Something to bear in mind during this debate: Remember when comparing the respective merits of this year’s squad as it currently stands and last year’s squad that not only are we weaker in terms of depth (certainly) and quality of first eleven (arguably, and certainly IMHO until key players like Fosu and Clarke are fit), last year’s squad itself ultimately proved not to be good enough. Sure we had a late flurry and a bit of excitement reaching the play offs but in the event they were a damp squib and we were shown up for what we were. If we truly aspire to promotion this year we don’t only need to equal last year’s capacity, we need to better it quite considerably. From where I’m sitting we are a million miles away from that. And I say that despite Taylor being an upgrade on Josh (purely an assumption as I have not seen the former) and Pratley giving us something we’re were previously missing in midfield (on the assumption that he’s not a busted flush)
I’m in the give Dillon a fair crack camp although from what I have seen of him I’m not convinced (I wasn’t convinced by Pope either and Amos took until about Christmas to persuade me last season).
K(A)G has always looked like a glorified pub player to me but I’ll concede that his spell in loan may have matured him but if he and Reeco (potential consequences of alleged holiday misdemeanours notwithstanding) are the answer then I’mdamned if I know what the question was.
And who knows who will be next out of the door in the fire sale? Ajose? I couldn’t give a stuff about him. Aribo or Bauer? We’re even more shafted jf either or both of them leave.
So, decent preseason results notwithstanding, we need to get about six high quality players in and gel them if we are to make a go of it this season. More likely as things stand we are a good bet for relegation and I can’t understand why the bookies can’t see that. A lot can happen in the next fortnight so I’m not reaching for the arsenic just yet but I’ve never felt quite so pessimistic as I do at the moment.
Prefer Mascoll/Marshall. Guess Bow does as well. A Curbs strength was having players who could do a job in several postions, keeping a tight squad and I think Marshall, Djiksteel, Grant and Sarr may fill several roles this year.
Prefer Mascoll and Marshall to who?
Buying a 33yo mediocre full back like Rossenior.
So you'd prefer to rely on mediocre winger playing as a full back and a child than a full back that hasn't played below the Championship in 10 years?
Righty ho.....
Yes. As back up. Perhaps we sbould put Blumberg back in U23s and resign RoJo.
We won’t have the budget for it, I know that and he might not even be what we need, but to allow Dijksteel to move into midfield when he is back from illness, Liam Rosenior is a free agent and can provide good experienced cover for Solly and Page, having played both full back positions in the past.
He was there on Tuesday night. I know he is BHA player but I did think he could be useful for us.
Prefer Mascoll/Marshall. Guess Bow does as well. A Curbs strength was having players who could do a job in several postions, keeping a tight squad and I think Marshall, Djiksteel, Grant and Sarr may fill several roles this year.
Prefer Mascoll and Marshall to who?
Buying a 33yo mediocre full back like Rossenior.
So you'd prefer to rely on mediocre winger playing as a full back and a child than a full back that hasn't played below the Championship in 10 years?
Righty ho.....
Yes. As back up. Perhaps we sbould put Blumberg back in U23s and resign RoJo.
Given Solly and Page's injury record they won't be backup they'll be starting most games. And when Marshall is playing right back because of this who's going to play ahead of him on the right, himself?!
Blumberg is in the under 23's already, and why sign RoJo when we can sign Ward who's better and on a free. Pointless arguement, look at the bigger picture
Can Premiership youngster or championship loans fill the gaping holes in the squad, after the transfer window closes in early August 18 ?
It can help fill some of the gaps. If the Aussies take us over after the transfer deadline has passed that'll be all they can do, and as they'll presumably be more willing to pay for these loan players (share of wages, loan fee) hopefully we can get better ones in
And loans with a view to permanent deal can finish them off in Jan.
Can Premiership youngster or championship loans fill the gaping holes in the squad, after the transfer window closes in early August 18 ?
time will tell as I would imagine that's what is going to happen.
That was an actual question as whether that can happen as to whether loans can be made due to the new window rules. Is that a possibility ? As without any loans the squad is looking really thin, even for a Duchatelet normal season.
Yes loans still go to the end of the window. Although I am not 100% sure if we can sign or loan out players to/from other League 1 clubs?
You can but they can't play against their parent club.
So this time last season I’d say we were better GK, RB(Solly another year on that knee), LB, RM, RCM, LM, CF. CB’s same, LCM same, I’d say one better CF that’s it.
Literally need 6 players minimum to even think about play offs. Shambles.
Pretty sure Taylor won’t start against Sunderland so even the CF position won’t be stronger.
Could be worse...
Doherty Daily Stewart Abbott Anyinsah Eccleston Nouble K Reid Bessone Kandol...
But that squad wasn't when we had the wealthiest owner in our history.
How some on here would rather Josh go for 3 quid than have him as a squad player.
When he plays, we just lump it up to him to win the odd header. I'd rather put faith in Taylor and K(A)G
But we need to build a squad, not just a team if we want to compete over 46 games.
Summer after summer many of our fans seem to forget that.
Your sentiment is correct , I have no doubt . I am just happy to see the back of him; I'd rather put faith in the younger strikers. Let's be honest, we aren't going up with this setup
Can't fault the 2 signings as individuals but it's clear to anyone that the squad is ridiculously weaker.
At the start of pre season i'm almost certain Bowyer said we'd be bringing in 4-5 signings. Well less than a week before the first game we have 2 signings, one is injured and the other not match fit.
Fan-f*cking-tastic.
And yet, a team we lost 2-0 to in a pre-season friendly last season when most of those ‘lost’ players were available and we had holmes had just been beaten 1-0 in this pre-season’s friendly by our ‘ridiculously weaker’ team.
Yes because pre-season friendlies are a definite marker for how a season will pan out. We got smashed by UCD in pre-season last year then a couple of weeks later put 6 past Ipswich. it means nothing.
Are you trying to deny we have a ridiculously weaker squad?
In what way is it weaker ? It’s basically the same defence and they looked pretty solid yesterday. The midfield, despite missing key players gave a pretty good account of themselves against a team a division above and I’d be happy to see them start again, for once we look like we’ve bought a striker who will score goals and the squad is undefeated in its pre-season games
Amos has gone and we have an inexperienced keeper relatively untried at this level. The defence has lost Konsa and Dasilva. Our first choice left back has less than 50 senior appearances and is made of glass. Our first choice right back has missed over 50 games in the past 2 seasons alone. The midfield has lost Kashi, plus Jackson who was a decent squad player. Out wide Holmes hasn't been replaced since he left. Marshall is now being turned into a full back. Clarke will take a while to get fit again and Reeves is made of weaker glass than Page. Up front is the only area we've strengthened in that Taylor is going to score more than Magennis but even that is only a like for like replacement, it's not an extra body in. If Ajose goes as well, our 2 back up strikers will both be 20 years old.
Prefer Mascoll/Marshall. Guess Bow does as well. A Curbs strength was having players who could do a job in several postions, keeping a tight squad and I think Marshall, Djiksteel, Grant and Sarr may fill several roles this year.
Nabby as a striker at this rate - remember that half a game Phil Chapple was deployed there? Ironically against Bolton!
Something to bear in mind during this debate: Remember when comparing the respective merits of this year’s squad as it currently stands and last year’s squad that not only are we weaker in terms of depth (certainly) and quality of first eleven (arguably, and certainly IMHO until key players like Fosu and Clarke are fit), last year’s squad itself ultimately proved not to be good enough. Sure we had a late flurry and a bit of excitement reaching the play offs but in the event they were a damp squib and we were shown up for what we were. If we truly aspire to promotion this year we don’t only need to equal last year’s capacity, we need to better it quite considerably. From where I’m sitting we are a million miles away from that. And I say that despite Taylor being an upgrade on Josh (purely an assumption as I have not seen the former) and Pratley giving us something we’re were previously missing in midfield (on the assumption that he’s not a busted flush)
I’m in the give Dillon a fair crack camp although from what I have seen of him I’m not convinced (I wasn’t convinced by Pope either and Amos took until about Christmas to persuade me last season).
K(A)G has always looked like a glorified pub player to me but I’ll concede that his spell in loan may have matured him but if he and Reeco (potential consequences of alleged holiday misdemeanours notwithstanding) are the answer then I’mdamned if I know what the question was.
And who knows who will be next out of the door in the fire sale? Ajose? I couldn’t give a stuff about him. Aribo or Bauer? We’re even more shafted jf either or both of them leave.
So, decent preseason results notwithstanding, we need to get about six high quality players in and gel them if we are to make a go of it this season. More likely as things stand we are a good bet for relegation and I can’t understand why the bookies can’t see that. A lot can happen in the next fortnight so I’m not reaching for the arsenic just yet but I’ve never felt quite so pessimistic as I do at the moment.
Roland, just get to fuck please and sharpish.
I can't remember the Slade squad, probably a defence mechanism, the one that signed Foley on a half season deal, Pearce & Ajose over his head in - was that worse than this summer? Final League position justified it.
This really is our year. Phillips is ready. Bauer and Pearce our rocks. Lapslur ajose and fosu the engine room KAG and Tyler have 30 goals in there boots.
Under Bowyer it's traa laa last all way to the championship x
This really is our year. Phillips is ready. Bauer and Pearce our rocks. Lapslur ajose and fosu the engine room KAG and Tyler have 30 goals in there boots.
Under Bowyer it's traa laa last all way to the championship x
ill have an order of whatever your on, an optimistic addick! its like christmas has come!
This really is our year. Phillips is ready. Bauer and Pearce our rocks. Lapslur ajose and fosu the engine room KAG and Tyler have 30 goals in there boots.
Under Bowyer it's traa laa last all way to the championship x
Ok put the bottle of whiskey down and step away from the massive pile of drugs. I think you’ve had enough
Comments
I’m in the give Dillon a fair crack camp although from what I have seen of him I’m not convinced (I wasn’t convinced by Pope either and Amos took until about Christmas to persuade me last season).
K(A)G has always looked like a glorified pub player to me but I’ll concede that his spell in loan may have matured him but if he and Reeco (potential consequences of alleged holiday misdemeanours notwithstanding) are the answer then I’mdamned if I know what the question was.
And who knows who will be next out of the door in the fire sale? Ajose? I couldn’t give a stuff about him. Aribo or Bauer? We’re even more shafted jf either or both of them leave.
So, decent preseason results notwithstanding, we need to get about six high quality players in and gel them if we are to make a go of it this season. More likely as things stand we are a good bet for relegation and I can’t understand why the bookies can’t see that. A lot can happen in the next fortnight so I’m not reaching for the arsenic just yet but I’ve never felt quite so pessimistic as I do at the moment.
Roland, just get to fuck please and sharpish.
Blumberg is in the under 23's already, and why sign RoJo when we can sign Ward who's better and on a free. Pointless arguement, look at the bigger picture
Unbelievable that he's only 26. The amount of times he comes up on a rumours thread, you'd think he was late 30s by now.
The defence has lost Konsa and Dasilva. Our first choice left back has less than 50 senior appearances and is made of glass. Our first choice right back has missed over 50 games in the past 2 seasons alone.
The midfield has lost Kashi, plus Jackson who was a decent squad player.
Out wide Holmes hasn't been replaced since he left. Marshall is now being turned into a full back. Clarke will take a while to get fit again and Reeves is made of weaker glass than Page.
Up front is the only area we've strengthened in that Taylor is going to score more than Magennis but even that is only a like for like replacement, it's not an extra body in. If Ajose goes as well, our 2 back up strikers will both be 20 years old.
Phillips is ready.
Bauer and Pearce our rocks.
Lapslur ajose and fosu the engine room
KAG and Tyler have 30 goals in there boots.
Under Bowyer it's traa laa last all way to the championship x