Rovers tracking Joe Garner

[Jonathan]

See Free Press http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-sport/Rovers-eye-up-Forest-forward.6336618.jp

A good alternative to Billy Sharp in my view (although Billy remains first choice, and hopefully we can still come to a deal).

Whatever happens, I think it's good that we have a back-up plan of genuine quality and I think we need to determine where we stand asap so we at least have a chance of getting one if not the other.

[DannyRovers]

Just looked on wikipedia (so not saying its true) and it says he plays as a striker or a midfielder, SOD has said he wants to bring a midfielder in, could he not maybe see Garner as a midfielder...... just a thought.

[DearneValleyRover]

Or are we looking in case Hayter doesn't sign?

[RoversAlias]

DearneValleyRover wrote:

Or are we looking in case Hayter doesn't sign?

Doubtful, since even if we include Hayter we only have three forwards. Not enough at all, especially when one is a youth graduate and the other is a cripple.

I really hope we sign him, Forest fans think hes a really good player who isn't being given a chance by the manager. Where have we heard that before?

[Jonathan]

Lots of similarities with Sharp in terms of his situation. Davies has used him out wide a lot by the sounds of things, but I'm pretty sure he's an out and out striker.

[Barmby Rover]

Youth graduate? Fairhurst is a good young player, all players are \"youth graduates\" from somewhere, and referring to Brooker as a cripple is like referring to yourself as a tactical genius, hardly true.

[RoversAlias]

Hey, I could be a tactical master for all you know.

I'm not, but hey. My point stands. I don't think we'd be going after Garner as a replacement for Hayter, I don't get why people seem to do this every time we are linked with a player. \"Oh but what if he's a potential replacement for this guy who might be leaving!\". We've got three forwards, two of which are largely unproven in the Rovers shirt (hopefully that'll soon change) and I see it as being much more likely that we're after Garner to add to the attacking line, since we have released two forwards.

For the record I rate Fairhurst from what we've seen but my point is that he has had limited opportunities at a senior level so far. And I can't judge Brooker as I've not seen him since he's been injured for the past 18 months.

[Barmby Rover]

I agree that we will be looking to find two new strikers, that is what we lost when Lewis (Striker?) left and Heffs is out of contract. Garner would be ideal as a multitasker, much as Hayter and Shiels are. Billy or a.n. other will be interesting. the problem that Rovers have is can we afford a Joe garner and a Billy? I hope so, but if we can't then I hope folks give the unknown a chance to prove themselves before comparing to Billy etc.

[DearneValleyRover]

RoversAlias wrote:

DearneValleyRover wrote:

Or are we looking in case Hayter doesn't sign?

Doubtful, since even if we include Hayter we only have three forwards. Not enough at all, especially when one is a youth graduate and the other is a cripple.

I really hope we sign him, Forest fans think hes a really good player who isn't being given a chance by the manager. Where have we heard that before?

What I intended to say was that I don't believe Garner is seen to be an alternative to Billy.

[Jonathan]

I would find it highly unlikely that we could/would afford to sign both Garner and Sharp, although I'd love to be proved wrong on that!

Although Sharp is likely the more expensive of the pair, I would still expect Garner to cost around double our current record transfer fee, and to spend that much money on two strikers would start to indicate a serious assault on reaching the play off places. Basically it would give us an attacking unit competitive with any in the league, and given somebody asked the question 'is the glass to big' recently, I think hoping for Garner and Sharp would only be setting yourself up for disappointment.

I do agree we need two strikers, though.

[DannyRovers]

has anyone read the article? I dont live in Donny so cant get my hands on it?

[Drover]

DannyRovers wrote:

has anyone read the article? I dont live in Donny so cant get my hands on it?

Click the link on the opening post and it will open up on your screen for you to read it.

[TheRev]

Why are we looking at signing a former West Indian pace bowler?
Maybe it's his 6'8\" height that SOD is looking at for a \"Plan B\" that we don't already have, but at 57 years old will we get more than 15 minutes from him?  

[donnybez]

hmmm.....SOD wants a defender, Midfileder and striker


so think he wont exactly overspend on any one position so i recks 300k-600k will be max spend on one player

[DonnyEl]

donnybez wrote:

hmmm.....SOD wants a defender, Midfileder and striker


so think he wont exactly overspend on any one position so i recks 300k-600k will be max spend on one player

but he has said he's more likely to get a defender on loan, and there's still several free agents

[DannyRovers]

Drover wrote:

DannyRovers wrote:

has anyone read the article? I dont live in Donny so cant get my hands on it?

Click the link on the opening post and it will open up on your screen for you to read it.

I meant the full article, it says to read this weeks free press to 'read this full article.' I havnt been able to get it. what did it say?

[Jonathan]

If we did sign him we could use a bit of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilxHcif20Vo

or this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtnKBTNfRyk

[RobTheRover]

I remember Martin Woods used to score them like that for Rotherham.  Maybe he gets too near to the goals for us? ;-)