Surprised with the Davison move, I wonder if that's because Jacko is now looking at Leko as a striker with Matthews being back available. Our balance is weird at the moment. Matthews played at CB when Jacko first started because he was good at pushing out to the right back spot when the RWB was pushing forward. It will be interesting to see if he can take that role off Clare now or if he's the backup RWB. Either way, I feel for Davison. At the start of the season he was looking a lot more useful than Stockley who looked completely lost under Adkins, weirdly so given he was excellent under him the previous season in the same formation. Davison has really laboured under Jackson though and I doubt there's anything left for him under this regime.
Quite simply, Burstow has replaced Davison who unfortunately has now proved himself surplus to requirements i'd say - i'm also not sure where Leko fits in coz he didn't feature at all on Saturday and i thought DJ was poor and was ripe for being hauled off - wonder if he's on his way or whether jacko is giving him a bit of a wake up call - getting kirk fixed up with another side now also seems quite important coz i just can't see that situation turning around and we need to use this next 3/4 months to sort ourselves out for next year
Will be interesting to see who is in the squad for the Pompey game, seeing as it's on deadline day. Assuming players haven't left already you may see Kirk, Leko, Gunter etc. not make the trip as they might be involved in a last minute dash somewhere
That's potentially awkward timing for us, as the only game on transfer deadline day, and the away team too.
I guess Gallen will stay behind with the drinks and snacks if we are doing any late business
Pretty sure that’s the last we will see of Davison.
Hoping for at least another 2, maybe even 3 more to come. That’s just my hope if we can get Kirk and Souaré out. Gunter and Watson will leave in the summer, but a bonus if Gunter leaves sooner. He’s so far down the pecking order that there is no point us keeping him if we can also get him out and off the books.
Would love us to sign at least one long term permanent player that can really develop and improve with us and actually develop and improve too.
Gallen spoke about signing one maybe two more, but given Davison has gone and we seem to be trying to offload Kirk and Souare (and possibly others) that suggests we could bring in more.
Makes me wonder if Gallen/TS are downplaying expectations. Better to do that and bring in more than say we want three or four and only bring in one more.
Gallen spoke about signing one maybe two more, but given Davison has gone and we seem to be trying to offload Kirk and Souare (and possibly others) that suggests we could bring in more.
Makes me wonder if Gallen/TS are downplaying expectations. Better to do that and bring in more than say we want three or four and only bring in one more.
Would be my guess that this is exactly the plan,especially after Sandgaard got (justifiable if overblown) criticism for over hyping things before.
I think that they are hoping to move a few players on with the HOPE of bringing 3-4 more in but perhaps not expecting 100% success.
Given the lack of impact on the squad, you could probably lose (for argument's sake) Kirk, Souare, and one out of Gunter/Matthews and not replace them without the squad being much weaker except in pure numbers.
What’s the updated squad list looking like now, taking into consideration who may leave - in italics
GK
Mac
Hendo
RBs
Matthews Gunter
LBs
Purrington
Castillo (loan) Souare
CBS
Pearce Lavelle Inniss Famewo Clare
Wingers/wing backs
DJ CBT Leko Kirk
Central Midfielders
Watson Dobson Morgan Lee Gilbey
Forwards
Aneke Stockley Burstow Washington
Needs trimming a bit I think
Before Morgan’s last two games, you would say he could’ve potentially gone out on loan, but that’s unlikely now. If we lose Kirk and Souare, that number goes down to 23 players
I think central midfield still looks weak. Especially when we are playing three in there. Watson isn't going to play anymore, Morgan isn't the long term solution and who knows when JFC is back. That leaves very weak competition for three places.
Central midfield looks weak as others have said and personally I think the wingers/wing backs look bad as well, not enough there for a promotion push next season.
I think central midfield still looks weak. Especially when we are playing three in there. Watson isn't going to play anymore, Morgan isn't the long term solution and who knows when JFC is back. That leaves very weak competition for three places.
Watson could do a job, but not with 2 of Morgan and Lee and Watson and Dobson goes back to lacking creativity.
Not suggesting he is a solution but he isn't really worth worrying about. Watson Morgan and Gilbey were quite good for the last 2 and a half hours of last season.
If Stockley and Washington get back to full fitness, I reckon there may be a few games we see Aneke playing just behind them too instead of Lee. Feel like that would only work if we had the movement of Gilbey and Dobson in behind.
Assuming we are still in L1 next year we have the basis of a decent squad in McG, Purrington, Castillo (maybe), Lavelle, Clare, Famewo, Inniss (maybe), DJ, CBT, Dobson, Gilbey, Aneke, Stockley, Washington, Burstow = 15.
Need to find the star dust first teamers to go alongside them.
Pretty sure that’s the last we will see of Davison.
Hoping for at least another 2, maybe even 3 more to come. That’s just my hope if we can get Kirk and Souaré out. Gunter and Watson will leave in the summer, but a bonus if Gunter leaves sooner. He’s so far down the pecking order that there is no point us keeping him if we can also get him out and off the books.
Would love us to sign at least one long term permanent player that can really develop and improve with us and actually develop and improve too.
Interesting final week ahead.
Yeah, it felt inevitable with Davison. He just isn't technically or tactically good enough for a team with ambitions of being promoted out of this league. I don't like to judge a player based solely on their worst game, but the Wycombe game laid bare what we'd seen in patches throughout the season and in cameos in previous years. Davison's touch isn't very good, that has been clear since he broke through in the Championship season, but it hasn't improved enough. And tactically, he just isn't up to scratch.
When he played up front on his own earlier in the year, he was able to make up for some of the tactical shortcomings by working really hard and through his athleticism. We were also a poor, long ball team that played with an isolated striker up front on his own so the expectations weren't that high. And Stockley, better technically but less mobile, had struggled playing on his own because he was often up against two or three defenders with no one to link up play with (with the exception of the occasional foray forward by Lee or Morgan). But when Davison was asked to play with another striker, his constant movement just looked like a chicken with its head cut off with no clear strategy.
He can finish, and he might make a decent career for himself with that and his athleticism. But with our ambitions, we just need more.
The question remains why it was deemed sufficient to start the season with him as the second choice striker in a system that plays one up front, meaning Washington and Leko can't play there. I've said before that replacing Aneke was easier said than done because you aren't going to find a center forward with his physical, technical, and goal scoring attributes at this level. You basically need two forwards to make up for Aneke. But Davison is far off that standard. And Stockley is not mobile enough to play up front on his own the way we were playing. There was just such a huge disconnect in the summer between coaching and style of play and recruitment.
As for Watson, it seems pretty clear that Watson will be a coach next year given he acts as a coach on the bench during matches. I'd be more than happy for him to stay with us. And I don't mind him seeing out the season, he provides cover and while he's not great, he does have a bit of nous that makes up for a lack of mobility. For where we are, he's fine until the end of the year.
I figured that we would be hoping to get rid of one of Gunter or Matthews this window. Up until last week when Matthews started at RWB, I would have assumed he'd be the one we were more likely to push out the door. He's the better athlete, and he was my POTY in the Championship, but he had an awful time at RB earlier in the season. Even though Gunter doesn't have Matthews' legs, he is better going forward. And Gunter has played RCB, CB, LCB, RB, and LB for us, which might give him the edge for me over Mathews who did look good at RCB before getting injured, but who I don't think is good enough going forward to play wing back and who, as we saw last year, can't play on the left because he is very, very right footed.
Not a lot in it for me, though. I think Matthews has the higher ceiling but the lower floor. So at that point it comes down to money. And given that we couldn't afford Gunter when we were in the Championship, I suspect he's on a larger wage, quite possibly a much larger wage. And as such, I have no problem with him going (if we can get rid) if that frees up money for a longer term investment. Either way, I don't think either Welsh fullback will be a part of our squad next season.
Assuming we are still in L1 next year we have the basis of a decent squad in McG, Purrington, Castillo (maybe), Lavelle, Clare, Famewo, Inniss (maybe), DJ, CBT, Dobson, Gilbey, Aneke, Stockley, Washington, Burstow = 15.
Need to find the star dust first teamers to go alongside them.
If we sign up Matthew’s, Gunter and Watson for next season, then that will really show our ambitions for the season, can we move them on in January, buy one get 2 free?
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare is a right back or right centre back .
No, he’s a central midfielder who has the athleticism and ability on the ball that Jackson wants from one of his outside centre backs to venture into midfield and join the attack. He has the ability to play there, and overall has done very, very well, because of playing at right back previously in his career. He understands the defensive side of the game better, but he is still a midfielder playing in defence.
Pretty sure that’s the last we will see of Davison.
Hoping for at least another 2, maybe even 3 more to come. That’s just my hope if we can get Kirk and Souaré out. Gunter and Watson will leave in the summer, but a bonus if Gunter leaves sooner. He’s so far down the pecking order that there is no point us keeping him if we can also get him out and off the books.
Would love us to sign at least one long term permanent player that can really develop and improve with us and actually develop and improve too.
Interesting final week ahead.
Yeah, it felt inevitable with Davison. He just isn't technically or tactically good enough for a team with ambitions of being promoted out of this league. I don't like to judge a player based solely on their worst game, but the Wycombe game laid bare what we'd seen in patches throughout the season and in cameos in previous years. Davison's touch isn't very good, that has been clear since he broke through in the Championship season, but it hasn't improved enough. And tactically, he just isn't up to scratch.
When he played up front on his own earlier in the year, he was able to make up for some of the tactical shortcomings by working really hard and through his athleticism. We were also a poor, long ball team that played with an isolated striker up front on his own so the expectations weren't that high. And Stockley, better technically but less mobile, had struggled playing on his own because he was often up against two or three defenders with no one to link up play with (with the exception of the occasional foray forward by Lee or Morgan). But when Davison was asked to play with another striker, his constant movement just looked like a chicken with its head cut off with no clear strategy.
He can finish, and he might make a decent career for himself with that and his athleticism. But with our ambitions, we just need more.
The question remains why it was deemed sufficient to start the season with him as the second choice striker in a system that plays one up front, meaning Washington and Leko can't play there. I've said before that replacing Aneke was easier said than done because you aren't going to find a center forward with his physical, technical, and goal scoring attributes at this level. You basically need two forwards to make up for Aneke. But Davison is far off that standard. And Stockley is not mobile enough to play up front on his own the way we were playing. There was just such a huge disconnect in the summer between coaching and style of play and recruitment.
As for Watson, it seems pretty clear that Watson will be a coach next year given he acts as a coach on the bench during matches. I'd be more than happy for him to stay with us. And I don't mind him seeing out the season, he provides cover and while he's not great, he does have a bit of nous that makes up for a lack of mobility. For where we are, he's fine until the end of the year.
I figured that we would be hoping to get rid of one of Gunter or Matthews this window. Up until last week when Matthews started at RWB, I would have assumed he'd be the one we were more likely to push out the door. He's the better athlete, and he was my POTY in the Championship, but he had an awful time at RB earlier in the season. Even though Gunter doesn't have Matthews' legs, he is better going forward. And Gunter has played RCB, CB, LCB, RB, and LB for us, which might give him the edge for me over Mathews who did look good at RCB before getting injured, but who I don't think is good enough going forward to play wing back and who, as we saw last year, can't play on the left because he is very, very right footed.
Not a lot in it for me, though. I think Matthews has the higher ceiling but the lower floor. So at that point it comes down to money. And given that we couldn't afford Gunter when we were in the Championship, I suspect he's on a larger wage, quite possibly a much larger wage. And as such, I have no problem with him going (if we can get rid) if that frees up money for a longer term investment. Either way, I don't think either Welsh fullback will be a part of our squad next season.
Summed it very well, not a lot I can add really.
Am not sure we would keep Watson as a coach, he does seem to be important role model for the young players but we are now up to our capacity in some respects and just don’t know where he would fit in.
Gunter I don’t believe has played in the league since he got taken off against Morecambe back in November. And he had a shocker. We can’t keep a senior player around for another 5 months who clearly isn’t part of the plans going forward and is so far down on the pecking order. It’s the same with Souaré.
Get these type of players out and bring in players who can grow and we will suddenly have a squad that looks a lot better.
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Yes, I just bunged Clare into the CB list based on where he’s playing, but he could do a job in central midfield. I expect he may be okay at RWB too maybe
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Yes, I just bunged Clare into the CB list based on where he’s playing, but he could do a job in central midfield. I expect he may be okay at RWB too maybe
I see Clare as our utility man, he’s also done right back at burton, every squad needs these types.
Comments
I guess Gallen will stay behind with the drinks and snacks if we are doing any late business
Hoping for at least another 2, maybe even 3 more to come. That’s just my hope if we can get Kirk and Souaré out. Gunter and Watson will leave in the summer, but a bonus if Gunter leaves sooner. He’s so far down the pecking order that there is no point us keeping him if we can also get him out and off the books.
Would love us to sign at least one long term permanent player that can really develop and improve with us and actually develop and improve too.
Interesting final week ahead.
Makes me wonder if Gallen/TS are downplaying expectations. Better to do that and bring in more than say we want three or four and only bring in one more.
I think that they are hoping to move a few players on with the HOPE of bringing 3-4 more in but perhaps not expecting 100% success.
Given the lack of impact on the squad, you could probably lose (for argument's sake) Kirk, Souare, and one out of Gunter/Matthews and not replace them without the squad being much weaker except in pure numbers.
https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/jermain-defoe-rumour.1569054/page-348
GK
Mac
RBs
Matthews
Gunter
LBs
Purrington
Souare
CBS
Lavelle
Inniss
Famewo
Clare
Wingers/wing backs
DJ
CBT
Leko
Kirk
Central Midfielders
Watson
Dobson
Morgan
Lee
Gilbey
Forwards
Aneke
Stockley
Burstow
Washington
Needs trimming a bit I think
Before Morgan’s last two games, you would say he could’ve potentially gone out on loan, but that’s unlikely now. If we lose Kirk and Souare, that number goes down to 23 players
Not suggesting he is a solution but he isn't really worth worrying about. Watson Morgan and Gilbey were quite good for the last 2 and a half hours of last season.
Need to find the star dust first teamers to go alongside them.
When he played up front on his own earlier in the year, he was able to make up for some of the tactical shortcomings by working really hard and through his athleticism. We were also a poor, long ball team that played with an isolated striker up front on his own so the expectations weren't that high. And Stockley, better technically but less mobile, had struggled playing on his own because he was often up against two or three defenders with no one to link up play with (with the exception of the occasional foray forward by Lee or Morgan). But when Davison was asked to play with another striker, his constant movement just looked like a chicken with its head cut off with no clear strategy.
He can finish, and he might make a decent career for himself with that and his athleticism. But with our ambitions, we just need more.
The question remains why it was deemed sufficient to start the season with him as the second choice striker in a system that plays one up front, meaning Washington and Leko can't play there. I've said before that replacing Aneke was easier said than done because you aren't going to find a center forward with his physical, technical, and goal scoring attributes at this level. You basically need two forwards to make up for Aneke. But Davison is far off that standard. And Stockley is not mobile enough to play up front on his own the way we were playing. There was just such a huge disconnect in the summer between coaching and style of play and recruitment.
As for Watson, it seems pretty clear that Watson will be a coach next year given he acts as a coach on the bench during matches. I'd be more than happy for him to stay with us. And I don't mind him seeing out the season, he provides cover and while he's not great, he does have a bit of nous that makes up for a lack of mobility. For where we are, he's fine until the end of the year.
I figured that we would be hoping to get rid of one of Gunter or Matthews this window. Up until last week when Matthews started at RWB, I would have assumed he'd be the one we were more likely to push out the door. He's the better athlete, and he was my POTY in the Championship, but he had an awful time at RB earlier in the season. Even though Gunter doesn't have Matthews' legs, he is better going forward. And Gunter has played RCB, CB, LCB, RB, and LB for us, which might give him the edge for me over Mathews who did look good at RCB before getting injured, but who I don't think is good enough going forward to play wing back and who, as we saw last year, can't play on the left because he is very, very right footed.
Not a lot in it for me, though. I think Matthews has the higher ceiling but the lower floor. So at that point it comes down to money. And given that we couldn't afford Gunter when we were in the Championship, I suspect he's on a larger wage, quite possibly a much larger wage. And as such, I have no problem with him going (if we can get rid) if that frees up money for a longer term investment. Either way, I don't think either Welsh fullback will be a part of our squad next season.
Whether we have pulled the plug completely or are negotiating a lower cost deal I have no idea.
Am not sure we would keep Watson as a coach, he does seem to be important role model for the young players but we are now up to our capacity in some respects and just don’t know where he would fit in.
Gunter I don’t believe has played in the league since he got taken off against Morecambe back in November. And he had a shocker. We can’t keep a senior player around for another 5 months who clearly isn’t part of the plans going forward and is so far down on the pecking order. It’s the same with Souaré.
Get these type of players out and bring in players who can grow and we will suddenly have a squad that looks a lot better.