by ivor_the_injun » Fri Aug 13, 2004 3:29 pm
This is the problem - there aren't too many strikers worth having that we can afford at the moment.
Instead of trying to replace Owen, the best policy would be to promote everyone up a spot, meaning Baros is definitely in the first choice 11 (if Benitez didn't have him there already), and then buy a fourth-choice striker. At the moment, we have Diouf, but seeing as though Benitez doesn't seem to like him, he's only an interim solution at best.
A natural successor in terms of pace would probably be Vassell, although obviously there are question marks over his strike rate. However, if we're talking bargain basement at the moment while Rafa shores up the rest of the team - don't laugh, but how about Fowler being brought back as cover? The few times I saw him last season, his movement and positioning was excellent, his touch was superb and against Chelsea in particular he was insanely unlucky not to score a hat-trick or even more. In spite of this, it looks like Keegan still has reservations about his fitness, and he looks set for a subs spot this year.
Someone like Benitez would be excellent for Fowler, I reckon. If he can sort out his fitness and get himself a bit of form, he'd be an excellent asset to have on the bench. Can you imagine the damage Pongolle and an in-form Fowler could do in the last 20 mins against a tiring defence?
Realistically though, I can't see Benitez buying anybody that isn't Spanish until the January window, when he's had a chance to look at other Premiership sides. He's probably got his eye on some youngster that none of us have ever heard of, I'd guess.