My mind is turning to the Jan window (2 months to go). Possibly too early to discuss where we need to be strengthened on the pitch with it feeing like, in some ways, the season is just beginning.
That notwithstanding I’d be interested in the views of everyone about what we need to do in the winter window (before it slams shut). In NZ it’s hard to watch many games because of the time difference so I rely on you all for insights (god help me).
So,… With JFC back in the picture soon, is there a midfielder that is surplus to requirements? Do we have enough bite in attack? What about CBs? You get the picture. Discuss.
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Deji won't sign a contract so we need to plan for life without him, Lavelle is out for 3 months (i think) and Inniss is obviously made of glass, so we definitely need another CB.
And a striker to replace Schwartz, who admittedly wasn't exactly an integral part of the squad but if you're playing 2 up then we need at least 4 striker options. Leko can play off the main striker but is a bit injury prone and Davison i'm not convinced of enough yet so would bump down to 4th choice if we can bring in a new striker.
Harry Arter to perhaps go back to Nottingham Forest seeing his lack of involvement, hopefully we'll try and get Elliot Lee on permanent terms a bit like Andrew Shinnie last year, especially if his contract ends this summer...
Am sure Leko's injury is going to be nothing more than a hamstring, but if its serious again we may have to cancel his loan as we cant afford to keep an injured player in the team that isnt even ours.
We've got one loan spot left anyway regardless.
At present if the Squad rules havent been removed, then we need to move players on before we can bring anyone new in (Unless the plan is to hunt around for the best U21s in either League One / League Two or loan from the Premier League), as Jake Forster-Caskey will surely take Ronnie's place in the registration.
Schwartz has gone, freeing up one space, but if we want both a striker AND a CB coming in we need another slot freed up, which means someone being sold or Jackson and the SMT making a choice for a striker OR defender.
Morgan counts as u21 so moving him on won’t free a spot. Of the rest of the squad we need to look at who we’ll be letting go in the summer and see which of them we may be able to move on in January.
Due to his injuries Inniss is one of them, but for the same reason it may be difficult to attract interest. Gunter, Matthews and Watson are obvious candidates though their age and in some cases wage might result in the same issue.
With Arter being on loan ending that in January will have to be considered if he’s not getting much game time. CBT is out of contract at the end of the year and doesn’t really fit into the current formation where he’ll be required to track back more.
Kirk is another one who doesn’t fit the system unless he can grow into Lee’s role. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him loaned back to Crewe with the situation reassessed in the summer.
Soaure may well be released in the summer but it’s a long season with plenty of time for him to step up.
I don’t see Pearce going having agreed a deal in which he moves onto coaching.
Outside of those named above it would be a surprise to see anyone go.
Now we’re playing two up front another striker is needed. We have the FA Cup and another Pizza Trophy game coming up, it’s a great chance to see if we have any u23s ready to step up. I’d like to see Burstow get a start in at least one of them, given we can’t bring in anyone until January it’s worth seeing if we have a young striker who can contribute to the first team. Kanu would be an option too but I hope we can get him on a pro deal once he turns 17 to avoid another Deji situation.
I was keen for another right back to come in but this formation and our current injuries makes another CB more urgent.
We might look to sign some of the loanees permanently, I can see Lee doing so, while Leko and Famewo feels less likely.
Clare would surely be the obvious person to play at right wing back if you don't want to play a winger there?
Perhaps the 2 cup games are a good chance for Jackson to see if he can play that role well enough?
Assuming JFC does return to the squad then that's a spot freed up so I would be very surprised if we saw no incoming at all.
Getting rid is going to be a harder business, there are no players we have that realistically would be in high demand elsewhere but that we don't need ourselves.
Another striker is surely essential, if we play 2 up top. A talented PL U21 striker would be what I'd be looking for
Tucker hopefully.
They might well want to step him up to championship level though.
Seems like Man City are in a tug of war with Man Utd over James McAtee so doubt they'll be too eager to loan him out at the moment in case he gets even more exposure.
We have a really well rounded squad and not too many tweaks are needed based on how we've been playing under Jacko.
Didn't replaced Chuks......and then Schwartz left. Current crop of 3 strikers (Leko & Lee aren't strikers) are at least 1 shy of what you need if you want to play 2 up front......and the 3 we have wont score enough to get into the play offs.
However, we have a full quota of players so would need to offload someone first. I'd be gutted if it was CBT as he's done more than any other winger so far this season. And you can't ditch Kirk this soon either. Ditto Clare & Dobson. I suppose we could send Arter back (no idea about the terms of his loan deal) and Morgan doesn't count towards the numbers as he was U21.
Doesn't look like we have much room for manoeuvre. I'd probably just keep things as they are & see this season as a free hit for JJ like Adkins got last March.
Ho hum.