Pardew's premature striker hunt?

For those wanting to know where Alan Pardew has been hiding over these last few days, the answer is apparently Switzerland.

It would appear that Pardew has been running the rule over a striker for the January transfer window, although in fairness I have absolutely no idea why as scouting players hasn't been the problem in our pursuit of a striker.

Speculation would suggest that Eren Derdiyok is the man who is having the eye ruled over him. It fits as we've been linked with him on and off for a few years now and there were reports of Graham Carr at a Switzerland game earlier on in the summer checking out the same player.

I really want to believe that the club, well, Llambias, tried his best to get a striker over the summer but I just can't for one reason or another. Put it down to being kicked in the bollocks one too many times if you like.

So with that in mind I'm at complete downer when it comes to our transfers if truth be told. I shouldn't be because we did manage to bring in some very good players, but the lack of the one we really needed is what has annoyed me the most and made me this way.

It's all well and good looking at strikers but if we haven't got a man who can conclude a deal or that constantly looks for the perfect transaction then it will all ultimately be proved fruitless.

Still, who is Erin Derdiyok? Let's have a look, even if it is just for reference purposes.

Derdiyok is 23-years-old and plays for Bayer Leverkusen. He is a full Swiss international who stands at 6'3" tall and graduated from the academy at FC Basel after impressing at youth level where he scored 20 goals in 35 games.

From then on it's been downhill though. He scored 17 goals in 63 appearances for Basel before moving to Leverkusen where he is currently sitting on a goal return of 18 in 65 appearances. His international record stands at 34 caps with 3 goals although, much like his club career, his youth record was exceptional and brought about 15 goals in 14 appearances for the Switzerland U-21 and U-19 teams.

Here is the obligatory YouTube clip.

My problem with all this is that despite all of the leg work and research put in by Alan Pardew, Graham Carr and Co inevitably it's out of their hands in terms of transfers.

I really hate being so down about our transfers and I'll more than likely snap out of it again and get my usual enthusiasm and zest back, but at the moment it's a no-go I'm afraid as I have zero faith in Derek Llambias having any form of ability to close out a deal.

And for that reason, I'm out.