skyblues4ever
New Member
I guess like a lot of you I watched the season fizzle out and thought "There we go again - nothing to show for it, yet again". As a hardened season ticket holder I even started to question the expense when there are so many other things you can spend your money on.
Nevertheless I'm gradually warming up to the start of a new season and what a peachy first fixture - we know it'll be explosive so let's hope we can put the Foxes at the bottom of the league before everyone else kicks off.
We all know that Westwood and King have gone - argueably our best players up front and in defence so what have we got left, how do we rate them and more importantly what do we need to sign before 6th August?
Heres my take of what we have in the squad at the moment:
Richard Keogh - fairly solid defence - a bit sluggish when running down the line. Has a contract until 2013 so he's gonna figure in the team like him or lump him
Sammy Clingan - out a lot last season and possibly a reason for our mid season slump. Has been given the Captaincy and I can't argue with that. Don't know the length of his contract but if he stays injury free an important corner stone to next season.
James McPake - in contract until the end of next season. Again plagued by injury however, when fit, a no no nonsense defender who can give as good as he gets. Don't know whether he will be fit to start the season so any know update would be useful.
David Bell - or "Marmite" to the fans because we either love him or hate him. Doesn't seem to know how to tackle and gets dispossessed too often. Having said that when he scores they are usually absolute crackers. Don't know the length of his contract. He wouldn't be in my starting XI.
Freddy Eastwood - I sometime wonder how Freddy has managed to get the crowd on his side considering his poor striking record. He joined the club three years ago and has scored 18 goals - if his name had been Kyle we would have hounded him out of the club by now. My guess is that he is probably out of contract now so any news of a new contract or did he sign a four year deal in which case we can look forward to another six goals next season.
Lukas Jutkiewicz - one year into a three year deal however this guy has already been linked with other clubs. 9 goals in 34 games doesn't set the world on fire however it is better than Freddys average. My view of him is that he only lasts about 70 minutes - whether that is because of his work rate or that he is a lazy sod I don't know. Would it be worth selling him for a good fee - that depends on who we can get in of course. I don't see him as pivotal to our forthcoming season but wouldn't want him to go without suitable replacements.
Gary Deegan - sometimes you forget we have players in the squad don't you? This guy joined and promptly got crocked in pre-season. He is on contract to June 2013 so lets hope he is fit and can show what he can do. He did appear 9 times in 09/10 but I can't remember much about him.
Lee Burge - a goalkeeper apparently and number 13 at that. 18 year old. Not much else to say.
Chris Hussey - crikey we do attract "sicknotes" don't we? Another injury effected player. The odd occasion he has played he doesn't seem that bad but whether he can be consistant over a season I don't know. Don't know the length of his contract.
Martin Cranie - On contract with the Sky Blues until next August (2012). A player that seems to have improved over time with us which is good to see. Very adaptable having had to play in various positions to cover the "sicknotes". I think he is being eyed by a few clubs and not surprisingly - ex England U21 etc so good credentials. I would want him to stay and be in my ideal XI.
Isaac Osbourne - Has he been released by the club? Something tells me he has. Serious imjury kept him out most of last season.
Aron Gunnarsson - I have no doubt that Aron will chase the money and leave the club. He's got a playboy lifestyle which needs fuelling. We had a couple of good seasons from him so adios or whatever the Icelandic for goodbye is.
Carl Baker - on contract until the end of next season. Hasn't quite hit the standards he was achieving at Stockport which suggests he is a L1 player and not Championship. Likes to dribble a lot and has had a few spectacular runs. We will have him for another season so I guess he'll be in the team. Not necessary a choice but probably enforced.
Gary McSheffrey - technically out of contract I think - he signed a one year deal with a one year option. Any news on that yet? We've probably had the best of Gary McSheff many years ago however no one should doubt his passion for the club and for that reason he has my vote. I hope we have him in the squad for another year.
Ben Turner - probably the most disappointing injury last season of them all. This guy was turning into the best defender in the Championship - scoring goals, defending like a rock etc so lets hope the man mountain is back in August. I don't know what his contract is but I hope its a long one!
Clive Platt - quickly became our third string striker following the signing of King so will he come back into contention. He signed a one year deal last year with an option of a further year - who's option that is I don't know, if it was mine I'd show him the door.
Danny Ireland (from Australia) - could be between the sticks in August since Westwoods departure. My only recollection of him was when Westwood was substituted and he quickly got injured as well to the extent that Keogh was having to take the goal kicks! Hardly inspiring - lets hope for confirming news on the keeper front.
Richard Wood - another solid defender and on contract until 2013. He'd be in my XI.
Jordan Clarke - not yet 20 year old but has played 12 times and has scored a goal. I know he has his critics however lets give him a break - he's still learning his trade a bit. He has pace so now he needs experience. My guess he will figure big in 11/12.
Roy O'Donovan - a striker apparently on contract until 2013. Anyone know anything else - did he get a long term injury as well?
Nathan Cameron - worth a position on the bench but too nervous in pressure situations. Happy to belt the ball away not caring where it end up. Nevertheless not even 20 years old yet so lets give him a chance to mature.
Shaun Jeffers, Callum Wilson, Josh Ruffles, Luke Bottomer(?), Conor Grogan - all appear in the first team squad but I don't think they've played yet apart from Jeffers who has a sub appearance once.
So, as I see it, in my opinion, we have Keogh, Wood, Cranie, McPake and Turner making a half decent defence still. Clingan in midfield with McSheffrey but nothing reliable up front apart from possibly Jutkiewicz.
Therefore we need a good goalkeeper, a couple of midfielders and a couple of strikers (who can score goals). I reckon we will not hear much until the season has nearly started as that is when the majority of smaller deals are done. We're gonna be chasing scraps so lets hope Thorn has done his homework because he has been instrumental in bringing good players to the club - but there again some bad players as well!
PUSB!
Nevertheless I'm gradually warming up to the start of a new season and what a peachy first fixture - we know it'll be explosive so let's hope we can put the Foxes at the bottom of the league before everyone else kicks off.
We all know that Westwood and King have gone - argueably our best players up front and in defence so what have we got left, how do we rate them and more importantly what do we need to sign before 6th August?
Heres my take of what we have in the squad at the moment:
Richard Keogh - fairly solid defence - a bit sluggish when running down the line. Has a contract until 2013 so he's gonna figure in the team like him or lump him
Sammy Clingan - out a lot last season and possibly a reason for our mid season slump. Has been given the Captaincy and I can't argue with that. Don't know the length of his contract but if he stays injury free an important corner stone to next season.
James McPake - in contract until the end of next season. Again plagued by injury however, when fit, a no no nonsense defender who can give as good as he gets. Don't know whether he will be fit to start the season so any know update would be useful.
David Bell - or "Marmite" to the fans because we either love him or hate him. Doesn't seem to know how to tackle and gets dispossessed too often. Having said that when he scores they are usually absolute crackers. Don't know the length of his contract. He wouldn't be in my starting XI.
Freddy Eastwood - I sometime wonder how Freddy has managed to get the crowd on his side considering his poor striking record. He joined the club three years ago and has scored 18 goals - if his name had been Kyle we would have hounded him out of the club by now. My guess is that he is probably out of contract now so any news of a new contract or did he sign a four year deal in which case we can look forward to another six goals next season.
Lukas Jutkiewicz - one year into a three year deal however this guy has already been linked with other clubs. 9 goals in 34 games doesn't set the world on fire however it is better than Freddys average. My view of him is that he only lasts about 70 minutes - whether that is because of his work rate or that he is a lazy sod I don't know. Would it be worth selling him for a good fee - that depends on who we can get in of course. I don't see him as pivotal to our forthcoming season but wouldn't want him to go without suitable replacements.
Gary Deegan - sometimes you forget we have players in the squad don't you? This guy joined and promptly got crocked in pre-season. He is on contract to June 2013 so lets hope he is fit and can show what he can do. He did appear 9 times in 09/10 but I can't remember much about him.
Lee Burge - a goalkeeper apparently and number 13 at that. 18 year old. Not much else to say.
Chris Hussey - crikey we do attract "sicknotes" don't we? Another injury effected player. The odd occasion he has played he doesn't seem that bad but whether he can be consistant over a season I don't know. Don't know the length of his contract.
Martin Cranie - On contract with the Sky Blues until next August (2012). A player that seems to have improved over time with us which is good to see. Very adaptable having had to play in various positions to cover the "sicknotes". I think he is being eyed by a few clubs and not surprisingly - ex England U21 etc so good credentials. I would want him to stay and be in my ideal XI.
Isaac Osbourne - Has he been released by the club? Something tells me he has. Serious imjury kept him out most of last season.
Aron Gunnarsson - I have no doubt that Aron will chase the money and leave the club. He's got a playboy lifestyle which needs fuelling. We had a couple of good seasons from him so adios or whatever the Icelandic for goodbye is.
Carl Baker - on contract until the end of next season. Hasn't quite hit the standards he was achieving at Stockport which suggests he is a L1 player and not Championship. Likes to dribble a lot and has had a few spectacular runs. We will have him for another season so I guess he'll be in the team. Not necessary a choice but probably enforced.
Gary McSheffrey - technically out of contract I think - he signed a one year deal with a one year option. Any news on that yet? We've probably had the best of Gary McSheff many years ago however no one should doubt his passion for the club and for that reason he has my vote. I hope we have him in the squad for another year.
Ben Turner - probably the most disappointing injury last season of them all. This guy was turning into the best defender in the Championship - scoring goals, defending like a rock etc so lets hope the man mountain is back in August. I don't know what his contract is but I hope its a long one!
Clive Platt - quickly became our third string striker following the signing of King so will he come back into contention. He signed a one year deal last year with an option of a further year - who's option that is I don't know, if it was mine I'd show him the door.
Danny Ireland (from Australia) - could be between the sticks in August since Westwoods departure. My only recollection of him was when Westwood was substituted and he quickly got injured as well to the extent that Keogh was having to take the goal kicks! Hardly inspiring - lets hope for confirming news on the keeper front.
Richard Wood - another solid defender and on contract until 2013. He'd be in my XI.
Jordan Clarke - not yet 20 year old but has played 12 times and has scored a goal. I know he has his critics however lets give him a break - he's still learning his trade a bit. He has pace so now he needs experience. My guess he will figure big in 11/12.
Roy O'Donovan - a striker apparently on contract until 2013. Anyone know anything else - did he get a long term injury as well?
Nathan Cameron - worth a position on the bench but too nervous in pressure situations. Happy to belt the ball away not caring where it end up. Nevertheless not even 20 years old yet so lets give him a chance to mature.
Shaun Jeffers, Callum Wilson, Josh Ruffles, Luke Bottomer(?), Conor Grogan - all appear in the first team squad but I don't think they've played yet apart from Jeffers who has a sub appearance once.
So, as I see it, in my opinion, we have Keogh, Wood, Cranie, McPake and Turner making a half decent defence still. Clingan in midfield with McSheffrey but nothing reliable up front apart from possibly Jutkiewicz.
Therefore we need a good goalkeeper, a couple of midfielders and a couple of strikers (who can score goals). I reckon we will not hear much until the season has nearly started as that is when the majority of smaller deals are done. We're gonna be chasing scraps so lets hope Thorn has done his homework because he has been instrumental in bringing good players to the club - but there again some bad players as well!
PUSB!
