I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
Don't think there's any need for panic yet, would like to see Tanto and possibly Knibbs given a start. How else do they ever get match fit when only given 15-20 minute cameos at the end?
We've signed players that would probably win League 1, but that doesn't necessarily equate to success in the championship. The gulf between the 2 leagues is widening every season. Also signing other champ squad players isn't going to give us what we need to close that gap. Only a couple of days left to get that extra bit of quality in. I hope it happens.
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
In the grand scheme of things £4.5m is peanuts for 2 strikers at this level. Think because we’ve gone up and spent a bit of money (for us) people have got over excited. W
Ultimately the aim has to be to stay in the Championship this season - that’s a successful season imo. If we want a team that is going to be at the higher end of the table you would have to double what we’ve spent already and some.
Important to remember where we were just 2 years ago, too. It took a big step progression in terms of squad quality to go from an almost historic low finish to promoted in the space of 12 months. Now we’ve had to take another step progression to get to a competitive l level in the Championship. To expect more progression than that in a single transfer window is not realistic.
Even with the bump today as we come back down to earth, I think I we’ve shown enough so far we’re not going to be pushovers. With a different ref today’s result could’ve been different even without is playing early as well as we did in the first three matches of the season.
I still believe we are going to be okay this year, but we do have to reasonable about what the expected margin between fine and trouble will be.
I think there will be a mini league of 7 or 8 teams in the bottom third of the division, I’d be delighted to be towards the top of that mini league.
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
In the grand scheme of things £4.5m is peanuts for 2 strikers at this level. Think because we’ve gone up and spent a bit of money (for us) people have got over excited. W
Ultimately the aim has to be to stay in the Championship this season - that’s a successful season imo. If we want a team that is going to be at the higher end of the table you would have to double what we’ve spent already and some.
Important to remember where we were just 2 years ago, too. It took a big step progression in terms of squad quality to go from an almost historic low finish to promoted in the space of 12 months. Now we’ve had to take anything step progression to get to a competitive l level in the Championship. To expect more progression than that in a single transfer window is not realistic.
Even with the bump today as we come back down to earth, I think I we’ve shown enough so far we’re not going to be pushovers. With a different ref today’s result could’ve been different even without is playing early as well as we did in the first three matches of the season.
I still believe we are going to be okay this year, but we do have to reasonable about what the expected margin between fine and trouble will be.
I think there will be a mini league of 7 or 8 teams in the bottom third of the division, I’d be delighted to be towards the top of that mini league.
It's the same problem newly promoted sides in the PL face. Even if you have money to spend, the best players won't be interested, so the danger is that you end up with a deeper squad of players who are good, but not quite good enough, rather than taking your existing squad and adding some genuine quality.
That's where a really good loan player really helps. Without Gallagher in the first half of 19/20, we'd have been relegated far sooner than the final day. I don't think NJ is the sort of manager who will attract the best PL youngsters though, unlike Bowyer (for a while).
What we've spent is huge for us compared to what we've spent previously, but it's very small fry in the Championship. We're trying to sign first team players for a couple of million, most teams in this league now spend that on a rotation option at best, and proper first teamers are closer to 8 figure fees.
I think the mini slump and a weekend off is the best time for Jones to get into them, tactically, have a bit of a reset and maybe rotate the squad a bit. We started strong with Carey, Docherty and Coventry, and TC with another up top, but maybe there's an opportunity now to give Tanto and Knibbs a league start, or try out JRC with Coventry alongside him instead of Anderson. (Though if any of our players will be "up" for the Millwall game, I reckon Docherty is near the top of that list)
What we've spent is huge for us compared to what we've spent previously, but it's very small fry in the Championship. We're trying to sign first team players for a couple of million, most teams in this league now spend that on a rotation option at best, and proper first teamers are closer to 8 figure fees.
I think the mini slump and a weekend off is the best time for Jones to get into them, tactically, have a bit of a reset and maybe rotate the squad a bit. We started strong with Carey, Docherty and Coventry, and TC with another up top, but maybe there's an opportunity now to give Tanto and Knibbs a league start, or try out JRC with Coventry alongside him instead of Anderson. (Though if any of our players will be "up" for the Millwall game, I reckon Docherty is near the top of that list)
Agreed, no chance Doc is not playing against Millwall unless injured
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
Don't think there's any need for panic yet, would like to see Tanto and possibly Knibbs given a start. How else do they ever get match fit when only given 15-20 minute cameos at the end?
I wonder if Liverpool will have the same problem with Issak when they eventually sign him on Monday ? Will he spend a month coming off the bench for 10 mins & not start a match until mid October ?
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
Don't think there's any need for panic yet, would like to see Tanto and possibly Knibbs given a start. How else do they ever get match fit when only given 15-20 minute cameos at the end?
I wonder if Liverpool will have the same problem with Issak when they eventually sign him on Monday ? Will he spend a month coming off the bench for 10 mins & not start a match until mid October ?
Will be straight on international duty with Sweden so won't train with them at all. I would be surprised even if he's supposedly doing sessions on his own if he's fit enough to start for Sweden.
I'd be very tempted to start Tanto against Millwall and use the " ex player scores for us against a former club" trick that we rarely see work in our favour.
Remember when we got promoted and the majority on here (including me) were in the ‘I’d take 21st’ camp? Well, finishing 21st involves losing quite a few games, so let’s all keep it together and put the hysteria on hold. Losing is never nice, but it’s going to happen. We are good enough to stay up.
Remember when we got promoted and the majority on here (including me) were in the ‘I’d take 21st’ camp? Well, finishing 21st involves losing quite a few games, so let’s all keep it together and put the hysteria on hold. Losing is never nice, but it’s going to happen. We are good enough to stay up.
Currently on track for 46 points, 49 was what was needed last season. It's completely doable
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
Don't think there's any need for panic yet, would like to see Tanto and possibly Knibbs given a start. How else do they ever get match fit when only given 15-20 minute cameos at the end?
I wonder if Liverpool will have the same problem with Issak when they eventually sign him on Monday ? Will he spend a month coming off the bench for 10 mins & not start a match until mid October ?
Will be straight on international duty with Sweden so won't train with them at all. I would be surprised even if he's supposedly doing sessions on his own if he's fit enough to start for Sweden.
I'd be very tempted to start Tanto against Millwall and use the " ex player scores for us against a former club" trick that we rarely see work in our favour.
Might have worked today if Kelman had started instead of having his obligatory 10 mins.
Without knowing game fitness levels it's hard to comment on selection. Perhaps the players signed don't fit NJ's successful L1 tactics and he hasn't changed to take account of this ?
I actually think people have got it all wrong, we don't need a left wing back or right wing back as priority at all.
Ramsay, Apter and Costello can all play on that right flank, Bell, Edwards can cover the left. Gillesphey can play in that back 5 comfortably if Ramsay was shifted out wide (I actually think we miss Gillespheys passing)
The central midfield is the problem. There can't be a worse midfield in the league on paper as a whole. The game completely passed us by there.
No physicality, no skill, no quality, no passing range. It's all just run around a lot and hit and hope. Like Cov and Dob couldn't play together, Doc and Cov can't play together at this level imo, it's too defensive, our forwards having nothing to play on.
I actually think people have got it all wrong, we don't need a left wing back or right wing back as priority at all.
Ramsay, Apter and Costello can all play on that right flank, Bell, Edwards can cover the left. Gillesphey can play in that back 5 comfortably if Ramsay was shifted out wide (I actually think we miss Gillespheys passing)
The central midfield is the problem. There can't be a worse midfield in the league on paper as a whole. The game completely passed us by there.
No physicality, no skill, no quality, no passing range. It's all just run around a lot and hit and hope. Like Cov and Dob couldn't play together, Doc and Cov can't play together at this level imo, it's too defensive, our forwards having nothing to play on.
100% spot on.
Doc & Cov don't create anything. We still haven't brought in a proper midfield man who can create chances for the forwards - someone who can play a killer ball into their path. Would also help if this midfield genius can take a fee kick.
Nathan Jones has confirmed that it will be one signing and not two. JRS please 🙏
We really need 2 or 3 if we have any chance of staying up and they need to be Premier League loans. The loan market is undervalued and I don't care if we improve someone else's player if it means we stay in this division.
Very dramatic to say we only have a chance of staying up if we sign 2 or 3 PL loans tomorrow.
After watching the last three games I was going to suggest it's time to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside.
Only a matter of time before we’re forced to resort to cannibalism.
I know its early days and don’t want to judge too soon but anyone else concerned we’ve spent 4.5M on a strike force, 2.5M on a midfield who can’t seem to break into the starting XI, 1M on a keeper who didn’t make the one save today we specifically brought him in for and a CB who is taking Chuks backroom role. Apter been the only solid player so far we’ve actually spent a fee on. Carey and Bell have looked very good for free transfers so fair play there but considering the hype and reviews we were getting for our business from not just our fans other clubs as well just can’t help to feel a bit underwhelmed especially when u look at someone like Galbraith who we wanted who has hit the ground running at Swansea
Why use this as an example? He's played 4, 1 assist, 3 yellow cards.
You can't be underwhelmed by majority of signings because one other player we tried to get has apparently hit the ground running, especially as you point out one of ours (Apter) has started well too.
Don't mean to be harsh, but if you expected all signings with a transfer fee to be brilliant within 4 games, then your expectations are too high.
Obviously, it will take a little time for all the new players to be consistently putting in strong performances. They are going to have off days.
What we've spent is huge for us compared to what we've spent previously, but it's very small fry in the Championship. We're trying to sign first team players for a couple of million, most teams in this league now spend that on a rotation option at best, and proper first teamers are closer to 8 figure fees.
I think the mini slump and a weekend off is the best time for Jones to get into them, tactically, have a bit of a reset and maybe rotate the squad a bit. We started strong with Carey, Docherty and Coventry, and TC with another up top, but maybe there's an opportunity now to give Tanto and Knibbs a league start, or try out JRC with Coventry alongside him instead of Anderson. (Though if any of our players will be "up" for the Millwall game, I reckon Docherty is near the top of that list)
Exactly this. Most Charlton fans were surprised that we spent 10m+ and we're all very glad that we did, but there are teams in this league spending more than that on one player.
It's not too dissimilar to a club like Burnley getting promoted to the Premier league, spending a lot of money (relative to the club) on players to try and stay up, but then coming up against sides who spend that on one striker.
I do think we'll be ok though, Hull, Oxford and Sheff Weds are the 3 sides we realistically need to be looking at finishing above.
I actually think people have got it all wrong, we don't need a left wing back or right wing back as priority at all.
Ramsay, Apter and Costello can all play on that right flank, Bell, Edwards can cover the left. Gillesphey can play in that back 5 comfortably if Ramsay was shifted out wide (I actually think we miss Gillespheys passing)
The central midfield is the problem. There can't be a worse midfield in the league on paper as a whole. The game completely passed us by there.
No physicality, no skill, no quality, no passing range. It's all just run around a lot and hit and hope. Like Cov and Dob couldn't play together, Doc and Cov can't play together at this level imo, it's too defensive, our forwards having nothing to play on.
100% spot on.
Doc & Cov don't create anything. We still haven't brought in a proper midfield man who can create chances for the forwards - someone who can play a killer ball into their path. Would also help if this midfield genius can take a fee kick.
We’ve had about 3 of those since I started watching. Doc is a problem, in my view , but I believe the system that leaves the striker completely isolated is a bigger one . It worked in league one but it’s not working now .
I actually think people have got it all wrong, we don't need a left wing back or right wing back as priority at all.
Ramsay, Apter and Costello can all play on that right flank, Bell, Edwards can cover the left. Gillesphey can play in that back 5 comfortably if Ramsay was shifted out wide (I actually think we miss Gillespheys passing)
The central midfield is the problem. There can't be a worse midfield in the league on paper as a whole. The game completely passed us by there.
No physicality, no skill, no quality, no passing range. It's all just run around a lot and hit and hope. Like Cov and Dob couldn't play together, Doc and Cov can't play together at this level imo, it's too defensive, our forwards having nothing to play on.
I can’t see us bringing in another CM this window, so we need to find a better combination. We have other options with JRC, Knibbs, Anderson and Fullah, so I’m hopeful we will, even though longer term we’ll need better.
I think we probably are 4 players short, currently of being as competitive as NJ wants us to be. A wing-back, a central midfielder, someone who can play wide and as a second striker like TC (JRS would be perfect let’s be honest), and actually missing someone who can really hold the ball up top if needed. Leaburn is great but his game is best with the ball at his feet not up to his head back to goal holding off defenders if we are under a bit of pressure.
Hoping the club surprise us and get 2 more in but not having any expectations whatsoever.
I think we should be all over the signing of Luke Woolfenden who wants to leave Ipswich. Would provide great defensive competition and has both premier league and championship experience at a good age of 26.
Remember when we got promoted and the majority on here (including me) were in the ‘I’d take 21st’ camp? Well, finishing 21st involves losing quite a few games, so let’s all keep it together and put the hysteria on hold. Losing is never nice, but it’s going to happen. We are good enough to stay up.
Currently on track for 46 points, 49 was what was needed last season. It's completely doable
I think there’s been a bit of an overreaction from yesterday. Over the 4 games we’ve been decent and probably deserve more than 4 points. If we keep playing like we have this month all season then we will stay up
Goals have been a struggle but we have Knibbs and Kelman to get up to speed, plus Godden to come back from injury. There’s goals in those 3 players
Burkes a weird one because from the outside it doesn’t look like a ‘bargain bin’ signing. The knowledge that he had severe injury record was there. The whole thing is so od
So is your spelling.
Actually nothing odd about it. Just another member of the Nathan Jones mutual support group for Luton rejects.
Nathan Jones took such a pasting as manager at Stoke and Southampton that he has developed a siege mentality, stubborn and closed to advice from outsiders. "My way or the highway". He wants to surround himself with yes-men and is more comfortable with those who remind him of his glory years at Luton. This is such a common pattern with public figures, politicians, entertainers and military leaders it is easily recognizable.
Sometimes it works. Stalin got the job done. Hitler didn't. It has worked for Nathan Jones so far. Much as I would like to see us at least try to play football, I realize it could be very dangerous to change strategy now. I think we are stuck with it, at least until the end of the season. I do not think we will get relegated, and we do have a very remote chance of making top 6. Keep your fingers crossed!
Winner of the wiedest post I have ever seen, how did Hitler and Stalin get in a discussion about football, is beyond me
Nathan did set a table tennis table ablaze allegedly but I have never thought of him in a triumvirate with Hitler, Stalin and Jones 😱
Three at the back?
I had Caesar, Cassius and Pompey as my back 3 but what have the Romans ever done for us ?
I just can't see Adolf, Joseph and Nathan working as a 3 as they will all go charging forward.
Apparently Mussolini made his debut in Serie A last night…
Agree midfield is an issue for us and although Doc has grown on me since this time last year it probably has to be his position to change
Is Carey replacing him and Knibbs as 10 an option for us ?
JRS would be an incredible loan for us and exactly what we need with TC able to come off the bench and have more of an impact, but I’d say the chances of getting that one over the line are slim
Still think there is a bit of panic mode setting in with some people, yesterday was just a harsh lesson of the championship and let’s face it we are going to lose more games than we win, just need to learn the lessons from it and I’m sure NJ will do that.
I do think there's a tendency to look at one match and extrapolate wildly out from it. Our midfield is never completely brilliant, but it never will be because a lot of what Jones does is miss out the midfield and use them to defend and to jump onto second balls to cycle the ball forward again. But regardless of that, just last week our two best players according to the statbank and realistically anyone who watched the match were Conor Coventry and Greg Docherty. Coventry was incredible, could have had a hattrick if not for some brilliant keeping and defending and Docherty snapped into everything, shut down plenty of Leicester attacks and upped his passing percentage to 94%. Yes we lost that game but I think anyone would agree it was a travesty, and we had 20 shots that game. We created enough, we just didn't finish, it definitely wasn't the midfield's fault. We're 4 games in, I don't think we can be drawing any conclusions from individual games about what can and can't work, all we can really say is that sometimes our players are good and sometimes they're a bit rubbish. There was plenty of chat last week about Ramsay playing in the Premier League and whether £7m was an insult to us but yesterday he looked like REG used to look for us in L1. I think we need to be looking at the gaps in cover before the window closes, not reinvention
Agree midfield is an issue for us and although Doc has grown on me since this time last year it probably has to be his position to change
Is Carey replacing him and Knibbs as 10 an option for us ?
JRS would be an incredible loan for us and exactly what we need with TC able to come off the bench and have more of an impact, but I’d say the chances of getting that one over the line are slim
Still think there is a bit of panic mode setting in with some people, yesterday was just a harsh lesson of the championship and let’s face it we are going to lose more games than we win, just need to learn the lessons from it and I’m sure NJ will do that.
Think it would be the other way around. I saw somewhere that Knibbs has played that position before. Although, it would be unfair on Doc as he has been very good so far. But if the a change is needed the midfield is the place to do it
Missing the dynamism in midfield, someone willing to carry the ball 10-20 yards. Yesterday the back line had the ball and the three midfielders were moving out wide leaving no options open to the likes of Jones and Bell.
Don’t see another man coming I but agreed it’s something we miss in midfield
Comments
Even with the bump today as we come back down to earth, I think I we’ve shown enough so far we’re not going to be pushovers. With a different ref today’s result could’ve been different even without is playing early as well as we did in the first three matches of the season.
I still believe we are going to be okay this year, but we do have to reasonable about what the expected margin between fine and trouble will be.
I think there will be a mini league of 7 or 8 teams in the bottom third of the division, I’d be delighted to be towards the top of that mini league.
That's where a really good loan player really helps. Without Gallagher in the first half of 19/20, we'd have been relegated far sooner than the final day. I don't think NJ is the sort of manager who will attract the best PL youngsters though, unlike Bowyer (for a while).
I think the mini slump and a weekend off is the best time for Jones to get into them, tactically, have a bit of a reset and maybe rotate the squad a bit. We started strong with Carey, Docherty and Coventry, and TC with another up top, but maybe there's an opportunity now to give Tanto and Knibbs a league start, or try out JRC with Coventry alongside him instead of Anderson. (Though if any of our players will be "up" for the Millwall game, I reckon Docherty is near the top of that list)
I'd be very tempted to start Tanto against Millwall and use the " ex player scores for us against a former club" trick that we rarely see work in our favour.
Ramsay, Apter and Costello can all play on that right flank, Bell, Edwards can cover the left. Gillesphey can play in that back 5 comfortably if Ramsay was shifted out wide (I actually think we miss Gillespheys passing)
The central midfield is the problem. There can't be a worse midfield in the league on paper as a whole. The game completely passed us by there.
No physicality, no skill, no quality, no passing range. It's all just run around a lot and hit and hope. Like Cov and Dob couldn't play together, Doc and Cov can't play together at this level imo, it's too defensive, our forwards having nothing to play on.
Doc & Cov don't create anything. We still haven't brought in a proper midfield man who can create chances for the forwards - someone who can play a killer ball into their path. Would also help if this midfield genius can take a fee kick.
Don't mean to be harsh, but if you expected all signings with a transfer fee to be brilliant within 4 games, then your expectations are too high.
It's not too dissimilar to a club like Burnley getting promoted to the Premier league, spending a lot of money (relative to the club) on players to try and stay up, but then coming up against sides who spend that on one striker.
I do think we'll be ok though, Hull, Oxford and Sheff Weds are the 3 sides we realistically need to be looking at finishing above.
Hoping the club surprise us and get 2 more in but not having any expectations whatsoever.
Goals have been a struggle but we have Knibbs and Kelman to get up to speed, plus Godden to come back from injury. There’s goals in those 3 players
Great grandson of II Duce.
Is Carey replacing him and Knibbs as 10 an option for us ?
JRS would be an incredible loan for us and exactly what we need with TC able to come off the bench and have more of an impact, but I’d say the chances of getting that one over the line are slim
Still think there is a bit of panic mode setting in with some people, yesterday was just a harsh lesson of the championship and let’s face it we are going to lose more games than we win, just need to learn the lessons from it and I’m sure NJ will do that.
Don’t melt.