After the last couple of games I’m now worrying that we not only need a new striker, CB and possibly LB, but also a midfielder. Only Dobbo has played with any conviction, and although Morgan started the season well his performances are tailing off alarmingly.
Fraser and Payne haven’t quite stepped up, and give the ball away too often, and both are a bit lightweight. JFC and Gilbey have been sidelined, so that leaves Henry, another lightweight, although one with potential at least. McGrandles we haven’t seen enough of. We’ve been after a dominant midfield playmaker for years, but haven’t had one since Gallagher. Or a box to box type maybe.
A quicker striker would open up space for the midfield and give them another player they can pick out with through balls. Teams can push higher up knowing Stockley won’t catch them out by running in behind. The midfield don’t have that out ball, we’re relying on our wide forwards to do that and that doesn’t work when they need to track back. The right striker would improve this team a lot.
That’s exactly what I said in one of my earlier posts 👍. But will we get this new striker?
I’m sure he’ll be out today running a final eye over our top transfer targets whilst negotiating the image rights and hat trick bonus for our next big free transfer.
He’s probably on the way to Swindon right now!
Strangely enough, Steve Gallen was at Beaconsfield services, where he said hello to Mrs Airman, at 2pm yesterday.
The next 3 days are going to be interesting. Based on what we have in the squad just now I honestly don't see us being in the top six at the end of the season. That and the ticket pricing will ensure TS is unlikely to make significant inroads in to the annual loss run rate of £8M. Would be nice to see the club pull some rabbits out of the hat and strengthen the squad in the areas that are glaringly obvious before the window closes. If not I suspect it is going to be a long and pretty mundane season.
Others will no doubt have differing opinions but in my view that would be a case of hope over experience.
If that is the reason, looks like a really disingenuous move on the part of the club when terms were negotiated. JFC has every right to be very p*ssed off and looks like the renewal was a waste of all parties’ time.
That does add up with him not even making the bench yet when Gilbey and Henry have done ahead of him. On the GK issue I think if we can find a taker for CMac then we should get rid and use an emergency loan for the games Wollacott is away if possible. If that’s not an option then I can see why they will want to keep him as cover
I know it won’t happen as it would involve a fee, but we should be looking at Sam Smith from Cambridge. Can play on the right or through the middle. 15 goals last season and 4 already this season. Only 24 years old so room to improve him and it shouldn’t take a huge fee to tempt Cambridge into selling
The next 3 days are going to be interesting. Based on what we have in the squad just now I honestly don't see us being in the top six at the end of the season. That and the ticket pricing will ensure TS is unlikely to make significant inroads in to the annual loss run rate of £8M. Would be nice to see the club pull some rabbits out of the hat and strengthen the squad in the areas that are glaringly obvious before the window closes. If not I suspect it is going to be a long and pretty mundane season.
Others will no doubt have differing opinions but in my view that would be a case of hope over experience.
I agree. Realistically, I think that just outside playoffs is probably most likely outcome.
It's frustrating, because I think that, with an additional, experienced striking option to Stockley, I don't honestly think we're that far away from having a much stronger chance of getting playoffs. I fear that we'll flatter to deceive with some continued pretty football, but lack the cutting edge to finish out scrappy games with a nicked goal at the end to convert more games into points. I want us to get in a striker that has a bit of nous, can hold the ball up AND has even a little bit of acceleration/movement that gives us a different way to play. Leaburn is getting better every week, Aneke will hopefully be back in the fold at some point, but we remain light up front and without any player to mix it up.
Otherwise, we end up with another par-for-the-course season that keeps us in this league for another year and increases the chances of losing our better players or even the manager. It's always going to be a gamble to invest in certain players at the end of the window. However, I think I believe that this investment would be worth it.
I don't think teams fear our football without a more consistent end product. I'd love to be wrong and say this squad could get there as is, but I think we're just on the cusp. Maybe with a bit of luck we get there, but these things even out over a season.
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
it is because we don't score enough goals against 11 men - simple
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I'm not sure people are down on this team, just making a reasoned assessment. Bearing in mind I watch all our games (and not just this season), I think we are heading for 6th to 10th unless we strengthen further.
We're almost certainly not a good bet for automatic promotion unless we strengthen. Skybet now have us as 8th favourites.
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I understand that people feel a need to be pessimistic as a way of managing their expectations, but there are a few “Debbie Downers” on here. What makes me laugh is the way there’s a chorus of sarcastic “HMS Piss The League” comments as soon as we win, like we’re not allowed to be positive or something. Having said that, some of the more positive on here are equally guilty of ridiculing “Bedwetters” so, you know, it’s a two way street.
Not everyone is a “Debbie Downer” or an in-denial “This is fine” type - Most of us sit somewhere in between, but some people are relentlessly negative/positive Whatever does it for you, I suppose. 😎
If Tyreece Simpson was our number one target. Who are the next on the list? Tom Cannon is the only name I have heard mentioned. Personally I would prefer a more seasoned older striker to assist in the development of Miles Leaburn.
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I am really not down on the team. The result against Plymouth was great, lovely to see, but I suspect we will end up with far too many drawn games given we don't have enough of a cutting edge. Not enough happens in the final third in the majority of our games. I prefer to see it as realism as opposed to being "down on the team".
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I am really not down on the team. the result against Plymouth was great, lovely to see, but I suspect we will end up with far too many drawn games given we don't have enough of a cutting edge. Not enough happens in the final third in the majority of our games. I prefer to see it as realism as opposed to being "down on the team".
I agree that too many draws could be what costs us. If Aneke stays fit he could change that. If he’d been fit enough to come off the bench so far this season I think we’d have at least 3 more points than we do now. He turns draws into wins and losses into draws. Even if he’s only fit for 20 odd games that could be enough to sneak us into the top 6 hopefully
I can't figure out why so many people are down on this team. We've stood up to every test so far and no 'top 6' team has looked much better than us. We smashed Plymouth who it turns out are a very good side and our second string beat a Championship team's first team.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
I am not down on this team, by any means. I don't think we are good enough to get promoted. They aren't the same thing.
I don't buy the idea that it's a work in progress and will take 2 or 3 windows to get right. I don't buy we can't bring x or y in until z leaves, for reasons other than the budget has been poorly managed.
I rated the class of 20/21 higher than most and this team isn't better and will suffer the same fate.
Now saying that that could all change in the next 4 days. If it does brilliant. I'll be as happy as anyone.
But we have been a quality center half short for 4 windows and a center forward short for 3. How optimistic can you be this time?
Personally I think it will be quite enjoyable to watch but we will finish outside the play offs and end up playing in front of sub 10k fans, at home, on Saturdays. The club will organically shrink.
If you did slow and steady in the championship you could still grow the club.
Giving Garner time, as opposed to financial backing, is as folly as not backing Adkins.
I have a giant "MEH!" shaped balloon all ready for the window shutting, anyone else made any special arrangements?
Going to trawl through this thread & find my posts in late June/early July where I said that we were slow in getting players in & that I would be proved right yet again when we fail to assemble a squad good enough for promotion.
Comments
But will we get this new striker?
When he tweets he basically gives bullshit accounts like the above an excuse to start repeating it
Same here.
Of all the players we have been linked with this summer he is the one who would have made the difference.
Others will no doubt have differing opinions but in my view that would be a case of hope over experience.
Whatever we do to get a striker in it wont be by selling Stockley to fund it.
It's frustrating, because I think that, with an additional, experienced striking option to Stockley, I don't honestly think we're that far away from having a much stronger chance of getting playoffs. I fear that we'll flatter to deceive with some continued pretty football, but lack the cutting edge to finish out scrappy games with a nicked goal at the end to convert more games into points. I want us to get in a striker that has a bit of nous, can hold the ball up AND has even a little bit of acceleration/movement that gives us a different way to play. Leaburn is getting better every week, Aneke will hopefully be back in the fold at some point, but we remain light up front and without any player to mix it up.
Otherwise, we end up with another par-for-the-course season that keeps us in this league for another year and increases the chances of losing our better players or even the manager. It's always going to be a gamble to invest in certain players at the end of the window. However, I think I believe that this investment would be worth it.
I don't think teams fear our football without a more consistent end product. I'd love to be wrong and say this squad could get there as is, but I think we're just on the cusp. Maybe with a bit of luck we get there, but these things even out over a season.
Last season is finished, it's over. If anyone needed to hear that!
Bearing in mind I watch all our games (and not just this season), I think we are heading for 6th to 10th unless we strengthen further.
We're almost certainly not a good bet for automatic promotion unless we strengthen.
Skybet now have us as 8th favourites.
Having said that, some of the more positive on here are equally guilty of ridiculing “Bedwetters” so, you know, it’s a two way street.
Not everyone is a “Debbie Downer” or an in-denial “This is fine” type - Most of us sit somewhere in between, but some people are relentlessly negative/positive
Whatever does it for you, I suppose. 😎
Any names out there?
I don't buy the idea that it's a work in progress and will take 2 or 3 windows to get right. I don't buy we can't bring x or y in until z leaves, for reasons other than the budget has been poorly managed.
I rated the class of 20/21 higher than most and this team isn't better and will suffer the same fate.
Now saying that that could all change in the next 4 days. If it does brilliant. I'll be as happy as anyone.
But we have been a quality center half short for 4 windows and a center forward short for 3. How optimistic can you be this time?
Personally I think it will be quite enjoyable to watch but we will finish outside the play offs and end up playing in front of sub 10k fans, at home, on Saturdays. The club will organically shrink.
If you did slow and steady in the championship you could still grow the club.
Giving Garner time, as opposed to financial backing, is as folly as not backing Adkins.