Bloody hell chazz, I'm tired. Bowen ok Stewart doesn't look anything like good enough to me. I don't want to argue with you it is simply my opinion. I'll let others comment on Henriksen Irvine ok Toral, the only proper footballer we have. Good signing. Dicko ok I said at the start of this season I thought Dawson would get found out and I believe that is happening Three chelsea loanees are not up to the rigors of this division. Tomori being the best of them from what I have seen. McGregor ok Campbell ok I make that six players being ok. As I said the squad is not good enough.
Stats actually suggest you couldn't be more wrong. Of our 5 wins (all vs B's) we've beaten 4 teams immediately above and below us. I worry because that suggests they are the only teams we can seem to beat. Having said that I have faith in Adkins. There are signs he is sorting the defence out. He has been presented with an horrendous injury pile up without the squad to cover. January transfer window will hopefully give him the chance to get some balance and steel in (probably on a zero budget).
Will the squad be weaker or stronger at the end of the transfer window? We will have to wait and see.
You said we don't have the quality. All those signings cost money that half the division haven't spent. We are way under performing. Due to lack of fitness, lack of nowse from the ex manager and lack of a defensive shape. You believe wrong about Dawson. But then if you don't go how would you know? Bowen. Toral. Dicko. Larsson-you failed to mention him. Growshitski. Campbell. Meyler. Mcgregor. Irvine. Dawson. Tomori. Aina. Mazuch. Evandro. Stewart is easily good enough. Then look at the injuries they have had.
They might be as individuals but they aren't a squad, half of then play in the same position, none of the Chelsea players are youngsters. Did you go to Bolton? Dawson was absolutely terrible, look at the stats at how many headers he lost to Madine. People keep saying we are good enough. We have individuals that are good enough, we need to have a squad. Also work on defensive shape. We have done that but it has made us worse upfront, how is that any better? Most of our defensive errors are individual mistakes, you can't train that out of players or drill that out of them. Hector isn't suddenly going to stop making stupid errors. Let's attack teams and take advantage of our strengths.
How do half of them play the same position?? Then you say we need a squad. Our squad has been decimated by injuries. Derby have a fully fit squad. Tomori is twenty I'd call that a youngster. Aina twenty youngster as is bowen. No one disputes hector hasn't worked out but as olm says he played in the bundesliga and had a good season. But then Mazuch has been injured or not picked by slutsky. Nige picks him, he plays well. Then gets injured. So Dawson didn't win in the air against madine. One game. He's had a good season. And been better since he had Mazuch alongside him.
I agree we have had injuries but they are part of the game none of us can change that. Irvine, Toral, Henriksen, Evandro, Mason all player behind a striker that is their best position. We didn't need to sign Toral and Irvine, we would be better off signing a winger. Aina and Tomori are young what's that got to do with anything? They haven't been good enough, and aren't good enough. In my eyes 3 of our regular back 4 aren't good enough. We have two wingers, and we clearly need more. We have no options from the bench. You still don't answer why we should focus on the defence when our assets are in attack? We have supposedly improved at the back but still concede daft goals due to individual errors, that won't go away. We need to acknowledge that and try and attack teams.
Don't think we will go down but really hope we do, to paraphrase Jack Nicholson as the Joker in Batman - this club needs an enema. If it means getting rid of the Allams, especially given it should mean they get less money for the club, bring in an owner who is willing to invest again and clear out all of the playing dross we've accumulated over the past season then for me that would be a positive outcome. We've all seen how **** the Championship is this season, who's to say it won't be as bad in 2-3 years by which time we should be back up again after a couple of seasons re-building. My fear is that if we stay up the ****wits will drain another seasons parachute payments together with one or two more player sales - effectively we've only really got Bowen and Grosicki worth selling, although Irvine could be a surprise addition to the supermarket shelf - and cling on for another year before taking us down. Let's get the pain and embarrassment over with this season, get rid of dumb and dumber then re-build the club, including it's relationship with fans, and the squad.
It's ****ing obvious why I and Adkins have focused on the defence. And the defence means the whole team. How do you know slutsky didn't want to play a midfield diamond. Toral is comfortable right or left midfield. MAsons best position is centre midfield not behind a striker, not that he's relevant. Aina can play right midfield. It's weird even playing wingers very few teams have out and out wingers. I believe the form. Of Bowen made slutsky change. His form as no one, least of all Carmine expected him to do as well as he has.
Is it a question of 'over' training then HT. They're playing two games a week, training for 5, some are throwing international appearances in too.. they're not old blokes, they're kids in their prime, with one or two exceptions,. They don't go home and stuff their faces with chocolate and crisps (or maybe they do), they have access to equipment and sports scientists that should have them in 100% condition. this season started in ****ing August!!!!
Ehab will sell Bowen & more this window. And we will go down. But we might win some games in League One, so its not all bad. The saddest thing is, the overwhelming reaction is...meh.
Gone no, can see offers coming in for one or both of Grosicki and Bowen and one of both of them going so Adkins has funds to get in 3/4 also rans. Goals will utterly dry up confidence straight down the **** pan and we could see another Blackpool situation develop
I don't wish it, but I believe we will be relegated. We play better football yet lose in a bad way. We are improving defensively under Adkins, but we lack the killer instinct that wins games. We have a bit of quality in the team, but not much really. Some quality to come back but it will be too little too late. Injuries will kill us, they always do. I only see two or three mediocre signings; I do see Bowen and Gros staying - but they are both hit and miss. My biggest concerns are the lack of a driven leader who can play himself and the mix of loans and contracts that will not inspire a team ethic. And they simply are not as fit as they should be. I want to be wrong, but...
Yes I expect us to go down and also next season too. The owners in my opinion will be happy to leave us in League 2 by the time they leave. Let contracts run out in the summer so will lose some high earners and no investment Take the last parachute payment next season low outgoings then leave is in a complete mess going into the League 2 season.
Imo no, it's the wrong kind of training. I've no idea what they do day to day but whatever it is it's not enough on conditioning, fitness, stamina etc
I think we'll stay up this season. However, if you're prediction proves correct then Michael Dawson could emulate his brother but doing it in reverse!
For the first time I really fear that we will be relegated. Adkins may well have assured Boy Wonder that he can sign nobody but get a couple of loans in and stay up - he can't - the injuries are killing us Boy Wonder has had his pocket Casio out and done some sums - with the parchutes he can still sell in League One and walk away
I've also only been to one game at the KCom in the flesh. Preston home and it was awful. No atmosphere, team played ****e and I walked away thinking I don't care if I dont go again this season. Similarly I live 5 miles from Bellend Road and would have been there every time in previous years. Allams have divided and conquered and will continue to cash in on any asset whilst they remain at the helm. Sad days. The lowest since 2007. But we've been lower and I enjoyed my Boothferry experience then so all is not lost
