:54 I think we need to aim higher than stats like 17 goals in 65 or 4 in 41! Apparently the manager will be given a healthy budget and as we’ve seen in the last few years players with stats like that are not worth it! If we are serious of going up we need to splash the cash on a good striking pair, a solid midfielder and a good gk! This year we don’t need to wait until the transfer window is nearing the end to pick up frees, this year we can be proactive and get who we really need! Reply |
| 12. Author: Bertie Paton Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:02 What about our 300k Bulgarian striker. Reply |
| 13. Author: kozmasrightfoot Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:06 You`re right, we need to aim higher than championship players unless they are exceptionally good. It`s a big world out there and that`s what the analytical stuff is there for. I`m guessing that part of the Lennon deal will let him choose half the signings himself and the other half are chosen from what the analytical data ambitious machine (ADAM for short) churns out of its electronic sphincter. Pars fan. Magpies fan. Mens tennis fan. Alternative rock fan. Not a fan of much else. Reply |
| 14. Author: Berkey Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:08 We signed bray and young in January so I get the thinking that when we bring in a new striker it will likely be from Scottish football but not sure lennon will have so many contacts outside of the premier league and it’s been a few years since he managed in Scotland. So we might be looking at someone who has not played much min the season past in the prem but can do a job in this league or we could be looking for someone from the lower leagues in England as you have noted. Wages wise I would suspect even in the conference in normal circumstances we might struggle to compete but now you just don’t know! Akinyemi would be decent, nice to have some pace up there and could do with more height. Harder to identify midfielders and wingers unless they are regularly assisting and scoring, this is where the analytics need to come in and they need to be watched to see if they have leadership qualities and a turn of pace etc. again we prob need them to be free of cheap if from down south as wages will be high and needs a decent deal to get them to move up. The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity! Reply |
| 15. Author: DJAS Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:12 Paralytic77, Thu 8 May 12:17 Signed a contract with West Ham Predictor league winner 2012/2013 Reply |
| 16. Author: Angus_W Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:17 What about Chris Mochrie who has looked really good against us in the last 2 games. Lightning pace & now knows where the goal is........Id try to get him back. “.........it ain’t over till the Pars score!” Reply |
| 17. Author: Parfect69 Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:30 Angus_W, Thu 8 May 13:17 Should have kept him in the first place, a very good player Reply |
| 18. Author: Berkey Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:31 Thought Mochrie had a good first few months on loan with us before he fell away badly but he’s a bit older and wiser now and has stood up in airdries bid for safety. You’ve got to think with his stats in the second half of the season the analytics model would have noticed him so might be on the radar. Looks a better option than more youngsters like Stevens anyway. The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity! Reply |
| 19. Author: AlterPar Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:35 I’d also take Adam Frizzell Reply |
| 20. Author: Paralytic77 Date: Thu 8th May 2025. 13:47 DJAS, Thu 8 May 13:12 Forgot about that Reply |