Otis
Well-Known Member
Thomas too. His loan is up on Saturday. Will be interesting to see if he comes back or we try and bomb him out.
We need a third player in (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Otis
- Start date
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
Yes. They've met Tim Fisher and Dale Evans.
mark82
Super Moderator
Hanson would be ideal. If we could get him on loan until end of the season with a view to signing him if promoted I'm sure he'd jump at that over Bury. Sure Robins has a plan though.
Edit: Bury have actually signed him.
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
What would be ideal is if we could sign an striker in their prime. One that is scoring goals in a mid or lower table team in L2.
Optimus would be great. But more than likely we will get Megatron.
Optimus would be great. But more than likely we will get Megatron.
Otis
Well-Known Member
mark82
Super Moderator
Think there would be more chance of signing from non-league on our current budget, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Plenty of gems down there.
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
Exactly, Robins will be looking to get rid of the likes of K. Thomas, Reid etc. but this will take time. The players we want to shift are the furthest thing from game changers, so inevitably finding clubs that are willing to recruit them won't be an easy task for both MR and their respective agents.
Unless this materialises there's little chance of any new blood coming in for a while, if at all.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Well if they don't we could be in real trouble. We have just one target man and just one true goalscorer. Maybe Ponticelli will come good, but he is still raw.
Either McNulty or Biamou get injured we will be in real dire straits
mark82
Super Moderator
Are Thomas & Reid out of contract in the summer? If so, not a massive issue if they stay and play u23 football, other than obviously freeing up funds. Will be difficult to get rid as wherever they go they'll likely take a pay cut.
mark82
Super Moderator
Sure Robins will bring someone in on loan with Nazon gone.
Otis
Well-Known Member
I think so too. Someone will have to leave though I think. At the moment it is 2 in and just 1 out.
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
Yes both are out of contract in the summer which hypothetically should suggest it will be easier moving them on for nothing IF a club is willing to take them on. But, this is a big IF as it would involve a club buying out the remaining cost of the player's contract and - as you suggested -subsequently both Reid and Thomas taking a pay cut. This is an issue as like I previously mentioned, they're fringe players so it's unlikely a club would be willing to do this.
No it's not a massive issue if they stay. It's certainly far from ideal but I wouldn't label it as a massive issue as we have other assets to sell (Willis). But Robins will hand in hand be looking to cut his losses wherever he can over the next few weeks as well as retaining his best players - unless the right price comes in of course.
However, focusing solely on the purpose of freeing up funds, having players such as Reid and K. Thomas on the books is problematic. This is where the main issue lies for Robins. If Reid and Thomas are slugging away in the u23's that's neither here nor there in an objective sense, but in reality what's the benefit of that for both player and club?
Hobo
Well-Known Member
Depends if he already had some budget in reserve for January? I would like to think so. Also there were a couple of contracts cancelled with youngsters wasn't there? I know it wouldn't save much, but it all helps.
Skyblueweeman
Well-Known Member
I'm more than confident that MR will bring in one or two more and as soon as he can.
Look, we're 3rd in the table with a great chance of getting promoted. He knows that if he can get us promoted, he not only achieves god-like status amongst CCFC fans (until he cocks it up in L1 and gets fired) but his CV will also improve. Promotion for the club isn't only a great opportunity for the club, it's a great opportunity for Robins to enhance his own reputation, both amongst City fans and the wider football world.
I have no doubt that he'll be speaking to our wonderful owners and seeing how much he can wring out them for new players coming in. I'd imagine he'd also be trying to offload some others to free up wages.
Genuinely confident that there's more to come.
Look, we're 3rd in the table with a great chance of getting promoted. He knows that if he can get us promoted, he not only achieves god-like status amongst CCFC fans (until he cocks it up in L1 and gets fired) but his CV will also improve. Promotion for the club isn't only a great opportunity for the club, it's a great opportunity for Robins to enhance his own reputation, both amongst City fans and the wider football world.
I have no doubt that he'll be speaking to our wonderful owners and seeing how much he can wring out them for new players coming in. I'd imagine he'd also be trying to offload some others to free up wages.
Genuinely confident that there's more to come.
oucho
Well-Known Member
My point exactly
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
I couldn't agree more. If McNulty becomes yet another casualty on our treatment table I find it difficult to see what Robins' "Plan B" would be. Relying on Biamou and Ponticelli to become our main goalscoring threat is enough to keep me up all night!
Biamou is beneficial for the starting XI I'm not doubting that. But his finishing is a serious concern. How many chances has he had this season to score a goal? Whether it was clear-cut or not it must be broaching on double figures by now. So, relying on him to hit a similar run of form as McNulty is simply improbable at this moment in time.
From what I've seen of Ponticelli, it's evident he still needs time to develop. He's only just made the transition from Under 18/Under 23 football to senior football so personally I cannot see him coming good until next season - as like you said he's still raw. It seems MR has the same view. Ponti has been essentially been wrapped in cotton wool from the get-go this season to ensure overexposure in the first team doesn't damage his confidence.
So judging from this I'm once again inclined to agree with you. But without freeing up the funds a new striker is a necessity we simply cannot afford.
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Ponticelli is a very good finisher but he is not a creator atm he is using his energy chasing and closing down IF we had someone putting regular balls into the box (queue an Otis joke) we would then see Ponticelli the goal scorer until then or he develops his game more he will continue to chase and close down
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
In a sense you're correct. A huge part of Ponticelli's naivety is that he tries too hard at times. Give him time and he'll become more intelligent on the pitch by knowing when and we not to press and continue improving his movement off the ball.
But at this moment in his career I don't think his issues are as black and white as saying provide more balls into the box and he'll start scoring for fun. Lack of creativity is a prominent issue in the team and a likely factor to why Ponticelli potentially has not scored more - but there are also a host of variables that go hand in hand with this.
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
It is actually 2 out Leahy and Nazon
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
In Kyel Reid's case I couldn't give a shite he has made his bed so has to suffer the consequences for being unprofessional to a club paying his wages, Kwame was just badly scouted by Cc4l bit on the side
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
I never said he would start scoring for fun but I would imagine his goal tally would go up with the correct service
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
I don't disagree with you. I'd rather him be unprofessional at another club though so we can get him off our wage bill! Kwame isn't up to the demands of the league, I hope he does well wherever he goes but I can't see it being at another League 2 club.
SkyBlueCRJ
Well-Known Member
Let's hope Maguire-Drew and Barrett provide the goods then!
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Well they are kids yet again but hopefully they have a bit of class about them
Otis
Well-Known Member
No need to queue for my jokes, Steve. They are free and readily available.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
I have no context, but this season he’s got 1 goal in 10 appearances. Perhaps Donny might be willing to go - but probably won’t let him go on a free. Also, hardly a ‘big bad target man’ at 5”10, even I’m taller than that.
He’s obviously not someone who will score a lot of goals, but I think Beavon could profit from the switch to 4-4-2. The obvious danger atm, is McNulty getting injured, and here’s hoping that a) he doesn’t get injured and b) if he gets injured, Ponticelli gets a nice run in the team.
I think Patterson and Maguire-Drew are attacking midfielders who can get goals, so hopefully they’ll take the goal scoring burden off McNulty. I think getting players who can get goals off the wings is more important than another striker.
If we can improve in the striker department, I’m all for it.
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
It's a funny old game (and not saying these all represent your views Steve):
Ponticelli has 0 goals in 7 league appearances, missed several sitters and his all round game needs work. Biamou also has 0 goals, missed several sitters and his all round game needs work. They're both also in their first season of professional football. Ponticelli's age is irrelevant to those that want him to play but Biamou's age is an issue to those who don't want him to play. If Ponticelli needs regular balls into the box to get the best out of him, then surely Biamou does too.
For me, I would definitely like a different option to play up front with McNulty but would like to see Biamou and Ponti given further game time to develop. It's just as important to get the midfield scoring and assisting though and we've already brought in 2 players that look like they can help with that.
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Totally agree Esto... our lack of goals is an issue as you have said all season the midfield is defensive although an 18 year old has come in and opened that up to an extent, If midfield/defenders are helping with the goal tally it relieves the pressure off the strikers or in our case striker. Biamou does offer something and if his goal returns wasn't so much of an issue I am sure he would be thought of much higher in some quarters on here, Ponticelli if he isn't scoring doesn't have the same impact in games in my opinion, if we were running away and winning games we could give the likes of Ponticelli the last 20 minutes or so and I am sure he would have had a couple of goals at least!!
As everyone that knows a little about football if we have the best striker in the world playing but don't give him the ball he is shit
As everyone that knows a little about football if we have the best striker in the world playing but don't give him the ball he is shit
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Otis
Well-Known Member
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Greggs
Well-Known Member
Barrett is 20
Otis
Well-Known Member
Anything under about 37 is a kid to me.
Skyblueweeman
Well-Known Member
What about 37 1/2?