I understand people's concerns with Burge but still nowhere near priority for me. My priorities, in order, are: Starting left back Starting right back Second full back for either side Another attacking option Another CB option / first choice CB especially if Wright leaves Another CM option Fourth full back (either side) New keeper
Agree RE Burge. Seems to be the kind of keeper who always has a mistake in him and it cost us a boatload of points last season. I think they'll want Ross Stewart as our main striker to be rotated with a loan and AOB (no I don't think hes good enough). We saw really promising flashes from Stewart, particularly in the Lincoln game at the SOL, he was brilliant.
People keep saying Burge cost us points. Has anyone actually done an analysis of points that he himself cost us vs points that he saved us? He's a good league 1 keeper, people sometimes need to remember what division we're in.
When you look at the defecienicies in our squad we are miles away from promotion side. There is, of course, time and leagues arent won in July but we are so short right now. I'm convinced the new owner and footballing structure can put it right but it might take up till the very last day of the window. There is no point in playing all our cards now. I'd rather wait for the right players. If we sign players of the quality of our first 3 summer signings then we are moving in right direction.
Agree with this. He made a number of excellent saves to keep us in games last season. I'm not sure why people think he's so poor. Yes,he has got a mistake in him.....at this level we have to accept that......but many have ignored the fact that he spent much of the season behind an ever changing,inexperienced and,sometimes,downright hopeless defence,in which,at times,he can't have had a lot of confidence. His biggest fault for me is his failure to come for the cross ball and to dominate his box.
With a settled defence, in front of him, I think Burge is fine. The defenders made many more mistakes than he did last season. We'd be very lucky to get a better keeper at this level, if we do that's great.
Patterson will be first choice keeper, Burge on the bench and the kid from Man U, will be the key for the U23 promotion bid.
Need 3 full backs and at least one CB for me. Good to hear the bit about the club historian talking to the squad. Also mentioned, he spoke about what the fans expect from the team on the pitch.
Yep, it was just about impossible for us to get a decent,settled back line last year. That,and the obvious lack of defensive quality ..e.g. McFadzean,cost us dearly in the end. No-one in the defensive line knew where they were when he was on the pitch.
Quite right mate i was never impressed with McFadz, and neither was the manager it would appear as he is gone now, question is why did they insist on keep playing him, why not give one of our under 23 a shot surely he couldn't be that bad or any worse, all the teams we played identified him as the weak link and pressed that side of the pitch
Well,I don't think there was anyone from the U23's who was ready,and with Hume injured on and off for most of the season,Johnson had little choice but to play him. You're right,he was targeted by the opposition. Imo,our failure to have anyone half decent in that position cost us massively. I can remember watching matches where our central defenders.....Luke in the main.....were always drifting over to the left,because they knew he needed the cover. Vokins was supposed to provide back up to him,but never seemed to settle and was no better. People often forget how important full backs are.....it's a crucial position. Central defenders will often play much better if they know they have a decent full back alongside them......and get the jitters if it's the opposite!
We could have gone to a back three, bringing Younger into the picture and we might even have seen a better MC Fuz but LJ ignored this option game after game and lost my support for him, which was a shame, but his judgement was really wanting on this issue; as obvious as it was a problem, so was the soloution imo.
has always been my view...a goalkeeper always has a mistake in him, you have to accept that fact (as does every player but the keepers mistakes lead to goals more often than not so they tend to get highlighted)...this is where you need a settled and capable back line, once you have a back line that has full confidence in each other you find your midfield are happier to push on as they know the back line can protect itself, with a higher midfield you can provide more chances for your striker(s). after saying that, we are a third division side right now and i think our views on players have been clouded by life in the top league, if they were that good they would not be playing in this league.
