--- title: "The need for goals" canonical: "https://readnorwich.com/2015/08/10/the-need-for-goals/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Daniel Emery" section: "Articles" published: "2015-08-10T17:00:16Z" modified: "2015-08-10T17:00:16Z" --- # The need for goals Hot off the end of Norwich’s opening day Premier League loss for Norwich to Crystal Palace, the need for a clinical central striker for Norwich has once again come to light. Lewis Grabban started the game as Norwich’s lone striker, as he did for the games under Alex Neil last season when he was available to play. Everyone knows that Grabban is a top Championship striker and his movement off and on the ball is superb. That isn’t in question. His ability to score Premier League goals however, is. He missed a glaring chance early in the game and he will know himself he should have scored. It has become a recurring theme with Grabban. When the teams came out and I saw Grabban was starting I said straight away that he would cost us the game due to his tendency to miss clear cut chances. Unfortunately, this proved to be true. If he had of taken that chance then it could have changed the entire complexion of the game and potentially ended with us getting at least a point. All in all, I do not think that Lewis Grabban is Premier League quality and Norwich cannot afford for him to miss chances when they are going to find chances themselves hard to come by. The question then becomes, who else is clinical enough to be a Premier League striker? The three other senior strikers in the squad have all played in the Premier League and failed to impress. Gary Hooper and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel were unable to get the goals to keep Norwich in the league two seasons ago and I don’t see it being any different this year. That leaves Cameron Jerome. He has Premier League experience with Stoke and most recently, Crystal Palace. However he has failed to prove himself as a top-flight striker, which is what led to him joining Norwich in the 2nd tier in the first place. Now in my opinion, I think Jerome has found his club. I think he is at a place in his career where he is playing well and scoring goals and happy at the club he is at. Something that he maybe did not have at his other clubs. He should have had a goal yesterday if not for a controversial decision from the referee Simon Hooper to disallow it for ‘dangerous play’. If Norwich give him game time and start him as the first choice striker from now on till the end of the season then he will score goals. However, I don’t think that that is enough. I think that Alex Neil and David McNally have to bring in another striker and let go of Hooper or Van Wolfswinkel, or both. They need to be bold and splash the cash. They shouldn’t be hesitant over the price of a striker. Premier League goalscorers are a commodity and will come with a hefty asking price. Just look at Saturday’s opponents. They spent £9m on Connor Wickham. Now im not saying Norwich should go and buy any random striker for a silly price. However I think, if Alex Neil finds a striker he thinks will fit in the team and keep Norwich up, he should pay whatever it takes. With the season now underway, Norwich cannot afford to have a repeat of the Brady saga. They simply do not have the time for that. They need bring in a top class forward and quickly. Players such as Charlie Austin have been mentioned by fans but that deal is unrealistic with his wages likely to be too high for Norwich’s standard and clubs such as Tottenham being linked with him making the deal even more unlikely. Mbokani is a player that has been heavily linked with Norwich over the summer, with Alex Neil stating that he is a player that is currently being looked at as a potential signing. With the player closing in on being 30 years of age and having no Premier League experience, I don’t think he is the answer. I don’t think Norwich can afford to take a gamble with this one and they need to bring in a player who is a proven scorer in the Premier League. Now, I know that is easier said than done but I would like to see someone like Steven Fletcher brought in. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer and would not cost a fortune to bring in. The only hindrance to this deal could be Sunderland unwilling to sell to a rival club. For that reason, I can’t see the deal happening. Either way, Norwich need to bring in a forward of that ilk and quickly. You cannot afford to continuously miss gilt-edge opportunities in the Premier League. **Do you agree with Daniel Emery? What’s your opinion on our current strike force and who do you think we should bring in?**