Would you swap Elmo for Anelka now?

[wonka]

On current form I think Elmo would walk into any top 4 team. Whereas Anelka is pretty inconsistent.

Question is, can Elmander keep this form up for the whole season?

[Lofthouse Lower]

Yes I would.

One is the best striker i've ever seen wear a white shirt, one is a good striker in decent form.

Second question - I doubt it, but hope so.

[thebish]

I'm not sure I would...

Anelka - great goalscorer - fantastic player - BUT....

to swap out Elmo for Anelka when we have built the team around a davo-elmo spearhead would be disruptive and would change the hard-fought-for shape and team-ethic we have established.

I have nothing bad to say about Anelka at all as a player - I just think that Elmo fits the hole we have perfectly just now.

[seanworth]

We've just moved past Big Sam, now lets move past Anelka. He was brilliant for the short time he graced our club and now we have both moved on.

[Worthy4England]

One has 119 Premier League goals over 322 League appearances covering 5 EPL Clubs.

The other has 16 over 69 appearances (before this season 8 in 55).

Elmander needs to keep up his current form over a significant period of time in the Prem, to be considered in anywhere near the same breath as Anelka.

That said - wouldn't swap them at the minute.

[BWFC_Insane]

One has 119 Premier League goals over 322 League appearances covering 5 EPL Clubs.

The other has 16 over 69 appearances (before this season 8 in 55).

Elmander needs to keep up his current form over a significant period of time in the Prem, to be considered in anywhere near the same breath as Anelka.

That said - wouldn't swap them at the minute.

And thats the key thing.

Records will mean nowt if Elmander carries on playing like this for the rest of the season.

On his form across this season I'd take Elmander over Anelka because I think all round on THIS form he's a better player.

Anelka is quicker and probably a better goalscorer. But Elmander works thrice as hard and can be a physical presence when required. He links up better with Davies and the midfield and runs at defences scaring them to death. He also is better aerially and IMO has far more variety to his game.

[Lord Kangana]

Please. Anelka has proven consistently over a career he has it at the top level. Including winning major trophies.

Elmander would have to keep this form up for several years to be considered in the same breath. Lets not get carried away with our own hyperbole because of 14 games.

[thebish]

Please. Anelka has proven consistently over a career he has it at the top level. Including winning major trophies.

Elmander would have to keep this form up for several years to be considered in the same breath. Lets not get carried away with our own hyperbole because of 14 games.

quite true - but the question is not about who has the best record - or even who is better - but - would we swap elmo for anelka?

[Lord Kangana]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

[BWFC_Insane]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

No because thats just a load of ifs and maybe's....

Elmander or Anelka, you can only choose one to play against Blackpool, who dya choose?

[CrazyHorse]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

A simple yes would've sufficed.

[thebish]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

I don't know the hypothetical circumstances behind the question - I was kind of assuming it was a fairy-godmother type situation where she waved a wand and the two simply swapped places - all of a sudden Elmo was playing for chelsea and Anelka was playing for us! The invitation wasn't mine, but Wonka's.

under your hypothetical pre-requisites - then I would agree with you entirely!

[Lord Kangana]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

No because thats just a load of ifs and maybe's....

Elmander or Anelka, you can only choose one to play against Blackpool, who dya choose?

Elmander.

Anelka plays for Chelsea, and we can't sign anyone until January.

Unless you feel like introducing your own ifs and maybes...

[Lofthouse Lower]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

No because thats just a load of ifs and maybe's....

Elmander or Anelka, you can only choose one to play against Blackpool, who dya choose?

Anelka, every time.

[Worthy4England]

If we're talking hypothetically, and I believe you've just given me an open invitation to, then if in January Elmander didn't sign a contract, and if Chelsea were sniffing, and if they said, "tell you what, here's Anelka for Elmander, otherwise we just have him on a free in the summer"...

Then in those circumstances, yes I would. And wouldn't be too bothered.

Does that answer the question?

No because thats just a load of ifs and maybe's....

Elmander or Anelka, you can only choose one to play against Blackpool, who dya choose?

Anelka, every time.

I doubt Coyle would drop Elmander for Saturday's game, regardless.

The risk of putting in a new face who hasn't been playing with the team all season would be too great.

[Lofthouse Lower]

He'll have to go through the bedding-in period too, don't forget.

[thebish]

it's ok - to believe some on here, this is all a publicity stunt by Elmo - and after he agrees a new contract on wednesday then he'll be back to his crappy old self and we can get the fairy godmother to switch him for anelka....

(btw - why is it that reports seem to be suggesing we are offering him a one-year deal? is that uncertain finances - or uncertainty about his future consistency?)

[Lofthouse Lower]

it's ok - to believe some on here, this is all a publicity stunt by Elmo - and after he agrees a new contract on wednesday then he'll be back to his crappy old self and we can get the fairy godmother to switch him for anelka....

(btw - why is it that reports seem to be suggesing we are offering him a one-year deal? is that uncertain finances - or uncertainty about his future consistency?)

I think it's quite prudent - after all, this could well be a flash in the pan, and we don't want to commit to a massive new deal with a pay rise just in case his form drops off. That way, we can sell him in the Summer should he maintain the form - then we can scrape back some of his fee to use as a replacement. Makes perfect sense.

[TANGODANCER]

One came here to get back into Pemiership football and use us as a spring-board with a view to a big-club future. The other just signed for Bolton Wanderers with no strings. I'd defer ( hypothetically) choice until we know Elmander's future plans, but Anelka has already joined the big league and is good enough to keep his place there. Elmander is playing well now, but who knows if it's consistent. All that really matters is Bolton and if he signs for us I won't care about Anelka who's never likely to come back here. In terms of a class striker, Anelka by a mile, but if Elmander is for Bolton he'll well do for me and may well go on to be just as good.

[BWFC_Insane]

[quote="thebish"]it's ok - to believe some on here, this is all a publicity stunt by Elmo - and after he agrees a new contract on wednesday then he'll be back to his crappy old self and we can get the fairy godmother to switch him for anelka....

(btw - why is it that reports seem to be suggesing we are offering him a one-year deal? is that uncertain finances - or uncertainty about his future consistency?)[/quote]

I imagine a bit of both.

Presumably there is a worry of giving him a "massive" deal (as his current one is described by Nixon) over a say three year period given that he has only just hit the top form we are enjoying now.

There is also I suppose a financial implication that he's 29 give him a big 3 year deal and he gets injured and we're stuck with that on the wage bill potentially not being able to replace him.

A one year deal would give everyone a bit of breathing space and time to assess what will happen. I just want him signed up I'm not really bothered whether its for a year or two or three, perhaps he also fancies one last move in his career and a one year deal would still allow that?

I'm fine with all that, just get the bugger signed up!