Washington is v average. Stockley - yes he will make double figures this season (that is .. no more than ten goals) and all the excitement over DJ is really OTT .... had a moderate effect penetrating ....Dartford ... last week! Once! None 9f these players would have made the Peterborough front line last season. I'd be ok if these were players we had in reserve but spearheading our attack? I think most defences will be very happy playing us next season.
Washington averaged a goal every 208 minutes last season, including time spent playing out wide as well as through the middle.
That’s only marginally worse than Pigott (194), Dion Charles (195) and Marquis (196). All three of those are out and out strikers and wouldn’t have minutes playing on the wing like Conor does.
I think he’s being severely underrated. He could easily notch 15-20 if he gets enough minutes during the upcoming season. You should expect roughly the same return from Stockley who managed 8 in half a season with us.
Gilbey has an eye for goal when a manager backs him (3 from 9 under Adkins) and new arrival Sean Clare has a decent eye for goal too. I’d hope between those two plus DJ, they can contribute 25 goals from behind the main striker(s).
Thats not factoring in half a dozen from other midfielders. Another 5-10 from defenders at set pieces. We’re well on the way.
We really have no idea how players will score/perform with a team made up of Adkins' players. Hopefully with more energetic midfielders we'll be playing a lot higher up the pitch, winning the ball a lot higher, the wingers will be getting into different positions, the full-backs pushing on... I'm sure there will be a surprise in who gets goals and how many.
25 goals between Clare, Gilbey and DJ? We are just making things up here. Between them they would need to average over 8 goals
Clare scored one last year and never got more than 6 at Hearts last time he played in midfield.
Gilbey averaged about 4 per year at MK.
DJ has potential but it’s unproven.
It’s not negative - it’s just going on the data sample we have to hand. Which is more accurate than any assumptions
I would have to agree. I’m hopeful about the squad NA is putting together as Callum mentioned, and we may surprise a few, but we won’t surprise anyone unless we add about 5/6 more players imo. I’ve got massive reservations about Gilbey. He had a reasonable end to the season, but seeing him prior to that, I thought he was awful. I know there was talk of personal problems etc and I know they must have been hard for him, so that undoubtedly would’ve been a factor. However, I am only going on what I saw on the pitch and even though he had a run under NA, I still wasn’t blown away. I think DJ can be good, but he’s still an unknown quantity for me, so I can’t say either way. I know nothing about Clare, other than I like his age, pace and mobility according to what I read on here. If it equates to 25 goals then great.
There’s still work to be done. A good example is Inniss. Should be starting against Reading, and fingers crossed he can remain injury free. If not, at the moment, it’s a choice between Pearce and the young lad. Both have positive attributes to offer, and I am sure NA is on the hunt for another CB. However, if we don’t get anyone in, Inniss remains in and out through injuries, you’ve suddenly got Pearce cracking up 30 games a season say, then I don’t think we get out of this division
I’m pleased with how we’re tracking, but we need more
I’m sure we’ll sign more attacking players, to play 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 will still need a creative CM, a winger or two and a striker as an alternative to Stockley.
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
Speculation on how many goals players will score before we even know how the team is going to line up...god help us.
The best indicator of the likely accuracy of any of this is the observation I have seen that Bonne will score 20+ for Ipswich.
I anticipate that we will sorely regret not getting Bogle back whom I confidently expect will be a 25 goal scoring machine in Donaster Rovers record-breaking march to the automatics.
Speculation on how many goals players will score before we even know how the team is going to line up...god help us.
The best indicator of the likely accuracy of any of this is the observation I have seen that Bonne will score 20+ for Ipswich.
I anticipate that we will sorely regret not getting Bogle back whom I confidently expect will be a 25 goal scoring machine in Donaster Rovers record-breaking march to the automatics.
Joking aside Bonne probably will score 20. We had him in the Championship and he got 9 or so. still wouldn’t want him back. I rate Washington. Don’t think he’ll hit 20 but what he does for the team is massively overlooked. stockley will score given the service. what we missed last year was goals from our midfield. with Pratley gone and Watson likely to be a sub, we’ll have the pace to get forward more. The likes of gilbey will then be able to get into shooting positions. We need additional bodies which nobody is denying but the loan market hasn’t really got going yet. the next Gallagher, Cullen or Bielik could yet be on the horizon.
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
But they weren't really unknowns, if you read reports on here from u18 matches etc then you saw how they were frequently described as the real deal and the future of Charlton etc etc.
There's no-one in the youth setup right now that's being spoken of like that.
If we regularly put out backline of Barker, Elewere, Pearce and Purrington, very possible if we don't recruit any more defenders and injuries come into play, you can forget winning the league. In fact you can probably kiss goodbye playoff ambitions too.
Yes, they have some potential, but they simply aren't good enough yet, and may never be unless they come along a lot in their development.
The same goes for regularly playing Clayden, Vennings and the like further up the pitch. A sub appearance here and there, fine, 15-20 starts in the season, we'll be struggling
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
But they weren't really unknowns, if you read reports on here from u18 matches etc then you saw how they were frequently described as the real deal and the future of Charlton etc etc.
There's no-one in the youth setup right now that's being spoken of like that.
If we regularly put out backline of Barker, Elewere, Pearce and Purrington, very possible if we don't recruit any more defenders and injuries come into play, you can forget winning the league. In fact you can probably kiss goodbye playoff ambitions too.
Yes, they have some potential, but they simply aren't good enough yet, and may never be unless they come along a lot in their development.
The same goes for regularly playing Clayden, Vennings and the like further up the pitch. A sub appearance here and there, fine, 15-20 starts in the season, we'll be struggling
To an extent I agree but most hadn’t heard of any of these players until they got their chance. none I listed above were immediately thrown in at the deep end. They were subs. Doughty was at Bromley clearly not deemed as the real deal . These young players need bedding in but I bet 1or 2 are ready as it seems Doughty was.
Speculation on how many goals players will score before we even know how the team is going to line up...god help us.
The best indicator of the likely accuracy of any of this is the observation I have seen that Bonne will score 20+ for Ipswich.
I anticipate that we will sorely regret not getting Bogle back whom I confidently expect will be a 25 goal scoring machine in Donaster Rovers record-breaking march to the automatics.
Joking aside Bonne probably will score 20. We had him in the Championship and he got 9 or so. still wouldn’t want him back.
Scored 2 in the championship last season and been promptly shipped back to league one (after QPR invested 2 million pounds in him!)
Really not bothered about that signing. He may grab a few in the box, because that's where he's good, but he offers nothing outside of it.
Haven't replaced our top scorer yet or Millar, who most of those in the know rated highly. Or Maatsen, who I thought was great. I'd say we're possibly weaker than we were at the end of last season and definitely behind the curve.
I'll be much happier when we get...
A winger
A left back
A goalscorer And a centre half
I'm starting to think we might be under another secret transfer umbongo...
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
But the current crop realistically AREN'T that good. That's the whole point. Those are four of the best academy players we've ever produced. Maybe if we're lucky one of the current crop will reach those heights but it's far from certain.
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
But they weren't really unknowns, if you read reports on here from u18 matches etc then you saw how they were frequently described as the real deal and the future of Charlton etc etc.
There's no-one in the youth setup right now that's being spoken of like that.
If we regularly put out backline of Barker, Elewere, Pearce and Purrington, very possible if we don't recruit any more defenders and injuries come into play, you can forget winning the league. In fact you can probably kiss goodbye playoff ambitions too.
Yes, they have some potential, but they simply aren't good enough yet, and may never be unless they come along a lot in their development.
The same goes for regularly playing Clayden, Vennings and the like further up the pitch. A sub appearance here and there, fine, 15-20 starts in the season, we'll be struggling
To an extent I agree but most hadn’t heard of any of these players until they got their chance. none I listed above were immediately thrown in at the deep end. They were subs. Doughty was at Bromley clearly not deemed as the real deal . These young players need bedding in but I bet 1or 2 are ready as it seems Doughty was.
Doughty was a bit of a fluke in terms of the circumstances though. But ignoring the circumstances he had already had 2 loan spells and was already 20 when he started playing regularly.
Even players like Parker and Grant, who both made their debuts very young didn't really establish themselves until they had had a loan spell and were about 20.
Players like Bowyer and Gomez are very rare. The fact Adkins had 3 at Southampton, who were very special, has raised the expectations a bit too high imo.
The ones that are good enough will play, I have no doubt, but it's a big ask to go from U18s to League 1 football without even a season in the u23s, let alone a loan.
Haven't replaced our top scorer yet or Millar, who most of those in the know rated highly. Or Maatsen, who I thought was great. I'd say we're possibly weaker than we were at the end of last season and definitely behind the curve.
I'll be much happier when we get...
A winger
A left back
A goalscorer And a centre half
I'm starting to think we might be under another secret transfer umbongo...
We replaced Pratley with Watson that’s why we took up the option on Watson .. Clayden is and will be Millar replacement if needed and the young centre half who again deserves his chance in the squad
Isn't the way to bed them in is give them a chance pre-season (as we are doing) then put one or two on the bench and play them in the cup? Then it is for them to put in the performances that suggest more game time. There are probably 2 or 3 that look like they could and some players do make that jump faster. When I say that, it doesn't mean they will, but they are worthy of monitoring closely.
Think the rules for subs are back to 3 from 7 so I'm not sure if we'd see that many of the youngsters involved outside of League Cup and the Papa John's Trophy .
We’ve still got 4 loan spots to fill and those will come later in the window. I think we’re going to have an interesting deadline day, but the final squad will probably be put together pretty late
The season hasnt started but apparently we already havent scored enough goals...
It’s obvious we need more attacking options, even if that just means competition for the likes of DJ and Gilbey who go on to score 10+ each.
DJ and Gilbey will be lucky to get 10 between them.
Gilbey scored 3 in the last 9. Both can improve as player and have potential to get into double figures. It’s really about how you set up and the roles they play in that. If either play regularly and keep getting the box they’ll score goals.
Jackson was never a goalscorer until he played for us, while Wagstaff wasn’t the most talented or skilful player. They both got into double figures because they were able to continually make runs into the box.
I know loans are often confirmed at the last minute, but I’m assuming the club will know that specific loans are likely, barring last minute interest from ‘bigger’ clubs? So if we know it’s probable we’ll be getting excellent loanees at left back and CB, then the club are less likely to be signing ones, which would leave fans feeling we’re weak in those areas right up to the last minute.
That’s a dangerous game if things don’t work out the way you hoped though.
Haven't replaced our top scorer yet or Millar, who most of those in the know rated highly. Or Maatsen, who I thought was great. I'd say we're possibly weaker than we were at the end of last season and definitely behind the curve.
I'll be much happier when we get...
A winger
A left back
A goalscorer And a centre half
I'm starting to think we might be under another secret transfer umbongo...
You don't often see 5 players signing when you're under an embargo...
You're also replacing Millar who got one assist in every six games he played, and scored one in every eight and a half games - somehow I think we'll be signing a winger who can at least match that contribution. If Jayasemi stays fit I can almost guarantee you he'll give you that return or better. Maatsen was a decent winger but was torrid in defence which is why when a technically astute manager actually come in, he barely got a game at left-back. We're in the market for at least a winger, striker and centre-half, but we're likely shopping in the Championship 'squad-player' market who haven't finalised their teams yet - that happens closer to the window so I'm sure in the end you'll be happier. I'd argue every position we've replaced we've strengthened, so have a little bit of faith and patience and I'm sure it'll pay off.
Gomes, konsa, Shelvey, lookman we’re all unknowns when we blooded them. Look where they are now. if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team. Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
True but there were lots of others who didn't thrive. Piggot and Grant are just two examples of good players thrown in too early and then dismissed by many fans because of that.
I think we should play our youngsters if and when they individually are ready but that will differ for each player and depend on lots of other factors.
One of those factors is playing them alongside experienced professionals and not overplaying them. This is where the likes of Pearce and Watson will earn their money in the friendlies and maybe in the U23s.
Adkins, Euell, Avory et al will know the players and their physical and mental strength. Look at how Innis (not a youngster) is being managed differently because of his injury issues.
Always get more pleasure from seeing youngsters come through that someone we've bought but the team as a whole and results have to come first.
Comments
That’s only marginally worse than Pigott (194), Dion Charles (195) and Marquis (196). All three of those are out and out strikers and wouldn’t have minutes playing on the wing like Conor does.
I think he’s being severely underrated. He could easily notch 15-20 if he gets enough minutes during the upcoming season. You should expect roughly the same return from Stockley who managed 8 in half a season with us.
Gilbey has an eye for goal when a manager backs him (3 from 9 under Adkins) and new arrival Sean Clare has a decent eye for goal too. I’d hope between those two plus DJ, they can contribute 25 goals from behind the main striker(s).
Thats not factoring in half a dozen from other midfielders. Another 5-10 from defenders at set pieces. We’re well on the way.
Gilbey averaged about 4 per year at MK.
DJ has potential but it’s unproven.
It’s not negative - it’s just going on the data sample we have to hand. Which is more accurate than any assumptions
There’s still work to be done. A good example is Inniss. Should be starting against Reading, and fingers crossed he can remain injury free. If not, at the moment, it’s a choice between Pearce and the young lad. Both have positive attributes to offer, and I am sure NA is on the hunt for another CB. However, if we don’t get anyone in, Inniss remains in and out through injuries, you’ve suddenly got Pearce cracking up 30 games a season say, then I don’t think we get out of this division
I’m pleased with how we’re tracking, but we need more
if they’re good enough then get our youngsters in the team.
Theyre going to make some mistakes but perhaps Adkins is already seeing the promise.
The best indicator of the likely accuracy of any of this is the observation I have seen that Bonne will score 20+ for Ipswich.
I anticipate that we will sorely regret not getting Bogle back whom I confidently expect will be a 25 goal scoring machine in Donaster Rovers record-breaking march to the automatics.
still wouldn’t want him back.
I rate Washington. Don’t think he’ll hit 20 but what he does for the team is massively overlooked.
stockley will score given the service.
what we missed last year was goals from our midfield.
with Pratley gone and Watson likely to be a sub, we’ll have the pace to get forward more. The likes of gilbey will then be able to get into shooting positions.
We need additional bodies which nobody is denying but the loan market hasn’t really got going yet.
the next Gallagher, Cullen or Bielik could yet be on the horizon.
There's no-one in the youth setup right now that's being spoken of like that.
If we regularly put out backline of Barker, Elewere, Pearce and Purrington, very possible if we don't recruit any more defenders and injuries come into play, you can forget winning the league. In fact you can probably kiss goodbye playoff ambitions too.
Yes, they have some potential, but they simply aren't good enough yet, and may never be unless they come along a lot in their development.
The same goes for regularly playing Clayden, Vennings and the like further up the pitch. A sub appearance here and there, fine, 15-20 starts in the season, we'll be struggling
none I listed above were immediately thrown in at the deep end.
They were subs. Doughty was at Bromley clearly not deemed as the real deal . These young players need bedding in but I bet 1or 2 are ready as it seems Doughty was.
Really not bothered about that signing. He may grab a few in the box, because that's where he's good, but he offers nothing outside of it.
Amos with McGillivray
Haven't replaced our top scorer yet or Millar, who most of those in the know rated highly. Or Maatsen, who I thought was great. I'd say we're possibly weaker than we were at the end of last season and definitely behind the curve.
I'll be much happier when we get...
A winger
And a centre half
I'm starting to think we might be under another secret transfer umbongo...
Even players like Parker and Grant, who both made their debuts very young didn't really establish themselves until they had had a loan spell and were about 20.
Players like Bowyer and Gomez are very rare. The fact Adkins had 3 at Southampton, who were very special, has raised the expectations a bit too high imo.
The ones that are good enough will play, I have no doubt, but it's a big ask to go from U18s to League 1 football without even a season in the u23s, let alone a loan.
Jackson was never a goalscorer until he played for us, while Wagstaff wasn’t the most talented or skilful player. They both got into double figures because they were able to continually make runs into the box.
So if we know it’s probable we’ll be getting excellent loanees at left back and CB, then the club are less likely to be signing ones, which would leave fans feeling we’re weak in those areas right up to the last minute.
I think we should play our youngsters if and when they individually are ready but that will differ for each player and depend on lots of other factors.
One of those factors is playing them alongside experienced professionals and not overplaying them. This is where the likes of Pearce and Watson will earn their money in the friendlies and maybe in the U23s.
Adkins, Euell, Avory et al will know the players and their physical and mental strength. Look at how Innis (not a youngster) is being managed differently because of his injury issues.
Always get more pleasure from seeing youngsters come through that someone we've bought but the team as a whole and results have to come first.