by JC_81 » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:46 pm
Predicting how a striker from another league will settle in the premiership is near impossible.
Plenty thought that Zola, and even Bergkamp to an extent were on the slide when they came to the premiership, but they have been 2 of the best players ever to play in England. No one predicted Henry would be the phenomenon he's been. Similarly nobody thought Shevchenko would be so ineffectual in the premiership.
With Raul it's impossible to say, if he can find the hunger then there's no doubt he has the talent. But the bottom line is that the next striker we add to the squad, whether that be now, the end of the season or whenever, they have to have pace - Raul doesn't fit the bill. Only Bellamy out of our current forwards has any pace worth talking about, and while pace isn't everything, in the modern game I believe you need at least one quick striker on the pitch.