Current Player #10 Sam Baldock

Baldock is undoubtedly a good player and good addition. The management just need to plan with the assumption that he will only be available for half the games (based on his career stats).
With this in mind, we need to ensure we get in 1-2 younger fitter strikers as back-up. Perhaps one in loan and one to try and develop.
 
Surely that's a big BUT?!

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Why would he be back up.all three could compete and if baldock gets injured we still have two very good strikers with a younger one on the bench

Matty Taylor and Sam Baldock have already shown they are a partnership. And Matty Taylor has already shown he scores a good number of goals for us so will be starting imo especially with the existing partnership. Stockton would only sign as a starting forward and I doubt Sam Baldock signed to be a back up.

That isn't even discussing how much we'd have to spend for Stockton which would be a lot and his wages would be up there as well. I'll be genuinely stunned if he was to sign. Norwood (or even the likes of Danny Hylton) makes more sense as he won't cost a fee, freeing up resources for other positions.
 
I suspect the 3412 with a front pair, rather than four at the back with a lone striker, will be the main formation next year.


Yes, this system allows Karl to use just 4 squad places for defenders rather than the normal 5. The frees up a space for an occasional forward.

The best bit is that since we already have Long, Williams and Forde on the books we can lose Moore or McNally and still be 100% ready for the new season defensively.
 
The best bit is that since we already have Long, Williams and Forde on the books we can lose Moore or McNally and still be 100% ready for the new season defensively.
:-/ I know what you're saying, but ... that's quite optimistically stated ...
 
If we were just going with Taylor and Baldock as our front two and Browne - who isn’t an out and out striker - and some kid as the back up then we might as well kiss the season goodbye before a ball is kicked. Baldock is a terrific third striker, Browne could possibly pass as the fourth but we desperately need to sign a top class striker who will be seriously vying to be the main man and oust Taylor from his undroppable status - and hopefully one with a bit more physicality than both Taylor and Baldock.

Stockton is the stand out one, maybe Hirst another and the likes of Norwood and Walker options too. We need to be much more aggressive in the opposition box, too often last season it was ridiculous watching Taylor manfully plough a lone furrow against a 6’4” centre back. Taylor and Baldock looked a threat, as a pair, against the average opposition they faced but we need someone who’s going to compete and score goals against your Barnsley’s, Derby’s, Wednesday and maybe even Sunderland.
 
That first sentence's a touch melodramatic, Dicky boy. Granted that it would be foolish to expect Baldock to play more than 20 or so games a season we have to have a third striker who's not Browne, the 3rd should be different - a big pacy lump. I'd take Ellis Harrison. Of course, to turn on the melodrama, none of that will matter much if we don't sort out the defence.
 
If we were just going with Taylor and Baldock as our front two and Browne - who isn’t an out and out striker - and some kid as the back up then we might as well kiss the season goodbye before a ball is kicked. Baldock is a terrific third striker, Browne could possibly pass as the fourth but we desperately need to sign a top class striker who will be seriously vying to be the main man and oust Taylor from his undroppable status - and hopefully one with a bit more physicality than both Taylor and Baldock.

Stockton is the stand out one, maybe Hirst another and the likes of Norwood and Walker options too. We need to be much more aggressive in the opposition box, too often last season it was ridiculous watching Taylor manfully plough a lone furrow against a 6’4” centre back. Taylor and Baldock looked a threat, as a pair, against the average opposition they faced but we need someone who’s going to compete and score goals against your Barnsley’s, Derby’s, Wednesday and maybe even Sunderland.
Yet we were top scorers, mainly with Taylor on his own, and he scored 20+ goals despite the size of the opposition

If we do sign another striker I hope we can unearth an unknown rather than pay top dollar for an established lower league guy
 
Yes, this system allows Karl to use just 4 squad places for defenders rather than the normal 5. The frees up a space for an occasional forward.

The best bit is that since we already have Long, Williams and Forde on the books we can lose Moore or McNally and still be 100% ready for the new season defensively.
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As others have said, a good signing - his linking up with Taylor was excellent - but not one that we will get 46 games out of next season. Hopefully his periods sidelined will not be too long.

As for another striker, let's see if we can do a bit of succession planning and get/promote a youngster or two into more than just a bit of bench warming and a sub appearance in the doesn't matter cup.
 
Yes, this system allows Karl to use just 4 squad places for defenders rather than the normal 5. The frees up a space for an occasional forward.

The best bit is that since we already have Long, Williams and Forde on the books we can lose Moore or McNally and still be 100% ready for the new season defensively.

Why would we need 4 if we're only playing 3 at the back...
 
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