(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

Aye if we ain’t upgrading our midfield then it’s only gone weaker by letting lee go

 

I reckon that was supposed to be Keanu Baccus or Ollie Norburn, but if neither is happening there must surely be someone else being targeted? And we certainly need at least one higher quality player in there - our midfield got bullied at times and struggled to play through packed defences last season and that needs to change.

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I agree the new signings will be involved most if not every week, with 5 subs that's a reasonable assumption.  Maybe my definition of "cover" isn't what you had in mind, I just thought they wouldn't be starting every week. 

I'd see the outfield regular starters - when fit (already a big if!) - as Santos, Dempsey, Charles, Johnstone, Toal.  I think they were picked when available every week for most of last season and I don't see that changing.  The other 5 places are more on a rotation basis now that Bradley has gone.  The wingbacks look to be interchangeable, the other 2 midfielders likely to be rotated, the 2nd striker will hopefully be JDB but no doubt lots of rotation/substitutions when goals dry up.  I don't expect Forrester or Dan to start a lot of games but as squad players they'll probably get plenty of opportunities.  In Dan's case I think a lot depends on Vic, if he continues to struggle for form that will be to Dan's benefit.

That's all well and good and you're probably correct about rotation etc but is that enough for us to get the promotion we claim to want? I can't see it. As of right now we remain objectively inferior to last year, with Baxter probably being our only quality buy. That's without taking both Johnston and Toal out of the team. To get promoted from League 1 you basically need single digit losses and draws, anything more than that is the playoffs at most, you can have a bad day but you can't have a bad month. In essence, you have to be the best team in the league week in week out for literally months at a time, winning will have to become boring it's that frequent.

Given these injuries is now a time for a rethink having 3 centre backs? is it too defensive for this league to begin with? would we be better suited bringing in 2 quality midfielders, to sit along side Dempsey/Morley in a 433? I think we need someone in the mould of Roy Keane a right midfield B*** to help us win the games we'd probably end up drawing.

 

Personally I think we're crying out for a box to boc midfielder. The majority of our players are more comfortable playing deeper with the exception of Sheehan who doesn't seem to enjoy being in his own half. You could argue a case for Dempsey - but for me we needs someone with decent pace who can break into the box when the ball is inevitably going with to give us an extra dimension. 

I would caveat that by saying I don't really know much about football! 🙂 👍

55 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

That's all well and good and you're probably correct about rotation etc but is that enough for us to get the promotion we claim to want? I can't see it. As of right now we remain objectively inferior to last year, with Baxter probably being our only quality buy. That's without taking both Johnston and Toal out of the team. To get promoted from League 1 you basically need single digit losses and draws, anything more than that is the playoffs at most, you can have a bad day but you can't have a bad month. In essence, you have to be the best team in the league week in week out for literally months at a time, winning will have to become boring it's that frequent.

Given these injuries is now a time for a rethink having 3 centre backs? is it too defensive for this league to begin with? would we be better suited bringing in 2 quality midfielders, to sit along side Dempsey/Morley in a 433? I think we need someone in the mould of Roy Keane a right midfield B*** to help us win the games we'd probably end up drawing.

 

Regarding is that enough for promotion, no idea but I'll leave that discussion for the other thread.

On having a rethink on 3 CBs, that's not happening in my opinion, even with 2 CBs injured we still have Santos, Jones, Iredale, Forrester and MJ.  

Not sure where we'd get a midfield B*** from, not saying its impossible, but if he's any good and from the UK he's either playing at a level above - why would he come?/can we afford him? - or a small L1 team or L2, in which case its doubtful he'd improve us.

7 hours ago, Gonk said:

How many games had JDB started out of them? If he's been coming off the bench it's a bit hard to get 85 minutes in

 

How does that change anything in relation to a discussion on whether other strikers are going to get minutes?

15 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

... if he's any good and from the UK he's either playing at a level above - why would he come?/can we afford him? - or a small L1 team or L2, in which case its doubtful he'd improve us.

Which, basically, writes off absolutely anyone we can afford. Same goes for other clubs too.

May as well give up then really.

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I agree the new signings will be involved most if not every week, with 5 subs that's a reasonable assumption.  Maybe my definition of "cover" isn't what you had in mind, I just thought they wouldn't be starting every week. 

I'd see the outfield regular starters - when fit (already a big if!) - as Santos, Dempsey, Charles, Johnstone, Toal.  I think they were picked when available every week for most of last season and I don't see that changing.  The other 5 places are more on a rotation basis now that Bradley has gone.  The wingbacks look to be interchangeable, the other 2 midfielders likely to be rotated, the 2nd striker will hopefully be JDB but no doubt lots of rotation/substitutions when goals dry up.  I don't expect Forrester or Dan to start a lot of games but as squad players they'll probably get plenty of opportunities.  In Dan's case I think a lot depends on Vic, if he continues to struggle for form that will be to Dan's benefit.

 

I think that's a slightly odd definition of 'cover', but ok. They're not really covering for anyone if they're important players playing every week.

33 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Which, basically, writes off absolutely anyone we can afford. Same goes for other clubs too.

May as well give up then really.

Yes, good point, I didn't mean it to come across that way, but it highlights the difficulty of finding a player that improves us significantly, within budget.  Alfie May/Stockton would be eg's of being within budget and attainable in theory.  I think what I should have said is "yes we want a midfield general type, but where are they/name names".  If nobody has any in mind its a bit pie in the sky; with strikers its easier as its mostly stats-based.  And there will be out of favour championship players, as JDB was, that would be tempted by a longer contract than they are on plus first team games.

looks like Wilson is Derby bound.

Two ways to look at the Wilson to Derby rumour. We’ve missed the boat and Derby have stolen a March on us or, no Championship side has taken him so he’s a league 1 player at best. 

55 minutes ago, Popeye doyle said:

Two ways to look at the Wilson to Derby rumour. We’ve missed the boat and Derby have stolen a March on us or, no Championship side has taken him so he’s a league 1 player at best. 

Obviously I’m not in the know on this but I understood Wilson wanted to come here but Bristol decided they wanted a bigger fee? If he goes to Derby that’s fine they’ve obviously satisfied both ends but it’s not one I’m especially fussed about personally as Cogley looks decent.

56 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Obviously I’m not in the know on this but I understood Wilson wanted to come here but Bristol decided they wanted a bigger fee? If he goes to Derby that’s fine they’ve obviously satisfied both ends but it’s not one I’m especially fussed about personally as Cogley looks decent.

Yeah, I’m not too bothered about not signing Wilson. At this stage we have to trust Evatt and Markham to come up with the right signings.

20 minutes ago, Popeye doyle said:

Yeah, I’m not too bothered about not signing Wilson. At this stage we have to trust Evatt and Markham to come up with the right signings.

Shit attitude

You should be in full on we are shitter than last season and so what if theres weeks until the season starts and another few before the window closes mode

Id say our problem is we are after players we think can play in division 2

If we think they are good enough, why shouldnt the players agree?

And if so,they will want to see if any division 2 clubs agree

Hence, we may have to wait

37 minutes ago, Casino said:

Shit attitude

You should be in full on we are shitter than last season and so what if theres weeks until the season starts and another few before the window closes mode

There have been people arguing that several of our January signings from last year will be much better this year because of a full preseason. You don't have an issue with that but a new signing joining us 3 weeks before the season starts isn't an issue?

From what i've seen it appears fairly clear that we had no plan b etc re Wilson and Baccus (they might have been the plan b) not joining. As its been 3 weeks since that come out, i think it's fairly clear Evatt and Markham have had to go back to the drawing board.

28 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

There have been people arguing that several of our January signings from last year will be much better this year because of a full preseason. You don't have an issue with that but a new signing joining us 3 weeks before the season starts isn't an issue?

From what i've seen it appears fairly clear that we had no plan b etc re Wilson and Baccus (they might have been the plan b) not joining. As its been 3 weeks since that come out, i think it's fairly clear Evatt and Markham have had to go back to the drawing board.

Don’t think this Markham guy has a clue. We would be better off having Casino advising on the recruitment. 
 

concerned on our forwards

7 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Don’t think this Markham guy has a clue. We would be better off having Casino advising on the recruitment. 
 

concerned on our forwards

Same here

Generally his signings have been good few shit ones but even the best do

even with the injuries the back line isn’t a problem I’m not convinced one bit in dan/ vic & JDB

Reckon Markham et al are busting a gut to bring in some quality. I'd have been delighted with Baccus, Wilson and Flick but I have no doubt that we'll sign some decent players - just taking longer than originally anticipated.

Both Dan and Vic have decent records at this level and we always looked a better side with JDB playing, his goal record is much better if you remove sub appearances from his record.

The lack of quality and numbers in the middle mean that we can't break teams down. The good teams will out play us in the middle and the s**t teams will stick 10 men behind the ball and try and win on a rare counter attack. Either way we draw or lose those games, we need to be winning. We're totally inflexable and predictable.

When was the last time we consistantly won goals from free kicks or corners? do we even have anyone with the physicality to win headers (goals)?

 

 

 

The way that some people have gone on about Wilson and baccus is like they are world beaters and we will never sign someone as good.   

They are at Bristol city and st Mirren for a reason, and in Wilson's case why has no other club snapped him up yet.

People need to stop bleating on about these 2.  The signings we need will happen but it's very likely that other transfers have to happen before we get our men.

We finished 5th in the league and won at Wembley. 

Not one person on this forum had heard of Baccus or Wilson 2 months ago.

Now our recruitment dont know what they are doing and its panic stations?

 

Every transfer window since evatt and markham came has improved us. The last one is up for debate, but it was clear we were struggling with the physicality of some teams so we bought in some physicality and the leagues 3rd top goal scorer. 

We were 5th when they signed and we finished 5th with a trophy in the cabinet too.

We simply ran out of steam to mount an autos push with a depleted team.

Put the noose down lads fuck me.

 

I don’t think anyone is panicking just airing concerns 

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

I don’t think anyone is panicking just airing concerns 

I'm certainly not - still reckon there will be a few arrivals and maybe a departure or two. It's just that having invested time in Baccus, Wilson etc - and come so close to getting them - it's going to take longer to sort out. And in that respect it's a shame they weren't sorted in time to get involved in the preseason to gel with the team and system.

Mind you with our preseason record they'd probably have got injured anyway so perhaps it's not a bad thing.

11 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Don’t think this Markham guy has a clue.

Are you a casual, weekend, user or are you addicted to whatever shite you use ?

I have heard that there were concerns around the Wilson medical, despite the press version. The payment structure may have been made to avert risk. I have no doubt that a fit Wison would have been a good addition to the team but one knock and it could have been an out for the season injury.