Liam Delap | Official: signed for Chelsea

[Stobzilla]

A young shearer had 23 goals in 118 games for southampton. His best season with saints he scored 13 before moving to blackburn.

Dogba had 12 goals in 64 games for Le Mans.

Henry had 20 goals in 105 games for Monaco

Thats just an example of a few legendary strikers. The point is that it takes time, experience and maturity to start hitting the 20+ goal seasons.

You do get outlier freaks, but they are few and far between.

No guarentee Hojilund or Delap or Zirkzee could match that output when older, but you cant write them off so early.

Indeed, development of any player, let alone strikers is so hard to predict. There was nothing in Delap's ouput last year in the Championship to even suggest that he would be able to get 12 goals in the Premiership this season.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

takes time, experience and maturity to start hitting the 20+ goal seasons.

How about the club actually signs this then, instead of continuing to sign young potential that 'might end up being a top player'.

 

[OsloRed]

How about the club actually signs this then, instead of continuing to sign young potential that 'might end up being a top player'.

We don't really have the money for that.

 

[Cassidy]

We don't really have the money for that.

There are 2 strikers available for low fees this summer in Gyokeres and Osimhen

 

[DWelbz19]

A young shearer had 23 goals in 118 games for southampton. His best season with saints he scored 13 before moving to blackburn.

Dogba had 12 goals in 64 games for Le Mans.

Henry had 20 goals in 105 games for Monaco

Thats just an example of a few legendary strikers. The point is that it takes time, experience and maturity to start hitting the 20+ goal seasons.

You do get outlier freaks, but they are few and far between.

No guarentee Hojilund or Delap or Zirkzee could match that output when older, but you cant write them off

Thing about the old days, they the old days.

In any case — Drogba moved to Chelsea at 26. Henry was a winger who was playing CL semis and World Cup football at Monaco.

Kind of proving my point — you either move to a top side when you’ve proven yourself, or you’re an elite prodigy like Henry was.

 

[DWelbz19]

Indeed, development of any player, let alone strikers is so hard to predict. There was nothing in Delap's performances last year in the Championship to even suggest that he would be able to get 12 goals in the Premiership this season

Delap has done well but it’s hardly unprecedented stuff. A couple of the relegation sides tend to have a half decent bagsman or two. Carlton Morris got 11 for Luton last season. Adebayo got 10.

 

[Quagmaguire]

One of the main reasons I'm excited about signing Delap is that he played for Manchester City's youth teams

Manchester City youth players have actually been quite good showing productivity in the Premier League and other leagues after leaving them

1. James Trafford
2. Frimpong
3. Cole Palmer
4. Sancho
5. Olise
6. Lavia
7. Adarabioyo

There's also the players in the squad like Foden who are in their own first team.

If I had to gamble on Delap becoming a success depending on him being undervalued by Manchester City and his first PL season achievement - then I'm willing to take a gamble that he is going to be a success in the top leagues just as some other City graduates did after leaving them.

 

[romufc]

Thing about the old days, they the old days.

In any case — Drogba moved to Chelsea at 26. Henry was a winger who was playing CL semis and World Cup football at Monaco.

Kind of proving my point — you either move to a top side when you’ve proven yourself, or you’re an elite prodigy like Henry was.

Funny enough.. all you do is moan but give no solution.

Oh we need an experienced striker who scores 12+ league goals in Europe's top divisions regularly, but cannot give options.

Just critical only.

 

[OsloRed]

There are 2 strikers available for low fees this summer in Gyokeres and Osimhen

Low is a stretch. Lower than expected, maybe. Delap, Mateta would most likely be even cheaper than that. If that money could be spent wisely elsewhere on the pitch for us, would that be better? Would Gyokeres and Osimhen even want to join? There are many questions that we don't have the answer for right now.

 

[Lash]

Funny enough.. all you do is moan but give no solution.

Oh we need an experienced striker who scores 12+ league goals in Europe's top divisions regularly, but cannot give options.

Just critical only.

Funny thing is Delap has scored 12 league goals in one of the top leagues in the world. I'm genuinely not sure what else we could ask of someone for their debut season, for a relegation side.

 

[romufc]

Funny thing is Delap has scored 12 league goals in one of the top leagues in the world. I'm genuinely not sure what else we could ask of someone for their debut season, for a relegation side.

Why do you think @DWelbz19 chose 12 as the number of league goals? It suited the agenda and Delap has 12 goals...

He clearly expects 15 PL goals but wont give names.... just be negative towards everything.

 

[Yoro]

I have not watched him enough, only saw him against us twice this season, but was not impressed by him. Normally how i judge players against us, somebody who tore us is players we should ideally go for. Cunha for example was unplayable against us, that's the sort of players we should target.

We should do all we can to sign Cunha, he's absolute class.

 

[Giggsyking]

Funny enough.. all you do is moan but give no solution.

Oh we need an experienced striker who scores 12+ league goals in Europe's top divisions regularly, but cannot give options.

Just critical only.

No one will pay 40m pounds on a most probably a mediocre yet another unproven young player.

We desperately need a player that is already scoring 20 plus goals a season like Osimhen or Gyökeres.

 

[Stobzilla]

Delap has done well but it’s hardly unprecedented stuff. A couple of the relegation sides tend to have a half decent bagsman or two. Carlton Morris got 11 for Luton last season. Adebayo got 10.

I don't think Carlton Morris is a good comparison. Morris is a good seven years older, and he scored 20 in the Championship the season before he made the step up to the PL. Delap's best season had seen him score 8 at the same level.

Adebayo is closer to being a similar case. I would only say that he had a 16-goal season in the Championship and 5 years more experience on Delap.

Not that I am saying that you are wrong, just that Delap, as a younger player, has shown consistent improvement even while stepping up a huge amount in level and expectation this season; it bodes well for his ability to do so again from a psychological perspective.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I'm normally in the "proven strikers everyone wants tend to be overpriced" camp, but at this point I'm fully hoping it's Osimhen/Gyokeres before any of these other names because I can't watch another season of unrefined/borderline bad striker play.

 

[Doracle]

Can’t help but feel that this screams going for him because he’s the budget option, rather than the best option. Similar to how we went for Dorgu rather than hold out for a Kurkez or Robinson.

I just don’t think these level of signings are going to get us back to where we want to be. I don’t think they even get us to CL level, never mind anything else.

Delap is miles above Dorgu though in terms of pedigree. He’s the player I expect to lead the line for England in a couple of years when Kane fades a little. £40m for England’s leading striker for the next decade seems a bit of a bargain to me.

 

[Kingslayer18]

I don't think we can go into next season with Liam Delap as our main striker. Whilst he

Agreed. Sesko was my first choice a few years and I was quite vocal about signing him as a developmental prospect. But I think right now in our current predicament it's about raising the performance floor of the entire team. And I think Delap on low wages and a reasonable transfer fee probably makes more sense for us right now and it will give us more room to raise the level of the rest of the team. Which for me is the key to making our attacking game more potent.

I think a midfield upgrade should be a priority and I think they'll also sign a CB. And having high quality in the CB and deeper midfield lines is the key to having a potentially high quality attack which creates a environment to then dominate games.

I think in the long run, Sesko will have a better career and if the fees were the same, Sesko would be the pick each and every single time. Interestingly enough, in an article done by the Athletic when you look at similar forwards to Gyokeres, Hojlund projects quite high if you look at attributes. Therefore I don't know if it makes sense to get the same type of forward with Delap. I think the only difference between the two is confidence. Delap also doesn't have the greatest pedigree in goalscoring as he did struggle in the Championship with Hull.

I rather we get Ekitike who has such a varied skillset and is a good allrounder. He would be a good addition to the squad and despite concerns over his physicality, he has similar physical stats to Isak who manages to hold up well in the EPL. I think Ekitike as no 9 with Hojlund on the bench makes a lot of sense from a talent and squad perspective.

 

[romufc]

No one will pay 40m pounds on a most probably a mediocre yet another unproven young player.

We desperately need a player that is already scoring 20 plus goals a season like Osimhen or Gyökeres.

What does proven mean? He has 12 PL goals...

So you need players scoring 20 plus league goals a season... can you go check in the top leagues... how often Oshimen has scored 20+ league goals? He is 26 now.

Why do fans always want players based on name, who is hot at the moment, we go buy them and they fail... its the same thing... rinsed and repeated.

I bet you will be the first one to moan that we spent 70m and 250k wages on a striker (Oshimen) if he does not come good and blame the club for spending so much...

Like what you are doing now... if we dont sign Gyokeres or Oshimen.

 

[Cassidy]

Low is a stretch. Lower than expected, maybe. Delap, Mateta would most likely be even cheaper than that. If that money could be spent wisely elsewhere on the pitch for us, would that be better? Would Gyokeres and Osimhen even want to join? There are many questions that we don't have the answer for right now.

Low is not a stretch and 40-45m for Delap/Mateta or 55-60m for Gyokeres its an easy choice.

Buying the cheaper player and not accounting for quality is how we ended up with Hojlund instead of Kane

 

[The holy trinity 68]

We don't really have the money for that.

Delap won't be much cheaper than Osimhen or Gyokeres. Signing Delap will cost more long term because he is more likely to flop.

 

[romufc]

Low is not a stretch and 40-45m for Delap/Mateta or 55-60m for Gyokeres its an easy choice.

Who said Gyokeres or Oshimen are 55-60m? His current release clause is 80m. There are reports there is a verbal agreement to leave for less, but we all know verbal agreements mean f all.

Gyokeres is now in his final big contract , he will be 27 in June, so he will want 200k wages as his big transfer, as there are multiple clubs in for him.

Gyokeres - 65m + 200k for 5 years will cost the club 118m
Delap - £40m + 100k for 5 years will cost 66m.

So almost double... not really low is it?

 

[georgipep]

What does proven mean? He has 12 PL goals...

So you need players scoring 20 plus league goals a season... can you go check in the top leagues... how often Oshimen has scored 20+ league goals? He is 26 now.

Why do fans always want players based on name, who is hot at the moment, we go buy them and they fail... its the same thing... rinsed and repeated.

I bet you will be the first one to moan that we spent 70m and 250k wages on a striker (Oshimen) if he does not come good and blame the club for spending so much...

Like what you are doing now... if we dont sign Gyokeres or Oshimen.

is Osimhen "hot" right now? isn't Delap the new trendy name and you are arguing against yourself?

 

[romufc]

is Osimhen "hot" right now? isn't Delap the new trendy name and you are arguing against yourself?

Oshimen has been trendy... just look at everyone who wants a striker, 3 names being mentioned Gyokeres, Sesko and Oshimen.

If you think Delap is trendy... ask PL fans who they would sign as a ST between, Gyokeres, Oshimen, Delap and Sesko... you will get your answer.

 

[next_number_seven]

I've a feeling we released our interest in Delap for 40m to the press as a negotiating tactic to show someone else we won't be highballed, if that makes sense.

Maybe Eintract Frankfurt are looking for 80m for Ekitike and we tip off the press that we're signing Delap for 40m so they'll drop their price.

 

[dinostar77]

No one will pay 40m pounds on a most probably a mediocre yet another unproven young player.

We desperately need a player that is already scoring 20 plus goals a season like Osimhen or Gyökeres.

The Woodward / Arnold era is over of big name signings on big wages. Radcliffe said in more than one interview using Mbappe as an example for his point, "we don't want to buy a Mbappe (i.e. pay premium top dollar financial package), we want to find and develop the next Mbappe".

Amorim even said last week or so that "big players" doesn't mean players who play for Read Madrid, but players who are big for him.

The football world at the elite level has switched to buying players at a younger age and developing them.

All that will happen with a Gyokeres or Osimhen will be expectation and frustration. Because we do not have the creativity or ability to create chances for our striker(s). Other parts of the XI need addressing for amorim system to work.

Barrada said 2028 is when they want to be in a position to challenge for the title. So it's gonna take time and we have to be patient.

 

[aganley]

Who said Gyokeres or Oshimen are 55-60m? His current release clause is 80m. There are reports there is a verbal agreement to leave for less, but we all know verbal agreements mean f all.

Gyokeres is now in his final big contract , he will be 27 in June, so he will want 200k wages as his big transfer, as there are multiple clubs in for him.

Gyokeres - 65m + 200k for 5 years will cost the club 118m
Delap - £40m + 100k for 5 years will cost 66m.

So almost double... not really low is it?

Anyone picking Delap over an established player like Gyokeres is simply just talking Glazernomics. Gyokeres is a player Amorin wants as his no1 choice. Why are we accepting 3-4 choice players? When Amorin finishes outside the top 4 next season due to a lack of goals, the very same people will be calling for him to be sacked. We are paying 30-40 million in interest payments alone each year. The lack of money is just spin from GLINOES, if Chelsea can find a way around it we can.

 

[georgipep]

Oshimen has been trendy... just look at everyone who wants a striker, 3 names being mentioned Gyokeres, Sesko and Oshimen.

If you think Delap is trendy... ask PL fans who they would sign as a ST between, Gyokeres, Oshimen, Delap and Sesko... you will get your answer.

one of these names has been a champion in a top5 league

If Osimhen is trendy now, I don't know what he was 2 years ago

 

[romufc]

one of these names has been a champion in a top5 league

If Osimhen is trendy now, I don't know what he was 2 years ago

That's nice...he won the league, so he must be a shoe in to score 20+ league goals in the PL.

 

[next_number_seven]

The Woodward / Arnold era is over of big name signings on big wages. Radcliffe said in more than one interview using Mbappe as an example for his point, "we don't want to buy a Mbappe (i.e. pay premium top dollar financial package), we want to find and develop the next Mbappe".

Amorim even said last week or so that "big players" doesn't mean players who play for Read Madrid, but players who are big for him.

The football world at the elite level has switched to buying players at a younger age and developing them.

All that will happen with a Gyokeres or Osimhen will be expectation and frustration. Because we do not have the creativity or ability to create chances for our striker(s). Other parts of the XI need addressing for amorim system to work.

Barrada said 2028 is when they want to be in a position to challenge for the title. So it's gonna take time and we have to be patient.

I've a feeling that Delap is a decoy and we'll end up buying a young striker from France or South America or somewhere. Someone with world class potential like Antony Martial, who did initially look like that.

Delap looks good but I'm not sure he can be developed into a top class striker.

 

[MadDogg]

All that will happen with a Gyokeres or Osimhen will be expectation and frustration. Because we do not have the creativity or ability to create chances for our striker(s). Other parts of the XI need addressing for amorim system to work.

Barrada said 2028 is when they want to be in a position to challenge for the title. So it's gonna take time and we have to be patient.

We don't create a lot of chances, but we'd certainly create more than we do with a striker who has significantly better movement. Not to mention a striker who actually takes part in holding the ball and getting us moving forward, which would improve our attack as a whole.

I can see the pros and cons for signing either a younger option or one in their prime. In most other positions I'd probably lean towards the younger one. But we can't go for 'just' young players as they do need some experience to help lead them, and striker is probably the best position for that experience to come in at. We've got decent experience in the backline to go with the younger ones. We've got experience in the midfield (in fact that's the position we probably do need to be looking to younger players). But our entire attack is basically just kids.

 

[georgipep]

That's nice...he won the league, so he must be a shoe in to score 20+ league goals in the PL.

where have I said how many goals he might score in the PL?

I commented on the "trendy" label. And stand by my opinion that Delap is the trendy one.

Osimhen is an experienced striker with a title in Italy.

Remember when Ferguson was the next big thing?

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

I guess my worry with him will be that this is really the only time in his senior career he has scored up to 10 goals.

He does pass the eye test the few times I’ve watched him. He’s also a lot closer to Gyokeres than any other striker we’ve been linked with, if we are looking for who suits amorims system best

 

[romufc]

where have I said how many goals he might score in the PL?

I commented on the "trendy" label. And stand by my opinion that Delap is the trendy one.

Osimhen is an experienced striker with a title in Italy.

Remember when Ferguson was the next big thing?

Right... I guess we have different opinions of trendy... Mine is when everyone is looking at the player based on some form and they are priced highly. Just have a look at the thread below.. 9% of fans want him... but apparently he is trendy and Oshimen who is at 24% isn't trendy..

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/striker-poll-who-should-we-buy.486972/page-16#post-33102946
=

Example... Ferguson was trendy based on 6 months form and he got valued at 100m due to trend... surprise surprise no one signed him for 100m as he only scored 6 PL goals.

Delap, not someone I am saying we should sign, has been rated quite highly from a young age from his numbers in the youth teams, since then he has played 2/3 season in the championship and has shown he can score in the PL too.

Comparing Ferguson and Delap is a bit silly...

 

[Raoul]

I guess my worry with him will be that this is really the only time in his senior career he has scored up to 10 goals.

He does pass the eye test the few times I’ve watched him. He’s also a lot closer to Gyokeres than any other striker we’ve been linked with, if we are looking for who suits amorims system best

If we buy him, I'm going to assume Amorim has done his scouting homework and views him as a potential future Gyokeres like player. The only concern is that if Gyokeres goes to Arsenal, they will be impossible to catch in the league for years to come.

 

[Giggsyking]

What does proven mean? He has 12 PL goals...

So you need players scoring 20 plus league goals a season... can you go check in the top leagues... how often Oshimen has scored 20+ league goals? He is 26 now.

Why do fans always want players based on name, who is hot at the moment, we go buy them and they fail... its the same thing... rinsed and repeated.

I bet you will be the first one to moan that we spent 70m and 250k wages on a striker (Oshimen) if he does not come good and blame the club for spending so much...

Like what you are doing now... if we dont sign Gyokeres or Oshimen.

Gyökeres and Osimhen have multiple seasons with top scoring numbers. They are mature and if you want to reduce the risk of flopping you buy a bit experienced striker. Not only Delap is not a special talent, he is also young. The risk of him failing is far far higher than the other two. We don't have time to babysit him. Also he will cost almost like the other two, so hardly a bargain. For 10m from a relegated team fine as a second option. But to lead the line of Manchester, the shirt is too big for him.

 

[didz]

where have I said how many goals he might score in the PL?

I commented on the "trendy" label. And stand by my opinion that Delap is the trendy one.

Osimhen is an experienced striker with a title in Italy.

Remember when Ferguson was the next big thing?

The signs were really there with Evan Ferguson though. Practically all his goals seemed to come from indirect set pieces and he offered little in open play. Brighton play better football with Welbeck or Pedro leading the line, with Ferguson mostly useful off the bench, until he couldn't make that. I don't know how that translates to him ever having had a £100m valuation but well done United for not paying it, as I'm sure it was a temptation at some point.

 

[Giggsyking]

The Woodward / Arnold era is over of big name signings on big wages. Radcliffe said in more than one interview using Mbappe as an example for his point, "we don't want to buy a Mbappe (i.e. pay premium top dollar financial package), we want to find and develop the next Mbappe".

Amorim even said last week or so that "big players" doesn't mean players who play for Read Madrid, but players who are big for him.

The football world at the elite level has switched to buying players at a younger age and developing them.

All that will happen with a Gyokeres or Osimhen will be expectation and frustration. Because we do not have the creativity or ability to create chances for our striker(s). Other parts of the XI need addressing for amorim system to work.

Barrada said 2028 is when they want to be in a position to challenge for the title. So it's gonna take time and we have to be patient.

We should and I hope never buy a young striker ever again. It's a stupid idea that we need to leave behind us. Every position I could accept a young player except the CF and probably the goalkeeper.

 

[romufc]

Gyökeres and Osimhen have multiple seasons with top scoring numbers. They are mature and if you want to reduce the risk of flopping you buy a bit experienced striker. Not only Delap is not a special talent, he is also young. The risk of him failing is far far higher than the other two. We don't have time to babysit him. Also he will cost almost like the other two, so hardly a bargain. For 10m from a relegated team fine as a second option. But to lead the line of Manchester, the shirt is too big for him.

Oshimen in his career including this one has had 2 seasons with 20 + league goals at 26... so no, I do not think the risk of him flopping is low, I would argue Oshimen is the highest risk of flopping for a multitued of reasons...

Gyokeres has never played in a top 5 league, there is no difference between the Portugese and Dutch league, we have seen what the Dutch league players are like for us...

Whilst we dont have time to babysit young players... we dont have time for a 27 year old to settle into English football either...

I have actually done a working out above which shows that Gyokeres would cost us double in the 5 year period to Delap...

Gyokeres current release clause is 80m.

 

[Raoul]

Oshimen in his career including this one has had 2 seasons with 20 + league goals at 26... so no, I do not think the risk of him flopping is low, I would argue Oshimen is the highest risk of flopping for a multitued of reasons...

Gyokeres has never played in a top 5 league, there is no difference between the Portugese and Dutch league, we have seen what the Dutch league players are like for us...

Whilst we dont have time to babysit young players... we dont have time for a 27 year old to settle into English football either...

I have actually done a working out above which shows that Gyokeres would cost us double in the 5 year period to Delap...

Gyokeres current release clause is 80m.

He could go as low as 55m.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44536417/transfer-rumors-news-viktor-gyokeres-available-55m

And frankly, the numbers become somewhat irrelevant when trophies are won. You have to go for the very best player available, just as we did with every striker from Ruud onwards.

 

[Lash]

If we buy him, I'm going to assume Amorim has done his scouting homework and views him as a potential future Gyokeres like player. The only concern is that if Gyokeres goes to Arsenal, they will be impossible to catch in the league for years to come.

That's a bit hyperbolic, is it not? Forest, of all teams, managed to catch up Arsenal before us. Liverpool overtook them without signing a single player! Gyokeres isn't going to transform them. He'll improve them, but where Arsenal have struggled, Gyokeres doesn't exactly excel. He does a lot of his best work with space to run into and down the channels. He hasn't played against low block teams, from what I can see, so I wouldn't be sure he's as transformative as people think.