I must admit I am delighted with Pearce signing a new contract. I hold my hands up and state I didn't think he was all that good however Our performances turned around dramatically towards the end of the season and this was largely attributable to a solid defence marshalled by him.
So far so good
Hoping Da Silva is coming back for the season. Think he is going to be a superstar but A season with us and hopefully getting promoted with us what to do both parties very good.
That, and the fact that we largely faced the poorest teams in the last 5 matches.
At the point of his return WE were one of the poorest teams.
For the last 6 games KR has said he was happy we were playing more like he wanted us to. The stats for distances covered, passing, dribbles etc were all a vastly improved.
It's not all down to Pearce but he definitely marshals that defence better than Tex and/or Bauer.
DaSilva clearly was a major factor, but it was also noticeable that JFC was starting to settle down and really make a contribution to cames
JFC is still on my 'unsure' list. Usually I have a settled idea about a player after about 6 games, but for some reason not JFC. There are occasional flashes of excellence, there is a sometimes moody player without focus, there is sometimes an isolated person, there is sometimes a player who makes good runs and links with others, there is a player capable of a goal or two, but also one who can make poor decisions. I really struggle to understand what he is about, do others 'get' him yet?
Well he scored in the last 2 matches, and contributed a couple of assists around that period too.
The injury affected his progress, as it happened just when he was trying to settle at a new club. I think there's a good midfield playmaker there, but one that needs good coaching to bring the best out. Lee Bowyer should be able to help! He has 12 England U21 caps, you don't get that many unless you have some ability.
His technical ability should not be in question. Has a great left peg on him.
As Robinson alluded to after the Bolton game it's about consistency with him. He should be running things in midfield in this division. And to be fair, toward the end of the season he had some very good games.
It seemed that he came to us not particularly match fit, and then got injured. It was noticeable that when he came back from injury and had a run of 4-5 games in the side is when he really started to shine.
With a full pre-season behind him, I expect big things, especially if we have Kashi and/or Konsa in midfield alongside him. I'm also hoping we keep Magennis and Holmes, meaning we'd have a better attacking quartet than the end of last season, giving him more players to play with.
I think we all know he will end up going. It is to who and when (I expect it to be pretty late in the day).
Why would he turn down the chance to play in the Championship? And why would Roland turn down cash?
Don't think he'll go. He's played some of his best football here, is settled, and would probably be thinking of a promotion push (for which he'll be on a decent bonus).
I know this is sacrilege, but I'd like a more prolific striker than Magennis. It worries me that it took him so long to get his form back after injury. Looks good when he's at his very best though.
I know this is sacrilege, but I'd like a more prolific striker than Magennis. It worries me that it took him so long to get his form back after injury. Looks good when he's at his very best though.
Competition for Josh would be great.
But with the formation Robinson likes to play (and stick to rigidly), it's no use bringing in a poacher BWP type. Needs to be someone who can hold the ball up and bring the wingers into play. Hard to find someone who does that and score goals as well (...Yann) but we should definitely be looking.
I know this is sacrilege, but I'd like a more prolific striker than Magennis. It worries me that it took him so long to get his form back after injury. Looks good when he's at his very best though.
I have to agree with you there. I think Magennis adds a lot to the team but I can only see him scoring 12 to q5 goals a season. We badly need another striker who can at least match that total or indeed beat it if we are serious about promotion .
I know this is sacrilege, but I'd like a more prolific striker than Magennis. It worries me that it took him so long to get his form back after injury. Looks good when he's at his very best though.
I have to agree with you there. I think Magennis adds a lot to the team but I can only see him scoring 12 to q5 goals a season. We badly need another striker who can at least match that total or indeed beat it if we are serious about promotion .
In our formation we need the 3 attacking midfielders to weigh in with a decent number of goals as well
I know this is sacrilege, but I'd like a more prolific striker than Magennis. It worries me that it took him so long to get his form back after injury. Looks good when he's at his very best though.
I have to agree with you there. I think Magennis adds a lot to the team but I can only see him scoring 12 to q5 goals a season. We badly need another striker who can at least match that total or indeed beat it if we are serious about promotion .
I think he may have scored more but for the injury. It may have been the injury but the worrying thing for me was that he looked slightly disinterested after he came back last season. I could be interpreting it wrong, but he just seemed a little nonchalant
I am crushed that we did not get Liam Lindsay. I guess it is hard to pass up The Championship.
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
I am crushed that we did not get Liam Lindsay. I guess it is hard to pass up The Championship.
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
I am crushed that we did not get Liam Lindsay. I guess it is hard to pass up The Championship.
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
And McLaughlin? He would be great at right back.
Frustrated!
Lazy daisy doing the negotiations. Expect very little and you won't be too disappointed
I am crushed that we did not get Liam Lindsay. I guess it is hard to pass up The Championship.
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
And McLaughlin? He would be great at right back.
Frustrated!
Were we ever interested in Ball or was it just some fans who thought he might be good? I don't remember seeing us ever linked with him?
I am crushed that we did not get Liam Lindsay. I guess it is hard to pass up The Championship.
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
And McLaughlin? He would be great at right back.
Frustrated!
Perhaps we never wanted him. Or perhaps he wanted to stay up north...
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Heck, add in Ajose as a true striker and we have 40-60 goals between the 4 players. Sounds awesome.
And we have two of them already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Sounds awesome. And we have one already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
Why can't you have all 3? Because how the feck would you fit them into the same team, and keep them all happy.
And just because they've scored a dozen goals in one season, doesn't mean that's what happen every season, look at Ajose for instance.
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Heck, add in Ajose as a true striker and we have 40-60 goals between the 4 players. Sounds awesome.
And we have two of them already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
I think as a new fan you have a lot to learn. It isn't FIFA or football manager where you have a look at some decent players and take as you please. Out of all the players you've talked about throughout the thread I think we've actually been linked with 2 or 3 of them. There's such thing as being not interested, if we were you would've heard about it.
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Sounds awesome. And we have one already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
Why can't you have all 3? Because how the feck would you fit them into the same team, and keep them all happy.
And just because they've scored a dozen goals in one season, doesn't mean that's what happen every season, look at Ajose for instance.
Football isn't as simple as that
Are you saying that we can't have three good players in the middle because they all want to be the center of attention? That they will be upset that they are flanked by other good players? That seems an odd statement. Don't understand.
Is the alternative to make sure we only have one good player in each part of the field so they are "happy?" I don't see that problem at Real Madrid or any other successful club.
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Sounds awesome. And we have one already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
Why can't you have all 3? Because how the feck would you fit them into the same team, and keep them all happy.
And just because they've scored a dozen goals in one season, doesn't mean that's what happen every season, look at Ajose for instance.
Football isn't as simple as that
Are you saying that we can't have three good players in the middle because they all want to be the center of attention? That they will be upset that they are flanked by other good players? That seems an odd statement. Don't understand.
Is the alternative to make sure we only have one good player in each part of the field so they are "happy?" I don't see that problem at Real Madrid or any other successful club.
You can't hve 3 good players in the middle because thats not a formation you can play.
And they won't sign for us just to sit on the bench, when they can sign elsewhere and play week in week out
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Sounds awesome. And we have one already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
Why can't you have all 3? Because how the feck would you fit them into the same team, and keep them all happy.
And just because they've scored a dozen goals in one season, doesn't mean that's what happen every season, look at Ajose for instance.
Football isn't as simple as that
Are you saying that we can't have three good players in the middle because they all want to be the center of attention? That they will be upset that they are flanked by other good players? That seems an odd statement. Don't understand.
Is the alternative to make sure we only have one good player in each part of the field so they are "happy?" I don't see that problem at Real Madrid or any other successful club.
At Real they tend to be on £50k+ a week... I reckon that's a factor. Just line someone leaving a lower league club to sit on a higher bench. It's down to the money, difference is in our situation you can't afford to pay top wages for already covered positions and need to priorities who you want to sign. Which KR would've done, he will be looking a lot deeper than player stats as you probably have though.
As far as I know, we have not pursued Ball. It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Heck, add in Ajose as a true striker and we have 40-60 goals between the 4 players. Sounds awesome.
And we have two of them already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
dont let that stop people moaning that we didn't sign him before Rotherham did.
Comments
"We felt the offer was a fair one for a player with only one year left on his contract" commented Katrien
As Robinson alluded to after the Bolton game it's about consistency with him. He should be running things in midfield in this division. And to be fair, toward the end of the season he had some very good games.
It seemed that he came to us not particularly match fit, and then got injured. It was noticeable that when he came back from injury and had a run of 4-5 games in the side is when he really started to shine.
With a full pre-season behind him, I expect big things, especially if we have Kashi and/or Konsa in midfield alongside him. I'm also hoping we keep Magennis and Holmes, meaning we'd have a better attacking quartet than the end of last season, giving him more players to play with.
But with the formation Robinson likes to play (and stick to rigidly), it's no use bringing in a poacher BWP type. Needs to be someone who can hold the ball up and bring the wingers into play. Hard to find someone who does that and score goals as well (...Yann) but we should definitely be looking.
I think Magennis adds a lot to the team but I can only see him scoring 12 to q5 goals a season.
We badly need another striker who can at least match that total or indeed beat it if we are serious about promotion .
But how could we lose Ball to Rotherham? Rotherham was so bad last year they will be lucky to survive in L1 this season. We should have been able to get him. Easily.
And McLaughlin? He would be great at right back.
Frustrated!
Expect very little and you won't be too disappointed
It's Reeves we have gone after. I doubt we get him either.
But Ball is quality, good for 10-14 goals easily every year, and I feel he was "gettable."
As a newer fan I think I look at it as... why not have Ball, Reeves and Holmes? That would be insane. And not even that expensive. Three midfielders all scoring 10-14. Heck, add in Ajose as a true striker and we have 40-60 goals between the 4 players. Sounds awesome.
And we have two of them already and the other two players are "free" transfers. What's so hard about that?
So I guess I keep wondering why our owners don't have more ambition?
Deep down I know the answer to that question but I keep hoping I am wrong. More and more I am seeing the reality and it frustrates me.
Not sure how you have all dealt with this for 3 years.
And just because they've scored a dozen goals in one season, doesn't mean that's what happen every season, look at Ajose for instance.
Football isn't as simple as that
Is the alternative to make sure we only have one good player in each part of the field so they are "happy?" I don't see that problem at Real Madrid or any other successful club.
And they won't sign for us just to sit on the bench, when they can sign elsewhere and play week in week out