(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

26 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He was also brought back in later. Played in the play offs.

Definitely dripped off for a while, but I don't accept that he, and any of the other younger players, who are at the early stages of their careers, can't/won't make the necessary improvements.

Players sometimes get better alongside other better players.

SS made it clear a couple of weeks back with his comments, that the players have the opportunity to show what they can do and cement their places. He also said that he feels they have what it takes.

Of course he isn't going to say they're not good enough, but he hasn't shipped them out neither.

Another pre season, a full season under their belts, physically stronger etc.

Ultimately, they may not make it. Writing them off though is unfair.

I think Conway will have a great career [hopefully with us] It wont be at left back though

Conway has got better year on year, by all accounts is willing to work on his game & is young enough to improve the defensive side of his game.

If he doesn't, he won't be in the side as shown last season, but writing him off now is another example of homegrown/local players being judged more harshly than others.

2 minutes ago, bolton va va said:

Conway has got better year on year, by all accounts is willing to work on his game & is young enough to improve the defensive side of his game.

If he doesn't, he won't be in the side as shown last season, but writing him off now is another example of homegrown/local players being judged more harshly than others.

I agree and dont agree with this, I would love to see Conway improve and stand his ground in a championship team BUT the amount of times last season he was caught out of position was bad, infact I think we could see teams targeting him, long ball over the top down boltons left and their lad wont be there.

Full trust in fergal and schuey .

4 minutes ago, bolton va va said:

another example of homegrown/local players being judged more harshly than others.

I'd say he gets more grace because he's homegrown.

I don't give a flying fuck where the lads from. I hope he proves me wrong and turns into a fabulous player for us in whatever position he ends playing.

If he's first choice full back next season I'll be hugely disappointed.

Conway had a good season in division 4 at a promotion chasing side.

He stepped up to division 3 and more than held his own in another promotion chasing side.

The lad is still developing and there's every chance he steps up to the next hurdle.

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

I don't care if he was born on the town hall steps with Fred Dibnah, Ian McKellen and Nat Lofthouse as the three wise man.

Not a chance on earth he's good enough for the championship.

Like said above he lost his place to a center back for our most important games and would never have started in the memory man at Wembley if it wasn't for Toals injury. And he had an absolute shocker too.

He isn't good enough.

Remember when Thomason was barely an NPL player ?

I DO agree he will gravitate to midfield as he's not really full back ... though that idea got me lumped in with Fred West & the Krays a few months ago. It may take another season for him to consolidate but he'll never misbehave & will always look to learn. He may not have a Premiership career but he'll be fine in the Championship.

Edited July 3Jul 3 by Dr. Feelgood

23 minutes ago, W.cramp said:

I agree and dont agree with this, I would love to see Conway improve and stand his ground in a championship team BUT the amount of times last season he was caught out of position was bad, infact I think we could see teams targeting him, long ball over the top down boltons left and their lad wont be there.

Full trust in fergal and schuey .

Come on that’s not fair. He was caught out of position when attacking because nobody covered for him. Where was Johnston, where was Erhahon or our other covering left side mids? Gales is about as much use as the proverbial chocolate fire guard filling in so it’s unfair to just criticise Conway. Yes he had a fall off in form later in the season and nobody’s arguing that Johnston wasn’t a stronger defender for that period but claiming Max isn’t up to it is just plain bonkers and I’ve no doubt he’ll prove it to you very quickly. We’ve just signed a guy of approximately the same age as Max who’s not even played at Max’s level yet you’re expecting/hoping he’ll perform. Both will be fine but let’s just keep it fair eh?

The lad is among some of the very worst I've seen here defensively. Shockingly bad. Not even getting close to the basics at times. The worse part is with a lot of the goals we conceded where he has been caught out of position hes just strolling back without a care in world. Should busting a lung.

He Looked class early doors charging foward but that seem to have disappeared in the 2nd half of the season

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

I don't care if he was born on the town hall steps with Fred Dibnah, Ian McKellen and Nat Lofthouse as the three wise man.

Not a chance on earth he's good enough for the championship.

Like said above he lost his place to a center back for our most important games and would never have started in the memory man at Wembley if it wasn't for Toals injury. And he had an absolute shocker too.

He isn't good enough.

Max's big challenge going up another level would be a turn of pace over 20 yards. His running mechanics are such that, when he gets going he can make those strong, ball carrying runs or overlaps, but when faced with the need to turn and sprint to block off a cross from a winger that's gone down his outside he can be exposed.

Could they do some work on that with him over Summer? Maybe, hopefully, but I'm not convinced they'd be successful.

Bonham, as said, wasn't anywhere near being Stoke's keeper for a couple of seasons. Playing regularly for us will no doubt have helped rebuild confidence and get his mojo back, and he came into his own in the play offs, but that cock up v Blackpool seemed to set him off on a ropey spell that took some time to get over.

Edited July 3Jul 3 by ianofcleveleys

(I'd have said Zach Clough was our best youth prospect since the Rioch days).

Looking at the squad I don't think we need to add anything to the midfield, maybe one extra bit of quality, perhaps a young Premier League loan.

Sheehan, Rodrigues, Erhahon, Simons and also Watson now as well. Got variety and quality in there.

We need a first team goalkeeper for sure and need to sell/loan others. For Harrington it makes sense a L1/L2 loan.

Think we need at least 3 wingers, 2 on each side and 2 more strikers, all need to be serious quality.

I would be surprised if we added more centre backs, with Toal, Forino, Akin, Davies, (Temple & Inwood possible loans) is that enough? Maybe 1 more?

Interesting regarding Christie, don't really understand why we kept him on from a playing perspective, I get the experience he has. Would we be comfortable of him filling in for Luca?

I think people have been a bit harsh on Max, he was unbelievable first half of the season, in which in every season so far he has made the step up from the year before and done well. He's only 22, one of our own and will only get better. I think Schuey will play him and swap him with Akin in games who will play a Johnston role of either LCB or LB. He played for Hull at LB last year.

Maybe if we can find a dynamic defender who can play left back/right back that would be perfect for cover.

ST

ST

LW

RW

LB/RB

GK

Maybe - CM & CB

I would say 6 high priority signings ideally this month if possible.

Then add 2 or so more for extra depth later in August.

That would take us to about 12 signings overall which a lot of us said we needed.

I've just been lead to believe that Famewo has been signed as our Left Back, so Conway is already his backup/rotation.

So rather than another LB we need, it's actually cover at LCB required, unless they back Inwood to make the step up.

32 minutes ago, Lostock Whites said:

Interesting regarding Christie, don't really understand why we kept him on from a playing perspective, I get the experience he has. Would we be comfortable of him filling in for Luca?

I believe he triggered an extension clause in his contract based on appearances.

47 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

(I'd have said Zach Clough was our best youth prospect since the Rioch days).

Luca Connel ? Rob Holden ?

Kevin Nolan? Or is he not considered a youth prospect as he signed at 16?

23 minutes ago, Ani said:

Luca Connel ? Rob Holden ?

Bunch of pygmies compared to Nicky Hunt

Reading between the lines I think Marc is saying that at the time he thought Clough would go on to be a top player.

I think Clough had the most buzz around him but only one of our Academy graduates has gone on to win an FA Cup and play in the PL

16 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

What rubbish. The best young prospect we’ve had here since the Rioch days and some of you want him out on loan. Max will be first choice next season as well he should be and he’ll develop here with better quality players around and behind him. Some need to leave off Jack Bonham too and recall that if it weren’t for his late season saves we’d still be in L1 now.

Spot on. Big chance for Conway and I'm backing him to make the step up. Also if he does well we've got a great saleable asset.

If he doesn't having some back up for him in Davies and Famewo is good. Loaning him back to league 1 would be lunacy, when we could have a million pound plus asset.

Regarding Bonham, I'm also happy with him being our starting keeper. Did well for us last season and plenty of experience at the level. Not a priority area to address.

7 hours ago, Ani said:

Luca Connel ? Rob Holden ?

I dunno I just feel if we had a steadier ship around that period and he had more time to develop, he'd have ended up playing levels above us.

Just now, Marc505 said:

I dunno I just feel if we had a steadier ship around that period and he had more time to develop, he'd have ended up playing levels above us.

Yeah, it seems daft to think it now given how his career progressed after leaving us, but I think you're absolutely right

Another year or so being our main man while he waited for the right club to come along and I think he might've flourished

Wrong move at the wrong time

His physical stature was always a barrier though

Just now, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Yeah, it seems daft to think it now given how his career progressed after leaving us, but I think you're absolutely right

Another year or so being our main man while he waited for the right club to come along and I think he might've flourished

Wrong move at the wrong time

Its sad for both parties how it turned out, with him going somewhere he clearly didn't want to.

Glad to see he's turned it round and probably enjoying a very comfortable life in Australia, but professionally a shame.

9 hours ago, gonzo said:

I'd say he gets more grace because he's homegrown.

I don't give a flying fuck where the lads from. I hope he proves me wrong and turns into a fabulous player for us in whatever position he ends playing.

If he's first choice full back next season I'll be hugely disappointed.

I would say he doesnt look much worse as a defender as Alonso did when he was here and not one of us thought he would end up a Champions League winner.

11 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He was also brought back in later. Played in the play offs.

Definitely dripped off for a while, but I don't accept that he, and any of the other younger players, who are at the early stages of their careers, can't/won't make the necessary improvements.

Players sometimes get better alongside other better players.

SS made it clear a couple of weeks back with his comments, that the players have the opportunity to show what they can do and cement their places. He also said that he feels they have what it takes.

Of course he isn't going to say they're not good enough, but he hasn't shipped them out neither.

Another pre season, a full season under their belts, physically stronger etc.

Ultimately, they may not make it. Writing them off though is unfair.

I haven't written the lad off, I really hope he becomes a great player for us, I just feel that he's not ready for starting Championship games yet, I'd be surprised if he starts against Preston in our first game.