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Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion
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Do you never get tired with this wind up gimmick?RonnieMoore said:
Agree our best player by long way .. but was concerned with how unfit he looked on Saturday .. I know he had a longer break hopefully that injury still not bothering himCharlton43 said:
Think Cov is mustard he just needs a proper playmaking midfielder alongside himcafc_se7 said:The work Coventry does massively goes unnoticed. He’s been a cracking player for us and like mentioned above, was absolutely holding his own in the championship up until his period of injury!4 -
So everyone who says things about players you don’t agree with are on the wind up .. well going by that there quite a few on this site1
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Not at all, but if you seriously think that Conor Coventry is our "best player by a long way" then I don't really know what else to sayRonnieMoore said:So everyone who says things about players you don’t agree with are on the wind up .. well going by that there quite a few on this site2 -
If you sign a playmaker and put him next to Coventry, our midfield will be way too soft and get run through like it did pretty much anytime we didn’t have Docherty playing in it last season. Coventry was fine in league 1 but he isn’t good enough on the ball in the championship and is too soft so loses a lot more duels than he did in league 1We need 2 new midfielders. One of them
needs to be much better on the ball, the other needs to be a bit better on the ball but still need to offer us that strength and battle in midfield that Docherty gives us.If we are starting one of Docherty or Coventry I’d much rather it was Docherty14 -
We got 44 points from the 32 games Docherty started last season
So when he didn’t start our form drops to 9 points from 12 games. That’s bottom of the table form
We got 36 points from the 33 games Coventry started last season.
Our midfield was a lot worse without Docherty. Without him there we got played through far too easily. Yes we need to upgrade him, but we can’t lose what he’s good at from the side so the replacement needs to have those attributes but be better on the ball
Docherty is much harder to replace than Coventry is22 -
The midfield issues are bigger than just a playmaker being needed.
We aren’t mobile enough in that area and lack a proper physical presence.
We all agree that we need more creativity in there, but imo we equally need a big, physical presence with a decent degree of mobility. Someone who can pick the ball up deep and get us up the pitch quickly, without resorting to lumping it into the channels.
Someone like Ismael Kone (ex Watford) would have been perfect, unfortunately he picked up that horrendous injury in the World Cup
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I don’t think those stats are a great barometer, far too many other factors that come into play than simply points with and without those individualsNabySarr said:We got 44 points from the 32 games Docherty started last season
So when he didn’t start our form drops to 9 points from 12 games. That’s bottom of the table form
We got 36 points from the 33 games Coventry started last season.
Our midfield was a lot worse without Docherty. Without him there we got played through far too easily. Yes we need to upgrade him, but we can’t lose what he’s good at from the side so the replacement needs to have those attributes but be better on the ball
Docherty is much harder to replace than Coventry is5 -
Hard to judge any players when you don't know what their instructions are.9
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It is becoming increasingly noticeable how players fail to kick on with us. I wouldn't expect them all to, maybe only a few, maybe one or two!1
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I know it feels like a broken record but TC has posted another picture with JRS on his Snapchat.4
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Yes I agree there’s a lot of other things at play, and if it was closer I’d say it didn’t mean anything, but the difference is quite large.Covered_End_Lad said:
I don’t think those stats are a great barometer, far too many other factors that come into play than simply points with and without those individualsNabySarr said:We got 44 points from the 32 games Docherty started last season
So when he didn’t start our form drops to 9 points from 12 games. That’s bottom of the table form
We got 36 points from the 33 games Coventry started last season.
Our midfield was a lot worse without Docherty. Without him there we got played through far too easily. Yes we need to upgrade him, but we can’t lose what he’s good at from the side so the replacement needs to have those attributes but be better on the ball
Docherty is much harder to replace than Coventry isMy main point still stands though. We need to add a ball playing midfielder. If we add one and play them next to Coventry, in my opinion our midfield will be bullied in the championship. It’s just too soft and that was what we often saw last season whenever Docherty wasn’t playing0 -
In that case that applies to every player, so we can compare them to each other.Starinnaddick said:Hard to judge any players when you don't know what their instructions are.
Cov and Doc are fine as squad players for where we are at the moment. Cov is younger and tidier on the ball, so has more chance of growing with the team, but some overrate him. If he was as good as some believe we’ll be getting offers from clubs with bigger budgets. If he moves on it won’t be to clubs up at the other end of the Championship.3 -
It was quite flimsy with him at times - Southampton and Portsmouth at home spring to mind . I’m sure your stats are accurate , we started the season well with him in it . Think you’re overrating him nonethelessNabySarr said:
Yes I agree there’s a lot of other things at play, and if it was closer I’d say it didn’t mean anything, but the difference is quite large.Covered_End_Lad said:
I don’t think those stats are a great barometer, far too many other factors that come into play than simply points with and without those individualsNabySarr said:We got 44 points from the 32 games Docherty started last season
So when he didn’t start our form drops to 9 points from 12 games. That’s bottom of the table form
We got 36 points from the 33 games Coventry started last season.
Our midfield was a lot worse without Docherty. Without him there we got played through far too easily. Yes we need to upgrade him, but we can’t lose what he’s good at from the side so the replacement needs to have those attributes but be better on the ball
Docherty is much harder to replace than Coventry isMy main point still stands though. We need to add a ball playing midfielder. If we add one and play them next to Coventry, in my opinion our midfield will be bullied in the championship. It’s just too soft and that was what we often saw last season whenever Docherty wasn’t playing1 -
Exactly. There's this very weird idea that creativity in a team can only come from the designated creative midfielder in the middle and that that's our sole way of improving. The way we play there's so much turnover in middle that strength and mobility are key requirements of the midfield as well as comfort on the ball. Whether we're playing 352 or 4231 the two deeper midfielders need to be better at holding the centre of the pitch together because we got run through there so easily last season. Then once there's a bit more control established in the middle the wingers or wingbacks can be brought in to the game more and the play spread around better. If we could then play back inside and the move continue because the midfielders are more comfortable on the ball then all the better. Jones teams have always relied on overlaps out wide and aggressively winning second balls high up the pitch to force opportunities, and with and without the ball the central midfield has needed to be strong, aggressive and mobile. Just bringing in a playmaker won't solve our issue of being so easy for teams to run through and solving that problem will also give us the platform to build more attacksClem_Snide said:The midfield issues are bigger than just a playmaker being needed.
We aren’t mobile enough in that area and lack a proper physical presence.
We all agree that we need more creativity in there, but imo we equally need a big, physical presence with a decent degree of mobility. Someone who can pick the ball up deep and get us up the pitch quickly, without resorting to lumping it into the channels.
Someone like Ismael Kone (ex Watford) would have been perfect, unfortunately he picked up that horrendous injury in the World Cup6 -
Difficult to pin down when you can't be sure who is making the decisions or recommendations but I would think a combination of NJ and Phil Chapple.MuttleyCAFC said:It is becoming increasingly noticeable how players fail to kick on with us. I wouldn't expect them all too, maybe only a few, maybe one or two!0 -
Don't mind Cov and Doc as squad players at all that rotate in for a Tues night or something but we need a huge upgrade in both positions for the starting roles.
Would love a big physical takes no prisoners CDM that can sit in front of the backline and break play up. Might get 10 yellows a season 😅
Doc role I don't really know if the budget is there for exactly the type of player that role needs because those type of workrate monsters that can go box to box and have quality on the ball will be very very expensive.2 -
How much of that is coaching though?MuttleyCAFC said:It is becoming increasingly noticeable how players fail to kick on with us. I wouldn't expect them all too, maybe only a few, maybe one or two!We have a very small coaching team. One of which only retired recently in Hylton.Perhaps it’s just a workload thing0 -
I just don't think that is true. Jones has Maximised a lot of these players. Who in the squad do you think has not kicked on?MuttleyCAFC said:It is becoming increasingly noticeable how players fail to kick on with us. I wouldn't expect them all too, maybe only a few, maybe one or two!1 -
Probably all of the ones from last summer , bar Carey (not including Bell as 32 year olds don’t “kick on”. We’ve been shopping in Lidl for so long , it can’t be a surprise that we’re not churning out players that can be sold for huge profit .Redguy12 said:
I just don't think that is true. Jones has Maximised a lot of these players. Who in the squad do you think has not kicked on?MuttleyCAFC said:It is becoming increasingly noticeable how players fail to kick on with us. I wouldn't expect them all too, maybe only a few, maybe one or two!1 -
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Oh Eddie Youds... said:Last summer everyone was raving about our recruitment pre season…lots of excitement around Apter, Olaofe & Knibbs etc but in the end the majority failed to step up & impress.
This year the consensus is that the window has (so far) been a little underwhelming, so hopefully we’ll see the opposite & be pleasantly suprised!
The two defenders (Koumetio especially) look solid buys. 🤞What ? Not everyone was raving about those signings0 -
Exactly this. I’m fine with removing Docherty, but if we remove him and replace with him a playmaker then we will be far too easy for teams to bully in the middle of the park and we will never get hold of the ball to be able to create anything.Garrymanilow said:
Exactly. There's this very weird idea that creativity in a team can only come from the designated creative midfielder in the middle and that that's our sole way of improving. The way we play there's so much turnover in middle that strength and mobility are key requirements of the midfield as well as comfort on the ball. Whether we're playing 352 or 4231 the two deeper midfielders need to be better at holding the centre of the pitch together because we got run through there so easily last season. Then once there's a bit more control established in the middle the wingers or wingbacks can be brought in to the game more and the play spread around better. If we could then play back inside and the move continue because the midfielders are more comfortable on the ball then all the better. Jones teams have always relied on overlaps out wide and aggressively winning second balls high up the pitch to force opportunities, and with and without the ball the central midfield has needed to be strong, aggressive and mobile. Just bringing in a playmaker won't solve our issue of being so easy for teams to run through and solving that problem will also give us the platform to build more attacksClem_Snide said:The midfield issues are bigger than just a playmaker being needed.
We aren’t mobile enough in that area and lack a proper physical presence.
We all agree that we need more creativity in there, but imo we equally need a big, physical presence with a decent degree of mobility. Someone who can pick the ball up deep and get us up the pitch quickly, without resorting to lumping it into the channels.
Someone like Ismael Kone (ex Watford) would have been perfect, unfortunately he picked up that horrendous injury in the World CupWe need to add physical strength as well as more quality on the ball which is why we need 2 new midfielders. If we are only getting 1 though, it’s Docherty that needs to stay because he gives us strength and mobility, Coventry gives us mobility and is ok on the ball - that’s the first area we need to upgrade0 -
Coventry is not mobile . Superb work ethic and tries his best.NabySarr said:
Exactly this. I’m fine with removing Docherty, but if we remove him and replace with him a playmaker then we will be far too easy for teams to bully in the middle of the park and we will never get hold of the ball to be able to create anything.Garrymanilow said:
Exactly. There's this very weird idea that creativity in a team can only come from the designated creative midfielder in the middle and that that's our sole way of improving. The way we play there's so much turnover in middle that strength and mobility are key requirements of the midfield as well as comfort on the ball. Whether we're playing 352 or 4231 the two deeper midfielders need to be better at holding the centre of the pitch together because we got run through there so easily last season. Then once there's a bit more control established in the middle the wingers or wingbacks can be brought in to the game more and the play spread around better. If we could then play back inside and the move continue because the midfielders are more comfortable on the ball then all the better. Jones teams have always relied on overlaps out wide and aggressively winning second balls high up the pitch to force opportunities, and with and without the ball the central midfield has needed to be strong, aggressive and mobile. Just bringing in a playmaker won't solve our issue of being so easy for teams to run through and solving that problem will also give us the platform to build more attacksClem_Snide said:The midfield issues are bigger than just a playmaker being needed.
We aren’t mobile enough in that area and lack a proper physical presence.
We all agree that we need more creativity in there, but imo we equally need a big, physical presence with a decent degree of mobility. Someone who can pick the ball up deep and get us up the pitch quickly, without resorting to lumping it into the channels.
Someone like Ismael Kone (ex Watford) would have been perfect, unfortunately he picked up that horrendous injury in the World CupWe need to add physical strength as well as more quality on the ball which is why we need 2 new midfielders. If we are only getting 1 though, it’s Docherty that needs to stay because he gives us strength and mobility, Coventry gives us mobility and is ok on the ball - that’s the first area we need to upgrade0 -
I think NJ would snap back that yes he signed those players but only had pennies to bring them in. I do think a certain faction of the fanbase are pretty anti NJ (not you Pudds), they find his style of play and personality hard to like. I don’t mind either as long as we don’t go back to the horrors of L1.Pudds said:We could have the best midfield in the league and would struggle to control the ball and the game.
There are no passing patterns, rotations or plans on how to progress the ball through the thirds. Its lump it long and hope, or get it to TC and hope.
Now Jones may say that he has to play like that because of the players he has, but he also signed those players so its not a great excuse.
This evolution requires both an improvement in midfield and an improvement in how we approach being in possession.
Coventry I think can step up and progress to a passing game, Doc cannot.
If it is only 2 more players to be signed, then they both have to be in midfield. If the plan is for just 1 midfield addition, then you have to seriously question the people making the decisions.0 -
Coventry is a great lad but we looked better with Wrexhams 7 choice centreback there who hadn’t played CDM in 10 years.Likewise Docherty is a great lad but he is hopeless in games where we’re not parking the bus.
Nothing against them as squad players but ideally would like a better championship pivot11 -
If Docherty and/or Coventry are going to drop out of the first XI then it’s imperative we have some players coming in who have leadership qualities. This is something that’s concerned me about our team for a long time. I don’t expect that we’ll have the most technically proficient team in the Championship but we lack organisational and intelligence out there a lot of the time. That’s one of the biggest things that Coady brought and you saw what a difference it made.0
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Maybe I’m the only 1 on here, but we’ve gone from 2 signings made, to 5 in a week.
Keep the faith we’ll bring more in.
Thank goodness we’ve had the World Cup to distract us this summer!19 -
Back in January we were linked with the young Liverpool CM Trey Nyoni. I wonder if he could be an option again this summer once Liverpool's internationals return. High quality and relatively cost effective.
It would be nice to see someone like that as the McNamara and Alli signings have left me feeling underwhelmed and worried we are stuck in the same transfer strategy as last year rather. We've certainly added depth but I see no real improvement in quality so far.3 -
I'm pretty sure Trey Nyoni will be playing a lot for Liverpool this season. The only reason players like Nyoni were even considered for being loaned out is because Slot refused to play youth players, it looks like Iraola has an entirely different philosophy thereThomasOliver3 said:Back in January we were linked with the young Liverpool CM Trey Nyoni. I wonder if he could be an option again this summer once Liverpool's internationals return. High quality and relatively cost effective.
It would be nice to see someone like that as the McNamara and Alli signings have left me feeling underwhelmed and worried we are stuck in the same transfer strategy as last year rather. We've certainly added depth but I see no real improvement in quality so far.0 -
I meant mobile as in getting about the pitch and covering ground. Him and Docherty both do this excellently and are probably among the fittest players we havewmcf123 said:
Coventry is not mobile . Superb work ethic and tries his best.NabySarr said:
Exactly this. I’m fine with removing Docherty, but if we remove him and replace with him a playmaker then we will be far too easy for teams to bully in the middle of the park and we will never get hold of the ball to be able to create anything.Garrymanilow said:
Exactly. There's this very weird idea that creativity in a team can only come from the designated creative midfielder in the middle and that that's our sole way of improving. The way we play there's so much turnover in middle that strength and mobility are key requirements of the midfield as well as comfort on the ball. Whether we're playing 352 or 4231 the two deeper midfielders need to be better at holding the centre of the pitch together because we got run through there so easily last season. Then once there's a bit more control established in the middle the wingers or wingbacks can be brought in to the game more and the play spread around better. If we could then play back inside and the move continue because the midfielders are more comfortable on the ball then all the better. Jones teams have always relied on overlaps out wide and aggressively winning second balls high up the pitch to force opportunities, and with and without the ball the central midfield has needed to be strong, aggressive and mobile. Just bringing in a playmaker won't solve our issue of being so easy for teams to run through and solving that problem will also give us the platform to build more attacksClem_Snide said:The midfield issues are bigger than just a playmaker being needed.
We aren’t mobile enough in that area and lack a proper physical presence.
We all agree that we need more creativity in there, but imo we equally need a big, physical presence with a decent degree of mobility. Someone who can pick the ball up deep and get us up the pitch quickly, without resorting to lumping it into the channels.
Someone like Ismael Kone (ex Watford) would have been perfect, unfortunately he picked up that horrendous injury in the World CupWe need to add physical strength as well as more quality on the ball which is why we need 2 new midfielders. If we are only getting 1 though, it’s Docherty that needs to stay because he gives us strength and mobility, Coventry gives us mobility and is ok on the ball - that’s the first area we need to upgrade0
