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.
"There was just such a huge disconnect in the summer between coaching and style of play and recruitment."
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.
Is it just me or does Matthews also seem to spend a decent amount of time out injured. I haven't checked but it feels like he always spends a decent chunk of the season on the sidelines.
Clare really struggled in CM maybe he’d do better now he’s more settled.
But he also left Oxford for us because he didn’t want to play right back so I wonder how happy he is?
Personally I think he’s make a great RWB when Lavelle is back fit.
He struggled in CM at a time where the team was a shambles - same as Dobson did. Playing CB has helped him get his mojo back so hopefully, should he be moved in to midfield, he will do just as well there.
It would be interesting to see Clare play at RWB at some point. At the moment he brings ball control to our back line - it's not something to overlook as we've been pure hoofball from the back until we moved to Jacko's preferred formation.
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare won't add any value in midfield. Similar player to Dobson who is much better there.
Dont think we've seen enough of him to make that judgement yet. Im going on the basis that he was signed as a CM and thats what he rates himself as his strongest position.
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.
The kind of player Curbs loved.
And quite a few managers before him, who had Steve Gritt in the team.
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.
That’s what we all thought when Grant went to Crawley. came back a different player. Hopefully the same will happen for Josh.
This still seems to be a goer then. Suggests to me that he's a player someone in the set up is actively keen on rather than being a makeshift/back up option if they are working hard to get him.
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.
The kind of player Curbs loved.
And quite a few managers before him, who had Steve Gritt in the team.
If Browne does well, I imagine there could be scope for a permanent deal. At present, we've only got Elliot Lee as an attacking midfield player and he's bang out of form.
Do we have the space for John and Browne? Not up to date on numbers.
Also, either Sandgaard still expects a late charge up the table or really wants to win the paint trophy, no other reason to sign all these loans.
Only reason for these loans is potential option to buy. Browne vs Lee... who will drive a promotion push next year? Next few months we assess them both. Similar challenge for Castillo, can't imagine he has a future at Chelsea, so does he cut it? Agree no point otherwise.
If Browne does well, I imagine there could be scope for a permanent deal. At present, we've only got Elliot Lee as an attacking midfield player and he's bang out of form.
Agree. Lets see how this goes. Somebody back from an ACL with zero game time to compete with somebody who is bang out of form! No idea how this will go.
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.
It's not our choice. You can't make players leave if they don't want to. We can leave them out of the 22, that's as much as we can do
With Gunter, he might be interested in playing elsewhere to keep his Wales squad place
Do we have the space for John and Browne? Not up to date on numbers.
Also, either Sandgaard still expects a late charge up the table or really wants to win the paint trophy, no other reason to sign all these loans.
I think we should keep pushing for a play off position until it becomes mathematically impossible*. Would like to see a competitive effort maintained for the paint trophy too. A day out at Wemberlee is a day out at Wembley! Why? I think it is important to keep the players motivated and to keep improving the squad for the next season. Giving up on the season now sends out the wrong message in so many ways. Our better players may be persuaded to leave at the end of the season, match day attendance will suffer if fans believe the team has given up and season ticket renewals will reduce. Who is going to move to a club that has been hibernating for half a season? Jackson's contract renewal will depend on a satisfactory final position, so it is good to see that TS is supporting him, assuming JJ is happy with the quality of the incoming players. * realistically expecting a lower final position than last season.
Is it just me or does Matthews also seem to spend a decent amount of time out injured. I haven't checked but it feels like he always spends a decent chunk of the season on the sidelines.
Ok, I checked. In 12 seasons as a senior pro, he's only played more than 30 games twice (compare to someone like Jason Pearce who has done it nine times). Meaning he has got injured or fallen out of favour 10/12 times.
On average he plays 22 games per season. Perhaps not a surprise he never finds another club.
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare won't add any value in midfield. Similar player to Dobson who is much better there.
Dont think we've seen enough of him to make that judgement yet. Im going on the basis that he was signed as a CM and thats what he rates himself as his strongest position.
But we have seen him play this season and he is defensive minded. If we want to challenge next season we need energy and creativity in the middle, we have the defensive player in Dobson. Clare ain't the answer in midfield.
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.
That’s what we all thought when Grant went to Crawley. came back a different player. Hopefully the same will happen for Josh.
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare won't add any value in midfield. Similar player to Dobson who is much better there.
Dont think we've seen enough of him to make that judgement yet. Im going on the basis that he was signed as a CM and thats what he rates himself as his strongest position.
But we have seen him play this season and he is defensive minded. If we want to challenge next season we need energy and creativity in the middle, we have the defensive player in Dobson. Clare ain't the answer in midfield.
I think Clare has got the energy, probably not the creativity. I’d definitely like to see him a few more times in CM before passing judgement either way.
Comments
This, this and this again.
But he also left Oxford for us because he didn’t want to play right back so I wonder how happy he is?
Personally I think he’s make a great RWB when Lavelle is back fit.
came back a different player.
Hopefully the same will happen for Josh.
With Gunter, he might be interested in playing elsewhere to keep his Wales squad place
Why?
I think it is important to keep the players motivated and to keep improving the squad for the next season.
Giving up on the season now sends out the wrong message in so many ways. Our better players may be persuaded to leave at the end of the season, match day attendance will suffer if fans believe the team has given up and season ticket renewals will reduce. Who is going to move to a club that has been hibernating for half a season?
Jackson's contract renewal will depend on a satisfactory final position, so it is good to see that TS is supporting him, assuming JJ is happy with the quality of the incoming players.
* realistically expecting a lower final position than last season.
On average he plays 22 games per season. Perhaps not a surprise he never finds another club.
came back a different player.
Hopefully the same will happen for Josh.