Our transfer business has been so poor since the days of Chris Powells promotion team. In the 10 years since, I can only think of 6 or 7 players who if we could turn the click back would sign again. Cullen, Bielik, Gallagher, Taylor, Bauer, Pearce, Dobbo, maybe some others I have missed but it would be interesting to know how many players we have signed in that 10 year period as there have been loads of poor ones.
Our transfer business has been so poor since the days of Chris Powells promotion team. In the 10 years since, I can only think of 6 or 7 players who if we could turn the click back would sign again. Cullen, Bielik, Gallagher, Taylor, Bauer, Pearce, Dobbo, maybe some others I have missed but it would be interesting to know how many players we have signed in that 10 year period as there have been loads of poor ones.
I feel like the 'move Clare to midfield' thing is the same as how highly rated players become when they're injured or have left. Inniss was basically Cannavaro when he was hurt, you'd swear Conor Washington had scored 50 goals in 6 games for us the way he's mooned over, and Chuks is never more lethal than when he's sat down recovering. The reality is we signed Clare with the specific intention of playing him in midfield and he was terrible. You can't really legislate for how bad a three of him, Dobson and Albie as 10 was but it even made Dobson look rubbish. We didn't win a single league match where Clare played in central midfield and while the whole team was awful around then, he was a contributor to why that was. It's notable that every manager since then has seen the value of Dobson in the middle, or even Albie playing deeper, but never Clare.
I just think Clare isn't able to read a game that's happening around him. When it's all in front of him and he just has to run or tackle he's a good player. He's athletic, he's not bad on the ball and he has an eye for an intelligent overlapping run. He falls apart on the second phase though. We saw him lose his marker for Pompey's goal because he'd gone to sleep after the initial ball, and I think I lost a year of my life getting angry at him being unable to protect the corridor between him and the RWB when he played at CB for us. Most of the goals scored against us came through that gap and he wasn't ever able to adjust and react. When the ball turns over or there's any kind of off the ball movement from attacking opposition players he may as well be a scarecrow. Now transfer that to midfield, where the game constantly moves around you and you have to adjust every second to what's happening around you. All you'll get is him using that great engine to trail behind attackers moving in on goal. There's a reason we more or less got him handed to us by Oxford; he didn't want to play right back and a team looking to win promotion isn't having him in midfield.
A left back with a left foot would be nice. Still find it incredible steady if not spectacular Ben P was never replaced. Square pegs in round holes ever since.
A left back with a left foot would be nice. Still find it incredible steady if not spectacular Ben P was never replaced. Square pegs in round holes ever since.
Feel like that does Sessegnon a bit of disservice as he was brought in to play LB and in my opinion is quality - it’s no coincidence how much better our performances are when he is in the team.
A left back with a left foot would be nice. Still find it incredible steady if not spectacular Ben P was never replaced. Square pegs in round holes ever since.
Feel like that does Sessegnon a bit of disservice as he was brought in to ply LB and in my opinion is quality.
Not having a back up option however was criminal.
Not only is Sessegnon an excellent LB (who's played around as many games there as at RB), I think Garner had the idea of having one wide full back and one more inverted one who was comfortable coming into midfield to help build the play. Unfortunately that was a bit beyond the level of the squad, but I think fitness allowing we would have seen Egbo play there too under Garner. But as you say, we always needed a second option there and we had nothing.
Comments
back with him
We need half a squad and I would expect us to get most deals done early. We never manage to do this.
Just checked, he's a left back.
Are these "new" targets do you or anyone else know?
We need to get most of our deals done early. (Which never happens)
I agree with Sam W's four as being acceptable if they're upgrades or suitable back ups to the best players. I would say another RB is essential too.
Not having a back up option however was criminal.