Lowery of Crewe. Carlos Mendes Gomes of Morecamb Joe Piggot of AFC Wimbledon
Joel Randall at Exeter
Jack Tucker at Gills
Don't know the Lincoln players but if they don't go up then they must have a couple we should look at.
Some decent loanees also, the likes of Di'Shon Bernard, CB from ManUtd, 20yrs old currently at Salford so has mens footy on his CV already which is good.
A big chunk of our U18 team given how well they are doing.
No idea who but the majority should be younger players who have proven themselves at this level who can grow with the club and sold for a profit if they outgrow us.
Much like in 11/12 when we players like Wiggins, Stephens, Hamer and Green came in.
Avoid “big names” who have lost their hunger or legs - the odd experienced player coming in is fine but have to be careful we’re not signing them a year or two too late. JFH was a great example of that, more recently Gunter and Watson haven’t performed as hoped. Shinnie is another - good player but there will be younger players out there who will be hungrier and hopefully here longer term. With the the salary cap gone we now have the freedom to pay decent wages which players will expect if you’re paying a reasonable fee.
TS is clearly very ambitious and I expect him to see to the bigger picture and not try to win promotion on the cheap. You don’t have to spend millions on fees and have the biggest budget in the league but get it right and we won’t have to spend so much in future - players should develop with us and the odd sale should boost the budget.
Much easier said than done but that’s the type of strategy I hope we have.
Signing a striker has got to be the number 1 priority. Really need someone who can score the 20+ goals which you need to be promoted.
Aneke, Washington & Stockley are fine at this level, but really need someone more clinical to be up top.
I liked the look of Bishop and Charles at Accrington when we played them. Imagine they are realistic option instead of the like of Jephcott at Plymouth who will probably cost £3/4million+
Lowery of Crewe. Carlos Mendes Gomes of Morecamb Joe Piggot of AFC Wimbledon
Maybe the lad from Exeter we were linked with in Jan.
Don't know the Lincoln players but if they don't go up then they must have a couple we should look at.
A big chunk of our U18 team given how well they are doing.
I think Pigott will have a few suitors from a higher division than league one, especially as he's out of contract so a no brainer signing for half of the championship.
Wonder if we'll go back in for Jordan Graham at Gillingham, might even be a free transfer this summer
11-goals and six assists this season, would be perfect if we're sticking to 4-3-3
He's had a great season. The risk is that it's the first time he's done much. Decent player having his breakthrough season or an average player having a great season?
Having said that, after joining Wolves with potential he only scored one goal for them, which came at the Valley. So maybe it's his lucky ground and boy do we need some luck at home.
Wonder if we'll go back in for Jordan Graham at Gillingham, might even be a free transfer this summer
11-goals and six assists this season, would be perfect if we're sticking to 4-3-3
He's had a great season. The risk is that it's the first time he's done much. Decent player having his breakthrough season or an average player having a great season?
Having said that, after joining Wolves with potential he only scored one goal for them, which came at the Valley. So maybe it's his lucky ground and boy do we need some luck at home.
Cheers didnt realise that Wolves signed Graham
Always presumed he was just another highly rated academy who graduated there
A few players I've liked the look of this season aside from the obvious like Fraser: Joe Powell at Burton, came through at West Ham Conor Grant at Plymouth, came through at Everton Camara at Plymouth, nice physical presence although I missed our drubbing of them recently. Impressed me whenever I've seen him.
Dare I say it but Marques wouldn’t be a bad shout.
From what I've seen of him for Doncaster and Portsmouth now he feels a bit of a Schwartz type striker
If you cant do everything for him he's not going to find the back of the net
Can’t see us playing the wages those players would demand. Likes of him and Norwood are on wages which we paid Vetokele when he signed. Cannot see us signing players who would demand close to 10k a week etc.
Lowery & Dale impressed, Piggott, Fraser & the lad at Wigan whose name escapes me
we need to bring the age of the squad/team down so pick the best youngsters from Leagues One/Two who we think are good enough for League One but can grow and improve to play Championship level plus a few more experienced players.
I imagine that a team like Lincoln, if they don't go up, will lose a few players to bigger L1 sides, that's how it tends to work
I quite like their CB Adam Jackson. I also like Blackpool's CB Daniel Ballard on loan from Arsenal. Think a few Champ clubs might be interested but I'd be up for a season long loan. Got some decent experience this season and still improving. Only Hull have conceded less than Blackpool this season.
We need to reduce the average age of the squad for a start, or at least the average age of the starting XI. Also we need to reduce our reliance on loanees.
Bowyer steadily increased this during his tenure. In our 2018/19 promotion squad, 51% of appearances were made by players aged between 20 & 24, this has dropped to just 23% this season. In 18/19 14% of appearances were made by players aged 30+, this is 31% this season, our highest yet.
If anyone is curious I've written a bit more about this and included contract lengths in my blog here
Can't profess to have much idea beyond agreeing we need to be going for younger players who've looked decent at this level and can get better.
Although I was another one impressed with Fraser at MK Dons.
McCann at St Johnstone had looked very promising in both games I've seen him in (no idea whether a) those games were reflective of him generally or b) whether there would be interest in him from higher up!).
Amos, NEW, allow AMB to get a season in League 2 Gunter, Matthews Purrington, NEW Inniss, 1 of Deji or Pearce, 2 x NEW Gilbey, JFC, 1 of Watson or Pratley, 3 x NEW DJ, 2 x NEW Aneke, Washington, 2 x NEW
So I'd keep about 12 and look to sign at least 11. I'd be up for keeping Maatsen, Famewo and Stockley again. Maatsen has been inconsistent but let's not forget he turned 19 last month. If he had come through our academy we'd be raving about him. I wouldn't be against Millar returning either.
We need a couple of quality CM's, one with a real physical presence like Camara at Plymouth. That's where we have lost out this season (aside from CB but injuries have caused that). A couple of quality wingers are going to be important aswell under Adkins.
I think AMB and Morgan need loan spells. Pratley/Watson, Deji/Pearce, Shinnie, Schwartz should go.
Dare I say it but Marques wouldn’t be a bad shout.
From what I've seen of him for Doncaster and Portsmouth now he feels a bit of a Schwartz type striker
If you cant do everything for him he's not going to find the back of the net
Can’t see us playing the wages those players would demand. Likes of him and Norwood are on wages which we paid Vetokele when he signed. Cannot see us signing players who would demand close to 10k a week etc.
Well.......we/Thomas may have to bite the bullet, we are either big players or scratching around again. The impression we are being given, is that we will be prepared to shell out. We can only hope Gallen will come through with some stella signings......he certainly has the ability.
We need to reduce the average age of the squad for a start, or at least the average age of the starting XI. Also we need to reduce our reliance on loanees.
Bowyer steadily increased this during his tenure. In our 2018/19 promotion squad, 51% of appearances were made by players aged between 20 & 24, this has dropped to just 23% this season. In 18/19 14% of appearances were made by players aged 30+, this is 31% this season, our highest yet.
If anyone is curious I've written a bit more about this and included contract lengths in my blog here
Agreed
Ben Watson's experience might have been really useful for a young squad, but we already had Pratley and Pearce to provide that
And then we went out and signed 2 experienced RBs (31 and 29) and a 31 year old midfielder (Shinnie) followed by a 31 year old Danish striker in January
Watson, Gunter and Schwartz are all under contract for next season too.
Looking at our squad, excluding loan players it's notable that Purrington (24) is one of the youngest players, with only DJ and Morgan of the regulars younger than him
We need to reduce the average age of the squad for a start, or at least the average age of the starting XI. Also we need to reduce our reliance on loanees.
Bowyer steadily increased this during his tenure. In our 2018/19 promotion squad, 51% of appearances were made by players aged between 20 & 24, this has dropped to just 23% this season. In 18/19 14% of appearances were made by players aged 30+, this is 31% this season, our highest yet.
If anyone is curious I've written a bit more about this and included contract lengths in my blog here
Agreed
Ben Watson's experience might have been really useful for a young squad, but we already had Pratley and Pearce to provide that
And then we went out and signed 2 experienced RBs (31 and 29) and a 31 year old midfielder (Shinnie) followed by a 31 year old Danish striker in January
Watson, Gunter and Schwartz are all under contract for next season too.
Looking at our squad, excluding loan players it's notable that Purrington (24) is one of the youngest players, with only DJ and Morgan of the regulars younger than him
I think the Pompey fans criticism of Marquis is that he needs a ton of chances to score. So he might nick a goal but he'll miss 5-6 other good chances.
Then again you could argue that that's league one for you. If he took most of his chances, he wouldn't be playing in league one for Portsmouth.
Comments
Carlos Mendes Gomes of Morecamb
Joe Piggot of AFC Wimbledon
Don't know the Lincoln players but if they don't go up then they must have a couple we should look at.
Some decent loanees also, the likes of Di'Shon Bernard, CB from ManUtd, 20yrs old currently at Salford so has mens footy on his CV already which is good.
A big chunk of our U18 team given how well they are doing.
Much like in 11/12 when we players like Wiggins, Stephens, Hamer and Green came in.
Avoid “big names” who have lost their hunger or legs - the odd experienced player coming in is fine but have to be careful we’re not signing them a year or two too late. JFH was a great example of that, more recently Gunter and Watson haven’t performed as hoped. Shinnie is another - good player but there will be younger players out there who will be hungrier and hopefully here longer term. With the the salary cap gone we now have the freedom to pay decent wages which players will expect if you’re paying a reasonable fee.
TS is clearly very ambitious and I expect him to see to the bigger picture and not try to win promotion on the cheap. You don’t have to spend millions on fees and have the biggest budget in the league but get it right and we won’t have to spend so much in future - players should develop with us and the odd sale should boost the budget.
Much easier said than done but that’s the type of strategy I hope we have.
I liked the look of Bishop and Charles at Accrington when we played them. Imagine they are realistic option instead of the like of Jephcott at Plymouth who will probably cost £3/4million+
11-goals and six assists this season, would be perfect if we're sticking to 4-3-3
Having said that, after joining Wolves with potential he only scored one goal for them, which came at the Valley. So maybe it's his lucky ground and boy do we need some luck at home.
If you cant do everything for him he's not going to find the back of the net
Always presumed he was just another highly rated academy who graduated there
29 so not young, but maybe another Lyle Taylor type who peaks late in his career?
Joe Powell at Burton, came through at West Ham
Conor Grant at Plymouth, came through at Everton
Camara at Plymouth, nice physical presence although I missed our drubbing of them recently. Impressed me whenever I've seen him.
I think we'll be interested in Kirk again.
Lowery & Dale impressed, Piggott, Fraser & the lad at Wigan whose name escapes me
we need to bring the age of the squad/team down so pick the best youngsters from Leagues One/Two who we think are good enough for League One but can grow and improve to play Championship level plus a few more experienced players.
Bowyer steadily increased this during his tenure. In our 2018/19 promotion squad, 51% of appearances were made by players aged between 20 & 24, this has dropped to just 23% this season. In 18/19 14% of appearances were made by players aged 30+, this is 31% this season, our highest yet.
If anyone is curious I've written a bit more about this and included contract lengths in my blog here
From Lincoln I'd love it if we could sign Jorge Grant or Montsma but can see both going to the Championship regardless
Although I was another one impressed with Fraser at MK Dons.
McCann at St Johnstone had looked very promising in both games I've seen him in (no idea whether a) those games were reflective of him generally or b) whether there would be interest in him from higher up!).
Amos, NEW, allow AMB to get a season in League 2
Gunter, Matthews
Purrington, NEW
Inniss, 1 of Deji or Pearce, 2 x NEW
Gilbey, JFC, 1 of Watson or Pratley, 3 x NEW
DJ, 2 x NEW
Aneke, Washington, 2 x NEW
So I'd keep about 12 and look to sign at least 11. I'd be up for keeping Maatsen, Famewo and Stockley again. Maatsen has been inconsistent but let's not forget he turned 19 last month. If he had come through our academy we'd be raving about him. I wouldn't be against Millar returning either.
We need a couple of quality CM's, one with a real physical presence like Camara at Plymouth. That's where we have lost out this season (aside from CB but injuries have caused that). A couple of quality wingers are going to be important aswell under Adkins.
I think AMB and Morgan need loan spells. Pratley/Watson, Deji/Pearce, Shinnie, Schwartz should go.
The impression we are being given, is that we will be prepared to shell out.
We can only hope Gallen will come through with some stella signings......he certainly has the ability.
Ben Watson's experience might have been really useful for a young squad, but we already had Pratley and Pearce to provide that
And then we went out and signed 2 experienced RBs (31 and 29) and a 31 year old midfielder (Shinnie) followed by a 31 year old Danish striker in January
Watson, Gunter and Schwartz are all under contract for next season too.
Looking at our squad, excluding loan players it's notable that Purrington (24) is one of the youngest players, with only DJ and Morgan of the regulars younger than him
Why on earth would they hate him.....can’t see it myself?
That's a depressing sentence.
Then again you could argue that that's league one for you. If he took most of his chances, he wouldn't be playing in league one for Portsmouth.