I agree 100% , whilst weighing up your options is fair , I feel he doesn't want to be with us.

If he signs I hope I am wrong.

heskey and the yak please, i know they want high wages but heskey, everyone in leicester loves him, and even if the yak is lazy, he still scores 11 goals in 20. END OF!

To be honest, I hadn't really heard of Nicky Maynard until we were interested on him.

Kenny Miller would be good but it looks like he's going to Cardiff. Also looks like we're not following up on Wayne Routledge.

Would definitely prefer the Yak and he would be our 20+ goalscorer.

I never thought I'd say this, but at this moment in time, I'd prefer it if we signed Yakubu. Yes, he looked lazy and over 28, but the fact is, he is cheaper and we already know he can score 1 in 2 games for us(although admittedly, these stats may be a little misrepresentative).

However, it's a little redundant now, as I don't think the Yak would drop down a division anymore. We scored a bag full last year, with the majority of goals coming from all over the shop.

I personally would consider waiting until January now.

For the first time in years at this level I feel there are a handful of players who could all hit double figures (Gallagher, Nugent, King, Waghorn) and with the way we play, we are always going to create chances for the likes of Howard, Dyer, Vassell, Kermo (!?!?) and the midfielders to chip in as well.

I like Maynard, just not at the price that's being asked . Yes the owners may be prepared to pay it, but as you point out, we could surely do better for that sort of money.

I'll still advocate Billy Sharp to come in and get near 20 goals for us. He's gets 15 a season for Doncaster, and surely we'll be creating more chances than them this season

I'm glad i'm not the only one!!!

Reading through these boards, you;d think the way some people are talking, if we don't sign Maynard, we're going to be fighting against relegation!!!

I'd much rather have Gally, Nugent and Vassell upfront, with Big Steve and Waghorn/ Schlupp waiting in the wings.

I think that is perfectly good enough.

I don't think we'd be fighting against relegation without Maynard...

But do we have enough goals in us to go up at present? And Maynard is a natural finisher after all...

Why Why Why are people still banding Heskey's name about, surely were better off sticking with Howard, what more is he going to bring to the table than Howard,he's not going to get us loads of goals

The yak would be a good signing, love him or lather him he scores goals albeit more in some games than others,it seems years since we had a young goalscorer of the Maynard mould down, if there willing to splash the cash then i'd take him

'I like Maynard, just not at the price that's being asked . Yes the owners may be prepared to pay it, but as you point out, we could surely do better for that sort of money.'

You say that, but then you say Billy Sharp, and others say Yakubu? What makes them so much better? What makes them worth £5m? Sharp has had a couple of good seasons with Doncaster, but was rubbish for Sheff Utd. He's not even the same kind of player that Maynard is, he's a box player. We had Fryatt for that.

And Yakubu is too inconsistent, there's no way he's worth £5m either. Nobody who will drop down to this league is worth £5m, but Maynard's the best option of the bunch IMO. I'm not bothered if Yakubu's cheaper because I'm not convinced he's a better option.

I couldn't care less how much money he costs in money, I am a bit disappointed Waggy might be involved in the deal, but tbh you have to make sacrifices to get promoted. I'll be very confident about the new season if Maynard signs, and if we go up nobody will be complaining about price tags.

well said Emilio...the Yak is fat and old and will hide. Maynard is young and wants success, as well as money. The Yak just wants money

Although I think Maynard would be a good addition, I don't believe in us paying £5M for a championship player, with a year left on his contract who has just returned from injury, thats outrageous!! For an extra million we couldve had hernandez at the beginning of last season!

In my opinion we should stick with what we got (unless the yak deal can be rolled through at a reasonable figure) give the likes of waggy and howard a decent chance and if we still could do with Maynard, surely bristol will be cashing in in January?!

I certainly wouldn't be disappointed if Maynard signed as he is the player that would complete the jigsaw I think.

£5 million may be a bit overpriced but it's all subjective. If Maynard scores the goals that lead us to promotion then it will be £5 million well spent.

But I think we could do with another striker who scores consistently rather than someone like Nugent or Vassell who score in blocks (there's nothing wrong with that but you still need a consisent reliable goalscorer who will score 1 in 2 consistently rather than 8 in 10 then 0 in the next 10).

As I said, we do need one of these type of players and there aren't many alternatives.

Greatness - As you state, it's all subjective.

I don't feel Maynard is proven enough to warrant that big a price tag.

Remember last time we spent 5 Mil on an unproven striker?

Are we not falling into the habit of judging players before they kick a ball for the Club (If they ever do)
We dod not know whether he wants come here or not.

I still expect us to sign both Yak and Heskey after the 1st August when the prem name their squads.

Nev,

If he wanted to come here, he knows of our offer, and has had a meeting with their manager, he would have said he wanted to leave.

I'm not judging him before he comes, I just don't think he's worth 5 Mil.

If we're spending 5 mil on a striker in this league, I'd be wanting him to score nearer the 30 mark than 20.

Would go for Ebanks Blake - cost £1.5 mil - still £3.5 mil to spend on other players

I'd prefer Ebanks-Blake tbh. More proven than Maynard. Plus, you've got to question Maynard's fitness.

EB is a very good player.

Coincedentaly, I just looked at the top scorers from last season:
Danny Graham - Just been sold for 3.5 mil. Watford signed him the year before for £550k.

Shane Long - signed for a nominal fee from Cork City 5 years ago, now being touted as £8 mil - stupid money.

Scott Sinclair - Chelsea loanee who they then subsequently signed for approx half a mil.

Grant holt - Signed by Norwich for 400k.

Looking at all those, who all scored over 20 goals last year, and who all were signed by their representative clubs for less than 1 mil within 2 years, I think for 5 mil he should be scoring 30+

we were sat behind Top te other night agains Bursaspor, nd this City fan told Top not to pay any more thn 3 million for Nicky Maynard.
I dont think he is too far off the mark with that comment!

Ebanks-Blake would be a good shout cantlebabes.

Interesting list that, apart from Sinclair, all of those players were playing in league one, or lower. Grant Holt was rotting on Shrewbury's bench when they signed him wasn't he? So perhaps we should take a gamble on...Ched Evans?? (no, I'm not being serious)

Still billy Sharp for me, although Ebanks-Blake should do as well.

I'm not saying Maynard would be a bad signing, or he isn't a good player, I'm simply very dubious about signing him for 5 Mil, and also, you've got to remember, that price tag may weigh on his shoulders.

Cante
Sorry im not judging you but we dont know the truth, has Sven said i cant assure you of a starting place whats his agent blowing in his ear?

Agreed,

but i doubt Sven would spend 5 mil on him and not guarantee him a starting place?!

It may be his agent, you might be right.

I don't have a problem with him assessing his options, but as far as i'm aware, it's either us or Bristol at the moment.

I agree Cantle, for 5m I'd expect a striker who had scored a reasonable to good amount over several seasons(I guess you could argue this may be the case with Maynard) but I'd also want a good record in relation to assists i.e. holt or long. I appreciate this has been difficult for Maynard to have proved recently as he has been injured.

If Maynard really had the talent to justify a £5m+ price tag youd expect a premiership club to have sniffed around. And so far they haven't. This says a lot to me personally.

I think ebanks-blake is a GREAT SHOUT! He had a fantastic season in the championship a couple of years back, finishing top scorer i believe. Would prefer him to Maynard who is worth no where near £5m imo

yeah, good shout for ebanks-blake!