|
Post by biddulphchav on Jul 27, 2023 13:46:44 GMT
Lots of new players, yes. But, a big plus is a decent keeper compared to what we started last season with. If we can add a decent CB, the back 5 is shaping up well so we will at least be hard to beat in theory. Something to build on
|
|
|
Post by nott1 on Jul 27, 2023 13:48:16 GMT
Apologies for butchering The Specials and maybe putting a downer on all the new signings buzz. But. While I rate the manager, it’s going to take Guardiola like genius to integrate this amount of players and nationalities and make us genuinely competitive this season. That said, if the fans get on board, and we get a solid mid table finish with clear signs of a new identity and evolution, then I think promotion could become a real possibility in a season or two’s time. Or am I being too negative? You miserable sod....I'm expecting excitement, entertainment and top of the league all season
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 13:48:56 GMT
Don’t disagree with any of that. But that’s not the point I am making. I’m saying it’s a massive challenge for any manager to integrate that number of new first team players. A rookie manager made it look easy past season, as his team absolutely pissed the league. I'm not saying it's easy but a good manager with a good plan who gets his recruitment right will stand a very good chance of succeeding, especially in this division. Alex Neil, as Pugsley has already said, didn't come cheap, and his memo this season will be to get his team challenging in amd around the play-offs, it has to be. Burnley were packed with top level players from their time in the Premier League. It’s completely different. If Neil gets us into the playoffs it will be on par with Pulis getting us promoted.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2023 13:50:40 GMT
A rookie manager made it look easy past season, as his team absolutely pissed the league. I'm not saying it's easy but a good manager with a good plan who gets his recruitment right will stand a very good chance of succeeding, especially in this division. Alex Neil, as Pugsley has already said, didn't come cheap, and his memo this season will be to get his team challenging in amd around the play-offs, it has to be. Burnley were packed with top level players from their time in the Premier League. It’s completely different. If Neil gets us into the playoffs it will be on par with Pulis getting us promoted. Not if we don't go up it won't
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2023 13:51:44 GMT
Why? He's got in the players he wants, surely he has an idea on how they are going to play and the system? Sorry, there are no excuses. Seriously? So you expect him to integrate all these new players overnight? I agree he needs to be accountable and he will live or die by these signings. But he also deserves a chance to continue the building process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I can see where you are coming from and I think your reasoning is why Middlesbrough had signed 7 new players weeks ago. They have spent the last month trying different things ( seeing what works/ what doesn't) in a series of unimportant pre season friendlies. Boro's plan is to hit the ground running on August 5 th, start as they mean to go on , and be in the mix for promotion/ play off all season long from day one. I am making excuses for AN but I guess ( privately) he would say , he would have loved to have done the same, but couldn't. Privately, I think to be honest AN is going for improvement, rather promotion and tbh if he can get us out of a rut , we have been in for years , I would settle for that .
|
|
|
Post by dirtclod on Jul 27, 2023 13:53:28 GMT
My wife and I asked ourselves this same question 37 years ago. But by then it was too late and we ended up married.
|
|
|
Post by owdestokie2 on Jul 27, 2023 13:53:55 GMT
We need to be within striking distance of the playoffs at Xmas. Then we have a great opportunity to really progress with the January Window.
|
|
|
Post by owdestokie2 on Jul 27, 2023 13:54:05 GMT
We need to be within striking distance of the playoffs at Xmas. Then we have a great opportunity to really progress with the January Window.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2023 13:55:17 GMT
I think AN , thought it was time for a fresh shake of the dice and I think he has called that right . Of course a fresh shake of the dice could go either way, but to be fair there seems a logic to AN's signings. Hopefully they will allow us to try and do things differently this season. We were in a rut and if he can get us out of constantly playing in the same way , with no variety, against bottom half teams at the 365 , in a this looks like 0-0 all day long ( oops we have conceded , make that 0-1) way . I will be happy with that . I think the plan is for improvement. I think AN is aiming to get us to the top half of the table. If he can do that, and put and end to clueless , no variety, performances v bottom half teams at the bet 365 , then that is progress ! Good luck to him We're signing all these players just so AN can move us up the table 5 or 6 places? Christ on a bike. I think so ! Because I think we will be undercooked on August 5 th I think AN has done some good things, I think the season will improve as we go on , but I can't see us hitting the ground running on August 5.
|
|
|
Post by dirtclod on Jul 27, 2023 13:58:45 GMT
46 games. With likely "shallow" squad-depth.
Major factor will be how the injury gods treat us THIS year.
Would actually love to see us improving as we go through the season. We're not going to storm out of the barn door on Day 1 looking like Juventus.
|
|
|
Post by foster on Jul 27, 2023 14:00:13 GMT
Why? He's got in the players he wants, surely he has an idea on how they are going to play and the system? Sorry, there are no excuses. Seriously? So you expect him to integrate all these new players overnight? I agree he needs to be accountable and he will live or die by these signings. But he also deserves a chance to continue the building process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Just out of interest who has said that AN won't be cut any slack and that we have to be promoted or nothing else? I don't think that's a realistic reflection of the general consensus on here. I think the vast majority of people are expecting an improvement and are hopeful of a playoff place maybe. At this point AN doesn't need any excuses being made. I think its only common sense to assume that the team may need some time to gel.
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 14:02:12 GMT
Seriously? So you expect him to integrate all these new players overnight? I agree he needs to be accountable and he will live or die by these signings. But he also deserves a chance to continue the building process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Just out of interest who has said that AN won't be cut any slack and that we have to be promoted or nothing else? I don't think that's a realistic reflection of the general consensus on here. I think the vast majority of people are expecting an improvement and are hopeful of a playoff place maybe. At this point AN doesn't need any excuses being made. I think its only common sense to assume that the team may need some time to gel. Errrrrr. Pretty much what Pugsley is saying I think??
|
|
|
Post by foster on Jul 27, 2023 14:03:51 GMT
Just out of interest who has said that AN won't be cut any slack and that we have to be promoted or nothing else? I don't think that's a realistic reflection of the general consensus on here. I think the vast majority of people are expecting an improvement and are hopeful of a playoff place maybe. At this point AN doesn't need any excuses being made. I think its only common sense to assume that the team may need some time to gel. Errrrrr. Pretty much what Pugsley is saying I think?? Great poster.
|
|
|
Post by chiswickpotter on Jul 27, 2023 14:04:59 GMT
Why? He's got in the players he wants, surely he has an idea on how they are going to play and the system? Sorry, there are no excuses. Seriously? So you expect him to integrate all these new players overnight? I agree he needs to be accountable and he will live or die by these signings. But he also deserves a chance to continue the building process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. He changes the tactics every week to counter the opposition. The need for integration is overdone, players today are very tactically astute and adjust easily. Keys are get the best squad you can even if it means waiting and don’t go hard too fast - Burnley won once in August last season. On paper we are having our best summer for at least a decade
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 14:07:10 GMT
Errrrrr. Pretty much what Pugsley is saying I think?? Great poster. He is. And?
|
|
|
Post by hoppo96 on Jul 27, 2023 14:08:36 GMT
Apologies for butchering The Specials and maybe putting a downer on all the new signings buzz. But. While I rate the manager, it’s going to take Guardiola like genius to integrate this amount of players and nationalities and make us genuinely competitive this season. That said, if the fans get on board, and we get a solid mid table finish with clear signs of a new identity and evolution, then I think promotion could become a real possibility in a season or two’s time. Or am I being too negative? We've signed eight, and only four are *foreign*. Two portuguese, one dutch, one jamaican. One of the portuguese and dutch were at Wolves, the jamaican has been in this country his entire professional career
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 14:09:48 GMT
Apologies for butchering The Specials and maybe putting a downer on all the new signings buzz. But. While I rate the manager, it’s going to take Guardiola like genius to integrate this amount of players and nationalities and make us genuinely competitive this season. That said, if the fans get on board, and we get a solid mid table finish with clear signs of a new identity and evolution, then I think promotion could become a real possibility in a season or two’s time. Or am I being too negative? We've signed eight, and only four are *foreign*. Two portuguese, one dutch, one jamaican. One of the portuguese and dutch were at Wolves, the jamaican has been in this country his entire professional career Fair point.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 27, 2023 14:14:20 GMT
Just out of interest who has said that AN won't be cut any slack and that we have to be promoted or nothing else? I don't think that's a realistic reflection of the general consensus on here. I think the vast majority of people are expecting an improvement and are hopeful of a playoff place maybe. At this point AN doesn't need any excuses being made. I think its only common sense to assume that the team may need some time to gel. Errrrrr. Pretty much what Pugsley is saying I think?? I'm saying that AN has been brought in to get promotion, not to fanny around in mid table and get his back slapped for doing so. He's been here for 9 months as it is.
|
|
|
Post by cvillestokie on Jul 27, 2023 14:15:03 GMT
Agreed. If Onomah does sign, I’d still like someone better than Laurent. Ideally, we bring in one central defender and two target men as well. At that point, we may have a fairly balanced squad, assuming we don’t sell anyone (other than Gayle). I mean really we still need a back up goalie, another right back, 2 CBS, a left back, at least one more central midfielder and two forwards. Do not see us signing a whole new defence. Nor do I think that we need to. Unless we get rid of Tymon, I suspect he’ll be playing there (at least until January). Wilmot will be one of our main defenders and is at worst, an average defender in this league. Bonham is about as good a back up as we will likely get. What goalkeeper is going to come to sit on the bench for Travers?
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 14:23:05 GMT
Errrrrr. Pretty much what Pugsley is saying I think?? I'm saying that AN has been brought in to get promotion, not to fanny around in mid table and get his back slapped for doing so. He's been here for 9 months as it is. 9 months. Exactly. Barely in the door. And we’re seeing a complete overhaul of the sorry bunch of wasters who were clogging up the dressing room. Now starts the real business of building a team from all these shiny new additions. This season is huge for Neil and the club. If it ends in promotion great. If it ends with clear progress and a solid platform for promotion next season then that will do for me too.
|
|
|
Post by Vadiation_Ribe on Jul 27, 2023 14:25:46 GMT
We've got continuity in the outfield with likely starters being Wilmot, Hoever, Laurent, Pearson, and at least 1 or 2 of Brown, Campbell, and Gayle. That's at least 5 or 6 of the outfield 10. Baker, Thompson, and Tymon will also feature if they don't leave.
Add to that players who've played together previously at Wolves and possibly Preston.
It's the kind of turnover we needed and would've happened even if O'Neill was still manager.
|
|
|
Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 27, 2023 14:27:48 GMT
I mean really we still need a back up goalie, another right back, 2 CBS, a left back, at least one more central midfielder and two forwards. Do not see us signing a whole new defence. Nor do I think that we need to. Unless we get rid of Tymon, I suspect he’ll be playing there (at least until January). Wilmot will be one of our main defenders and is at worst, an average defender in this league. Bonham is about as good a back up as we will likely get. What goalkeeper is going to come to sit on the bench for Travers? I think we will. Or at least 3/4. We can do way better than Bonham, he's not good enough to be at this level.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 27, 2023 14:38:23 GMT
I'm saying that AN has been brought in to get promotion, not to fanny around in mid table and get his back slapped for doing so. He's been here for 9 months as it is. 9 months. Exactly. Barely in the door. And we’re seeing a complete overhaul of the sorry bunch of wasters who were clogging up the dressing room. Now starts the real business of building a team from all these shiny new additions. This season is huge for Neil and the club. If it ends in promotion great. If it ends with clear progress and a solid platform for promotion next season then that will do for me too. Our team will be have a good number of loanees. How is that building? Next season there is a high chance they won't be here. We'll have to get in another 5 or 6 footballers. We need to challenge for promotion, not amble to mid-table and think that is progress, it's not.
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 27, 2023 14:39:29 GMT
9 months. Exactly. Barely in the door. And we’re seeing a complete overhaul of the sorry bunch of wasters who were clogging up the dressing room. Now starts the real business of building a team from all these shiny new additions. This season is huge for Neil and the club. If it ends in promotion great. If it ends with clear progress and a solid platform for promotion next season then that will do for me too. Our team will be have a good number of loanees. How is that building? Next season there is a high chance they won't be here. We'll have to get in another 5 or 6 footballers. We need to challenge for promotion, not amble to mid-table and think that is progress, it's not. Literally every team in the Championship relies on loan players now. Look at last seasons top 6. They were packed with them.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 27, 2023 14:41:14 GMT
Our team will be have a good number of loanees. How is that building? Next season there is a high chance they won't be here. We'll have to get in another 5 or 6 footballers. We need to challenge for promotion, not amble to mid-table and think that is progress, it's not. Literally every team in the Championship relies on loan players now. Look at last seasons top 6. They were packed with them. Exactly!
|
|
|
Post by benjaminbiscuit on Jul 27, 2023 14:42:17 GMT
To be fair we were always going to have to sign lots of players and they have done that bit but as Rowett showed thats the easy bit proof is still to come
|
|
|
Post by riproaringagain on Jul 27, 2023 14:43:35 GMT
Apologies for butchering The Specials and maybe putting a downer on all the new signings buzz. But. While I rate the manager, it’s going to take Guardiola like genius to integrate this amount of players and nationalities and make us genuinely competitive this season. That said, if the fans get on board, and we get a solid mid table finish with clear signs of a new identity and evolution, then I think promotion could become a real possibility in a season or two’s time. Or am I being too negative? I firmly believe if these new players are good enough they should start decent and like Burnley just get better as they bed in
|
|
|
Post by questionable on Jul 27, 2023 15:03:15 GMT
It couldn’t carry on like the past few years.
I’ve slated AN but will gladly hold my hands up if results and performances improve.
|
|
|
Post by johnnysoul60 on Jul 27, 2023 15:13:21 GMT
I think he just has to prove the worst days are behind us and we are moving forward , he should have enough to achieve that, lads from overseas who come in may need time but looks like we will have more attacking options and a solid keeper so hope for top half at least
|
|
|
Post by hooftastic on Jul 27, 2023 15:14:13 GMT
I think AN , thought it was time for a fresh shake of the dice and I think he has called that right . Of course a fresh shake of the dice could go either way, but to be fair there seems a logic to AN's signings. Hopefully they will allow us to try and do things differently this season. We were in a rut and if he can get us out of constantly playing in the same way , with no variety, against bottom half teams at the 365 , in a this looks like 0-0 all day long ( oops we have conceded , make that 0-1) way . I will be happy with that . I think the plan is for improvement. I think AN is aiming to get us to the top half of the table. If he can do that, and put and end to clueless , no variety, performances v bottom half teams at the bet 365 , then that is progress ! Good luck to him We're signing all these players just so AN can move us up the table 5 or 6 places? Christ on a bike. The alternative was not being able to field a team and being relegated.
|
|