Transfer Gossip

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

15 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

With Lolos and CMG also on the books, it’s clear we intend to play with a 10, in front of two central midfielders. That is, two from Sheehan, Thomason and Matete.

I'm not sure that is clear

[gonzo]

8 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I'm not sure that is clear

I was gonna say

when has that happened.

[Rival Son]

Perhaps clear is too definitive a word. Let me put it another way. If we weren’t planning to play with two central midfielders and one attacking midfielder, why did we buy CMG last season and, when he was long-term injured, add Lolos to the squad, this season. Add to that, letting Morley go out on loan.

It does SEEM to suggest Evatt wants to set up this way.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

53 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

Perhaps clear is too definitive a word. Let me put it another way. If we weren’t planning to play with two central midfielders and one attacking midfielder, why did we buy CMG last season and, when he was long-term injured, add Lolos to the squad, this season. Add to that, letting Morley go out on loan.

It does SEEM to suggest Evatt wants to set up this way.

CMG was last year's "inexplicable winger signed for a team that doesn't play wingers" and Lolos was signed to compete for one of the two No. 10 roles in the box midfield we've now abandoned

[Casino]

CMG wasnt playing as a winger when he scored at Cambridge

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

I know

[desperado]

41 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

CMG was last year's "inexplicable winger signed for a team that doesn't play wingers" and Lolos was signed to compete for one of the two No. 10 roles in the box midfield we've now abandoned

It’s a funny one with CMG

I’m going to give Evatt some slack on this signing. I think part of his thinking was his versatility, being able to play across any of those front positions or in a 10.

He’d not long got rid of Dapo who, despite his extreme quality and influence at his best, wasn’t able to fill a number of roles effectively and consistently. That role out left and cutting in in a 4-3-3 was as good as it got with Dapo.

In his short time with us CMG has shown that versatility Evatt bought him for IMO. His influence at Northampton away (out wide) and his striker role alongside JDB were both examples of this.

[DazBob]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

In his short time with us CMG has shown that versatility Evatt bought him for IMO. His influence at Northampton away (out wide) and his striker role alongside JDB were both examples of this.

In his short time with us, bar a couple of cracking goals, I'm not sure CMG has had enough game time for us to really judge him one way or another.

He may well be a good 'un for us (and I certainly hope is!), but IMO there's not really anything to base this on thus far.

[desperado]

5 minutes ago, DazBob said:

In his short time with us, bar a couple of cracking goals, I'm not sure CMG has had enough game time for us to really judge him one way or another.

He may well be a good 'un for us (and I certainly hope is!), but IMO there's not really anything to base this on thus far.

Good point.

And reading back it may also be construed as me comparing his ability with Dapo, which I'm not.

The point I'm making is more to do with Evatts reasoning for buying him. I don't agree with @Lt. Aldo Raine claim of him being an "inexplicable winger signing"

[Traf]

It's all conjecture of course, but if we keep winning and then Thomason/Dempsey become fit/available, they sit on the bench for me, unless someone in the team isn't actually playing well.

I'm not into changing winning teams for the sake of it.

I also know that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but Matete's last two games are as good as any game Thomason's had this season.

Edited November 1, 2024 by Traf

[Big E]

1 hour ago, DazBob said:

In his short time with us, bar a couple of cracking goals, I'm not sure CMG has had enough game time for us to really judge him one way or another.

He may well be a good 'un for us (and I certainly hope is!), but IMO there's not really anything to base this on thus far.

Come on pal we all know he’s allowed to get better the longer he doesn’t play. 

[Big E]

26 minutes ago, Traf said:

It's all conjecture of course, but if we keep winning and then Thomason/Dempsey become fit/available, they sit on the bench for me, unless someone in the team isn't actually playing well.

I'm not into changing winning teams for the sake of it.

I also know that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but Matete's last two games are as good as any game Thomason's had this season.

Judy certainly still out on Matete but he’s certainly been brilliant the last 2 games and long may it continue 

[Traf]

55 minutes ago, Big E said:

Judy certainly still out on Matete but he’s certainly been brilliant the last 2 games and long may it continue 

Judge Judy?

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

2 hours ago, desperado said:

Good point.

And reading back it may also be construed as me comparing his ability with Dapo, which I'm not.

The point I'm making is more to do with Evatts reasoning for buying him. I don't agree with @Lt. Aldo Raine claim of him being an "inexplicable winger signing"

It was just a light-hearted post about Evatt's tendency to sign players who've primarily played on the wing despite us not playing a formation with wingers at the time of their signing

[Rival Son]

4 hours ago, Traf said:

It's all conjecture of course, but if we keep winning and then Thomason/Dempsey become fit/available, they sit on the bench for me, unless someone in the team isn't actually playing well.

I'm not into changing winning teams for the sake of it.

I also know that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but Matete's last two games are as good as any game Thomason's had this season.

I half agree with you.

Matete has definitely stepped up over the last couple of games and, if he continues, should keep his place when Thomason is fit.

When it comes to the attacking midfield role, while I think McAtee has done a job, Dempsey has been excellent over the first quarter of the season, and I don’t think McAtee has quite reached his levels.

If it turns out Dempsey’s knee only needs a quick “clean up” and he’s back after the international break, then he’s still in prime position for me.

[Whitesince63]

5 hours ago, Rival Son said:

I half agree with you.

Matete has definitely stepped up over the last couple of games and, if he continues, should keep his place when Thomason is fit.

When it comes to the attacking midfield role, while I think McAtee has done a job, Dempsey has been excellent over the first quarter of the season, and I don’t think McAtee has quite reached his levels.

If it turns out Dempsey’s knee only needs a quick “clean up” and he’s back after the international break, then he’s still in prime position for me.

Great to have the competition though ain’t it? 😁

[Johnnyrotten]

10 hours ago, desperado said:

Good point.

And reading back it may also be construed as me comparing his ability with Dapo, which I'm not.

The point I'm making is more to do with Evatts reasoning for buying him. I don't agree with @Lt. Aldo Raine claim of him being an "inexplicable winger signing"

I rate CMG FWIW.  I've seen enough to know he's got ability and a bit of that x factor, that just makes him have a chance of producing something.  We might never see him get a settled run in the team because he won't nail down one position, but I have no doubt he's got the ability. 

Similar to Collins and Matete, from the first 5 minutes of their debuts it was clear they had something better than the L1 average.  That doesn't mean they'll always play well and CMG might sometimes be as frustrating as Collins can be (and Dapo) but I'll be happy when he's back in the squad, he'll improve us. 

[RoadRunnerFan]

He planned to play a 'box midfield' as per targeting Randall at Peterborough. Doubt we'd have signed McAtee if we'd got Randall. 

If you want to go big on attacking -  you play forwards in the two advanced roles, as per the start of the season.  If you want to go defensive you play two midfielders as per Birmingham away with Dempsey and Arfield. 

If you want to go somewhere in between then Dempsey plus Collins or McAtee in the other spot. CMG & Lolos probably in between options in both scenarios. 

Personally I'd go back to a bog standard 5-3-2 sell Vic in Jan and use the money to buy two strong, athletic wingbacks who aren't made of crisps. 

[gonzo]

I think schon and cogley are just fine tbh mate.

[RoadRunnerFan]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

I think schon and cogley are just fine tbh mate.

Most games I agree, we can play them in with one twos and they look okay.

In the games where Sheehan gets shut down and the passing angles are blocked off by strong teams we need more physicality at wingback imo. The percentage ball for an athletic wingback needs to be an option. Think Desmond was brought in to solve some of this but his injury record and time here suggests he's brittle. 

[Rival Son]

10 hours ago, RoadRunnerFan said:

Personally I'd go back to a bog standard 5-3-2 sell Vic in Jan and use the money to buy two strong, athletic wingbacks who aren't made of crisps.

While there may be concerns about Vic, any system that requires two forwards needs to be underpinned by a squad of four forwards. Sell Vic and you need to replace him … especially with our injury record!

[gonzo]

I see the same failings as everybody else with Vic. 

But we tend to win when he plays.

[RoadRunnerFan]

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

I see the same failings as everybody else with Vic. 

But we tend to win when he plays.

Yeah he's a funny one, never looks too impressive but results suggests he's effective. I picked on Vic due to the talk in the summer. 

As for the 4 forwards @Rival Son if play a 532 then CMG & Lolos can also cover the 2nd forward position. 

[Rival Son]

1 hour ago, RoadRunnerFan said:

As for the 4 forwards @Rival Son if play a 532 then CMG & Lolos can also cover the 2nd forward position.

More square pegs and round holes? I thought we’d agreed Evatt must stop this!

Edited November 2, 2024 by Rival Son

[RoadRunnerFan]

I don't see it as square pegs in round holes. Both CMG & Lolos have played as second forwards elsewhere. They are no more square pegs as second forwards in a 352 than they are as the most advanced midfielder (particularly CMG).