All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Even a past it Arter will be a good player at this level, certainly better than any of our other midfielders.
Lee is proven at this level. Promoted out of it with Luton scoring 12 goals in 38 games and he scored 6 in 18 games last season with Oxford.
Leko for me easily competes with DJ and Kirk for a starting spot and can't think there will be many better attackers than him on the ball in this league.
Our business was slow but in the end I don't see how anyone can argue this isn't now a strong squad, left back cover aside, which may well be addressed if needed with a free transfer.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Without using clichés and word soup what we're you expecting?
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Same discussion was had last year. Blackpool got promoted last season and only scored 60 goals in the League, we scored 70. If Stockley got 15, Washington/Davison 15 between them and then 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk we're already well on our way. Gilbey, JFC, Clare and CBT should be able to get 10 between too.
One more goal than every team we play will do for me. Personally I don’t see goals as a massive problem this season. Lose Stockley and things could be tricky.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Same discussion was had last year. Blackpool got promoted last season and only scored 60 goals in the League, we scored 70. If Stockley got 15, Washington/Davison 15 between them and then 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk we're already well on our way. Gilbey, JFC, Clare and CBT should be able to get 10 between too.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Fucksake Razil, that’s a proper piss on everyone’s chips there,did you try and be as negative as possible or has that post just manifested itself that way?. I for one think we need to see how things start to pan out before any bold predictions, either negative or positive. I think things may go ok actually, and that’s all that needs to happen until January and if reevaluation needs to happen hopefully all will not be lost by then.
Interesting analysis, though I'm not sure it's possible to make that much of a correlation between simple squad numbers, seeing that some of the players will be youngsters on a low salary anyway. And clubs will continue to add players to the squad this season, such as free agents or promoting youngsters from the academy
Agreed, to try and get around this a little bit I've excluded signings and outgoings that are clearly "development players". A development player being one that has made fewer than 10 league appearances for the first team. Therefore Roddy is excluded as a signing as are any of our youngsters that were released without playing in a first team league game. Generally, I think all you can get from this is that more sides in league 1 are hoping to promote a few youngsters to fill gaps. Whether this is different from previous seasons prior to covid is hard to say without gathering all that information, what it does say is that we're not that unique from the rest of the division.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Same discussion was had last year. Blackpool got promoted last season and only scored 60 goals in the League, we scored 70. If Stockley got 15, Washington/Davison 15 between them and then 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk we're already well on our way. Gilbey, JFC, Clare and CBT should be able to get 10 between too.
That’s a very very big if mate
Is it? Washington has scored 34 in 101 in his last 3 League 1 seasons so averages 1 in 3. Him and Davison will be capable of chipping in and if Stockley is out I still feel confident we can create and score a few.
Unless of course you mean 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk? I don't think that's unrealistic either.
Washington bagged 11 on his own last season. Anything less than double figures would be disappointing from him.
Whilst I agree, I've said as much above, the issue this season will be playing time. If, as expected we go 4231 then Lee, DJ and Kirk are the obvious starters behind Stockley. Washington will be useful, playing out wide and up top, both on his own and alongside Stockley. I'm not sure he'll get double figures because I don't think he'll play enough. If he can get around 1 in 3/3.5 again then it will be very useful.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Same discussion was had last year. Blackpool got promoted last season and only scored 60 goals in the League, we scored 70. If Stockley got 15, Washington/Davison 15 between them and then 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk we're already well on our way. Gilbey, JFC, Clare and CBT should be able to get 10 between too.
That’s a very very big if mate
15 from Washington/Davison is definitely possible. Washington should hit double figures as last season, that leaves us with Davison picking up 4-5 goals himself. 20 between Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk is more than doable (Kirk scored 6 and DJ scored 5 in League 1 last season). I don’t see how you’ve come to either of those group goal tally’s as a “very very big if”.
History tells us that if we finish the season by scoring 20 or more goals than we concede, we will be top 6.
With the squad we have now, as long as we don’t mess things up through the season or have another injury crisis, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t manage to score 20 or more goals than we concede this season.
Haha ok might have misread that slightly. my view is this seems a gamble there’s a number of players in there wii could go either way, it seems a failed convulsive strategy, and not how the team was intended to look.
I don’t think we have the attacking edge we had last season, players like Aneke or Millar nor can I see NA getting as much out of players (until the wheels came off) that Bowyer did.
Haha ok might have misread that slightly. my view is this seems a gamble there’s a number of players in there wii could go either way, it seems a failed convulsive strategy, and not how the team was intended to look.
I don’t think we have the attacking edge we had last season, players like Aneke or Millar nor can I see NA getting as much out of players (until the wheels came off) that Bowyer did.
We haven’t got an attacking edge like Aneke, no chance, but from the attacking players we do have, we have replaced Millar. Kirk, Leko, and Lee all together will contribute more than Millar I am certain of it. Millar was very good for us, but I am sure the players I have mentioned can and will also be very good for us too.
Haha ok might have misread that slightly. my view is this seems a gamble there’s a number of players in there wii could go either way, it seems a failed convulsive strategy, and not how the team was intended to look.
I don’t think we have the attacking edge we had last season, players like Aneke or Millar nor can I see NA getting as much out of players (until the wheels came off) that Bowyer did.
I'll agree that having Aneke to replace or come on to partner Stockley was a huge plus. Cannot agree about Millar, was a decent player but we've got Leko, Kirk and CBT as well as Lee. We're going to play in a different way so I think you have to look at things differently. Under Bowyer we were starting Stockley and Washington with Aneke on the bench, this season we could well start with 3 AM/Wingers behind Stockley and still have 2/3 on the bench. We were one dimensional last season in my opinion because we lacked options other than Aneke. Of course he was so good that losing him was a blow, but I think it's totally wrong to say that it ends our chances, we will play a different style and we have the different options to do so.
The beautiful thing is the season is so early, the transfer window so freshly slammed and League One being as it is we have no idea. All of Razils comments about players individually have some fairness/merit but can equally be spun around to positives. Arter, way too good for L1 or unable to get into a shit Notts Forest team heading to L1 rapidly? Really who knows. He could be great, he could keep Watson company?
So many of our signings are like that in terms of not really knowing if they will be good or bad I have no idea if we will be challenging top 6 or hovering around lower mid table throughout.
Hopefully makes for an enjoyable journey, win, lose or draw.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Even Golfie gave this window 7.5 out of 10, sounds like you’re giving it about a 2. By not getting near the top 6 you’re saying top half at best. Maybe playoffs will turn out to be overestimating this window but I can’t see how we’ll be miles off last season’s 7th place.
What were you expecting?
No doubt it didn’t initially go to plan and moved slowly but we’ve ended the window signing four players who should perform at the level we need.
We have depth at CB, CM and out wide to cope with injuries and we’re looking to add two free agents.
There’s been a lot of comparisons to Powell’s signings in summer 2011 in this thread. If you look at that window there were plenty of gambles in there.
Yann - the Leicester reject who didn’t score goals and missed that penalty. Why did we give him a 2 year deal!! Desperation after the window closed
Hayes - struggled in the Championship
Morrison - not good enough for Wednesday, not good enough for us
Taylor and Green - from Exeter and Dagenham, not up to the standard
Hamer - loaned from Reading to Exeter, as above
Hughes - journeyman in his 30s who didn’t play much Scunthorpe
Solly and Wagstaff - from the academy but not good enough for a promotion side
Cort - 31 and not played much football in recent years (past it?)
Euell - as above
Pritchard - 25 from non-league, smacks of a limited budget and more desperation
Alonso - looks a great signing, will add technique and composure to our midfield
Stephens, Hollands and Wiggins - good signings but it’s not enough, how are we going to keep clean sheets and who will score goals alongside BWP?
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Wasn't anywhere near as bad as you're making out. We've signed Stockley, Arter, Lee, Kirk, Leko, Famewo, Lavelle plus others.
Obviously we need to replace the goals from Aneke but in signing Leko, Kirk and Lee we're going to create a lot more than we did last season.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Still trying to work out if this is WOOSH bait or not, maybe il run a poll.
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
Surely you're just after some cheap LOL's with this post
All seems like not enough goals in the team to me, and too many gambles: Arter (past it?) Leko (not recovered form after major injury) Lee (a loan from a bottom championship side where he was surplus) a failed prospect who fell out of a League 2 team on a short contract, only 2 players of the recent haul being of the possible standard we might have expected.
All smacks of a window that really didn’t go to plan, a failed strategy that is either malfunctioning, underfunded, badly flawed or all of the above. A desperate scramble at the end and even then still not resourced that well. Would be surprised if we get near the top six personally, but then maybe all were interested in is clean sheets.
The thing is we are a third division club buying in the bargain basement (Lidl, Aldi, yellow ticket area) looking at the close to expired, slightly damaged, odd, unpopular and untried and tested items looking for the odd gem, If we were shopping in the M&S and Waitrose part of the league, with proven, consistent quality, and popular requisites we wouldn't be able to afford them and they wouldn't want to come to us anyway.
Anyone that thought we would be in a relegation battle 2 weeks ago was over reacting. People that are saying we are miles away from a play off team are over reacting now. Anyone that said we were going to blow this league out of the water were also over reacting.
Remember last season we won 4 games out of 20 and were still in the top half.
We have a much better squad now that what we had pre January last season, you could argue we have a better one than post January as well.
Of course you can't guarantee promotion or even the play offs, but if we don't get in the play offs we will be bloody close.
In terms of goals only 1 of the 4 play off teams last season scored more than us, none conceded more.
One more goal than every team we play will do for me. Personally I don’t see goals as a massive problem this season.
Lose Stockley and things could be tricky.
Adkins would have to change his system.
Now we have brought in players that add flexibility, it shouldn't be too difficult to adapt to a different but effective gameplan.
I think Adkins' is probably smart enough to know that if Stockley is injured he couldn't just put Washington or Leko into the same role and expect it to work the same way.
He has a preferred system for sure (most managers do) but I don't think he's on the Robinson level of only having one he will/can ever use.
If that had ever happened to me and I knew about it I would tell the employer to roundly get stuffed simply because one would always be thinking,'What do they think of me and a small error in something would be undermining to say the least.
In the outside world it would be great to tell a prospective employer to do one, maybe some have been in that scenario, until reality sets in and you realise it is your bread and butter you are gambling with, I am sure Lavelle wanted to join us and was prepared to wait, i'm afraid in the football world that is the nature of the beast, as Greavsie said "Its a funny old game" Main thing is he has signed and we have a young hungry player on our hands who actually wanted to come and join the club.
Comments
Even a past it Arter will be a good player at this level, certainly better than any of our other midfielders.
Lee is proven at this level. Promoted out of it with Luton scoring 12 goals in 38 games and he scored 6 in 18 games last season with Oxford.
Leko for me easily competes with DJ and Kirk for a starting spot and can't think there will be many better attackers than him on the ball in this league.
Our business was slow but in the end I don't see how anyone can argue this isn't now a strong squad, left back cover aside, which may well be addressed if needed with a free transfer.
Generally, I think all you can get from this is that more sides in league 1 are hoping to promote a few youngsters to fill gaps. Whether this is different from previous seasons prior to covid is hard to say without gathering all that information, what it does say is that we're not that unique from the rest of the division.
Unless of course you mean 20 from Lee, Leko, DJ and Kirk? I don't think that's unrealistic either.
With the squad we have now, as long as we don’t mess things up through the season or have another injury crisis, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t manage to score 20 or more goals than we concede this season.
So many of our signings are like that in terms of not really knowing if they will be good or bad I have no idea if we will be challenging top 6 or hovering around lower mid table throughout.
Hopefully makes for an enjoyable journey, win, lose or draw.
What were you expecting?
No doubt it didn’t initially go to plan and moved slowly but we’ve ended the window signing four players who should perform at the level we need.
We have depth at CB, CM and out wide to cope with injuries and we’re looking to add two free agents.
There’s been a lot of comparisons to Powell’s signings in summer 2011 in this thread. If you look at that window there were plenty of gambles in there.
Yann - the Leicester reject who didn’t score goals and missed that penalty. Why did we give him a 2 year deal!! Desperation after the window closed
Hayes - struggled in the Championship
Morrison - not good enough for Wednesday, not good enough for us
Taylor and Green - from Exeter and Dagenham, not up to the standard
Hamer - loaned from Reading to Exeter, as above
Hughes - journeyman in his 30s who didn’t play much Scunthorpe
Solly and Wagstaff - from the academy but not good enough for a promotion side
Cort - 31 and not played much football in recent years (past it?)
Euell - as above
Pritchard - 25 from non-league, smacks of a limited budget and more desperation
Alonso - looks a great signing, will add technique and composure to our midfield
Stephens, Hollands and Wiggins - good signings but it’s not enough, how are we going to keep clean sheets and who will score goals alongside BWP?
Obviously we need to replace the goals from Aneke but in signing Leko, Kirk and Lee we're going to create a lot more than we did last season.
Remember last season we won 4 games out of 20 and were still in the top half.
We have a much better squad now that what we had pre January last season, you could argue we have a better one than post January as well.
Of course you can't guarantee promotion or even the play offs, but if we don't get in the play offs we will be bloody close.
In terms of goals only 1 of the 4 play off teams last season scored more than us, none conceded more.
Now we have brought in players that add flexibility, it shouldn't be too difficult to adapt to a different but effective gameplan.
He has a preferred system for sure (most managers do) but I don't think he's on the Robinson level of only having one he will/can ever use.
Main thing is he has signed and we have a young hungry player on our hands who actually wanted to come and join the club.
I'd heard that we had someone in reserve, we now know it Lavelle, in case Kerr was nicked off us and so it proved.