Gary Hooper

[kungfugrip]

It's harsh to write Hooper off before he's had a chance in the Prem league. He's scored 55 goals in 80 league appearances I think for Celtic. Very good. Clearly a brilliant finisher. Every transfer is a risk. At least he's played in the English leagues before, banging them in for S****horpe. So many overseas players carry the risk of not settling into the type of play, way of life, language etc. With Hooper you don't have that problem. For £5 or £6million I think he'd be worth a punt.

Having said all that if the ITK came from the Moose at Talksport, I would say there is more chance of me being signed for Spurs as a striker.

 

[ilikeost]

We're caught between a rock and a hard place. Everyone wants the Uber Striker to take us to the next level, but the reality is there are probably a number of competent strikers out there who could do this in a team like ours, some more fashionable names than others. Hooper may be that player.

I find it hard to belive that Hooper is an upgrade on Defoe, Ade or even Dempsey. If we want to upgrade on those three then we need to pay up or sign a young up and coming striker. Hooper is 25 this sunday and is hardly a super talent, he will not take us to a new level. Llorente, Negredo, Soldado, Jovetic, Damiao or Villa would probably push us up a level (I'm not even going to mention Cavani or Falcao or any of the really big name strikers because that will never happen), but then we have to pay out of our asses in transfer fees and/or wages.

 

[balalasaurus]

would be an interesting buy if it were to happen. i most recently remember his goal against barcelona. realistically if a player can perform under that kind of pressure he might be worth a look

 

[Cacz]

like what has already been said above, for 5 odd million certainly worth a punt, the rejection he endured as a youngster with Spurs might serve to motivate him.

 

[Syn_13]

I find it hard to belive that Hooper is an upgrade on Defoe, Ade or even Dempsey. If we want to upgrade on those three then we need to pay up or sign a young up and coming striker. Hooper is 25 this sunday and is hardly a super talent, he will not take us to a new level. Llorente, Negredo, Soldado, Jovetic, Damiao or Villa would probably push us up a level (I'm not even going to mention Cavani or Falcao or any of the really big name strikers because that will never happen), but then we have to pay out of our asses in transfer fees and/or wages.

Are we trying to upgrade though? This sounds like us trying to bolster our numbers. Dempsey (although can poach a goal or two) is not a striker per se, so it leaves us with Defoe (who could get injured and has stopped scoring for fun) and Ade (who is crap at the moment). Clubs need at least 3 proper strikers and right now we have 2.

It's unfair to write players off based on the league that they play in or their age. Jelavic was like Hooper in the SPL and I'd take him, I think he's a handy player to have. Drogba was a nobody at 23/24, playing in the second division in France and not pulling up trees either. Luca Toni and Di Natale in Italy were a couple of late bloomers. It happens. A lot of British players get written off because they may not have the flair or profile of foreign stars. Look at how well Fletcher does for shit teams, with shit half chances. Give that man regular service in a top team and he could be just what you need, even if not fancy.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

We should always buy to improve. Hooper is not a young talent, he is unlikely to improve much more. I'm glad that he has scored a lot of goals in Scotland but so did Kris Boyd and he couldn't even hack it in the Championship.

 

[JerryGarcia]

no thanks. Our striker situation is one we must handle with care. It's one of the positions that are holding us back from reaching our full potential. How about we go out there and sign a real top talent like Belfodil instead of wasting time with the hoopers of this world.

I had to look Belfodil up, his goal record doesn't look like that of a top talent though. Am I missing something?

 

[CJMurray]

He can finish, is English (adds to our home-grown quota) and is a life-long Spurs fan. I'd be fine with this.

Sure we could do better, I'd rather someone like Negredo - but for under £10m he'd be a good signing.

 

[rabbikeane]

Reminds me a bit of Robbie Keane.
Looks the same, same size, Celtic connection, plays a bit like a young Keane.
A somewhat past it Keane was close to a 1 in 1 goal ratio up at Celtic though,
is Hooper as good as him or even close?
You do wonder what havoc Defoe would do in a Celtic shirt.
£10M? Is it better spent on chasing someone with more extreme qualities, like Aubameyang?

Hooper is someone I'd love to make it at Spurs, he's one of our own after all.
Not sure about him though, glad it's AVB that will make that call

 

[Khilari]

I find it hard to belive that Hooper is an upgrade on Defoe, Ade or even Dempsey. If we want to upgrade on those three then we need to pay up or sign a young up and coming striker. Hooper is 25 this sunday and is hardly a super talent, he will not take us to a new level. Llorente, Negredo, Soldado, Jovetic, Damiao or Villa would probably push us up a level (I'm not even going to mention Cavani or Falcao or any of the really big name strikers because that will never happen), but then we have to pay out of our asses in transfer fees and/or wages.

I don't think Spurs are in the market for an 'upgrade' - we seem unwilling to splash that kind of cash. I think we're after cover / an option for when things aren't going well for JD or Dempsey.

The forums are littered more with our own fan fantasies than the Board's plans in reality - and most of the ITK and media talk feeds off this! We must remember that we have a 36k stadium, have spent big over the last 6 seasons and have only one season of CL revenue to show for it with a new stadium to budget for. We also spent roughly £20m in the summer of the Modric & VdV money and I'd be surprised if we spend much more.

Gary Hooper is probably better than Clint Dempsey on his own, should JD get injured, won't cost an arm & leg and is young and talented so clearly ticks DL's boxes. I'd rather him than no-one. Unlike Zaha, you'd think he could get going straight away.

 

[HappySpur]

At 6 million, he's interesting. At 10 million, he doesn't not inspire me in the least.

 

[himel420]

everyone is saying about hooper's age, but what was the position of drogba or rvp at the age of 23 or 24???

 

[gobeerbuy]

Gary Hooper is probably better than Clint Dempsey on his own, should JD get injured, won't cost an arm & leg and is young and talented so clearly ticks DL's boxes. I'd rather him than no-one. Unlike Zaha, you'd think he could get going straight away.

This - £7/8M for a good back-up striker - why not?

 

[Snarfalicious]

He's a decent player, but I don't think he's really the type of striker we need that will get this attack clicking on all cylinders. We need a bigger, stronger, brutish presence in the box. Adebayor isn't strong despite his size, hitting Defoe on a cross would require the touch of God. We desperately need a guy who can put in the grunt work in the traffic of the box.

Hooper would be a good fit if we really thought the 4-4-2 was the direction we wanted to go. However, I think it's fairly obvious the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 is our long-term goal.

 

[voxy28]

Seriously then why did we not try for Ba? Sturridge since AVB coach him.

 

[himel420]

Seriously then why did we not try for Ba? Sturridge since AVB coach him.

they will say ba is injured prone, wont make it in the medical

 

[voxy28]

OK I am done for Hooper.... if AVB fancy him, all the way man. Else pass.... not interested to waste my sleeping time to debate if Hooper can make it or not.

Good fooker nite.

 

[elDiablo]

AVB's at the celtic game tonight according to my buddy.

As others have said, for decent back up striker, this may not be a bad option. He is also English which would help the home players rule. If he can control the ball very well, then i say get him. I hate to watch defoe try and control a ball into his feet at pace.

 

[AJW]

Had never seen him before. Watching this video of his goals last season he looks just what we need. Just a pure finisher - which to be honest is what we could do with. Defoe/Ade would have missed 2/3rds of those chances. Would be nice having a striker go through one on one and be vaguely confident about them finishing it.

 

[Dembele'Disciple]

I had to look Belfodil up, his goal record doesn't look like that of a top talent though. Am I missing something?

Yeah, it's his second season in seria A and he'll soon be tearing it apart. What is the most impressive thing about him at the moment is his all round play. Think of him as a young ibrahimovic, with a bit more pace. Bags of natural ability. Size, strength, and very skillful.

It's this sort of thing that separates us from clubs like man united. They manage to get youngsters without proven records who they believe will develop into something special. We've done it ourselves with Bale and we should be looking to do it with this lad too.