Why did we ship out Slim but keep Ian.?

Florida, I don't know where you're getting this idea that we can go out and buy Spurs' best players.

I say take a look at Sam Vokes. Would be available and an option for the last 15 minutes.

Dunge.... We are on the up!

Money is nice but winning nothing and always being a bridesmaid and never the Bride?

Vokes did look good last time out and that is a good shout.

We do have to move on from Vardy sooner rather than later.

I'm in the minority in thinking that Slimani didn't do too badly for us and thought he was ok as a back up striker. The biggest issue for him is that he wasn't Vardy. A player like him needs a different type of service so you'd probably set up your team in a different way. There are, however, clearly other issues here that I'm not close to in terms of his integration with the rest of the team. It might be that he clung on to Mahrez so much as they both spoke the same language and had the same background and a reason why he might be happier in France.

Ian is a different issue really and it's not an either/or between him and slim. A better comparison is between Ian and Gray. They both need to show a lot more to be a consistent presence in the squad and both show infuriating glimpses of what they might be capable of. I don't like to write players off too early (see Vardy thread or even Perez v Southampton), but I just can't see that Ian will ever be consistent enough and influence the game often enough.

We do need a post Vardy plan, but in some ways it's not just about replacing Vardy. The 2015/16 team was built around servicing Vardy and, as his powers fade, it's about ensuring our style evolves into something a new striker could slot into.

On this latter point there are encouraging signs that we're making some progress. I feel now we'd be much more capable of slotting another player into Vardy's position without having to completely change our style. We also look less reliant on Vardy for goals - I think Maddison, Tielemans and (in the future) Barnes and Perez are much more capable. Not so long ago the other goal outlets might have been: N'didi, Mendy, Albrighton, Gray and Okazaki.

Puel tried to evolve the team with or without Vardy and struggled, but laid some very important foundations. The reason for BRodgers success is that, so far, he's managed to evolve the style of the team and bring Vardy along with him.

Very good points Joby.......

I would, like you kept Slim. ( Also the guy we got from Brighten.)

Love Johnny but has he ever scored a goal with his head?

We do look a force to be reckoned with but still have to think ahead to replace Vardy or just wait for his kid to come of age?

Shopping in January is Vardy and Evans backups/ replacements!

PS Hats off to our LB..... No one has gave him more stick than me but what was he on in the Saints game? Lol

Slim was a good goal poacher - see his record of starts v goals. We didn't /don't play a style that suits him, he offered little in holding the ball up/bringing others into play and he's ageing. Sell for as much as poss.

Florida -'we do have to move on from Vardy sooner rather than later'. What on earth are you on? No we don't hopefully, I like Dunge's expectations rather than your depressing view.

Slimani is a better player in a front 2, Ian a better line forward. Think that’s one key reason.

In terms of replacing Vardy, I think he could continue to play until 40. He just seems to age slower and his finishing can make up for any drop in speed.

One of the things that surprised me most pre season is we didn’t follow through on buying Bowen. We’ve been heavily linked and he’s a natural goal scorer albeit from the wing. It was interesting to see Elders comments on him that he’s the most clinical finisher he’s seen after Vardy.

He’s still there and banging them in consistently from the wing over 3 seasons.

But I think over the summer BRodgers was looking for Prem experience so we went for Perez. Be interesting to see if we rekindle our interest if we’re fighting on a European front next season.

comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 9 hours, 19 minutes ago
Slim was a good goal poacher - see his record of starts v goals. We didn't /don't play a style that suits him, he offered little in holding the ball up/bringing others into play and he's ageing. Sell for as much as poss.

Florida -'we do have to move on from Vardy sooner rather than later'. What on earth are you on? No we don't hopefully, I like Dunge's expectations rather than your depressing view.


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Now that is funny!

This, to me, is an absolute no brainer. Slim is as good as he is going to get, Ian has unknow potential, he is younger and can learn and improve.

^
It's a good point about Slimani's age. I suppose the question is whether there's a place in the squad for someone to be on the bench who can come on in the last 10 or 15 minutes if we need to bombard the box with crosses.

Although, having said that, other teams seem to manage perfectly well without the need to bring on a big lump.