Concerns me in a way though
The pitch debacle
The high turnover last year leading to a slow start again
We have to start a season well if we want to push for a proper promotion campaign. Cant start giving teams 15 point head starts
Also depends who they are. I'm not sure I'd count losing say Moore, Wilson, Kelly, Godden and a couple of fringe players as a significant issue. Our first choice XI would largely be the same and we'd potentially have stronger backup optionsIt all depends on your view of significant.
Also depends who they are. I'm not sure I'd count losing say Moore, Wilson, Kelly, Godden and a couple of fringe players as a significant issue. Our first choice XI would largely be the same and we'd potentially have stronger backup options
Don't really need to catastrophise everything and assume it means we won't win a game before Christmas
Well, as good as this season has been, our record against the top half teams has been below par. Let’s be honest.
To add to this, you could probably see Bidwell or Palmer leaving. Both in their final year of contract, have been on the rumour mill and probably players we wouldn’t renew their contracts.
Both are good players but Bidwell will be 32 and KP 28 and is either player someone you’d keep in the Prem?
Because he’s taking the place of a midfielder and playing further up the pitch? I mean he has taken the lions share, he’s our top assister, so not sure “why” is relevant.
Both Bidwell and Palmer have played well for us this season but if we can get money for both of them I definitely wouldn’t be against it compared to letting them go for free the following year.
Both players drift in and out of the squad and if we can get money and upgrade I’d be all for it.
Would rather see JDS go than Bidwell but if there is no offer for JDS but one for Bidwell then it is what it is
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He gets assists because he’s a good player who gives the ball in the box. Palmer would have a lot more goal contributions if he was more decisive in the box, the same was true with COH before his injury.
Agreed, Bidwell is a better player in my view, but considering he’s 32 next season, I can’t see us renewing his contract.
He won’t want to be a backup if a new hot shot LB (if we got one) and he’s at an age where he’ll want to be a first choice option. There’ll be plenty of suitors for him.
I’m purely talking about comparing this years midfield to last years. We play one less midfielder so it’s not like for like unless you count Wright as a midfielder.
We ended the season playing 3-4-1-2 which is the same ‘spine’ of 2 CMs and an AM. The material change this season is one more wide player - usually Sakamoto.
Even in ‘the box’, you had 2 AMs which functioned in wide channels.
We’re talking about formations as if there’s no fluidity there. Yes, Wright is primarily a LW, but regularly drifts in central channels when we attack and Bidwell operates almost as a LWB.
It’s not like for like, but if we’re planning for the future, we need to take steps to try and replace the output Hamer gave us - whether that’s one or two players is besides the point. Sheaf, Eccles, Kelly, Palmer have comparable outputs to last season - Allen and COH more or less offset one another with their increases and decreases. So we’re left with the task of replacing 21 goal goal involvements from CM.
Allen has played 1119 minutes this season compared to 2825 last season, most of which have been sub appearances. You're not really comparing apples with apples.
Think deeper squad depth gets us into the play offs next year but we need to add real star quality if we want to bridge the gap to the autos.
I can’t see a big singing in midfield assuming sheaf stays, Torp will be expected to push on with a full preseason. I think we need a centre half, we concede too many.Assuming we’re in the Championship next season I think we’re ok in terms of attack and defence. I’d like us to make a quality midfield signing to complement what we already have there. Assuming Godden goes well just need a squad cf. And if there’s anything left some cover at RB.
Our defence plus goalkeeper have already cost quite a bit combined.I can’t see a big singing in midfield assuming sheaf stays, Torp will be expected to push on with a full preseason. I think we need a centre half, we concede too many.
Our defence plus goalkeeper have already cost quite a bit combined.
Our goals for column would look a lot better if Wright and Simms had found their scoring boots a little earlier.By both offensive & defensively statistics we're close to being a very good team. 6th most goals and 5th least conceded.
Problem is the teams chasing automatics are far ahead of us in terms of their goal difference:
Goals Scored:
Ipswich - 84
Leicester - 77
Leeds - 75
Coventry City - 63
Goals Conceded:
Leeds - 31
Leicester - 35
Coventry - 46
Ipswich - 51
Think deeper squad depth gets us into the play offs next year but we need to add real star quality if we want to bridge the gap to the autos.
I’d like to see us sign an unpolished gem low risk high upside type, someone who shows up well on the data like that Nathaniel Adjei we were linked with. Can be back up to Thomas and Kitching whilst he learns the ropes.Our defence plus goalkeeper have already cost quite a bit combined.
They were utter shite for the first half of the season...
Millar is on loan from BaselAlex Mowatt is out of contract, but I suspect WBA are seeing if they get promoted or not before they do anything.
I've always liked the look of Dan Barlaser, decent championship player.
Alan Browne not a bad player, would he leave Preston?
Liam Millar has looked good at Preston this season also.
Alex Mowatt is out of contract, but I suspect WBA are seeing if they get promoted or not before they do anything.
I've always liked the look of Dan Barlaser, decent championship player.
Alan Browne not a bad player, would he leave Preston?
Liam Millar has looked good at Preston this season also.
There may well be something in what you say, but that doesn't account for all the decent chances they missed.or like Simms pointed out, once Palmer and MVE et al. started finding their runs, they started scoring goals. Vik and Hamer were hitting each other with heat seekers last season. O'Hare was setting Vik up before his ACL (watch the compilation). Simms and Wright didn't have that at first. It's not all on them, and doesn't mean they were 'utter sh*te'.
They will miss chances though, they are playing at our level. If they buried every chance they would be at a much higher level.There may well be something in what you say, but that doesn't account for all the decent chances they missed.
There may well be something in what you say, but that doesn't account for all the decent chances they missed.
Hasn’t Barlaser just signed for Boro for decent amount from Rotherham?
Mowatt is qualityBoth Mowatt and Barlaser have been looked at
And now he’s scoredBali Mumba if Plymouth go down
Binks will be one new CB but there is some tough negotiating to do. Any other CB will be developmentOut - Moore, Binks, Kelly, O'Hare, Godden
Loan - Burroughs, Howley, Tavares, Obikwu
In - CB, CB, RB, CM, AM, RW, ST, ST
Would leave us with:
GK - Collins, Wilson
CB - Thomas, Kitching, Latibeaudiere, New CB, New CB
RB - van Ewijk, New RB
LB - Bidwell, Dasilva
CM - Sheaf, Eccles, Torp, Allen, New CM
AM - Palmer, New AM
RW - Sakamoto, New RW
LW - Wright, Mason-Clark
ST - Simms, New ST, New ST
The big money signing needs to be the O'Hare replacement in the AM role. Then a backup RB to van Ewijk. Godden will be off and I don't think Tavares is good enough for a team aiming for promotion to the prem so potentially 2 ST needed. Then more depth is needed in CB, CM and RW. That would be 8 signings which falls inline with Robins comments saying we will make substantial signings but not as many as last summer. The above squad would be 25 senior players.
They are completely unrealistic yes.Binks will be one new CB but there is some tough negotiating to do. Any other CB will be development
Norton-Cuffy new RB wouldnt surprise me at all.
Kyprianou new CM (lad at Posh)
Evander new AM (the marquee signing and the statement signing)
Poku new RW
Ricardo Pepi new ST (On Loan with view to perm)
Many one here will say Evander and Pepi are unrealistic, but if we want automatics that is the level we need to aim at.
So automatic promotion not the target realistically then, play offs best we can hope for. That's not a criticism btw, i have no idea of the clubs true ambitionsThey are completely unrealistic yes.
Pepi is playing for PSV. Why would he drop to the Championship. Look at the players ipswich signed this summer. Hardly screams automatics does itSo automatic promotion not the target realistically then, play offs best we can hope for. That's not a criticism btw, i have no idea of the clubs true ambitions
To get game time? To develop. He isnt going to get a PL side if he cannot get minutes at PSV, top end championship would be a good move for him.Pepi is playing for PSV. Why would he drop to the Championship. Look at the players ipswich signed this summer. Hardly screams automatics does it
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