Goulding is very good at what he does.
We don't need him to be a strike player as our attack isn't based upon individual brilliance. Mention has been made of Atkins, Watkins and Cudjoe. Good strike players but they can't defend, none of them!
They will never ever be as good defensively as Goulding because they can't read the game as well as Daz can.
Phil Gould came out with a blinder taking about Atkins. "He can tackle with the best and give as much as he gets but he can't defend. He's lost, doesn't know where he is". Atkins may have improved but his defence at times is awful, same goes for the other two.
As for our number 3 shirt I'm happy with Goulding.
Look at Saints though! Five or six years ago Jamie Lyon had their 3 shirt, then Matt Gidley followed by Shenton. Next year it will be Jordan Turner, that's not a decline, that's falling off a cliff!

It'd be interesting to see the "Teams for next year" threads from this off season, and the amount of people who were putting Gelling in at right centre over Goulding despite never seeing him play before. I think he's been excellent this year, solid defensively, scored plenty himself and created loads for Charnley. Who's to say Thornley or Gelling won't be next year's Goulding? Admittedly Carmont is a hard act to follow, but I really can't see us bringing in another centre. Hughes should stay in the back row IMO.

Go get Joel Moon