I think there is a good chance for us to upgrade the squad in the summer if Donald has a mind to be aggressive. Very little dead wood, a lot of other teams' players won't be getting contracts during the uncertainty, so there's a chance we will be able to get a lot better quickly. Donald said it himself. But I suspect I'm just being wilfully naive given the last few years.
Hull are not set to make a permanent move for the former Gateshead forward having been unimpressed with his performances thus far.
It shows how much we need to strengthen when we do finally get promoted back to the Championship. Maddison was a stand out player in this league, along with Jamal Lowe, Tom Eaves, Kieffer Moore and Lyle Taylor who were all ripping this league apart a year ago, and have since been a flop in the Championship.
The gap between League 1 and the Championship is enormous. Barnsley, Luton and Charleton occupy the relegation places. I've watched Reading fc play several times this season. They have very good players -- alarmingly better than ours -- and they spent most of the season around 20th in the Championship. Promoted or not, I'd be very happy to sign Maddison as a free agent. To gain a foothold in the Championship, you have to build from the back. That is where we should focus our resources.
Your suddenly going from a league where most teams have a transfer budget of less than 1m to a league where some of the teams sign one player for over 10m pounds. It was only a year ago Grealish, Abraham, Mount, Mings and Harry Wilson were playing in that league. Its a huge step up, and its also a harsh reality in how far away we are from our Premiership days again.
Our central defence is a shambles only Big John, Bailey Wright, and to a lesser extent Birge and Willis have looked the part, the others are accident prone and not good enough even in this league. Up front we need a complete re-think as none of the current options are working, mid-field is the least of our worries and Maddison is a gamble not worth taking at this moment in time, we cant aford another Grigg fiasco
Actually think the gap between league 1 and the championship is bigger than between the top of championship and the premier league now. Having experienced league 1 I don’t think there’s any doubt
He has obviously made it clear he doesnt want to be with them hence the reason he was loaned out in Jan. Hes obviously pished a few people off because looking at his stats for them he was their best player next to Toney.
They're a club chasing promotion to the Championship and they've decided they're better off without him. Tells me everything I need to know about his character (there were signs already to be fair). Personally, I don't want him.
They are a club desperate for money mate. Peterborough have had a shyte load of good players come through and move on to Championship clubs. Looks at his stats for them. He was nearly out of contract, they had no choice other than to let him go and get what they could for him. Unfortunately for them Hull don't want them so whatever agreement they had os over now
I’d have him. He didn’t see eye to eye with that manager. Maguire is exactly the same personality. I wouldn’t want him “if” we get promoted. Don’t think he’s good enough up there to be honest. But in this division he’s one of the best. Coupled with his Sunderland roots you’d hope he’d have the right attitude to play fir us
I think we need more players like Maddison, men who will step up and not be afraid to put themselves in the spotlight. You just need to throw a few mavericks with cast iron self belief into any group and confidence will grow. You don't want too many but atm we've got bugger all of them. Maguire and maybe a few others, it's not enough. It's why we bottled the playoffs.
When Alan Durban signed mavericks Frank Worthington and Leighton James it transformed the team from relegation certainties into one that survived with ease. You need that bit of individul flair to take the team onto the next level i.m.o.
Agree totally. Most (relative to your league) top players have “needle” about them. Some managers can handle it some can’t. Look at Gabbiadini. Top player in the third and second divisions but loved a fight!! Remember him punching an Ipswich player after scoring!! Just one of those things. If you manage them right you get the best out of them and they are an asset
I’d take him on a 2 year contract. Good player at this level and he’s free. Could make the difference between a play off and automatic place next season and if we go up, would give us a season to see if he’s any good for the Championship and if not just let him go. He may have issues but hopefully he’ll realise that at 27 he needs to get his act together. Hull rejecting him should be a wake up call.
