Reasons to be optimistic (5 Viewers)

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rob9872

rob9872

Well-Known Member
I’ve seen on a number of posts that people are concerned and that we’re considerably weaker than last season. I disagree and here’s why.

Experience and luck ...
  • We didn’t have the same start as most Championship teams last season, having ours curtailed in March and less 'match fit' for the start of the campaign
  • Our budget is not huge, but with a season’s consolidation and newly promoted teams, we should have lifted slightly
  • We had little to no Championship experience in the squad and started slowly. As we became used to the league, players got up to speed and our form improved.
  • We had so much misfortune with injuries, own goals, sending offs, penalties and hitting the woodwork that just being marginally more even on luck with counterparts would have given us another 5-10 points imo.
The squad ...
  • GK – I trust Robins and despite knowing little about Moore, if they didn’t see him as an upgrade we could easily have held on to Marosi
  • Defence – Osti would be great and no denying Sam is a huge miss. If we can’t get Brandon off the books, then we may not have much cover at LB, but Reid is supposed to be promising. Dabo and Rose missed the first couple of months and both have a full pre-season this time around.
  • Midfield – Kelly was a bonus for me. I didn’t think he’d make the level, but he showed plenty and was unfortunate with injuries. Hamer I didn’t think we’d see live in a City shirt and he could yet of course be sold, but if he does I believe we’d get some of it for a replacement. A year more experienced and used to English football and his surroundings, I really think he’ll shine this time. Sheaf didn’t pull up trees but remains highly regarded and I think that extra year will have done him good too. James an obvious loss, but there is time.
  • Attacking midfielders – anyone not convinced by O’hare who now has a Championship year in him, doesn’t understand football. He worked so hard. Bright will be exciting, hopefully over the long term and a fit Jodi is like a new player.
  • Strikers – Tyler and Gyo weren’t here for the start of the last campaign and were both better by the end of the season. Godden can hopefully have a spell fit and Waghorn adds vital experience.
Finally ...
  • We’re not quite there yet with over three weeks to go, plus Premiership potential loans.

I’m quite excited by that and I’ve not even mentioned people like Wilson, Pask, Dacosta, Shipley, Jobello, Hilsner, Allen, Eccles or any of the promising youth players like Bapagba or Burroughs which should see us having a decent bench of options too.
 
rob9872

rob9872

Well-Known Member
SlowerThanPlatt said:
Pedantic but didn’t we sign Walker before the season?
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You could be right, I just thought he was a bit later. Signing certainly seemed to go on for a bit before being finalised and wouldn't have had much opportunity to gel. Another who was also unlucky with a couple of knocks too and I think we'll see better from him.
 
cc84cov

cc84cov

Well-Known Member
Looking at the squad I’m happy and confident about the season,no issues my end even Sheaf is smiling more 😬
 
rob9872

rob9872

Well-Known Member
Ccfcisparks said:
this part must be a joke?
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Really genuinely not. Jobello was good in L1 before his injury and therefore a cheap new squad player who could perform if given his chance. The others (also all pretty cheap by Champ standards) now have a year's experience and I'd bet at least one if not more of them have a much better season this time around. We're too quick to dismiss players often who don't perform in every game only to see them do well somewhere else. JCH being an obvious example recently. In fairness that worked out well for him and us, but some players just need more time to adapt to the level.
 
SlowerThanPlatt

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
rob9872 said:
Really genuinely not. Jobello was good in L1 before his injury and therefore a cheap new squad player who could perform if given his chance. The others (also all pretty cheap by Champ standards) now have a year's experience and I'd bet at least one if not more of them have a much better season this time around. We're too quick to dismiss players often who don't perform in every game only to see them do well somewhere else. JCH being an obvious example recently. In fairness that worked out well for him and us, but some players just need more time to adapt to the level.
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Jobello, Hilssner and Mason have been left out from the tour and training with the 23s. It’s highly doubtful they will play another game for us
 
Skyblueweeman

Skyblueweeman

Well-Known Member
Have to say Rob, I think it's a great post. The bit about penalties, sendings off etc, that's about us being streetwise and we're a season better off for it. I think the point about our season finishing 3 months earlier than the Champ and it taking our players time to get up to speed, is a really important one as well.

You've just got to trust MR haven't you really? He's earned it. I'm confident we'll be just fine next season.
 
Ccfcisparks

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
rob9872 said:
Really genuinely not. Jobello was good in L1 before his injury and therefore a cheap new squad player who could perform if given his chance. The others (also all pretty cheap by Champ standards) now have a year's experience and I'd bet at least one if not more of them have a much better season this time around. We're too quick to dismiss players often who don't perform in every game only to see them do well somewhere else. JCH being an obvious example recently. In fairness that worked out well for him and us, but some players just need more time to adapt to the level.
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How does Hilssner have 1 years champ experience?
 
rob9872

rob9872

Well-Known Member
Ccfcisparks said:
How does Hilssner have 1 years champ experience?
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He doesn't as you well know being pedantic and picking that one out, however in all fairness, if he doesn't find a club, then we now know of his asthma and can manage it better which we didn't this time last year and he has had some experience albeit L2, in English football. He was a new player arriving from overseas who might take time to settle. He may not make it but he is better placed to than 12 months ago.
 
Ccfcisparks

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
rob9872 said:
He doesn't as you well know being pedantic and picking that one out, however in all fairness, if he doesn't find a club, then we now know of his asthma and can manage it better which we didn't this time last year and he has had some experience albeit L2, in English football. He was a new player arriving from overseas who might take time to settle. He may not make it but he is better placed to than 12 months ago.
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Not being pedantic at all, just questioning your reasoning for some of your points
 
mark82

mark82

Super Moderator
Skybluefaz said:
All those things are quality issues and not luck in my opinion.
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Apart from injuries and fitness, which were the biggest issue we had last year. A lot of that was down to the compressed season and the relatively small and inexperienced squad we had/have. In more normal circumstances this year hopefully we won't see so many key injuries and players won't be as burnt out.
 
fatso

fatso

Well-Known Member
rob9872 said:
Really genuinely not. Jobello was good in L1 before his injury and therefore a cheap new squad player who could perform if given his chance. The others (also all pretty cheap by Champ standards) now have a year's experience and I'd bet at least one if not more of them have a much better season this time around. We're too quick to dismiss players often who don't perform in every game only to see them do well somewhere else. JCH being an obvious example recently. In fairness that worked out well for him and us, but some players just need more time to adapt to the level.
Click to expand...
You were doing so well before this!
 
Skybluefaz

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
mark82 said:
Apart from injuries and fitness, which were the biggest issue we had last year. A lot of that was down to the compressed season and the relatively small and inexperienced squad we had/have. In more normal circumstances this year hopefully we won't see so many key injuries and players won't be as burnt out.
Click to expand...
To an extent, even with injuries they can come down to management decisions (Dabo, Godden)
 
rob9872

rob9872

Well-Known Member
Skybluefaz said:
All those things are quality issues and not luck in my opinion.
Click to expand...
In part I agree, although I think we were a bit naive with some of our decision making against better players and some more experienced at the level. Hopefully some of those can be ironed out by simply being a bit canny and streetwise.
 
CDK

CDK

Well-Known Member
I am relaxed about the coming season,can only see improvement all around the squad after playing at the level for a season and fingers crossed on player injuries.
 
CDK

CDK

Well-Known Member
See on Twitter being reported that we are close to getting ostigard back with a perm signing at the end of the season.
Anyone heard about this?
 
baldy

baldy

Well-Known Member
CDK said:
See on Twitter being reported that we are close to getting ostigard back with a perm signing at the end of the season.
Anyone heard about this?
Click to expand...

Yeah I've read that too (albeit on the FB cretins forum)
 
baldy

baldy

Well-Known Member
rob9872 said:
I’ve seen on a number of posts that people are concerned and that we’re considerably weaker than last season. I disagree and here’s why.

Experience and luck ...
  • We didn’t have the same start as most Championship teams last season, having ours curtailed in March and less 'match fit' for the start of the campaign
  • Our budget is not huge, but with a season’s consolidation and newly promoted teams, we should have lifted slightly
  • We had little to no Championship experience in the squad and started slowly. As we became used to the league, players got up to speed and our form improved.
  • We had so much misfortune with injuries, own goals, sending offs, penalties and hitting the woodwork that just being marginally more even on luck with counterparts would have given us another 5-10 points imo.
The squad ...
  • GK – I trust Robins and despite knowing little about Moore, if they didn’t see him as an upgrade we could easily have held on to Marosi
  • Defence – Osti would be great and no denying Sam is a huge miss. If we can’t get Brandon off the books, then we may not have much cover at LB, but Reid is supposed to be promising. Dabo and Rose missed the first couple of months and both have a full pre-season this time around.
  • Midfield – Kelly was a bonus for me. I didn’t think he’d make the level, but he showed plenty and was unfortunate with injuries. Hamer I didn’t think we’d see live in a City shirt and he could yet of course be sold, but if he does I believe we’d get some of it for a replacement. A year more experienced and used to English football and his surroundings, I really think he’ll shine this time. Sheaf didn’t pull up trees but remains highly regarded and I think that extra year will have done him good too. James an obvious loss, but there is time.
  • Attacking midfielders – anyone not convinced by O’hare who now has a Championship year in him, doesn’t understand football. He worked so hard. Bright will be exciting, hopefully over the long term and a fit Jodi is like a new player.
  • Strikers – Tyler and Gyo weren’t here for the start of the last campaign and were both better by the end of the season. Godden can hopefully have a spell fit and Waghorn adds vital experience.
Finally ...
  • We’re not quite there yet with over three weeks to go, plus Premiership potential loans.

I’m quite excited by that and I’ve not even mentioned people like Wilson, Pask, Dacosta, Shipley, Jobello, Hilsner, Allen, Eccles or any of the promising youth players like Bapagba or Burroughs which should see us having a decent bench of options too.
Click to expand...

Bapaga's gone to Barnsley hasn't he? (I could be wrong on that though) - plus I wouldn't expect to see Jones suddenly come in all guns blazing after his horrendous injury luck (plus Walker WAS signed last pre-season,he scored our first goal of the season in the cup at MK Dons I think it was first game of the season)
 
Ccfcisparks

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
CDK said:
See on Twitter being reported that we are close to getting ostigard back with a perm signing at the end of the season.
Anyone heard about this?
Click to expand...
Let me guess, from CCFCInsider?
 
stupot07

stupot07

Well-Known Member
baldy said:
Bapaga's gone to Barnsley hasn't he? (I could be wrong on that though) - plus I wouldn't expect to see Jones suddenly come in all guns blazing after his horrendous injury luck (plus Walker WAS signed last pre-season,he scored our first goal of the season in the cup at MK Dons I think it was first game of the season)
Click to expand...
No that was Bremang

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
shmmeee

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Evo1883 said:
The injury one is big for me

We are unlikely (Barring extreme bad luck) to have an injury list as long as the nile , to negatively impact our mid season as drastically as the season just gone
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This. Our strength in depth was really tested and found lacking last season. We had no one to change games, and very quickly we’re down to iffy choices in several positions when injuries kicked in.

If we can add another 4/5 of the right quality we’ll have a decent squad rather than just a first team.
 
slowpoke

slowpoke

Well-Known Member
We did okay the back end of last season once our injured players had come back and got up to speed certainly don’t see us being worse one of our problems last season was our bench wasn’t very strong hopefully this time it will be stronger and have variety.
 
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