I have heard from a very good source at Everton that Lookman has not settled and is very homesick. It would be great if we could get him back on loan but more likely perhaps a London Prem club like Spurs might come in for him.
Could see a club like Southampton being interested.
Or maybe Bournemouth or Brighton (although if he is homesick he probably doesn't want to stay that far North)
We have got ourselves in a position where a couple of decent strikers will almost certainly get us up. Now the question is, how much more do we lose being a League One club instead of a Championship one - and of course- you only have to look at Huddersfield to see what can be done from the Championship.
We have got ourselves in a position where a couple of decent strikers will almost certainly get us up. Now the question is, how much more do we lose being a League One club instead of a Championship one - and of course- you only have to look at Huddersfield Charlton, Wigan and Blackburn to see what can be done from the Championship.
We did good business on the whole during the summer, with some quality players coming in. However, Saturday showed that the squad depth is still a problem. Two weeks into the season and we are already seeing a bench made up mainly of academy players. Saturday also showed that we desperately need a striker who can score goals. Unfortunately they don't come cheap and I have serious doubts that Duchatelet will provide the finance to buy such a player. A recurring theme of Robinson's tenure is one of dominating matches but not being able to get the result. It nearly cost us last season and will do so again this season unless the squad is strengthened further in the right places. I also feel sorry for Dillon Phillips. Once again he has to watch while a loan keeper is brought in days before the start of the season. I feel he is a competent goalkeeper at this level and he is at an age where he should be considered as first choice. I can't believe that when management identify their targets in close season they say 'don't worry about the keeper, we'll get someone in on loan a couple of days before the start of the season!'
We did good business on the whole during the summer, with some quality players coming in. However, Saturday showed that the squad depth is still a problem. Two weeks into the season and we are already seeing a bench made up mainly of academy players. Saturday also showed that we desperately need a striker who can score goals. Unfortunately they don't come cheap and I have serious doubts that Duchatelet will provide the finance to buy such a player. A recurring theme of Robinson's tenure is one of dominating matches but not being able to get the result. It nearly cost us last season and will do so again this season unless the squad is strengthened further in the right places. I also feel sorry for Dillon Phillips. Once again he has to watch while a loan keeper is brought in days before the start of the season. I feel he is a competent goalkeeper at this level and he is at an age where he should be considered as first choice. I can't believe that when management identify their targets in close season they say 'don't worry about the keeper, we'll get someone in on loan a couple of days before the start of the season!'
While that's true about the bench Phillips, Konsa and Aribo are part of the first team squad. It wasn't a bench full of academy players that had barely made an appearance.
We had two suspensions, Watt on his way out, Reeves not fit enough and 3(?) longer term injuries.
While we desperately need at least 1 new striker no owner at this level is going to give us a squad close to 30 senior players.
Worth remembering when we won League 1 we could only have 5 subs so we didn't need to fill the bench with 1/2 academy players.
In hindsight given Saturday's result, maybe they should have saved the money from flying the squad to the match and put it towards the transfer kitty!!
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think 500k with add ons would do it. Surely we could afford it if Watt is going and we offload Lennon.
How the F can we offload Lennon while he's crocked and he's not gonna be on mega money so wouldn't free up enough to make a difference
So we haven't had bids for him then over the last few weeks? RD is still going to see a squad size of x amount of players and argue it's too much. Getting rid of a CB when we have 5 would make sense and possibly allow us to sign a striker.
Admittedly, it won't too much a difference. Even if Lennon went for 5 mil, only 100k or 200 would be added to Robinsons budget.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit too early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
By way of appeasement Henners, I thought Hackett-Fairchilds cameo on Saturday was quite encouraging.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit to early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
The relative lack of spending isn't Robinson's fault although he himself talked up the budget over the summer. A lot of high earners have gone as have all but two of the "network" signings (Kashi, who is good, and Sarr).
But KR's addiction to 4231 was the undoing of him at MKD and it might be the same here.
a PL loan would only be a kid with less experience than KAG so I don't see the point.
and this from SHG hits the nail on the head for me -
'We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming'
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit to early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
The relative lack of spending isn't Robinson's fault although he himself talked up the budget over the summer. A lot of high earners have gone as have all but two of the "network" signings (Kashi, who is good, and Sarr).
But KR's addiction to 4231 was the undoing of him at MKD and it might be the same here.
I think 4231 could become a success. It would be tough to change it now as he has built a squad to play in this way. Our first team looks strong, and we have some decent players waiting in the wings too.
The issue is how stubborn he is over it. He needs to change it when it's not working, whether thats after 60 mins or we start with a new formation. To play 442, we need at least 1, probably 2 new strikers, and I cannot see where Clarke, and possibly Reeves fit in, in a 442.
I think we all feel the same, we got rid of our only fully fit senior striker just before the game Saturday which was a mistake. We need to replace Watt with a goalscorer, and I don't think the budget will allow that.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit too early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
By way of appeasement Henners, I thought Hackett-Fairchilds cameo on Saturday was quite encouraging.
I see the point you make about the attack being toothless but on another day we could have been 3-0 up by half time. It was the keeper who kept them in it rather than our attack fluffing there lines in front of goal. That would have been far more alarming.
That said we offered nothing in the second half and I agree we do need a striker to compete with Magennis.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit too early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
By way of appeasement Henners, I thought Hackett-Fairchilds cameo on Saturday was quite encouraging.
I see the point you make about the attack being toothless but on another day we could have been 3-0 up by half time. It was the keeper who kept them in it rather than our attack fluffing there lines in front of goal. That would have been far more alarming.
That said we offered nothing in the second half and I agree we do need a striker to compete with Magennis.
One goal in two games won't get us promoted. As for we could have scored. We didn't and looked less likely the longer it went on.
a PL loan would only be a kid with less experience than KAG so I don't see the point.
and this from SHG hits the nail on the head for me -
'We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming'
And at the risk of sounding like a broken record Neal this fits exactly into the 'winning isnt everything, come meet your friends and dance' mentality that has been sucking the life out of St Truiden for the last few years.
Corners have not been turned and lessons have not been learnt. Yes we have an enthusiastic English coach and a nucleus of a good squad but still lack the investment to take us forward. The clock is ticking on this transfer window and unless we have a week to remember I am not happy about once again drifting through to January on more false promises.
Richest owner in our history, forget 'were not paying silly money' RD could fix this if he wanted too.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
I think that's a very valid view but I must say that just like a lot of others I think that we just won't score enough goals even with a fit Magennis and Novak. Neither are prolific and perhaps its unfair but we don't know how effective Novak would be in that loan role should he be required to do it for any length of time.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit too early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
By way of appeasement Henners, I thought Hackett-Fairchilds cameo on Saturday was quite encouraging.
I see the point you make about the attack being toothless but on another day we could have been 3-0 up by half time. It was the keeper who kept them in it rather than our attack fluffing there lines in front of goal. That would have been far more alarming.
That said we offered nothing in the second half and I agree we do need a striker to compete with Magennis.
One goal in two games won't get us promoted. As for we could have scored. We didn't and looked less likely the longer it went on.
I agree with your points but lets see how it looks after a couple more games, we played one game with 10 men for 84 minutes and the other we've already covered, then we'll have a better idea if it's as toothless as suggested.
The non investment also puts to bed the claim by some that he's more likely to sell if we get promoted and that he's likely to get a better deal if we do because he is showing no ambition to do so.
what a lot of hypocritical claptrap .. It's rare I slag players off, even the dearly departed .. Watt had a couple of good games for us and the rest of the time was disinterested, unfit and nicking a living .. good riddance
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
I would love to see another, effective, striker come in but don't agree it is that cut and dried.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
Think you answered your own question - depth.
Ajose shows why you can't sign a "guaranteed" 20 goal striker at this level.
We need to bring in another striker that is capable at this level and if things go well has a realistic chance of getting to 20. Magennis might with good service and staying fully fit. Novak got 15(?) with Chesterfield, hopefully he can improve on last season.
KR said himself he wants three '9s'. A new striker doesn't have to be miles better than the two we have but perhaps a slightly different type of player while still someone that can play as a lone striker.
I'd like to see someone like Mavididi that could play up front or out wide to give us more options.
any mention of a fee for TWWW (undisclosed or otherwise), or is it a loan with a view to a purchase after a tear , or the same as Tex & Cebllos and we basically gave them our player.
any mention of a fee for TWWW (undisclosed or otherwise), or is it a loan with a view to a purchase after a tear , or the same as Tex & Cebllos and we basically gave them our player.
I would say its a give away and we are happy to get his wages off our books.
Comments
We had two suspensions, Watt on his way out, Reeves not fit enough and 3(?) longer term injuries.
While we desperately need at least 1 new striker no owner at this level is going to give us a squad close to 30 senior players.
Worth remembering when we won League 1 we could only have 5 subs so we didn't need to fill the bench with 1/2 academy players.
Either Katrien and Robinson persuede Duchatelet that we need to stretch the budget to include a Goalscorer or we stay in division one for another season regardless of how pleasing our football is on the eye.
With 4231 we only play one striker.
Big Mag has taken time to get 100% fit after injuries and I think he may have been rushed back but he can do a very good job when fully fit.
Novak has one more game in his suspension.
Unless we can find a big improvement on those two then what is the point?
A loan from a prem or Championship club seems the most likely IMO and they maybe good enough.
But this is, when everyone is available, still a strong league 1 first XI imo
It's not the all conquerering side that will bull-doze every team it plays that some claimed after Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.
The problem, as ever, is that they isn't enough depth when the inevitable injuries and suspensions kick in.
Admittedly, it won't too much a difference. Even if Lennon went for 5 mil, only 100k or 200 would be added to Robinsons budget.
It's just my opinion but even a PL loan is unlikely to paper over that deficiency unless we strike extremely lucky. In any case it's a big ask for any youngster to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.
What I've seen of our football so far impresses me but until I see Robinson change to a 4-4-2 during a match or 4-3-3 to suit the individual game I can't believe that we have enough about us often enough to win enough matches.
Plymouth was the perfect example of us being toothless.
It's not necessarily Robinsons fault. It just looks like RD closing his purse a bit too early just like every other season.
We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming.
By way of appeasement Henners, I thought Hackett-Fairchilds cameo on Saturday was quite encouraging.
But KR's addiction to 4231 was the undoing of him at MKD and it might be the same here.
and this from SHG hits the nail on the head for me -
'We're becoming an established league one club. Next close season it's going to be very hard to hang onto our better players and perhaps even harder to attract players to a club with no ambition because that's what we are fast becoming'
The issue is how stubborn he is over it. He needs to change it when it's not working, whether thats after 60 mins or we start with a new formation. To play 442, we need at least 1, probably 2 new strikers, and I cannot see where Clarke, and possibly Reeves fit in, in a 442.
I think we all feel the same, we got rid of our only fully fit senior striker just before the game Saturday which was a mistake. We need to replace Watt with a goalscorer, and I don't think the budget will allow that.
That said we offered nothing in the second half and I agree we do need a striker to compete with Magennis.
Corners have not been turned and lessons have not been learnt. Yes we have an enthusiastic English coach and a nucleus of a good squad but still lack the investment to take us forward. The clock is ticking on this transfer window and unless we have a week to remember I am not happy about once again drifting through to January on more false promises.
Richest owner in our history, forget 'were not paying silly money' RD could fix this if he wanted too.
The non investment also puts to bed the claim by some that he's more likely to sell if we get promoted and that he's likely to get a better deal if we do because he is showing no ambition to do so.
Ajose shows why you can't sign a "guaranteed" 20 goal striker at this level.
We need to bring in another striker that is capable at this level and if things go well has a realistic chance of getting to 20. Magennis might with good service and staying fully fit. Novak got 15(?) with Chesterfield, hopefully he can improve on last season.
KR said himself he wants three '9s'. A new striker doesn't have to be miles better than the two we have but perhaps a slightly different type of player while still someone that can play as a lone striker.
I'd like to see someone like Mavididi that could play up front or out wide to give us more options.
Won't last long. Good riddance.