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Post by Million Dollar Babies on Apr 21, 2024 17:41:49 GMT 1
Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up At Town, Matty Pearson has had some excellent performances and some downright stinkers. He can’t pass the ball, has no vision, but is ferocious and committed. On the whole I still have no idea if he’s valuable to a defence, or a liability to it. I guess underpinning everything is Luton Town saw fit to let him leave. Their recruitment over the last few years has been excellent, ours has been shoddy. The answer is probably there. If he's staying then we need to do away with this passing out from the back and get a proper target man who the ball sticks to |
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Post by rougeboy31 on Apr 21, 2024 17:43:00 GMT 1
That stat is a bit misleading I think, do his aimless pea roller crosses count as creating a chance, or the ones where he absolutely blasts it like a missile. Or when he either under hits or over hits a corner. Let’s not even get onto his shooting ability. It really highlights how limited he his when his set pieces aren’t hitting That's such a stupid comment I don't really know where to start. . start with the bit where our primary chance creator hasn’t got a goal contribution since the Southampton game. |
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Post by Detective Boyle on Apr 21, 2024 17:46:37 GMT 1
At Town, Matty Pearson has had some excellent performances and some downright stinkers. He can’t pass the ball, has no vision, but is ferocious and committed. On the whole I still have no idea if he’s valuable to a defence, or a liability to it. I guess underpinning everything is Luton Town saw fit to let him leave. Their recruitment over the last few years has been excellent, ours has been shoddy. The answer is probably there. If he's staying then we need to do away with this passing out from the back and get a proper target man who the ball sticks to Wow the nostalgia of league one days longing for a target man. Is Steve Howard still available? |
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Post by Mounie for nothing on Apr 21, 2024 17:47:12 GMT 1
Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up At Town, Matty Pearson has had some excellent performances and some downright stinkers. He can’t pass the ball, has no vision, but is ferocious and committed. On the whole I still have no idea if he’s valuable to a defence, or a liability to it. I guess underpinning everything is Luton Town saw fit to let him leave. Their recruitment over the last few years has been excellent, ours has been shoddy. The answer is probably there. He will be good in League 1. He's not a right back, he has been hung out to dry there. If Helik or Lees had been asked to play there we would be rinsing them too. At this level ball playing centre backs are rare, especially pacy ones. But at our level he is a decent player at centre back, the fact we have four fullbacks on the bench shows how shit they must be that Pearson plays in their position. |
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Post by impact on Apr 21, 2024 17:58:58 GMT 1
That's such a stupid comment I don't really know where to start. . start with the bit where our primary chance creator hasn’t got a goal contribution since the Southampton game. Do you think that, just maybe, the person creating the chances may be reliant on someone to finish? With anyone even half competent he'd have had 2 assists yesterday. |
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Post by stinkypete on Apr 21, 2024 18:02:41 GMT 1
I honestly won’t be disappointed to see any of them leave, apart from Helik maybe. Been absolutely shite the lot of em, weak as piss mentality! Manager can do one as well.
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Post by rougeboy31 on Apr 21, 2024 18:05:17 GMT 1
. start with the bit where our primary chance creator hasn’t got a goal contribution since the Southampton game. Do you think that, just maybe, the person creating the chances may be reliant on someone to finish? With anyone even half competent he's have had 2 assists yesterday. I just think some of his crosses are hit and hopes rather than aimed. To be fair he has to create everything but I still think he’s fairly limited |
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Post by nicovaesen on Apr 21, 2024 18:57:19 GMT 1
Get rid of Andre get warnock and rocket Ron in to win us our first third division league one title!
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k1man999
Andy Booth Terrier
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Post by k1man999 on Apr 21, 2024 19:09:13 GMT 1
I honestly won’t be disappointed to see any of them leave, apart from Helik maybe. Been absolutely shite the lot of em, weak as piss mentality! Manager can do one as well. I won't be too sad to see helik go (TIN HAT) He scores a few and can head a ball but if you see a lot of goals we concede he is out of position, no where near his man or engaging him in any way. Be glad to get something back and reinvestment back into the side |
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Post by Mounie for nothing on Apr 21, 2024 19:16:13 GMT 1
I honestly won’t be disappointed to see any of them leave, apart from Helik maybe. Been absolutely shite the lot of em, weak as piss mentality! Manager can do one as well. I won't be too sad to see helik go (TIN HAT) He scores a few and can head a ball but if you see a lot of goals we concede he is out of position, no where near his man or engaging him in any way. Be glad to get something back and reinvestment back into the side Out of position because he is covering the fucking excuses for full backs. Hard to cover 3/4 players swarming at pace. Jesus on a jetbike watch a game back then comment. |
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k1man999
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Post by k1man999 on Apr 21, 2024 19:24:34 GMT 1
I won't be too sad to see helik go (TIN HAT) He scores a few and can head a ball but if you see a lot of goals we concede he is out of position, no where near his man or engaging him in any way. Be glad to get something back and reinvestment back into the side Out of position because he is covering the fucking excuses for full backs. Hard to cover 3/4 players swarming at pace. Jesus on a jetbike watch a game back then comment. Go home and away and watch highlights. Yes full backs are shit but watch him in the centre when a ball gets played in ,instead of engaging/ marking the striker he backs off him leaving him in acres of space to pick a spot. Have a watch you might learn something 😉 |
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Post by overtonterrierspirit on Apr 21, 2024 19:25:36 GMT 1
Do you think that, just maybe, the person creating the chances may be reliant on someone to finish? With anyone even half competent he's have had 2 assists yesterday. I just think some of his crosses are hit and hopes rather than aimed. To be fair he has to create everything but I still think he’s fairly limited Who in your opinion, in open play, do we have capable of getting onto one of his crosses. They are hit and hope because for the majority of the last few years we have had no “proper” Championship level striker. Certainly no forward player capable of competing to win a header. |
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Post by thomo on Apr 21, 2024 19:29:57 GMT 1
This thread is depressing reading. I hope we can offload many of those still in contract as well as those out. Maybe we have to pay a few off along the way.
I don't think we'll regain a winning mentality until most of them are gone. It'll be soul destroying to see the same old perennial failures turning out for us next year.
The talk of selling Spencer is bonkers. To rebuild we must keep players like him. If Kevin is ambitious he needs to prove to the few decent players we have his intentions are just that. So add Helik and Nicholls to that list of retained. Make Helik the best paid player in league one ever and build our defence around him.
Happily offload Sorba for a bit of cash.
I hope we have a completely new midfield. I don't think Kasumu and Wiles will ever be good enough.
Balker, Healey and Radulovic deserve some time to prove themselves.
Beyond that I hope it's all new players in the first team.
New left back a must. I wouldn't pin my hopes on Healey and Bojan firing / being fit either so another striker is a must too.
I like to think we'll be signing players with one eye on the championship the following season. We need to start building something long term now.
Kev's got to get the fans back on side big time so let's hope the chequebook is wide open.
First new manager and director of football required - hoping that happens within the next month. We're already behind in preparations for league one so need to move very quickly now.
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Post by Mounie for nothing on Apr 21, 2024 19:40:56 GMT 1
Out of position because he is covering the fucking excuses for full backs. Hard to cover 3/4 players swarming at pace. Jesus on a jetbike watch a game back then comment. Go home and away and watch highlights. Yes full backs are shit but watch him in the centre when a ball gets played in ,instead of engaging/ marking the striker he backs off him leaving him in acres of space to pick a spot. Have a watch you might learn something 😉 That will be team instructions. Presuming you have never coached a team. Zonal marking. One centre back engages, the over covers. Have a watch and stop being a patronising prick, you might learn something. |
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k1man999
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Post by k1man999 on Apr 21, 2024 19:47:18 GMT 1
Go home and away and watch highlights. Yes full backs are shit but watch him in the centre when a ball gets played in ,instead of engaging/ marking the striker he backs off him leaving him in acres of space to pick a spot. Have a watch you might learn something 😉 That will be team instructions. Presuming you have never coached a team. Zonal marking. One centre back engages, the over covers. Have a watch and stop being a patronising prick, you might learn something. 1. Yes I have coached 2. It's all about opinions and that's mine and quite a few others 3. Resorting to name calling no need, grow up. its a forum about opinions not all agree but keep it civil. |
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Post by joburgjon on Apr 21, 2024 20:06:01 GMT 1
Sell Helik, Rudoni & Thomas. Don’t renew the contracts of Hogg, Yuta or Pearson. GK - Nichols & Maxwell both League 1 standard. Belagambi fine as the 3rd keeper RB - Need to keep hold of Spencer as first choice. Turton fine as League 1 back up. If Spencer is sold, then we need to sign a first choice RB. LB - A season in League 1 will probably do Headley the world of good. Ruffles good enough for League 1. Keep Jackson as a squad player CB - Need to get Balker properly fit over the summer. Lees is League 1 Standard. Ayina should be ready for League 1. Should look to sign a left footed CB to give us 4 solid CBs Midfield - Kasumu & Wiles are both League 1 standard. Need to sign 3 more in total. Replacement for Hogg, Replacement for Rudoni and a ball player. Iorpenda should push for a place. High and Austerfield retained as squad fillers. Wingers - Karoma is League 1 standard, so is Jones if he can stay fit. Need to sign 2 wingers. 1 should be a goalscorer Strikers - Ward, Healy and Radulovic should all be good at League 1. Although maybe Ward will leave if he can get a 2 year deal somewhere, so a replacement would need to be signed. Phillips scored 7 in 22 for Morecambe in League 1. So if he can stay fit he’s definitely an option. Simpson probably goes out on loan again. Harratt is probably kept due to the problems he’s had so we can keep an eye on him (Duty of Care). Could be a useful option off the bench. To sign 1 Left footed CB. 3 Midfielders - them most important signings 2 Wingers Possibly 1 striker Not major work to be done. But all of those signings have to be quality players coming in as starters in the first 11 You often talk sense Jon, but Austerfield and High were garbage at this level, I wouldn’t want them as squad fillers in League One. When injuries bite they aren’t up to scratch. I’d personally clear everyone out. Losers mentality across the board. Even go as far as letting Nicholls, Thomas, Helik and Rudoni go for decent fees, if we can get them. The problem really is shifting the rest out; much as I’ve liked him Pearson has to go. Lees is done. Hogg sadly the same I think. Ruffels, Balker, Koroma, Ward all can go for me too. Easier said than done. A lot will depend who the manager is. Re High and Austerfield. They are both under contract and I’d have them as squad fillers. We’ll hopefully have 6 central midfielders ahead of them in 3 brand new starters, plus Kasumu, Wiles and Iorpenda. So you’d have to have at least 4 of those injured before High or Austerfield make the bench, probably as unused subs. If you get rid of them, you’d replace them with kids who aren’t ready yet. Lees probably has 1 or 2 seasons at League 1 left. But i’d hope he’d be 3rd or even 4th choice CB behind Balker, a new CB and then Lees/Ayina |
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Post by rockwall on Apr 21, 2024 20:26:07 GMT 1
I won't be too sad to see helik go (TIN HAT) He scores a few and can head a ball but if you see a lot of goals we concede he is out of position, no where near his man or engaging him in any way. Be glad to get something back and reinvestment back into the side Out of position because he is covering the fucking excuses for full backs. Hard to cover 3/4 players swarming at pace. Jesus on a jetbike watch a game back then comment. Is he out of position when attackers get infront of him and put the ball into the net? Since he came back from injury, he has been just as bad as the rest. I wouldn't want him to leave, but I feel people are blinkered because of the goals he has scored. |
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Wingman
Mental Health Support Group
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Post by Wingman on Apr 21, 2024 20:34:00 GMT 1
So, although nothing is confirmed as yet, and it soon will be for sure, my biggest concern right now is that we have a squad capable of ensuring we don’t slip through into League Two. Yes, it might sound a bit far fetched but I don’t expect us to bounce back up as things stand. Probably a flaccid top 12 season.
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Post by Mounie for nothing on Apr 21, 2024 20:36:04 GMT 1
That will be team instructions. Presuming you have never coached a team. Zonal marking. One centre back engages, the over covers. Have a watch and stop being a patronising prick, you might learn something. 1. Yes I have coached 2. It's all about opinions and that's mine and quite a few others 3. Resorting to name calling no need, grow up. its a forum about opinions not all agree but keep it civil. I apologise. But Pearson is and never will be a full back. |
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Post by Mounie for nothing on Apr 21, 2024 20:41:19 GMT 1
Out of position because he is covering the fucking excuses for full backs. Hard to cover 3/4 players swarming at pace. Jesus on a jetbike watch a game back then comment. Is he out of position when attackers get infront of him and put the ball into the net? Since he came back from injury, he has been just as bad as the rest. I wouldn't want him to leave, but I feel people are blinkered because of the goals he has scored. He is not a full back. He gets skinned due to lack of pace. Helik and Lees would both get skinned if forced to play full back. |
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Post by htfcfcfc on Apr 21, 2024 20:47:26 GMT 1
So, although nothing is confirmed as yet, and it soon will be for sure, my biggest concern right now is that we have a squad capable of ensuring we don’t slip through into League Two. Yes, it might sound a bit far fetched but I don’t expect us to bounce back up as things stand. Probably a flaccid top 12 season. I agree. I’m more concerned about the bottom of League 1 currently Learning from the days of expecting Diakhaby and Mbenza to tear up the Championship |
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Terriersmad
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Post by Terriersmad on Apr 21, 2024 20:50:06 GMT 1
Don't take the names of proposed incomings too seriously when I list who I'd try to bring in below. It's more about the qualities they'd bring (which I'll explain) and the change in mentality they could bring about, than that specific person. Other players with the same qualities are out in the world, and I'd hope our scouting team would be aware of them far more than someone whose last Football Manager was 2020. I also know a couple are ambitious, pie-in-the-sky almost signings, but the sort I'd still like us to try to make - first-teamers from Championship clubs, or players from newly-promoted sides who you might say 'why would they come here?' They're the kind of players we need to at least attempt seriously to bring in to send an ambitious message.
Goalkeepers:
Lee Nicholls
Chris Maxwell
(Michael Acquah, Francis Hurl)
Chapman is out of contract. I see no point in renewing for a player who, at 23, has played for us twice. He needs to go and be number 1 elsewhere, for his own sake. Loads of potential, but no pathway to being number 1 here. If he was 18/19 I'd be renewing in a heartbeat. Ditto Bellagambi, who is also apparently out of contract - 22, never played, time to wish him well. I like to have three keepers, and the two in brackets are the only two I can see as realistic rookie backup. Maybe worth dipping into free transfers for another rookie, but who has played a game or two at a decent level.
Full-backs:
Ollie Turton
Brodie Spencer
Josh Ruffels
(Jaheim Headley)
An area of weakness. Too many ifs and buts. If Turton and Ruffels return to fitness and bring form with them, then we're in a much better position, but otherwise we're in a position where Brodie Spencer - a teenager - is our best full-back on both left and right. Headley, for all I'm a fan, is inconsistent and I wouldn't want to go into a season with him as our only fit left-back, especially if we let Ben Jackson move on, as we possibly should. Candidates to bring in should be players such as Barnsley's Josh Earl (won't be him as he's only just signed for them for £750,000 from Fleetwood, but good age at 25, experienced at that level. Something of a Lee Peltier when we signed him), and Wigan's Sean Clare (27, made a career for himself the hard way after release from Sheffield Wednesday; gutsy).
Central defence:
Matty Pearson
Radinio Balker
Tom Lees
(Michal Helik)
(Loick Ayina)
I think there's half-a-chance of Helik staying, but if he doesn't we need a replacement lined up. Possibly two, given the ages of our defenders otherwise. Ayina has potential but is untested at Town (although has gained good reports from loans). I'd be tempted into looking at Manchester City junior Finley Burns (20), who has been on loan at Stevenage (and previously at Swansea, as a very young player). Also, depending on the financial situation at Reading, have a look at Tom Holmes (24), their captain. Relatively speaking, a position of strength.
Central midfield:
Jonathan Hogg
David Kasumu
Ben Wiles
(Jack Rudoni)
(Tom Iorpenda)
We need ball-players and leaders. Step forward Cameron Brannagan (27, captain at Oxford) and Ben Whiteman (27, Preston North End). The latter is ambitious to say the least, but he's the kind of player we need. Sonny Carey (23, Blackpool, out of contract this season with option) should also be on our radar. All of them bigger, stronger, and better on the ball than existing options. Current midfield options are confirmed Lilliput internationals, and that's where much of our problems stem. Even were they comfortable on the ball, they can be outmuscled. Whiteman stands 6'1". Carey the same. Brannagan 5'11". This is what we have to get right, more than anywhere else. Plus, two of those are either captains or have been captains. A midfield of leaders, who are comfortable on the ball, who can mix it, who can compete, would be formidable and essential. A couple of them can even chip in with goals. Just saying. On top of that, they would free up existing players. I suspect we'd see a different Ben Wiles if he had some muscle alongside him to open up space and to provide an easy option off the ball. Rudoni I expect to leave, but bring in a good fee (£2.5m+). As another option for a year and some leadership, Liam Kelly at Coventry City. Club captain there but not playing often at 34.
Wingers:
Josh Koroma
Pat Jones
(Sorba Thomas)
A fee of £3.5m+ will see Sorba depart, which will mean we need to replace him somehow. Koroma's strength isn't creation, but conversion (and that's been lacking this season - he should have double the goals he's scored). Pat Jones has potential, but can't be the 46-game winger we need. So what do we do? I'd look at Joseph Hungbo for a bit of X-factor in front of goal, but we need someone creative. This is where I draw a bit of a blank - the two Peterborough lads sprang to mind, but even by pie-in-the-sky standards they won't be here next season! Blackett-Taylor at Charlton maybe, or if we're being very hopeful Dembele at Blackpool. Kind of player, though, not the actual player themselves. Jodi Jones at Notts County might be a realistic, affordable option, but a gamble for a 26-year-old who has previously failed to make an impression in the higher tiers.
Strikers:
Bojan Radulovic
Danny Ward
Rhys Healey
(Kian Harratt)
I'd move Harratt on. I'd also be looking to move Ward on when we bring in another option. My big quandary: a big target man, or a livewire? With the two lads coming in in January, I actually think this is another area of relative strength. The question is how to get the ball to them in dangerous areas. Healey is a danger, we've seen. Radulovic has good feet and is a capable player. If they get the ball in dangerous areas, they'll score goals. The wide areas and midfield are more urgent than up front, which many won't agree with me over. This might be where we take a gamble on a kid with raw potential, or bring in an old stager like a latter-day Alan Lee, who can act as a foil and open up the space for their partner.
So this is the kind of squad I'd be trying for the first day of training. I've looked at ages, qualities, previous and current captaincy, and potential to step up. The above squad, with proposed (and in many cases ambitious) additions would be one I would expect to be good enough to get up at the first time of asking. The key area is that midfield, though. Without a huge overhaul in there in particular - and space will exist, that has to be remembered, we will be attractive to players who will think they will get first-team football - we won't do that. How much would it cost? I wouldn't want to speculate, but I would hope Mr Nagle has very deep pockets.
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Post by rockwall on Apr 21, 2024 20:51:21 GMT 1
Is he out of position when attackers get infront of him and put the ball into the net? Since he came back from injury, he has been just as bad as the rest. I wouldn't want him to leave, but I feel people are blinkered because of the goals he has scored. He is not a full back. He gets skinned due to lack of pace. Helik and Lees would both get skinned if forced to play full back. I'm well aware he isn't a full back, never said he was?? It is his job to stick tight to a striker, they get infront of him quite a lot. |
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k1man999
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Post by k1man999 on Apr 21, 2024 20:52:50 GMT 1
1. Yes I have coached 2. It's all about opinions and that's mine and quite a few others 3. Resorting to name calling no need, grow up. its a forum about opinions not all agree but keep it civil. I apologise. But Pearson is and never will be a full back. No worries and appreciated, apologies if came across condescending. However agree Pearson is not a full back and never will be. |
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Post by royrace on Apr 21, 2024 21:31:03 GMT 1
Whoever we retain or sign, someone needs to look them in the eyes and make sure that they have the stomach for the fight. Other than, perhaps, the 02-03 side, I struggle to think of a more mentally frail team than this season (to be fair to him, something that Moore clocked after the QPR home game). The number of times we've conceded leads late in the game, or conceded in the second half and just capitulated, is abysmal. No leadership, no resilience, and no heart. It doesn't matter how much ability individual players have - if you don't have players who will step up when needed and take responsibility for dragging us through a difficult patch, you're on a hiding to nothing. Oh for a tub-thumping challenge from Worthington, the calm control of Mooy, or even a driving run from RVLP - anything but the insipid set of blancmanges that we've had to endure this season. Warnock made a huge thing of there being no real leaders in the squad last season. He made do, like he does, but seems we're still massively lacking. Seems we have more than our fair share of man children and no characters to keep them in check. Would explain the manager banging on about togetherness constantly. Warnock is a master at finding ways to manage different characters, a tall order for a German with zero experience in the league, his foreign assistant and some bloke from Cheltenham Town. |
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wildhogg
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Post by wildhogg on Apr 21, 2024 21:45:41 GMT 1
Nicholls, Helik, Thomas and probably Spencer and Balker will go. The best of a very bad bunch. What that leaves us with quite frankly fills me with utter dread. Major investment will be needed. Recruitment will need to be absolutely spot on. It won't be if Cartwright is still knocking about.
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Post by joburgjon on Apr 21, 2024 22:03:25 GMT 1
So, although nothing is confirmed as yet, and it soon will be for sure, my biggest concern right now is that we have a squad capable of ensuring we don’t slip through into League Two. Yes, it might sound a bit far fetched but I don’t expect us to bounce back up as things stand. Probably a flaccid top 12 season. For me the big thing is the quality we bring in. If we bring in genuine qualify as follows, then i think we can challenge at the top - i’m only saying challenge, not definitely get back up. Left footed CB 3 midfielders 2 wingers That’s 6 new genuine quality starters. Add them to Nicholls, Spencer, Headley, Balker and Healey. With Maxwell, Turton, Ruffles, Lees, Ayina, Kasumu, Wiles, Iorpenda, Koroma, Jones, Radulovic, Ward, Harratt and Jackson as back up. That’s a squad that challenges in my opinion Not saying it’s gonna be easy by any stretch. But get those 6 additions right and that’s a strong L1 25 man squad. As a team coming down from the Championship, we should be appealing to talented players (at that level) |
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wildhogg
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Post by wildhogg on Apr 21, 2024 22:11:09 GMT 1
So, although nothing is confirmed as yet, and it soon will be for sure, my biggest concern right now is that we have a squad capable of ensuring we don’t slip through into League Two. Yes, it might sound a bit far fetched but I don’t expect us to bounce back up as things stand. Probably a flaccid top 12 season. For me the big thing is the quality we bring in. If we bring in genuine qualify as follows, then i think we can challenge at the top - i’m only saying challenge, not definitely get back up. Left footed CB 3 midfielders 2 wingers That’s 6 new genuine quality starters. Add them to Nicholls, Spencer, Headley, Balker and Healey. With Maxwell, Turton, Ruffles, Lees, Ayina, Kasumu, Wiles, Iorpenda, Koroma, Jones, Radulovic, Ward, Harratt and Jackson as back up. That’s a squad that challenges in my opinion Not saying it’s gonna be easy by any stretch. But get those 6 additions right and that’s a strong L1 25 man squad. As a team coming down from the Championship, we should be appealing to talented players (at that level) As you say, it all hinges on who is brought into the club. Can there be any confidence whatsoever in the people responsible for recruitment, though? If Cartwright cons Nagle into letting him keep his job, we're screwed. |
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Post by oneneilwarnock on Apr 21, 2024 22:28:45 GMT 1
Don't take the names of proposed incomings too seriously when I list who I'd try to bring in below. It's more about the qualities they'd bring (which I'll explain) and the change in mentality they could bring about, than that specific person. Other players with the same qualities are out in the world, and I'd hope our scouting team would be aware of them far more than someone whose last Football Manager was 2020. I also know a couple are ambitious, pie-in-the-sky almost signings, but the sort I'd still like us to try to make - first-teamers from Championship clubs, or players from newly-promoted sides who you might say 'why would they come here?' They're the kind of players we need to at least attempt seriously to bring in to send an ambitious message. Goalkeepers: Lee Nicholls Chris Maxwell (Michael Acquah, Francis Hurl) Chapman is out of contract. I see no point in renewing for a player who, at 23, has played for us twice. He needs to go and be number 1 elsewhere, for his own sake. Loads of potential, but no pathway to being number 1 here. If he was 18/19 I'd be renewing in a heartbeat. Ditto Bellagambi, who is also apparently out of contract - 22, never played, time to wish him well. I like to have three keepers, and the two in brackets are the only two I can see as realistic rookie backup. Maybe worth dipping into free transfers for another rookie, but who has played a game or two at a decent level. Full-backs: Ollie Turton Brodie Spencer Josh Ruffels (Jaheim Headley) An area of weakness. Too many ifs and buts. If Turton and Ruffels return to fitness and bring form with them, then we're in a much better position, but otherwise we're in a position where Brodie Spencer - a teenager - is our best full-back on both left and right. Headley, for all I'm a fan, is inconsistent and I wouldn't want to go into a season with him as our only fit left-back, especially if we let Ben Jackson move on, as we possibly should. Candidates to bring in should be players such as Barnsley's Josh Earl (won't be him as he's only just signed for them for £750,000 from Fleetwood, but good age at 25, experienced at that level. Something of a Lee Peltier when we signed him), and Wigan's Sean Clare (27, made a career for himself the hard way after release from Sheffield Wednesday; gutsy). Central defence: Matty Pearson Radinio Balker Tom Lees (Michal Helik) (Loick Ayina) I think there's half-a-chance of Helik staying, but if he doesn't we need a replacement lined up. Possibly two, given the ages of our defenders otherwise. Ayina has potential but is untested at Town (although has gained good reports from loans). I'd be tempted into looking at Manchester City junior Finley Burns (20), who has been on loan at Stevenage (and previously at Swansea, as a very young player). Also, depending on the financial situation at Reading, have a look at Tom Holmes (24), their captain. Relatively speaking, a position of strength. Central midfield: Jonathan Hogg David Kasumu Ben Wiles (Jack Rudoni) (Tom Iorpenda) We need ball-players and leaders. Step forward Cameron Brannagan (27, captain at Oxford) and Ben Whiteman (27, Preston North End). The latter is ambitious to say the least, but he's the kind of player we need. Sonny Carey (23, Blackpool, out of contract this season with option) should also be on our radar. All of them bigger, stronger, and better on the ball than existing options. Current midfield options are confirmed Lilliput internationals, and that's where much of our problems stem. Even were they comfortable on the ball, they can be outmuscled. Whiteman stands 6'1". Carey the same. Brannagan 5'11". This is what we have to get right, more than anywhere else. Plus, two of those are either captains or have been captains. A midfield of leaders, who are comfortable on the ball, who can mix it, who can compete, would be formidable and essential. A couple of them can even chip in with goals. Just saying. On top of that, they would free up existing players. I suspect we'd see a different Ben Wiles if he had some muscle alongside him to open up space and to provide an easy option off the ball. Rudoni I expect to leave, but bring in a good fee (£2.5m+). As another option for a year and some leadership, Liam Kelly at Coventry City. Club captain there but not playing often at 34. Wingers: Josh Koroma Pat Jones (Sorba Thomas) A fee of £3.5m+ will see Sorba depart, which will mean we need to replace him somehow. Koroma's strength isn't creation, but conversion (and that's been lacking this season - he should have double the goals he's scored). Pat Jones has potential, but can't be the 46-game winger we need. So what do we do? I'd look at Joseph Hungbo for a bit of X-factor in front of goal, but we need someone creative. This is where I draw a bit of a blank - the two Peterborough lads sprang to mind, but even by pie-in-the-sky standards they won't be here next season! Blackett-Taylor at Charlton maybe, or if we're being very hopeful Dembele at Blackpool. Kind of player, though, not the actual player themselves. Jodi Jones at Notts County might be a realistic, affordable option, but a gamble for a 26-year-old who has previously failed to make an impression in the higher tiers. Strikers: Bojan Radulovic Danny Ward Rhys Healey (Kian Harratt) I'd move Harratt on. I'd also be looking to move Ward on when we bring in another option. My big quandary: a big target man, or a livewire? With the two lads coming in in January, I actually think this is another area of relative strength. The question is how to get the ball to them in dangerous areas. Healey is a danger, we've seen. Radulovic has good feet and is a capable player. If they get the ball in dangerous areas, they'll score goals. The wide areas and midfield are more urgent than up front, which many won't agree with me over. This might be where we take a gamble on a kid with raw potential, or bring in an old stager like a latter-day Alan Lee, who can act as a foil and open up the space for their partner. So this is the kind of squad I'd be trying for the first day of training. I've looked at ages, qualities, previous and current captaincy, and potential to step up. The above squad, with proposed (and in many cases ambitious) additions would be one I would expect to be good enough to get up at the first time of asking. The key area is that midfield, though. Without a huge overhaul in there in particular - and space will exist, that has to be remembered, we will be attractive to players who will think they will get first-team football - we won't do that. How much would it cost? I wouldn't want to speculate, but I would hope Mr Nagle has very deep pockets. You lost me at 3.5 million for thomas, be lucky to get 1 million. |
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Post by rougeboy31 on Apr 21, 2024 22:41:51 GMT 1
I’d like it to be similar to Wagners first summer, a lot of captains and players coming off successful season.
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