I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
So far so good in terms of transfer business maybe,but can't help thinking Watford must be rubbing their hands at the prospect of playing us first game. Established club that they are up against Jones and some Luton misfits. They will bring all the heat of a Beds/ Herts derby and walk away with a 2-0 win at least i expect. Similar outcomes with home games against Leicester, Millwall, then Blackburn to look forward to. We will be dissecting all that's wrong until October quite possibly, when we might finally sneak a win.
Put a bet on it then. And if you’re that confident, you could even go a bit mad and put 50 pence on.
I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
I doubt very much if our spending is coming from general income or player sales. That signals to me we are either stacking up debt, or are being bankrolled by philanthropic rich people, Personally given our history I always feel unsettled by the club being financially vulnerable, and a lot of the money side of things we’re invited to take on trust. That is another reason I am a big fan of developing our own players, it is cheaper and can often pay off with transfer fees incoming.
The tv money in 9m more in the Championship compared to league one.
What are we saying would make a perfect window for incomings?
One more Attacking midfielder and a striker?
I’m still a bit concerned about cover for Coventry, can JRC play that holding role? I wouldn’t trust Docherty there in the championship where in league 1 he could have maybe done a job covering it
I think that's where Doch played for Hull in the champ. NJ brought him in to play further forward and questions still remain about how effective he is in that new role.
Having a quick look at Hull and I don’t think that’s right. They had Ritchie Smallwood as holding mid and then Docherty next to him more box to box.
When Docherty first played for us he was in the 10, which was the reference of playing further forward but I think NJ realised it didn’t work and moved him back to his natural position
Having a look at his heatmap for the 23/24 season he's much more a holding midfielder compared to his heatmap for is in 24/25
This is 23/24
This is 24/25
I’m not sure 23/24 is really worth looking at for Docherty, he only started one game. The 2 years previously where he actually played he was an 8 rather than a holding mid. He’s been a box to box 8 his whole career
I think I remember at Wigan away he seemed to be playing ahead of Anderson, and he came in with the 10 on his back, so I still think the plan was for him to play as a 10 but we quickly reverted him to his natural role as an 8
It will be interesting what our focus is when it comes to goals this season. Established, proven Championship strikers typically go to the Premier League and looking at the top goalscorers in the division last season the numbers are surprisingly low. No-one scored 20 goals and in terms of out and out strikers the highest was 19, then 15, 13 and 12. Josh Brownhill was the second highest scorer in the league from central midfield level with Borja Sainz on the wing (now at Porto). Only 4 of the top 10 scorers were promoted last season and Norwich and Middlesbrough provided 2 each, they finished 13th and 10th respectively. Norwich's goal difference was only 3 despite having the 3rd and 4th highest scorers in the league. From that you'd feel like if we can get Godden to score somewhere around 7-10 and have Campbell, Olaofe and Apter contributing 3-5 as well we'd be about par for a lot of teams in the division so maybe our lack of focus on an expensive centre forward at the moment isn't that surprising
Going back to Apter I just watched his goals from his time at Tranmere.
He's really got the potential to be one of those who gets you off your seat. As direct and JBG - he gets the ball and his instinct is to bear down on goal.
And I love that he appears to be a bit of a cocky little shit too - not afraid to give it to the opposition fans. I have the equivalent of a Fanny Tingle I think
Looking like a great window so far. Apter and Tanto are the right sort of profile of players we should be after, young 'point to prove type players' who are on the way up and have good sell on value. We've also added much needed Championship experience in Kaminski, Bell, Burke and Costello. Even Carey has played 50 odd games in the Championship. I still think we really need a CM, a box to box player would be great - if Coventry gets injured our midfield looks pretty weak imo.
What are we saying would make a perfect window for incomings?
One more Attacking midfielder and a striker?
I’m still a bit concerned about cover for Coventry, can JRC play that holding role? I wouldn’t trust Docherty there in the championship where in league 1 he could have maybe done a job covering it
I think that's where Doch played for Hull in the champ. NJ brought him in to play further forward and questions still remain about how effective he is in that new role.
Having a quick look at Hull and I don’t think that’s right. They had Ritchie Smallwood as holding mid and then Docherty next to him more box to box.
When Docherty first played for us he was in the 10, which was the reference of playing further forward but I think NJ realised it didn’t work and moved him back to his natural position
Having a look at his heatmap for the 23/24 season he's much more a holding midfielder compared to his heatmap for is in 24/25
This is 23/24
This is 24/25
I’m not sure 23/24 is really worth looking at for Docherty, he only started one game. The 2 years previously where he actually played he was an 8 rather than a holding mid. He’s been a box to box 8 his whole career
I think I remember at Wigan away he seemed to be playing ahead of Anderson, and he came in with the 10 on his back, so I still think the plan was for him to play as a 10 but we quickly reverted him to his natural role as an 8
Should note, however, that Berry came in and would have wanted the number 8 shirt as he had worn that number for a long time at Luton and before, even though he played more of a 10 role, which may have something to do with the squad numbers that Berry and Doc ended up with. I think the plan all along was to play Coventry, Doc and Berry as a midfield three, with Berry in the 10. The fact that Berry was not available all of the time meant that Doc was shifted around as he is a better attacking option than Anderson
Going back to Apter I just watched his goals from his time at Tranmere.
He's really got the potential to be one of those who gets you off your seat. As direct and JBG - he gets the ball and his instinct is to bear down on goal.
And I love that he appears to be a bit of a cocky little shit too - not afraid to give it to the opposition fans. I have the equivalent of a Fanny Tingle I think
From that you'd feel like if we can get Godden to score somewhere around 7-10 and have Campbell, Olaofe and Apter contributing 3-5 as well we'd be about par for a lot of teams in the division so maybe our lack of focus on an expensive centre forward at the moment isn't that surprising
There's also Leaburn and Carey to factor in, both of them are probably expected to be somewhere between those figures too. Hopefully Gillesphey and L. Jones will be chipping in a few at set pieces as well.
Jones system was never about having a "main" striker anyway so at the very least we're not having to learn a new system of play.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Leaburn
I really don't see him as a hold up player, unless he bulks up quite a bit this summer I'm not sure he's our Aneke.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
TANTO OLAOFE…… done it very well on Saturday
He was alright it's only preseason though he missed a chance and kanu scored one who you said didn't do well so I'm not really into your player reports atm.
I really think there’s something in the DKD link too. DKD behind Tanto, Godden or Leaburn with TC and Apter out wide is in my opinion about as good as we could hope for with our budget.
If we sign DKD (unlikely), the board have gone massively above and beyond expectations
Spent 6M on transfer fees alone think they’ve already done that without DKD
Where have you got the 6m figure from?
Apter 2-2.5M Oloafe 1.5M Kaminski 1M Costello 750k Burke- No clue but probably some fee
Do think we need a player up front who can hold the ball up and bring attacking midfield into play. Not sure we have that player on the books at present.
Comments
League One needs players on League One wages, not big contracts of Luton's times in higher divisions.
Luton being financially responsible and cutting their cloth accordingly.
His agent said he was going to Preston 🤷🏾♂️
I think I remember at Wigan away he seemed to be playing ahead of Anderson, and he came in with the 10 on his back, so I still think the plan was for him to play as a 10 but we quickly reverted him to his natural role as an 8
All saying Bloxham is the better player.
Can we sign him too please NJ.
Jones system was never about having a "main" striker anyway so at the very least we're not having to learn a new system of play.
Honestly wouldn't mind that. 6ft5, pretty mobile and decent carrying the ball.
We need some more physicality in the squad
TANTO OLAOFE…… done it very well on Saturday
FT: Fleetwood Town 3-0 Blackpool
Starting XI: Ravizzoli (Bardsley 45’), Lyons (Imray 45’), Horsfall, Ihiekwe (Casey 60’), Ashworth (Husband 60’), Bloxham, Evans (Finnigan 60’), Brown (Hamilton 60’), Honeyman (Knight 70’), Ennis (Richardson 70’), Fletcher (Kouassi 70’)
Subs: Bardsley, Imray, Casey, Sassi, Husband, Knight, Richardson, Finnigan, Hamilton, Bondo, Kouassi
Oloafe 1.5M
Kaminski 1M
Costello 750k
Burke- No clue but probably some fee