Steve Howard

[Ajax Treesdown]

I am a Big Stevie Howard fan.

He works his socks off and takes a lot of flack for it.

He is the only target man and the onus is always on him.

Sorry to bring this topic up again but the moaners just can't shut up can they??

Discuss

[Ultra]

Howard's poor form last season (except in the West Brom game) contributed to us being relegated.

He has improved this season, but still doesn't score enough goals.

He struggled yesterday against Palace, wasting the only chance he had.

We'd definitely need to replace him next season if we go up.

[Kilworthfox]

I am a Big Stevie Howard fan.

He works his socks off and takes a lot of flack for it.

He is the only target man and the onus is always on him.

Sorry to bring this topic up again but the moaners just can't shut up can they??

Discuss

My view is that he is good for the team, but over rated in this poll due to the option given. I havde gone for o.k but more to show, as he could be more consistent.

[FilboFox]

Wouldn't be top of the league without him!?! I think not...

I've gone for he's OK but still has more in the locker as I think he is a good player and brings a certain element to the team that varies things up up front but he's not a prolific striker and we are not going to see 15+ goals from him any season soon... perhaps it is time to look for someone else to match Matty up front.

[Thracian]

Of his type he's an excellent and consistent contributor.

The nearest we've had in recent seasons to compare him with was Geoff Horsfield and he was the opposite when he got here, a genuine donkey of a footballer who looked way past his sell-by date.

Yet for a bloke who's about the same pace and about whom the tag "white men can't jump" seems singularly appropriate, Howard is a gem.

He uses his strength, he shields the ball and he wins his flick-ons regularly week after week. And what has improved this season is that his team-mates - totally familiar to him - know exactly how they can feed off him and they do so.

Times you see him collect the ball at his feet and set it up with a little backwards or sideways pass for someone like King or Oakley to run onto and it is no coincidence that both are thriving as a result.

Fryatt's the same if the ball is nodded on.

Not only that but Howard has started scoring goals, he's been desperately unlucky to have other chalked off and he seems as if he gives a damn in his attitude to general play and geeing up his team-mates.

The idea of using a target man is not the only way to attack and City do need to have an alternative but, like I say, of his type it would be hard to get better in what amounts to Division Three.

Unlike so many strikers, like DJ, Elvis Hammond and Hume, Howard is uncomplicated. He does things in a way that team-mates can antcipate and contributes to what I believe is the greatest strength of our current side - teamwork.

Our side does have limitations. They lack a bit of pace, they don't have great off-the-ball movement and they are not what you'd call a team of hard cases.

But they do understand and compliment one another. And Howard does so much to provide the adhesion necessary to keep things together.

[barmy76uk]

Im not a fan,i would rather we had a striker that can run and shoot in the right direction and maybe a striker that can aim his headers on target!

[Jimmy]

I'm a fan but we need another target man (someone like Tresor Kandol) as back up, because at his age the sheer volume of games we are asking Howard to play will catch up with him lot quicker then someone like Fryatt. Also we have no direct replacement should he get injured or suspended

[Daggers]

Hugely important this season for a whole host of reasons, hugely surplus to requirements next season. We need to be bringing at least two strikers to the club who can bury the ball and have more of an all-round game now and in the summer signing periods.

Our limitations as a club lay open for all to see yesterday - without Fryatt and with King & Dyer not scoring there is no one else. With Campbell and Dickov offering nothing in front of goal, I'd rather see a thread asking why we should keep them at the club beyond January.

"Go on Howard, use your pace!"

Next season Howard will be slower still, he can hold his own in League 1 (and let's be honest, he gave Palace's well-marshalled defence problems all afternoon on his own) but I simply can't see him being anything other than a bit-part player in a team with pretensions of challenging at the top end of the Championship.

[maddog]

We can do better than Howard. Hes OK but over the hill now

We would still be top of the league if he didn't play a single League game.

If he didn't play we would probably have a goal firing Chambers/Dj/Dickov and Fryatt rather than just Fryatt.

[C.J]

Not this again....... Just let it lye!!!

Whats the betting good old David from Coalville comes on the phone in tomorrow and has a moan about that chance big steve missed yesterday.

[davieG]

I am a Big Stevie Howard fan.

He works his socks off and takes a lot of flack for it.

He is the only target man and the onus is always on him.

Sorry to bring this topic up again but the moaners just can't shut up can they??

Discuss

Yet you've just provided them with another opportunity

[dandannieldanok]

Howard's been decent this season but if we do get promoted we cannot persist with him in the championship. He proved in the last 5 months of the previous season he struggles at that level now.

[Ajax Treesdown]

Yet you've just provided them with another opportunity

well screw you

[Koke]

He's OK for this level, but a massive surplus for requirement at Championship level.

Derby took us for mugs and nicked £1.5 mil for someone over the hill like Howard.

[Raj]

I cant speak highly enough of him!!!!

[Fez of Mahrez]

WHITE ADEBAYOR

WHITE ADEBAYOOOOOOR

WE'VE GOT STEVE HOWARD

HE'S THE WHITE ADEBAYOR

[Finnegan]

Tough one. Part of the problem is that I just hate the type of football he encourages and have never liked the idea of the 'traditional' striker. I don't think it's necessary.

But we aren't Arsenal or Barca and we aren't going to be playing some sort of silky system; and when we played two little front men we looked effing dire. So I guess, meh, we get what we get.

I agree with Ultra, though, if we go up we're going to need to do better. In every sport there's a whole new breed of sportsman coming through and it's no less evident in football. We need the breed of striker that combines strength, power and a turn of pace - and it isn't really asking for the impossible or the multi-million. The likes of Fuller, Marlon King and Kenwyne Jones aren't world class and they aren't the sort of striker that's leagues out of our reach should be we be pushing - as Milan would like - for the Prem in a season or two's time.

Howard's sloth need be a thing of the past, as far as I'm concerned. He's worked a lot harder this year and deserves his plaudits - but if people want him to have a lasting impact next year as well I think they're setting themselves up for serious disappointment.

Our side does have limitations. They lack a bit of pace, they don't have great off-the-ball movement and they are not what you'd call a team of hard cases.

But they do understand and compliment one another. And Howard does so much to provide the adhesion necessary to keep things together.

Truth.

[Manwell Pablo]

WHITE ADEBAYOR

WHITE ADEBAYOOOOOOR

WE'VE GOT STEVE HOWARD

HE'S THE WHITE ADEBAYOR

He's closer to being the black Nick Bendtner than the White Adebayor.

He's old, He's Slow, His doesn't score enough, I'll admit he has his part to play this season but I don't see him being anymore than a squad player next season (hopefully) 1.5 million was a joke.

[davieG]

well screw you

Argh!!!!!!!

[Simi]

I don't know why we don't replace him with someone that is going to score 25 goals and win everything in the air. I'm sure there's someone like that available.

[lildave3]

and it isn't really asking for the impossible or the multi-million. The likes of Fuller, Marlon King and Kenwyne Jones aren't world class and they aren't the sort of striker that's leagues out of our reach should be we be pushing - as Milan would like - for the Prem in a season or two's time.

Right, so it doesn't take multi millions, but then you name King and Jones, who iirc have had transfers for 5 and 6 million repesctively?

[barmy76uk]

He's closer to being the black Nick Bendtner than the White Adebayor.

He's old, He's Slow, His doesn't score enough, I'll admit he has his part to play this season but I don't see him being anymore than a squad player next season (hopefully) 1.5 million was a joke.

Hes absolutely shocking,he has the worst finish on him i have ever seen,his headers go anywhere,hes just a fat Ormondroyd!

A complete donkey and waste of £1.5 million!

We could have had hundreds of better strikers for that sort of money!

Ricky Lambert wouldn't cost much more than £500k or even morison of Stevenage are better than the snail!

[Fez of Mahrez]

Hes absolutely shocking,he has the worst finish on him i have ever seen,his headers go anywhere,hes just a fat Ormondroyd!

A complete donkey and waste of £1.5 million!

We could have had hundreds of better strikers for that sort of money!

Ricky Lambert wouldn't cost much more than £500k or even morison of Stevenage are better than the snail!

[Father Ted]

I don't know why we don't replace him with someone that is going to score 25 goals and win everything in the air. I'm sure there's someone like that available.

It's got to the point that I can't distinguish between your sarcasm or lack of brain cells.

[GLC]

i say give howard a break, hes played well, and everyone still moans,

leave him alone