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Transfer Targets?
at 12:03 2 May 2013

Agree completely, Burke is a surprising name and he wouldn't be on my list of targets. If I was looking to add experience to our midfield it would need to be someone who had performed more consistently. Also I think we need the experience more centrally. We have let a lot of goals in this season (and last season for that matter) yet many of the back four are individually capable at this level. I still think the problem is as much in front of them as the back four itself. A solid and experienced holding midfielder is still missing, this is probably the missing ingredient away from home.

Upfront is a difficult one, realistically we're not going to be able to prise the really top goalscorers in the division from their clubs. There aren't many outstanding options anyway. The top scorers (with more goals than Ward) are:

1 Glenn Murray 28 Crystal Palace
2 Jordan Rhodes 27 Blackburn Rovers
3 Charlie Austin 24 Burnley
4 Matej Vydra 20 Watford
4 Chris Wood 20 Leicester City
6 Troy Deeney 19 Watford
7 Thomas Ince 17 Blackpool
8 Luciano Becchio 15 Leeds United
9 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers
9 David Nugent 14 Leicester City
11 Marlon King 13 Birmingham City
11 Steve Davies 13 Bristol City
11 James Vaughan 13 Huddersfield Town
11 Dwight Gayle 13 Peterborough United

Of these Rhodes, Woods, Vydra, Austin, Nugent and Ince are highly unlikely to be available unless you offer stupid money, not to mention may have premier league clubs looking in the cases of Rhodes, Vydra, Austin and Ince. Murray and Deeney might depend on the fortunes of their clubs and what they then choose to do and will be in demand if they become available. King, Becchio and Davies all seem unlikely options for a variety of reasons. That leaves Blake, Vaughan and Gayle. Blake perhaps comes with more track record of championship goals and with Wolves going down would be a decent signing. Vaughan and Gayle are risks as they are yet to have played enough to know whether these goals tallies can be improved or a 'one-season wonder'.

Overall whoever we go for is going to be a risk, as new signings always are.

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Transfer Targets?
at 10:15 2 May 2013

As always with any signings you just have to wait and see. They aren't hugely exciting in terms of 'box office' appeal but contrary to previous seasons it is a bigger list of players with decent championship experience. For a while we have been complaining that the squad lacks depth and experience and this list would improve that. I realise some are going to leave but the possible replacements seem to be better.

Theo for Vaughn? - Vaughn undoubtedly far more talented and has played a lot this year so hopefully is putting his injuries behind him. Playing consistently in a decent side he could better his 13 goals this season!

Tyson for Martin? - Tyson way past his best and while he hasn't had a huge amount of chances I don't think we will miss him much! Martin has been mixed but has age on his side (compared to Tyson).

Roberts for Forsyth - Definitely wouldn't argue with that. Freeman and Hoganson have shown they can be reliable enough back ups if needed.

Burke would provide some much needed competition for Paul Coutts who has been poor for a lot of the 2nd half of the season yet has seemed 'undropable' at times. Past his best? Maybe but sometimes a new club and lease of life can reinvigorate a player. Also would be experience on the bench rather than Ben Davies being the only senior pro available to change a game.

Baptiste should help add a bit of strength to the back four which has shipped far too many goals this season (despite performancers of the individuals being largely ok e.g. Keogh, Bucko and Brayford).

As always not all of these might happen and it might be a different list of names come the start of next season. It does at least seem that the policy is not to recruit potential from league 1 and 2 this summer but to look to players in and around championship sides.

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