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Post by FullerMagic on Jul 19, 2020 21:38:16 GMT
Who'll take Butland? And for what price? God only knows. Only one year left on his deal, so can't expect much - but who on earth is going to make him their number one keeper? Has he seen enough to make Davies his No.1? Or has he had his eyes on another No.1? Has thr last week changed his plans? No.2 keepers are a very tricky area to deal in. Presumably we'll look to loan Bursik out. Can't make my mind up on Smith. Don't really rate him - but as Trousers says can we expect a new one when we've got him (2 more years), Bauer (3 more years) and Edwards (4 more years) who will be very difficult to shift and on very good money for this level. We need better than Batth as first-choice, despite his last 3 exceptional performances - but he'll do as one of 4, as obviously will Collins. Has Chester done enough to get a deal? Can Shawcross be counted on at all? Hard to say. Will Souttar figure? Would expect BMI to go, to Turkey, back to Holland or somewhere. Wouldn't hate Brunt coming in as versatile cover, and back-up left-back to a younger first choice. Is he happy going in with a 3 of Allen, Clucas and Powell? Is Thompson really going to pressurise those three? Is Oakley-Boothe? The obvious improvement is a better Cousins-type in the squad (not sure if this is McNair?) - but once Allen is back fit, you'd think MON would see him, Powell and Clucas as absolute untouchables. He loves all three. Worrying that we've got no-one else who can come close to offering what Powell does. And not sure where they'd fit into the squad if they knew they were coming as a back-up Bit of a logjam up front with Vokes, Gregory, Campbell, Afobe. Ideally you'd like to see us add another - but at whose expense in that pool? Gregory? He may be possible to move on with only 1 more year left, but he'll be on a very good Bosman wage. Can't see much demand for Benik now Johnson's got the bullet. So we'll probably have to judge his desire and attitude in pre-season and take it from there. It's probably time to wash our hands with Ince, for all his beyond-the-call-of-duty attempts to get him back to his form of a few years ago. But with 2 yrs left on top Championship money, hard to see a queue in this financial climate. Campbell's shown he can be a very useful option there, but we need another potential match-winner there. And we obviously another option on the left too. McClean's done well, but we probably need much more of a goal threat out there if we're going to challenge. He's great to have in the squad, but it'll be interesting to see if MON thinks he can be part of a promotion push. To be fair, for all his lack of goals, team goals certainly haven't been a problem with him being a regular Is Verlinden up to providing cover on both wings? Or can he force his way into the XI regularly? Time will tell and it'll be interesting to see if MON makes a space for him or closes off his opportunities. He seems sceptical about putting loads of trust in youngsters and then there's his bad injury. So hard to judge I’ll cry if we have another manager trying to shoehorn Joe fucking Allen into the side when it’s so obvious he should be sold and a really good DM be bought in to play alongside the better attacking player in Clucas. Butland 2/3m to a PL club as a gamble? Someone might take the punt. Which is awful given what we could have got for him when we should have sold him. Chester should not be signed. Easily one of the worst performers this season. Verlinden if he’s fit is the best attacker at the club after Powell. Fitness is the issue but if he can stay fit then he really deserves game time. He is different to anything we have. No one in the side can beat a player like he can. Take your long-standing point on Allen - but when he's back, it's obviously going to be him, Clucas and powell, isn't it? He'll take a while to get back up to speed after his achilles and can't see anyone offering the kind of fee to give MON a decison to make for a 30yo, given how much he loves him. On Verlinden, do you see him as mainly an option on the right or left?
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Post by lordb on Jul 19, 2020 21:42:54 GMT
Why are most people having Verlindin in the front 3 for the start of next season. McClean is nailed on. We have to be careful with bringing in too many of the manager's tried and trusted, Brunt, Dallas etc. All good pro's but surely not in the right age bracket. We should be looking at 21-25 age range. Verlinden wide right
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 19, 2020 21:48:54 GMT
I’ll cry if we have another manager trying to shoehorn Joe fucking Allen into the side when it’s so obvious he should be sold and a really good DM be bought in to play alongside the better attacking player in Clucas. Butland 2/3m to a PL club as a gamble? Someone might take the punt. Which is awful given what we could have got for him when we should have sold him. Chester should not be signed. Easily one of the worst performers this season. Verlinden if he’s fit is the best attacker at the club after Powell. Fitness is the issue but if he can stay fit then he really deserves game time. He is different to anything we have. No one in the side can beat a player like he can. Take your long-standing point on Allen - but when he's back, it's obviously going to be him, Clucas and powell, isn't it? He'll take a while to get back up to speed after his achilles and can't see anyone offering the kind of fee to give MON a decison to make for a 30yo, given how much he loves him. On Verlinden, do you see him as mainly an option on the right or left? It will but it’s so wrong. We’ve seen Cousins can replace him and we don’t know he’s not there. I don’t get what more people want? A league one player can fill in and the team goes back to how it was when it was playing well. I mean it was obvious but thank God MON remembered. Cashing in on Allen seems obvious it’s untrue. Either really. But he’s got to stay fit. Has he ever had a season that hasn’t been interrupted by weeks/months off? The thought of him, Powell, Clucas, Campbell and another all passing, moving and being interchangeable is just something that makes me want to smile.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 3:14:41 GMT
If it was me this is what I’d be starting with: New GK New RB Collins New CB New LB New DM Clucas New RW Powell Verlinden Campbell Think MON will sadly give Allen the nod in defence and McClean on the wing. I also think he’ll sign Chester. One of the big problems of this season wasn’t just the starting manager, the lack that fight or the inept recruitment, but also the constant recycling of players in the squad and in the window. You honestly think we will do well with four out of five new defensive players? It’s a good thing we’ll have loads of money and a nice, long pre-season to sort that one out.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 3:19:19 GMT
I’ll cry if we have another manager trying to shoehorn Joe fucking Allen into the side when it’s so obvious he should be sold and a really good DM be bought in to play alongside the better attacking player in Clucas. Butland 2/3m to a PL club as a gamble? Someone might take the punt. Which is awful given what we could have got for him when we should have sold him. Chester should not be signed. Easily one of the worst performers this season. Verlinden if he’s fit is the best attacker at the club after Powell. Fitness is the issue but if he can stay fit then he really deserves game time. He is different to anything we have. No one in the side can beat a player like he can. Take your long-standing point on Allen - but when he's back, it's obviously going to be him, Clucas and powell, isn't it? He'll take a while to get back up to speed after his achilles and can't see anyone offering the kind of fee to give MON a decison to make for a 30yo, given how much he loves him. On Verlinden, do you see him as mainly an option on the right or left? Verlinden is the best attacker at the club based on what, a bit of a stop-start spell for a club in the league below? I’d love to see him given a shot for that right wing slot. We definitely need someone who can perform routinely on the right hand side.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jul 20, 2020 3:42:26 GMT
I forgot about Verlo. Hoping he can return and fulfill his potential.
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Post by wagsastokie on Jul 20, 2020 8:51:05 GMT
Norwich pinkun (sports section local paper) confirm a link with Stoke and jamal Lewis Whether thats lazy journalists or not If it's true it would show the board are seriously backing O'Neil
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Post by Trouserdog on Jul 20, 2020 8:52:07 GMT
Take your long-standing point on Allen - but when he's back, it's obviously going to be him, Clucas and powell, isn't it? He'll take a while to get back up to speed after his achilles and can't see anyone offering the kind of fee to give MON a decison to make for a 30yo, given how much he loves him. On Verlinden, do you see him as mainly an option on the right or left? It will but it’s so wrong. We’ve seen Cousins can replace him and we don’t know he’s not there. I don’t get what more people want? A league one player can fill in and the team goes back to how it was when it was playing well. I mean it was obvious but thank God MON remembered. Cashing in on Allen seems obvious it’s untrue. Either really. But he’s got to stay fit. Has he ever had a season that hasn’t been interrupted by weeks/months off? The thought of him, Powell, Clucas, Campbell and another all passing, moving and being interchangeable is just something that makes me want to smile. If we get a decent bid for Allen, given his age and wages, it'd make sense to sell. Cousins is nowhere near his quality though, that's just ridiculous.
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Post by neddy on Jul 20, 2020 8:52:23 GMT
Norwich pinkun (sports section local paper) confirm a link with Stoke and jamal Lewis Whether thats lazy journalists or not If it's true it would show the board are seriously backing O'Neil Bet it’s just picking up on the Irish link story.
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Post by wagsastokie on Jul 20, 2020 8:54:19 GMT
Norwich pinkun (sports section local paper) confirm a link with Stoke and jamal Lewis Whether thats lazy journalists or not If it's true it would show the board are seriously backing O'Neil Bet it’s just picking up on the Irish link story. Probably but ld be happy if this vague link did finally happen
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Jul 20, 2020 9:24:48 GMT
Bayern, you can't really be objective where Allen is concerned, although I can see where you're coming from at times. Joe will have to get fit so can't see anyone buying him before the close of the window. Neither Etebo or N'Diaye will come back so we're short in midfield. Cousins is nowhere near the required standard to batten down the DM hatches. McNair might be the one to do that and he's capable as a centre back option too. I'm all for Verlinden getting his chance and can't wait to see the back of Ince, but I'd still look for another winger so we have McClean and Thibaud battling it out/sharing duties until the best man wins. McClean has worked his bollocks off at times but that final ball delivery (most of the time) is lacking. I would love to push the boat out for Jed Wallace at Millwall, a different sort of wide man, who works hard, creates and scores. A player plus cash deal could do the trick.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 9:36:56 GMT
It will but it’s so wrong. We’ve seen Cousins can replace him and we don’t know he’s not there. I don’t get what more people want? A league one player can fill in and the team goes back to how it was when it was playing well. I mean it was obvious but thank God MON remembered. Cashing in on Allen seems obvious it’s untrue. Either really. But he’s got to stay fit. Has he ever had a season that hasn’t been interrupted by weeks/months off? The thought of him, Powell, Clucas, Campbell and another all passing, moving and being interchangeable is just something that makes me want to smile. If we get a decent bid for Allen, given his age and wages, it'd make sense to sell. Cousins is nowhere near his quality though, that's just ridiculous. That's not what I've said. Cousins has come into the side and we look no different as to when when we were playing before lockdown. The key was Clucas deeper and having someone alongside him who can defend a bit. I'm not saying he's a better player than Allen but there's been no difference with either of them in the side and that imo is damning on Allen and his use in the team. If Jordan Cousins can replace you and it makes no odds then are you that valuable to the side? No.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 9:53:32 GMT
Bayern, you can't really be objective where Allen is concerned, although I can see where you're coming from at times. Joe will have to get fit so can't see anyone buying him before the close of the window. Neither Etebo or N'Diaye will come back so we're short in midfield. Cousins is nowhere near the required standard to batten down the DM hatches. McNair might be the one to do that and he's capable as a centre back option too. I'm all for Verlinden getting his chance and can't wait to see the back of Ince, but I'd still look for another winger so we have McClean and Thibaud battling it out/sharing duties until the best man wins. McClean has worked his bollocks off at times but that final ball delivery (most of the time) is lacking. I would love to push the boat out for Jed Wallace at Millwall, a different sort of wide man, who works hard, creates and scores. A player plus cash deal could do the trick. I'm not saying Cousins is to the required standard but the team played the same way with Cousins in as did with Allen. One we would all agree is a league one standard player. Of course Allen is a better player but that's not my point. My point is about how the team functions. If it functions the same with Cousins in as it does Allen, do we really need him? MON panicked and got it wrong in the first 4 games and it was obvious what needed to happen (I said it on the Allen thread) drop Clucas deeper and play him with any of the other central midfielders and it's like Allen was never there. And low and behold we do that from the Barnsley game and get 10 points! For me the midfield should be a 4231 and these options New DM Clucas/Allen/Etebo Powell Allen and Clucas just isn't balanced.
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Jul 20, 2020 10:14:02 GMT
A new DM and then a new midfielder to replace Allen eventually, although we may have to wait until January for that. Etebo just won't come back. Mcnair, if fully recovered from his injury problems, should be a more effective DM than Cousins, who is a touch slow, prone to giving the ball away and has poor awareness of what's around him. Just as a cheeky aside, but what is Wimmer's current situation and has that boat truly sailed or, with left footed Bruno probably going, could Kev make a comeback? Has he really turned to jelly or is/was he doing alright on loan?
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 10:49:56 GMT
I think McNair is decent and could certainly fill the DM role, I mean ideally I'd want him as a back up but beggars can't be choosers.
Agree re Etebo but that's the sort of player I see all 3 of them as and I guess it depends what you want from that player. I don't think any of them should be the deeper one as I don't think it suits them and would hinder the team.
And that's kind of the crux of my issue with Allen. He's never really fitted what we need and has been shoehorned into advanced roles because he hasn't been disciplined enough to stay. But I'd argue that Clucas and Etebo are much better going forward.
He won't get rid of Allen so this is all pointless but I think it's a mistake.
Wimmer is a tough one, I think a loan again where we pay most of his wages unless there's a break in FFP where we can pay him up and write it off and get away with it without penalty?
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Jul 20, 2020 10:55:19 GMT
If it was me this is what I’d be starting with: New GK New RB Collins New CB New LB New DM Clucas New RW Powell Verlinden Campbell Think MON will sadly give Allen the nod in defence and McClean on the wing. I also think he’ll sign Chester. If we did this in the transfer window - especially a trunacted one - we'd undo all the good work O'Neill has done in team building and almost certainly forfeit any chance of a promotion push. The obsession with you individual players is nonsense in this league - it is the best teams that get promoted not the ones that look good on paper. Since Xmas we have acquired enough points to put us in a playoff place and that is down to O'Neill's hard work in building an effective team. Why the hell undo that? We definitely need to strengthen at right back and leftvback. Given Shawcross's injury record another CB would be sensible - although keeping BMI and recruiting 2 LBs would solve that one. We're pretty much fine in midfield. If we give Adobe another go - and we could do a lot worse - a player who can play one of the wide roles wouldn't come amiss. The last thing we should do is make wholesale changes - it would put us back six months. If we start the season with 2 new fullbacks and a core team building on the progress made since Xmas we'll be up there.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 11:04:40 GMT
If it was me this is what I’d be starting with: New GK New RB Collins New CB New LB New DM Clucas New RW Powell Verlinden Campbell Think MON will sadly give Allen the nod in defence and McClean on the wing. I also think he’ll sign Chester. If we did this in the transfer window - especially a trunacted one - we'd undo all the good work O'Neill has done in team building and almost certainly forfeit any chance of a promotion push. The obsession with you individual players is nonsense in this league - it is the best teams that get promoted not the ones that look good on paper. Since Xmas we have acquired enough points to put us in a playoff place and that is down to O'Neill's hard work in building an effective team. Why the hell undo that? We definitely need to strengthen at right back and leftvback. Given Shawcross's injury record another CB would be sensible - although keeping BMI and recruiting 2 LBs would solve that one. We're pretty much fine in midfield. If we give Adobe another go - and we could do a lot worse - a player who can play one of the wide roles wouldn't come amiss. The last thing we should do is make wholesale changes - it would put us back six months. If we start the season with 2 new fullbacks and a core team building on the progress made since Xmas we'll be up there. It is and the team performs the same with Cousins as it does with Allen in. A DM improves this team massively. The defence have been shit in that time and need replacing, Stevie Wonder can see that. Batth is good back up. We need a left back obviously. Chester is shite and Smith has been ok but we need better. The goalie is obvious too. If we want Marshall then he's the number 1. BMI has been poor at CB in the Champo. He can't win headers. The midfield again, we have 2 Championship standard central midfielders in Clucas and Allen. Cousins and Thompson are League One at best sn Powell is obviously to standard as an attacking midfieder. So we have 3 Championship midfielders. 2 play in the same role. That's an issue. The defence is awful and needs a complete overhaul. We need a DM to help that defence too because presently the best player is Jordan fucking Cousins. Why anyone would want to go into next season with Batth and Chester at centre half is beyond me. Chester has been one of the worst players for us since he got here and Batth is limited and that's being polite. I'd fuck him off in a shot if we had the luxury. We've gone up the league because we've scored goals.
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Jul 20, 2020 11:59:19 GMT
I don't think Chester will stay actually and that will enable us to bring another in. I'm pretty much writing Ryan off now as we can't keep trying him only to have him break down again and be out for weeks on end. Stability is key. The thought of writing off Wimmer's fee makes me feel more sick than the unliklely thought of him returning, but could he be an option? He's our player but, of course, a loan will pay a chunk of his wages. It looks like Barnsley were right when they told us we bought the wrong centre back as Pinnock looked a lot better than Lindsay. I think MON likes Baath, so be prepared to suck it up. If Bruno goes and Ryan retires (is this a possibility?) then we need a centre back to start alongside one of Danny or Collins eventually. Smith will stay at right back I reckon and I'd be mildly surprised if we poached Lewis from Norwich. Can't see how that would happen. Afobe is not a central striker, so unless we can find a way of playing him and Tyrese, then we will need a starter striker. I think there will be minimal disruption to the squad up until January, but let's hope for some early activity.
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Post by Goonie on Jul 20, 2020 12:26:29 GMT
Width and pace has been wanting since we lost Arnautovic and Shaqiri - hopefully we will shore up the defence and acquire both to improve our strikers' service
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Jul 20, 2020 13:11:15 GMT
If we did this in the transfer window - especially a trunacted one - we'd undo all the good work O'Neill has done in team building and almost certainly forfeit any chance of a promotion push. The obsession with you individual players is nonsense in this league - it is the best teams that get promoted not the ones that look good on paper. Since Xmas we have acquired enough points to put us in a playoff place and that is down to O'Neill's hard work in building an effective team. Why the hell undo that? We definitely need to strengthen at right back and leftvback. Given Shawcross's injury record another CB would be sensible - although keeping BMI and recruiting 2 LBs would solve that one. We're pretty much fine in midfield. If we give Adobe another go - and we could do a lot worse - a player who can play one of the wide roles wouldn't come amiss. The last thing we should do is make wholesale changes - it would put us back six months. If we start the season with 2 new fullbacks and a core team building on the progress made since Xmas we'll be up there. It is and the team performs the same with Cousins as it does with Allen in. A DM improves this team massively. The defence have been shit in that time and need replacing, Stevie Wonder can see that. Batth is good back up. We need a left back obviously. Chester is shite and Smith has been ok but we need better. The goalie is obvious too. If we want Marshall then he's the number 1. BMI has been poor at CB in the Champo. He can't win headers. The midfield again, we have 2 Championship standard central midfielders in Clucas and Allen. Cousins and Thompson are League One at best sn Powell is obviously to standard as an attacking midfieder. So we have 3 Championship midfielders. 2 play in the same role. That's an issue. The defence is awful and needs a complete overhaul. We need a DM to help that defence too because presently the best player is Jordan fucking Cousins. Why anyone would want to go into next season with Batth and Chester at centre half is beyond me. Chester has been one of the worst players for us since he got here and Batth is limited and that's being polite. I'd fuck him off in a shot if we had the luxury. We've gone up the league because we've scored goals. We can argue all day long about individual players but you've completely missed the point of my post - if we make all the changes you suggest team development will go back 6 months and will pretty much kill off a promotion challenge next season. The team needs tweaking - not replacing and starting again. Leicester became Premier League Champions pretty much with the side that almost got relegated - they used the momentum of the previous season as a springboard for the next. With a very short pre season we would be mad not to do the same. So answer the question - do you really think replacing players you don't like is a better route to success than building on the teamwork O'Neill has built in the last 6 months?
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Post by ethers26 on Jul 20, 2020 13:15:00 GMT
It’s as clear as day the defence has improved, don’t be daft Brizzle cut us open way too easy. Even today there was too many half chances for my liking but the difference with blocks and tackling was there. As I’ve put somewhere. Hopefully none of the back 5 from today start next season. We need better. Unrealistic though. With FFP, and the fact nobody will buy any of our back 5 bar BMI possibly, this isn't happening. We need 2-3 windows to put this squad right unfortunately.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 13:18:59 GMT
It is and the team performs the same with Cousins as it does with Allen in. A DM improves this team massively. The defence have been shit in that time and need replacing, Stevie Wonder can see that. Batth is good back up. We need a left back obviously. Chester is shite and Smith has been ok but we need better. The goalie is obvious too. If we want Marshall then he's the number 1. BMI has been poor at CB in the Champo. He can't win headers. The midfield again, we have 2 Championship standard central midfielders in Clucas and Allen. Cousins and Thompson are League One at best sn Powell is obviously to standard as an attacking midfieder. So we have 3 Championship midfielders. 2 play in the same role. That's an issue. The defence is awful and needs a complete overhaul. We need a DM to help that defence too because presently the best player is Jordan fucking Cousins. Why anyone would want to go into next season with Batth and Chester at centre half is beyond me. Chester has been one of the worst players for us since he got here and Batth is limited and that's being polite. I'd fuck him off in a shot if we had the luxury. We've gone up the league because we've scored goals. We can argue all day long about individual players but you've completely missed the point of my post - if we make all the changes you suggest team development will go back 6 months and will pretty much kill off a promotion challenge next season. The team needs tweaking - not replacing and starting again. Leicester became Premier League Champions pretty much with the side that almost got relegated - they used the momentum of the previous season as a springboard for the next. With a very short pre season we would be mad not to do the same. So answer the question - do you really think replacing players you don't like is a better route to success than building on the teamwork O'Neill has built in the last 6 months? I didn't the miss point, I just don't think it's a good point. We need a new defensive unit. It's as simple as that. Batth is a good sub. Chester should never play for Stoke again. Yes. The team hasn't worked defensively. It's been awful at the back and needs massive improvements. You don't get promotion with Danny Batth playing regularly. Many teams have tried it, none have succeeded. Wolves got their success when they benched him. Boro spent millions and still failed. It's clear we need an overhaul with the defesive players. I happen to think he'll keep playing Smith and one of the CBs. And replace the keeper, the other CB and LB. So that's a good start.
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Post by ethers26 on Jul 20, 2020 13:19:48 GMT
And we need better than Campbell, Verlinden and Collins as starters. Squad players that can develop but nowhere near a promotion side I disagree. Campbell has what, 9 goals from half a season? That’s more than enough to show he could get 15/20 in a full season. Collins is one of the best centre backs at his age in the world. We need to build the side around him really and let him flourish. He’s a leader too which we don’t have many of. Verlinden should be in a pool of 3/4 wingers that are all used and played yeah. He offers way more than McClean though already. The biggest issue with him is injuries. This is also unbelievable. Agreed re Campbell. To say Collins is one of the best young CBs in world football is absurd. He's looked average most games he's started bar some good headers. And got absolutely rinsed vs Leeds. Verlinden doesn't offer WAY more than McClean. He has better quality in the final third, yes. But is he quicker over long distance? Not convincingly. Stronger? Nowhere near. Work harder? No. Better defensively? No. McClean played LB a lot this season and his stats are decent.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 13:22:35 GMT
Brizzle cut us open way too easy. Even today there was too many half chances for my liking but the difference with blocks and tackling was there. As I’ve put somewhere. Hopefully none of the back 5 from today start next season. We need better. Unrealistic though. With FFP, and the fact nobody will buy any of our back 5 bar BMI possibly, this isn't happening. We need 2-3 windows to put this squad right unfortunately. It's my ideal scenario yes. But I don't think it's too much out of the question. Chester should be fucked off immediately. Shawcross will probably retire. Sell Indi. That leaves us with Batth, Collins and Souttar. So we sign one CB, play Collins and sign a left back. That's 3 of the back 4 sorted. Lovely. I don't think he'll replace Smith but I do think we'll sign a keeper to replace Davies too.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 20, 2020 13:25:29 GMT
I disagree. Campbell has what, 9 goals from half a season? That’s more than enough to show he could get 15/20 in a full season. Collins is one of the best centre backs at his age in the world. We need to build the side around him really and let him flourish. He’s a leader too which we don’t have many of. Verlinden should be in a pool of 3/4 wingers that are all used and played yeah. He offers way more than McClean though already. The biggest issue with him is injuries. This is also unbelievable. Agreed re Campbell. To say Collins is one of the best young CBs in world football is absurd. He's looked average most games he's started bar some good headers. And got absolutely rinsed vs Leeds. Verlinden doesn't offer WAY more than McClean. He has better quality in the final third, yes. But is he quicker over long distance? Not convincingly. Stronger? Nowhere near. Work harder? No. Better defensively? No. McClean played LB a lot this season and his stats are decent. What 18 year old CBs are playing as much as Collins? He's way quicker and definitely so with the ball at his feet. I couldn't give a shit about how strong a winger is. Totally irrelevant. Hard work again, I don't care. McClean is woeful defensively generally and switches off way too easily. Utter myth that he's good defensively.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 19:32:04 GMT
Who'll take Butland? And for what price? God only knows. Only one year left on his deal, so can't expect much - but who on earth is going to make him their number one keeper? Has he seen enough to make Davies his No.1? Or has he had his eyes on another No.1? Has thr last week changed his plans? No.2 keepers are a very tricky area to deal in. Presumably we'll look to loan Bursik out. Can't make my mind up on Smith. Don't really rate him - but as Trousers says can we expect a new one when we've got him (2 more years), Bauer (3 more years) and Edwards (4 more years) who will be very difficult to shift and on very good money for this level. We need better than Batth as first-choice, despite his last 3 exceptional performances - but he'll do as one of 4, as obviously will Collins. Has Chester done enough to get a deal? Can Shawcross be counted on at all? Hard to say. Will Souttar figure? Would expect BMI to go, to Turkey, back to Holland or somewhere. Wouldn't hate Brunt coming in as versatile cover, and back-up left-back to a younger first choice. Is he happy going in with a 3 of Allen, Clucas and Powell? Is Thompson really going to pressurise those three? Is Oakley-Boothe? The obvious improvement is a better Cousins-type in the squad (not sure if this is McNair?) - but once Allen is back fit, you'd think MON would see him, Powell and Clucas as absolute untouchables. He loves all three. Worrying that we've got no-one else who can come close to offering what Powell does. And not sure where they'd fit into the squad if they knew they were coming as a back-up Bit of a logjam up front with Vokes, Gregory, Campbell, Afobe. Ideally you'd like to see us add another - but at whose expense in that pool? Gregory? He may be possible to move on with only 1 more year left, but he'll be on a very good Bosman wage. Can't see much demand for Benik now Johnson's got the bullet. So we'll probably have to judge his desire and attitude in pre-season and take it from there. It's probably time to wash our hands with Ince, for all his beyond-the-call-of-duty attempts to get him back to his form of a few years ago. But with 2 yrs left on top Championship money, hard to see a queue in this financial climate. Campbell's shown he can be a very useful option there, but we need another potential match-winner there. And we obviously another option on the left too. McClean's done well, but we probably need much more of a goal threat out there if we're going to challenge. He's great to have in the squad, but it'll be interesting to see if MON thinks he can be part of a promotion push. To be fair, for all his lack of goals, team goals certainly haven't been a problem with him being a regular Is Verlinden up to providing cover on both wings? Or can he force his way into the XI regularly? Time will tell and it'll be interesting to see if MON makes a space for him or closes off his opportunities. He seems sceptical about putting loads of trust in youngsters and then there's his bad injury. So hard to judge I’ll cry if we have another manager trying to shoehorn Joe fucking Allen into the side when it’s so obvious he should be sold and a really good DM be bought in to play alongside the better attacking player in Clucas. Butland 2/3m to a PL club as a gamble? Someone might take the punt. Which is awful given what we could have got for him when we should have sold him. Chester should not be signed. Easily one of the worst performers this season. Verlinden if he’s fit is the best attacker at the club after Powell. Fitness is the issue but if he can stay fit then he really deserves game time. He is different to anything we have. No one in the side can beat a player like he can. Verlinden is totally unproven at this level so let's judge him when he actually produces. Certainly looks a good player but nothing to back that up
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Post by thehoof on Jul 20, 2020 19:49:27 GMT
I’ll cry if we have another manager trying to shoehorn Joe fucking Allen into the side when it’s so obvious he should be sold and a really good DM be bought in to play alongside the better attacking player in Clucas. Butland 2/3m to a PL club as a gamble? Someone might take the punt. Which is awful given what we could have got for him when we should have sold him. Chester should not be signed. Easily one of the worst performers this season. Verlinden if he’s fit is the best attacker at the club after Powell. Fitness is the issue but if he can stay fit then he really deserves game time. He is different to anything we have. No one in the side can beat a player like he can. Verlinden is totally unproven at this level so let's judge him when he actually produces. Certainly looks a good player but nothing to back that up We need to give him a run of games- after 70 odd games of the prancing pony on the wing, I’m sure Verlinden deserves a chance.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 19:51:08 GMT
Verlinden is totally unproven at this level so let's judge him when he actually produces. Certainly looks a good player but nothing to back that up We need to give him a run of games- after 70 odd games of the prancing pony on the wing, I’m sure Verlinden deserves a chance. Of course and in those games he has to prove himself obviously. Certainly looks a talent but totally unproven as of yet
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Post by smallthorner on Jul 20, 2020 20:14:16 GMT
Afobe could be the key to next season.
If Michael can get him going and play to his strengths ...
Let's keep fingers crossed.
For him personally and SCFC.
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Jul 20, 2020 20:18:00 GMT
We can argue all day long about individual players but you've completely missed the point of my post - if we make all the changes you suggest team development will go back 6 months and will pretty much kill off a promotion challenge next season. The team needs tweaking - not replacing and starting again. Leicester became Premier League Champions pretty much with the side that almost got relegated - they used the momentum of the previous season as a springboard for the next. With a very short pre season we would be mad not to do the same. So answer the question - do you really think replacing players you don't like is a better route to success than building on the teamwork O'Neill has built in the last 6 months? I didn't the miss point, I just don't think it's a good point. We need a new defensive unit. It's as simple as that. Batth is a good sub. Chester should never play for Stoke again. Yes. The team hasn't worked defensively. It's been awful at the back and needs massive improvements. You don't get promotion with Danny Batth playing regularly. Many teams have tried it, none have succeeded. Wolves got their success when they benched him. Boro spent millions and still failed. It's clear we need an overhaul with the defesive players. I happen to think he'll keep playing Smith and one of the CBs. And replace the keeper, the other CB and LB. So that's a good start. So changing 6 of a starting 11 that have accumulated enough points in the second half of the season tp be in the playoffs in a truncated preseason is a better idea than tweaking what O'Neill has managed to achieve in the last 6 months? If O'Neill does what you want him to do (which he won't by the way) we'll kill the momentum we've built up and put team building back 6 months. That's nuts. in addition your assessment of a lot the current squad is way off the mark. Cousins, Batth, BMI and Chester are perfectly fine at this level - and Allen is a way better player than you have ever given him credit. It seems to me that you want us to build a Premiership quality squad in order to get out of the Championship - which isn't even possible. To succeed in the Premiership we would definitely to be upgrading 5 or 6 of the starting 11 and we'd be in a position to do it. However to get promoted we don't need to do that - we need to get the best out of what we've got and O'Neill has demonstrated he can do that.
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