Well that optimism of “the best transfer window ever” quickly died down didn’t it.
It can be both. It is our best window for a long time in terms of money spent and quality. But it can also not be enough for the level. Not saying it’s the case but both statements can be true at the same time.
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
I think Carey is a ball carrier and meant to play that role for us. Doherty does it at times, like his role requires, but it’s really not his strength
This is what everyone was crying about last summer, it was the wrong opinion then and it’s the wrong opinion now
This discussion has been had many times on here, but if we sign a creative midfielder on our budget in the championship, then they are not going to be good enough at the other side of the game (a player that is would be out of our budget). Out of possession is much more important than in possession for us in the championship
We will create goals like we did last season, winning the ball high up the pitch with our press, or with the ball isolating Apter and TC in 1v1 situations and then also set pieces. We’ve created enough chances in the first 4 games, we just haven’t been clinical enough
We will not sign a creative midfielder, as just like last season when everyone was crying out for one in August, we don’t need one
Fullah is our best hope for that over a signing I think.
Then we are in huge trouble.
The same was being said this time last year. It’s not the way NJs teams play. We still got promoted, and he took Luton to the Championship playoffs in 21/22 after keeping them up in 19/20 and then finishing mid table in 20/21.
Fullah is our best hope for that over a signing I think.
Then we are in huge trouble.
Just like we were in huge trouble last season when everyone was saying we should sign a creative midfielder and we didn’t?
We did add one in January but barely used him, because we don’t need one
While I agree with that we still need an upgrade in midfield.
I’d agree with that but I don’t see it happening.
I thought one of our key signings would be in that box to box midfield role. It was never going to be a playmaker/creative type, but someone better on the ball than Docherty that still offers a lot out of possession in physicality and winning duels. We haven’t seen enough of Costello yet as he’s obviously our signing in that area of the pitch, too early to say he isn’t what we need there
In terms of creating chances at the moment we are 18th in the league
In terms of conceding chances, we have conceded the 4th least in the league.
We are never going to be a team that’s high up in the creative numbers. If we stay around 18th for that and keep the defence tight then we will stay up easily
Jones has been here for 18 months now and people still haven’t realised he doesn’t play with creative midfielders. We don’t need creativity but we do need quality, Carey and Coventry have started the season well and once Knibbs is up to speed hopefully he will come good. Still not 100% convinced on Docherty was great at Leicester but wasn’t good in the other 3 games. Doubt we get another midfielder because of the numbers but feel like we’re missing that elite box to box midfielder like a Gallagher or Aribo
Well that optimism of “the best transfer window ever” quickly died down didn’t it.
It can be both. It is our best window for a long time in terms of money spent and quality. But it can also not be enough for the level. Not saying it’s the case but both statements can be true at the same time.
Well it’s not the best in quality if they’re deemed not good enough is it.
Jones has been here for 18 months now and people still haven’t realised he doesn’t play with creative midfielders. We don’t need creativity but we do need quality, Carey and Coventry have started the season well and once Knibbs is up to speed hopefully he will come good. Still not 100% convinced on Docherty was great at Leicester but wasn’t good in the other 3 games. Doubt we get another midfielder because of the numbers but feel like we’re missing that elite box to box midfielder like a Gallagher or Aribo
Rewind to last August and I reckon you can find all of the following comments that turned out to be wrong
- We need a creative midfielder - we’re not going to score enough goals - Docherty isn’t good enough - TC isn’t good enough - Gillesphey isn’t good enough - our recruitment hasn’t been good enough
Lets maybe learn from last season and not jump to conclusions after 4 games at this level
Well that optimism of “the best transfer window ever” quickly died down didn’t it.
It can be both. It is our best window for a long time in terms of money spent and quality. But it can also not be enough for the level. Not saying it’s the case but both statements can be true at the same time.
Well it’s not the best in quality if they’re deemed not good enough is it.
Yes it is. The players we have brought in this window are better than literally every player we for a long time. Would you prefer Charlie Kirk over Apter or maybe Innis over Bell? The difference is the scale of competition and what we can afford.
Fullah is our best hope for that over a signing I think.
Then we are in huge trouble.
Just like we were in huge trouble last season when everyone was saying we should sign a creative midfielder and we didn’t?
We did add one in January but barely used him, because we don’t need one
Funny how everyone says we don’t need a creative midfielder, yet we were in for one this summer, Ethan Galbraith.
And we couldn’t convince him to sign.
I think it’s less that NJ is against creativity, it’s more that finding midfielders with everything he wants physically and defensively who are also creative is expensive.
Fullah is our best hope for that over a signing I think.
Then we are in huge trouble.
Just like we were in huge trouble last season when everyone was saying we should sign a creative midfielder and we didn’t?
We did add one in January but barely used him, because we don’t need one
Funny how everyone says we don’t need a creative midfielder, yet we were in for one this summer, Ethan Galbraith.
That’s exactly my point though, a creative midfielder as good as Galbraith is never going to sign for us. It’s not realistic, any player that good is going to have better teams in for them. I’m sure Jones would love a creative midfielder, but he would also need them to be brilliant without the ball as that’s way more important for us. That kind of player is nearly impossible to find as a new team in the championship on our budget.
I’m guessing you were one of those calling for us to sign one last season, you were proved wrong then and in my opinion you’re wrong again. I think saying we need a better midfielder is fine, I probably agree with you, though Costello hasn’t had enough time to show if he’s the answer yet
Fullah is our best hope for that over a signing I think.
Then we are in huge trouble.
Just like we were in huge trouble last season when everyone was saying we should sign a creative midfielder and we didn’t?
We did add one in January but barely used him, because we don’t need one
Funny how everyone says we don’t need a creative midfielder, yet we were in for one this summer, Ethan Galbraith.
That’s exactly my point though, a creative midfielder as good as Galbraith is never going to sign for us. It’s not realistic, any player that good is going to have better teams in for them. I’m sure Jones would love a creative midfielder, but he would also need them to be brilliant without the ball as that’s way more important for us. That kind of player is nearly impossible to find as a new team in the championship on our budget.
I’m guessing you were one of those calling for us to sign one last season, you were proved wrong then and in my opinion you’re wrong again. I think saying we need a better midfielder is fine, I probably agree with you, though Costello hasn’t had enough time to show if he’s the answer yet
That’s not true, if there was no chance he’d sign for us, we’d never be in for him in the first place.
But my point stands, we need one and Jones wanted/wants one. Im not saying that is going to be the difference between staying up or not, but this team would be better with one in the side.
I think Anderson is a 6, whereas he has been used as an 8 or 10. He will have more players in front of him to pass to. CC can do 8 as he has decent close control and Carey/ Knibbs at 10, or Fullah who can play a few roles. Not sure why we paid money for JRC.
I think Anderson is a 6, whereas he has been used as an 8 or 10. He will have more players in front of him to pass to. CC can do 8 as he has decent close control and Carey/ Knibbs at 10, or Fullah who can play a few roles. Not sure why we paid money for JRC.
Anderson as a holding midfielder would be a scary prospect, for us not the opposition. He is nowhere near reliable enough with the ball to play there, would get caught in possession too much
His future is as an 8, the Docherty role at the moment. He is not a Coventry at all
We desperately do need another RWB (probably on the other side too)
But also like others have said we do need a CM but it won’t be a creative player as NJ sees no value in creativity and ‘good’ football.
What we need is someone with Doc’s impressive work-rate but who can also handle the ball as Doc offers nothing on that front. Basically another Coventry or better.
Given how quiet it is I’m worried we’ll neither at this late stage. Fingers & toes crossed
Well that optimism of “the best transfer window ever” quickly died down didn’t it.
It can be both. It is our best window for a long time in terms of money spent and quality. But it can also not be enough for the level. Not saying it’s the case but both statements can be true at the same time.
Well it’s not the best in quality if they’re deemed not good enough is it.
Yes it is. The players we have brought in this window are better than literally every player we for a long time. Would you prefer Charlie Kirk over Apter or maybe Innis over Bell? The difference is the scale of competition and what we can afford.
We're one division higher, so obviously the new signings are better. Being better than Kirk isn't the issue, it's how they compare with the comparable signings other Championship clubs have made.
Knibbs, Kelman, Apter versus Poku, Galbraith, Kone for example.
How many clear-cut chances have our forwards actually missed in the first four games? Perhaps Leaburn yesterday, and maybe TC with that poor touch as well—but not many beyond that. We can debate whether Jones prefers to play with a creative player through the middle or not, but in my view, our forwards clearly need more support. Bringing in that type of player would also ease the pressure currently placed on Apter and TC to deliver. Jones may not see it that way, and financial limitations could play a part, but at Championship level you need something different—even if it comes in the form of a loan signing.
Comments
This discussion has been had many times on here, but if we sign a creative midfielder on our budget in the championship, then they are not going to be good enough at the other side of the game (a player that is would be out of our budget). Out of possession is much more important than in possession for us in the championship
We will create goals like we did last season, winning the ball high up the pitch with our press, or with the ball isolating Apter and TC in 1v1 situations and then also set pieces. We’ve created enough chances in the first 4 games, we just haven’t been clinical enough
We will not sign a creative midfielder, as just like last season when everyone was crying out for one in August, we don’t need one
In terms of conceding chances, we have conceded the 4th least in the league.
- We need a creative midfielder
- we’re not going to score enough goals
- Docherty isn’t good enough
- TC isn’t good enough
- Gillesphey isn’t good enough
- our recruitment hasn’t been good enough
Lets maybe learn from last season and not jump to conclusions after 4 games at this level
I think it’s less that NJ is against creativity, it’s more that finding midfielders with everything he wants physically and defensively who are also creative is expensive.
But my point stands, we need one and Jones wanted/wants one. Im not saying that is going to be the difference between staying up or not, but this team would be better with one in the side.
His future is as an 8, the Docherty role at the moment. He is not a Coventry at all
But also like others have said we do need a CM but it won’t be a creative player as NJ sees no value in creativity and ‘good’ football.
Given how quiet it is I’m worried we’ll neither at this late stage. Fingers & toes crossed
Knibbs, Kelman, Apter versus Poku, Galbraith, Kone for example.