It's hardly a scathing attack and I think you'll find most professionals can take a bit of criticism when it's justified. This is not an angry rant and no-one was even named. Hurst even went so far as making the point that he was doing things differently - and not that the way things were done before was wrong. Hurst has really got his work cut out, he's not going to get us promotion fit by pussy footing around the issues.
I'm a little HMMMMM about this but time will tell - he's not been let loose on the mike much. For what it's worth, quite looking forward to seeing what Hurst can do. Pleased with the signings so far - two wide men glaringly needed so hopefully they can push on. Young CB could be promising but we can't expect 46 games out of him. Piece of the puzzle though sure. Funny feeling Waghorn / Garner / Sears...... any of them / all could yet be sold. Be a hell of a lot more ins / outs. Impossible to judge how the hell we'll do until a day or so before Blackburn - really feel the squad is going to be massively overhauled - which is quite exciting. Hopefully Hurst can get the players in he wants and we can have a good season
Hurst's comments after the Crawley win reiterate his desire for this team to press and attack. He's also coming across slightly frustrated that there have not been enough incomings, and he specifically mentioned defence as an area that needs to be improved. I think we'll see a few more being brought in, and hopefully along the lines of affordable fees for lower league quality. Having said that, I would like to see someone with some Championship experience being brought in to boost the spine of the team, but that's just personal preference. Regarding outgoings, I know it's all speculation but my gut feeling with Hurst's comments after the Braintree defeat were aimed at Myles Kenlock, Flynn Downes, Grant Ward, and Freddie Sears. Ward's goal and performance against Crawley will stand him in good stead, and he has the potential to be an effective winger at this level, but I think the other three will be moved on this summer, most likely as loan deals.
If I'm Downes or Nydam, maybe I'm a bit annoyed at not being able to play in the U19s Euros and having to turn out for all of 45 minutes against Braintree instead. Knudsen may be like a new player for us. I think we need to start with the spine of the team, of which only the goalkeeper I'm happy with at the moment. We probably need to sign a couple of centre backs who can be a big presence, or maybe sign one and it's time for Woolfenden to come in.
Nydam was overlooked for the England U19 call-up, so has no excuse at being annoyed with the club, and Downes was refused permission because he is considered to be a potential first-teamer player that would benefit more from training with the team and adapting quicker to Hurst's new style. I'm with the club on this one. Stupid time to schedule an international tournament so close to the season kicking off. Even Dan Ashworth, the FA Director, is grudgingly sympathetic to the clubs and we're far from the only side to refuse players permission to join the squad. Agreed that both Knudsen and Bart coming in will improve this side. I think we've got the quality in the central midfield places and with Waghorn up top, we have a potent striker at this level. I share your concerns regarding our defence though, particularly in the middle. Chambers is a player is has been on the decline the past couple of seasons, even when being played in his favoured centre-back position. He got it easy from the previous manager, hopefully he'll be pushed to be more consistent this season. Both Chalobah and Woolfenden, while promising young players, should not be relied upon to perform well and be regular starters over the course of a 46-game season. I still think we need two centre-backs in the squad, just to make up the required numbers.
On the basis that we are unlikely to go up this year, I think it's a good time to be drafting in serious first team contenders that have been in around the first team squad for a while (if Woolfenden isn't a serious contender now he never will be). 16 goals is not a bad return for Waghorn but I don't think he can better it. We need to find another 10-20 goals if we're going to trouble the play offs so definitely we will need a 20+ a season striker by 2019-20.
I think Woolfendon should be given opportunities, certainly more than he got given last season, but I am still concerned that if we get hit by injuries or if centre-backs lose form, then we need to have alternative choices capable of stepping in. As it stands, three centre-backs (four if you count Chris Smith), of which only one is above the age of 20. For me, that's not enough depth or reassurance in such a competitive division, even if you have to draft our best left-back as cover. I agree that we need another striker. Ultimately, I think Garner may end up leaving as he doesn't seem the type of player Hurst would use, and I think he would already have been moved on if Hurst had other options. Sears may end up coming good, but we cannot rely upon him getting double figures over the course of the season. Drinan, Folami, and Morris are options, but similar to the centre back situation, we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if this squad was mostly reliant on young lads for immediate alternatives.
Hit the nail on the head there. We should be rotating 4 strong centre backs, with 2 aged 24-32 - strong in the air and comfortable in possession, and 4 full backs / wing backs - all of who are good defenders and comfortable to cover in the middle and of which the best two are pacey and can get crosses in. I think we have enough full backs to be getting on with but you look at that central defence and it's a gaping hole in the team sheet. I'm hoping Chalobah is going to give that defence the cover that we have not really had since Magilton himself was playing.
I don't think Knudsen will be here come the start of the season - and further - I have to say I wouldn't be devestated if he were to go. His comments at the end of last season weren't exactly all singing all dancing about all things blue, and with him somehow getting into the Danes line up last 16.... yes early error but did alright for the most part / throw in a lot better than for us etc - I think it may well be a sensible time to cash in and find another LB. We've done rather well from LB sales - IMO Cresswell by an absolute mile > Mings > Knudsen. Sounds ominous regarding Waghorn - which on the surface doesn't sound great. However Dyer's sale 99 funded promotion 99/2000 so IF the £££ could be used wisely................ IF the transfer fee was say £8 mill ( I'm not saying it is this ) anyone expecting us to see us SPEND £8 mill on various players is way off the mark. For a sale you have to factor in - * Not all the ££££ will be upfront / signing on fees / wages / agent fees ( grrr ) and the fact we're losing around £8 mill per year. I'd expect............ 40% roughly to be used in transfer fees perhaps, given our financial position.
Waggy won't go anywhere. I reckon it's a case of him seeing what Bart is now on and sounding out his agent to get him a similar deal.
The rumours around Waghorn leaving are slightly worrying, in that he obviously played a pivotal role in our mid-table finish last season and notched up some incredible stats. I'd like to think that Hurst would aim to keep him, knowing the value of the player, as well as the fact that we are already short of options across the squad, including up front. On the other hand, if a club were to bid in the region of £7m for a player with one good season under his belt and approaching his 30s, then we'd maybe look back at that and think 'what if we'd taken that money', similar to when we reportedly rejected £9m for McGoldrick. I would be more open to Waghorn leaving for big money if we had a longer transfer window and faith that the money would actually be spent. As it stands, we have made around £5m from the sales of Webster and Knight, as well as the World Cup money windfall. We have released several players to free up more money in the wage bill, and the likes of McGoldrick and our previous manager McCarthy were on a decent sized wage here. I know we've spent money, albeit £700,000 in transfer fees, and also upped the wage of Bart (apparently nowhere near the rumoured £20k a week), but it's evident that we still need to bring in players. Selling Waghorn for big money would definitely give Hurst greater spending power and flexibility in the market, but would arguably leave him with too much business to complete this summer and further exacerbate a transitional season by losing two of our key players.
That's about right Nuggets as long as we don't get into the same idiotic situation we were in when Murphy left, last day of the window, no striker, no replacement, and Moore arriving for tuppence hapenny in January, and this idiot is dopey enough to do it again if there's money in it.
Was meant to be - Interesting. I'm of the opinion if Kundsen goes, we're in a bit of a chronic mess at full back - and clearly we have major CB issues yet. LB ( based on above ) Kenlock. I don't think good enough if we're trying to do anything good this season. RB - Crowe. God knows. 17 and a talent, linked with loads of clubs. MIGHT be good enough? RB - Emmanuel. Will have benefited from season long loan. Is he good enough!? RB - Spence. In a Hurst system of a back 4 I don't think good enough. Infact, as for a team of players who I think MAY be good enough ( over the course of a full season ) for top 10 / something good = Bart ( obv ) New RB / Chambers / New CB / New LB ( assuming Jonas goes Skuse Dozza New Cm ( cannot rely on Huws/ Bishop/ Adeyemi being fit .......... Nydam / Downes good enough for part of the season sure Edwards New LWF New 9 I happen to think Waghorn / Garner / Sears will ALL be leaving. Subs - * Gerken * Chalobah - is he REALLY going to be good enough for a 46 game campaign at that age? * Downes * Nydam * Roberts * One of the injury trio of Huws / Bishop / Adeyemi. All three of them in the same 18!? I cannot for the life of me trust that. * Wolfenden Then we have other promising talents who I think Hurst WILL give opportunites too. Rowe might have a season....Folami.... Drinian etc. That's just where I think we're at right now.[/QUOTE]
You raise some good points Westy, although I'm optimistic we'll keep hold of Knudsen and Waghorn for the start of the season and I think we have a fairly good squad. We've slapped an £8m price tag on Waghorn, which has scared off Sheffield United, and I cannot imagine many Championship clubs willing to stump that up for a potential one-season wonder (looking at the player from a cynical perspective and some bemused Tweets from Sheffield United fans who thought £5m was too much for him). I agree that we look a little vulnerable in the full-back positions. I'm not a massive fan of Kenlock, due to his lack of development and defensive deficiencies, but I think both him and Emmanuel are decent back-ups at this level. I'd like to see a new right-back, as like you I'm not sure Spence is a natural fit in an ideal Hurst system, although bringing in one or two centre backs has got to be the immediate defensive priority. Regarding midfield, I am hoping that with a new fitness and training regime implemented, the chronic injury issues that have plagued us over the past couple of years will gradually be reduced. I'd like to think Huws and Adeyemi can be a regular first-teamers, form permitting, but their injury records do look worrying. Bishop in particular is somebody who perennially struggles with fitness, I really hope he can overcome them because I think it's quite clear he's a technically talented footballer. That leaves us with the forward line. The current pool of senior players (Roberts, Edwards, Ward, Sears, Garner, and Waghorn) are not the strongest, or most proven on paper. Personally, I believe Garner will be moved on if we get more bodies up front. I think we need a natural left winger (hopefully the traditional on-loan whizz-kid from a Premier League side to light up the season) and a pacey striker.
Gents - we can strengthen at full back as in every position. But for me its really the spine - CB, CDM, ST - where we are weakest so IMO we need to address that first.
Agreed for centre-back positions, as discussed before, I think we need a further two. Agreed up front, we need another striker (two if Waghorn departs). But I think a new right back and left midfielder will be a higher priority than a central midfielder for Hurst. He rates wide players (and we clearly need a left midfielder / winger for his system to even start working).
So are we saying then that with the addition of 2 or 3 players and a change of management, coaching, etc will be enough to turn a decidedly average team into a competitive challenging team?
