One last piece of the jigsaw to make it all complete? (3 Viewers)

[Otis]

I would say now that the one thing we could do with to complete the jigsaw is another goal poacher to compliment Adam Armstong.

As soon as Armstrong is missing we do struggle to score goals.


Everything else in the the Sky Blue garden is now beginning to look a lot more rosy again.

Back four all look strong and pretty consistent. Martin was a bit of a liability last season, but this season has been a revelation. Reda, for all his little faults, still remains a pivotal to our fortunes. His strength and power give us so much more physicality in the heart of the defence.

Stokes is steady and rarely lets us down and Ricketts has been superb.

Another key piece of the jigsaw that was suddenly filled for me has been that of the keeping position. I was desperate for us to find an experienced keeper to fill the problematic goalkeeping role. Worries now alleviated there though, because RCC has stepped up to the plate and brought confidence, command and reasurrance to the defence. We look so much more comfortable with Charles-Cook in goal.

So happy that a position that was such a worry has now seemingly been solved.

Would be nice to have someone else as back up for the Fleck role, but I now just feel if we had another goal-poacher, the picture would be complete.

Am guessing though that we will have to stick with what we've got until January, when Armstrong may go and we have to replace him. Ideal scenario would be though if we could retain Armstrong and add one more striker to the fold.

Tudgay and Fortune are not out and out goal scorers and more providers and Murphy clearly isn't an out and out striker and is more an attacking midfielder. We have Lateef of course. Would be great if he suddenly came through for us, but he is looking more like he's going to reamin with the under 21 fold for now and with TM saying he has been considering sending young Thomas out on loan to gain experience, that does just leave us with Armstong.

We can withstand the odd game here and there where he is missing for international duty, but if he gets sent off or injured it is going to cause a much bigger problem.

It's not just like you can conjure up an emergency loan for a 20 goal a season striker at the drop of a hat is it.

I just think if we had that 2nd goal poacher in our fold, a real, sustained promotion push would be much more likely.

 

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[I_Saw_Shaw_Score]

You would hope prem sides see how we are playing & bringing on youngsters & we would get a decent youngster or 2 on loan in jan if AA goes.

 

[Huckerby]

I would say now that the one thing we could do with to complete the jigsaw is another goal poacher to compliment Adam Armstong.

As soon as Armstrong is missing we do struggle to score goals.


Everything else in the the Sky Blue garden is now beginning to look a lot more rosy again.

Back four all look strong and pretty consistent. Martin was a bit of a liability last season, but this season has been a revelation. Reda, for all his little faults, still remains a pivotal to our fortunes. His strength and power give us so much more physicality in the heart of the defence.

Stokes is steady and rarely lets us down and Ricketts has been superb.

Another key piece of the jigsaw that was suddenly filled for me has been that of the keeping position. I was desperate for us to find an experienced keeper to fill the problematic goalkeeping role. Worries now alleviated there though, because RCC has stepped up to the plate and brought confidence, command and reasurrance to the defence. We look so much more comfortable with Charles-Cook in goal.

So happy that a position that was such a worry has now seemingly been solved.

Would be nice to have someone else as back up for the Fleck role, but I now just feel if we had another goal-poacher, the picture would be complete.

Am guessing though that we will have to stick with what we've got until January, when Armstrong may go and we have to replace him. Ideal scenario would be though if we could retain Armstrong and add one more striker to the fold.

Tudgay and Fortune are not out and out goal scorers and more providers and Murphy clearly isn't an out and out striker and is more an attacking midfielder. We have Lateef of course. Would be great if he suddenly came through for us, but he is looking more like he's going to reamin with the under 21 fold for now and with TM saying he has been considering sending young Thomas out on loan to gain experience, that does just leave us with Armstong.

We can withstand the odd game here and there where he is missing for international duty, but if he gets sent off or injured it is going to cause a much bigger problem.

It's not just like you can conjure up an emergency loan for a 20 goal a season striker at the drop of a hat is it.

I just think if we had that 2nd goal poacher in our fold, a real, sustained promotion push would be much more likely.

What about when maddison is back, we can push one of the AMs up top. Maybe lameiras or Kent

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[Otis]

What about when maddison is back, we can push one of the AMs up top. Maybe lameiras or Kent

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Well yeah, but Maddison can be seen as more a replacement for Ryan Kent, rather than Armstong. Armstrong is the one true goal-getter we have.

Armstrong looks well on course to bag 20 goals. What we need now is someone to compliment that. A striker capable of 15 goals plus. We are not going to get that from Tudgay or Fortune I would have thought. Think we would be looking at maybe 10 tops from each of that pair.

 

[zuni]

I agree, we need another poacher for sure if we are to keep the pace

 

[Evo1883]

Can murphy not play upfront aswel ?

 

[higgs]

If we took samuel on loan again now I think him and Armstrong would be unbelievable together both 20 goals plus in this division I think we would be hard to stop then for automatic promoting

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

It's a great summary Otis. Poachers don't come around everyday but maybe tony is looking for this as we speak

 

[Otis]

It's a great summary Otis. Poachers don't come around everyday but maybe tony is looking for this as we speak

My fear is that should Armstrong get sent off (missing for 3 games), or get injured for a few weeks, it's going to be tough to suddenly go out and find an emergency loan striker capable of 15-20 goals.

Of the people who have seen Lateef Elford-Alliyu , what do you think of him? Is he a goal poacher, or somone more in the mould of a Maddison or Kent?

 

[stupot07]

My worry is still the second half of the season, I can't see Armstrong still being here, we have a bit of history of starting strongly a fading badly as did Mowbray at middlesborough, plus a youngish squad will have a dip in form at some point. It's a long old season, and it's where we finish in 35 games time, that counts.


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[covcity4life]

We have 3 goals in 2 games in armstrobg absence. And 2 wins too

You need to stop being such a scaredy cat otis

 

[covcity4life]

My worry is still the second half of the season, I can't see Armstrong still being here, we have a bit of history of starting strongly a fading badly as did Mowbray at middlesborough, plus a youngish squad will have a dip in form at some point. It's a long old season, and it's where we finish in 35 games time, that counts.


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Armstrong will be here i think. He's not like mcgoldrixk where his career is unstable. He's not looking for long term contract. He can afford to have a complete season in league one

He tweets about cov all the time not Newcastle. Right now he feels like a cov player and I think he wants to achieve something for himself and us

Also thibk if Samuel is same player we can get him on loan till end of season as mowbray likes him and he likes us. Also he needs time on pitch after injury so l1 won't bother him

 

[Otis]

We have 3 goals in 2 games in armstrobg absence. And 2 wins too

You need to stop being such a scaredy cat otis

We are much more potent with Armstrong in the team. No-one can deny that. Also, Tudgay has missed a number of gilt-edged chances, where he was expected to score.

Just saying you need as many weapons in your armoury as you can get.

 

[Otis]

Armstrong will be here i think. He's not like mcgoldrixk where his career is unstable. He's not looking for long term contract. He can afford to have a complete season in league one

He tweets about cov all the time not Newcastle. Right now he feels like a cov player and I think he wants to achieve something for himself and us

Also thibk if Samuel is same player we can get him on loan till end of season as mowbray likes him and he likes us. Also he needs time on pitch after injury so l1 won't bother him

I think if we had Samuel and Armstrong in the same team we would be smashing teams at times. A mouthwatering prospect for sure.

And Stu, if we are say top of the league in Jan, Armstrong might tell Newcastle he wants to stay longer anyway. The player's views will surely offer a small degree of influence. If he's having a whale of a time here and scoring for fun, it might make perfect sense for him to stay. I know some have said he might go to the Championship, but the top of League 1 is probably on an equivilent to many Championship positioned sides anyway.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

I said the same yesterday. Armstrong is the only natural goal scorer in the team.

I guess it comes down to our budget situation if we can afford another player or if Mogga is waiting for the next transfer window.

I must say that if Armstrong is out then we look much better when Tudgay and MAF are up front together.

 

[TakeMeHome]

Going to chip in with the OPs point on a backup For Fleck. I think Bryn Morris can abley step into that role and tbh has been unlucky that the form of the middle two has been so good. But he will get his chance. Particularly as the early rounds of Fa cup roll round.

 

[Otis]

Going to chip in with the OPs point on a backup For Fleck. I think Bryn Morris can abley step into that role and tbh has been unlucky that the form of the middle two has been so good. But he will get his chance. Particularly as the early rounds of Fa cup roll round.

Isn't Morris more in the vein of a Vincelot player though? Thought he was supposed to be a holding, defensive midfield player rather than a playmaker.

I know Fleck is a lot more defensively minded these days, but he is still a playmaker too with a varied range of passing.

Not seen enough if Morris for me to make judgement.

 

[Evo1883]

We miss kent aswel people..jot just armstrong

 

[covcity4life]

We are much more potent with Armstrong in the team. No-one can deny that. Also, Tudgay has missed a number of gilt-edged chances, where he was expected to score.

Just saying you need as many weapons in your armoury as you can get.

I agree. I didn't really read your post before lol. Yeh injury to Armstrong would hurt us. I think we cud get by with rudgay maf and lateef but if we want top 2 thrn Yeh a back up like Samuel would be perfect

 

[Otis]

Samuel and Armstrong would be the dream team.

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[rupert_bear]

I think the missing ingredient is a goal scoring midfielder neither Vincelot or Fleck are going to get many which puts pressure on Armstrong, when Maddison returns it might improve a little

 

[Gazolba]

Yes we will obviously miss Armstrong massively if he goes. My preferred replacement would be David McGoldrick; he can't seem to get a starting spot. Samuel would be a great option too. But we also need more goals coming from midfield to take the pressure off the strikers.

 

[Paxman II]

AA wasn't seen as a 20 goal a season man when we got him but there was hope he could be good at this level as has been proved now. So I guess TM has other options and some reserve budget in place for such situations but he won't be telling us or anyone else will he?

 

[jassie78]

I like to see Dominic Samuel

 

[wingy]

I like to see Dominic Samuel

Reading have just let Simon. cox go out on loan.
Don't think this lad will be available, maybe short term to get his fitness back.

 

[stupot07]

Reading have just let Simon. cox go out on loan.
Don't think this lad will be available, maybe short term to get his fitness back.

Yep, he featured early on for them before getting injured, like you I can't see anything other than a 1 month deal to get his fitness back, which I no good for us as he wont be match fit.


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[BlueElephant]

I understand the desperation for a second free-flowing goalscorer but we should be grateful we already have one because as Mowbray said at the start of the season they certainly don't grow on trees. Interestingly we do have the highest number of different goalscorers in the whole league so I could understand a lot more if it was literally just AA scoring every goal.

 

[Otis]

I understand the desperation for a second free-flowing goalscorer but we should be grateful we already have one because as Mowbray said at the start of the season they certainly don't grow on trees. Interestingly we do have the highest number of different goalscorers in the whole league so I could understand a lot more if it was literally just AA scoring every goal.

But this isn't about what we have now BlueElephant, it's the fact that we only have the one and if he gets injured, then what?


I'm not saying have 2 goal scorers both in the team at the same time necessarily. I'm saying having reliance on just one causes a probem if that one is missing.

 

[BlueElephant]

But this isn't about what we have now BlueElephant, it's the fact that we only have the one and if he gets injured, then what?

I'm not saying have 2 goal scorers both in the team at the same time necessarily. I'm saying having reliance on just one causes a probem if that one is missing.

Ifs and buts my friend - I'm sure TM will act accordingly should the problem present itself, although my point is finding someone else to consistently hit the back of the net is not easy especially within our budget

 

[Hobo]

That elusive final piece of the jigsaw missing from the box.

 

[Otis]

Ifs and buts my friend - I'm sure TM will act accordingly should the problem present itself, although my point is finding someone else to consistently hit the back of the net is not easy especially within our budget

Well that's it. Strikers like Armstrong aren't ten a penny. We were very lucky to get Armstrong and have it pay off for us.

Tudgay and Fortune will always chip in here and there, but they just aren't going to be banging them in left, right and centre every week unfortunately.