Here is what I think our main problem has been this season.
The scouting and preparation has been a shambles. We were late with the signing and haven’t signed the right players in comparison to before. Look at Oxford, they don’t necessarily have good players but they worked well together, looked a good side when we played them and they’re probably on lower wages!
Players in our side don’t necessarily fit well into our system. Look at Kirk, great signing but why did the scouting not identify him on the position he played at Crewe? Now he is playing for a team above us!
I really think we need to improve on this BIG time. As Curbs always say, we need hungry players and most of our players do not look hungry!
Serious questions need to be answered where this went wrong. We have a Q&A with the owner on Thursday. Answers are required where we’re going to improve from this shambles of a season!
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League 1 footballers are by and large, even the best ones very niche. Fraser at Ipswich is probably a good example. Our recruitment in the summer, who ever was responsible, was very general.
Even Dobson doesn't have the attributes to fit "like for like but better" into our best team of the end of last season. That's all we needed 4 or 5 players that made us better.
Our squad was built for 4231/433 but what was, on paper, our best balanced team? What was the cover? We probably did have 2 players, in theory, for every position, but not like for like and not all square pegs in round holes.
The only player we signed in the summer that failed purely because they weren't good enough was Souare.
This was at the last home match as soon as the ref blew the final whistle.
So, does that make us one of the most organised teams ?
This is nonsense. You don't have a fixed system. In most games, you'll play variations on a theme anyway.
You recruit decent footballers. Players with technique and a balanced physique.
This is why I prefer Gilbey to Jaiyesimi. And why Aneke doesn't cut it for me. I have doubts about Dobson too, but he's doing well enough.
Once you have your squad of technical and athletic players, all options are available. Sure, you can have a preferred system and you might use that most times.
But the modern player must be adaptable.
Kirk missed out ... and will continue to miss out ... because he is limited (one foot) and because he thinks is he Ronaldo (he isn't).
This current squad is so limited that Jackson has limited choices. First priority in the Summer ... get some athletes who are flexible footballers.
Better still, get some flexible footballers who are athletes.