Surprisingly, as Golfie is my fucking hero, I am optimistic about this season. Do I expect the team to beat that out of me pretty sharpish? Well yes. Are these new pills fucking with my head? What pills?
Almost all the players we have had in the last 2 years, to me come under the definition of;
"You won't get promoted if x is your y, but x being your y doesn't mean you can't get promoted".
I think if you look at Bowyer's squad, and to a lesser extent Powell's, Curbs play off team as well, you probably had 10ish players like that. If not more.
They all had "not good enough for a promotion team" players as well.
What we really lack is players that "if you have him in the side you have a chance". We need 5 of them. Until we get them we are going no where.
I said at the end of the 20/21 season we need to replace out 5 worst with 5 "best" players. I don't think we have 5 "worst" any more, but I don't think we have 5 "best" either.
It's not scientific, but I don't look at our squad and think "wow that's a cracking signing" or "how did you get him to join/stay at a L1 club". Decent players yes, but none that really stand out. Especially when we are starting from a lower base than Bowyer did in the summer of 2018.
I suspect that most outsiders feel that way too, judging that the pundits and bookies all seem to be tipping us for mid table mediocrity at the moment.
We're in much better shape than we were this time last season and the bookies tipped us for the playoffs so what do they know.
Obviously bookies would always start with the premise that a club will end up roughly where they were the previous season unless they improve their squad, or the squad gets weaker. Our squad is possibly a little stronger, but not enough to make the bookies think we’ll be top six. Not yet at least.
Regarding Kirk, it's concerning to me that Champo clubs are consistently rumored to be interested in him (obviously Blackpool were interested in him). He didn't fit the system under Adkins in part due to a lack of attacking overlapping LB. He couldn't make the adjustment to playing as a 10. He clearly didn't fit into Jacko's system. He didn't start our first game of the season and when he came on he didn't make an impact.
I know sometimes things don't work out with a player, but he's had three different managers and three different systems. Obviously, we're one game into the Garner Era but you'd think a player with interest from the Championship would be first choice easily, especially given that don't have the most quality or depth out wide. I guess he's up against CBT who was also rumored to have Championship interest.
I don't know, it feels like we're doing something wrong with him. Or our scouting department and other teams' scouting departments see something that isn't there.
we were linked to him at the end of last season until he signed on with Bristol again. If I remember rightly, their fans were pretty pleased about it too.
I reckon the boat might have a better turning circle than old Naby.
Can't ping a crossfield ball or put away a classy finish nearly as well though.
Unlikely to get bullied by our local rivals striker and lose in the last minute either - I don’t think nabby is the answer and tbh if we don’t sort our strike force out, we will be pissing in the wind this year anyway so just hoping all focus is on that atm
we were linked to him at the end of last season until he signed on with Bristol again. If I remember rightly, their fans were pretty pleased about it too.
BR fans pleased on the basis of SEVEN appearances last season?
Threads reverted to type again because we’ve not had a signing for a week or two.
a) not one single team in our league has done all it’s business. b) we did hit the ground running, we signed 6 players many weeks/months before the window shutting. c) as others have said you judge the window when it’s shut.
Signing Stockton, will be like overpaying for the player who looked good in a poor team in the World Cup. One hot season isn’t worth a load of money.
Like Kermogant and Mendonca. Best striker we can prob afford…
Mendonca's record prior to joining us is worlds better than Stockton and Kermongant was a cheap gamble (and his record prior to Leicester was something Stockton could dream of)
This Bristol Rovers left back doesn’t sound good. You’ve got to question why we didn’t just extend the contract of our 4th top goal scorer from last season (Ben Purrington) if this is the best we can do.
This Bristol Rovers left back doesn’t sound good. You’ve got to question why we didn’t just extend the contract of our 4th top goal scorer from last season (Ben Purrington) if this is the best we can do.
Because Purrington would want to be first choice where the Bristol lad will be brought in as back up.. to develop.
This Bristol Rovers left back doesn’t sound good. You’ve got to question why we didn’t just extend the contract of our 4th top goal scorer from last season (Ben Purrington) if this is the best we can do.
Because Purrington would want to be first choice where the Bristol lad will be brought in as back up.. to develop.
How much more time does a 24-year old need to develop?
So I think we have the following contracted as first team players for the season:
Goalkeepers
31
Nathan Harness
GK
13
Craig MacGillivray
GK
1
Joe Wollacott
GK
Defenders
28
Sean Clare
RB/RWB/CM/CB/ RM?
?
Mandela Egbo
RB
24
Ryan Inniss
CB
5
Sam Lavelle
CB
6
Eoghan O'Connell
CB
2
Steven Sessegnon
RB/LB
Midfielders
23
Corey Blackett-Taylor
LW
4
George Dobson
CDM
8
Jake Forster-Caskey
CDM
21
Scott Fraser
CAM
11
Alex Gilbey
CM/CAM
7
Diallang Jaiyesimi
RW
14
Charlie Kirk
LW
12
Conor McGrandles
CM
10
Albie Morgan
CM/CAM
19
Jack Payne
CAM
Forwards
22
Chuks Aneke
CF/SS (Super Sub not 2nd Striker)
33
Miles Leaburn
CF
9
Jayden Stockley
CF
To me this points to a need for: A dynamic forward with pace and technical ability (What Chuks was meant to be) instead of the super sub, injury prone big lump he has become. They don't need to be 10 ft tall.
A proper left back maybe a young one on loan or an out of favour player, to be back up & competition for Sessegnon who starred as the primary there against Accrington. Clayden isn't it and I don't know if any of the other younger players are yet.
A Right Wing option to challenge DJ we have Kirk and CBT on the left (with Clayden an option too) and DJ on the right. Personally think there's potential for any decent dribbler/crosser to play there as cover, but we need a proper intentional option.
We also are going to want other players, but I think the above three are the critical ones that we need to get right. I'd say the forward is probably the most important on the list.
Comments
I know sometimes things don't work out with a player, but he's had three different managers and three different systems. Obviously, we're one game into the Garner Era but you'd think a player with interest from the Championship would be first choice easily, especially given that don't have the most quality or depth out wide. I guess he's up against CBT who was also rumored to have Championship interest.
I don't know, it feels like we're doing something wrong with him. Or our scouting department and other teams' scouting departments see something that isn't there.
we heard u all the first time, so why repeat 30 + times
a) not one single team in our league has done all it’s business.
b) we did hit the ground running, we signed 6 players many weeks/months before the window shutting.
c) as others have said you judge the window when it’s shut.
Gonna dig out my Ian Dury collection in anticipation.
To me this points to a need for:
A dynamic forward
with pace and technical ability (What Chuks was meant to be) instead of the super sub, injury prone big lump he has become. They don't need to be 10 ft tall.
A proper left back
maybe a young one on loan or an out of favour player, to be back up & competition for Sessegnon who starred as the primary there against Accrington. Clayden isn't it and I don't know if any of the other younger players are yet.
A Right Wing option to challenge DJ
we have Kirk and CBT on the left (with Clayden an option too) and DJ on the right. Personally think there's potential for any decent dribbler/crosser to play there as cover, but we need a proper intentional option.
We also are going to want other players, but I think the above three are the critical ones that we need to get right. I'd say the forward is probably the most important on the list.