1. Hendrick 2. Clark. 1. Did I mention Hendrick 3. Darlow. 1. Hendrick, just to avoid doubt. 4. Gayle 5a. Ritchie. He’s just passed it. 1. Hendrick. 5b. Hayden. 1. Hendrick.
Woodman doesn’t want to be sat around as a number two keeper and is only here because of Dubs injury. See him out on loan again in Jan. very hard to keep a number three keeper happy so Gillespie is doing what he was signed for which is emergency third choice backup. Sean Longstaff needs loaned out (if he signs a new deal) so he can play regularly enough to have a chance of ever making it. Matty needs to stay out on loan but at another club who will actually play him. My 5 to go Krafth, just never looked good enough or fast enough for this league in any position. Clark, been a good bargain buy servant but struggled for a long while now. Hendrick, Bang average at best which isn’t what we need. Gayle, no longer good enough and can’t get a game now so less likely if we sign a new striker which we desperately need. Ritchie, love his fight and attitude but not been up to it as a winger for years. That’s why Rafa converted him to a wing back in a five. That worked for a while especially with Rafas defensive discipline but not good enough now sadly. That’s five out plus two on loan. Frankly though I don’t see us signing seven in January so some of them will still be here plus Hayden and Laschelles both of which I would sell if possible but both likely to at least see out the season.
Our recruitment really has been awful, even more useless has been our ability to bring anyone from the academy through to put any pressure on the 1st team the squad really is very stale.
Hayden Lacelles Darlow Krafth Gayle I know everyone's after Clark but I think he's served the club well overall and everyone makes mistakes. I tho jbhe can do a job and come back from it.
Oh I am fully behind Howe. But up to this point I think the single thing that has hurt us most is our ability to promote young players up into 1st team contention.
When you actually look at our squad and who we signed the players from etc it’s little wonder we are where we are. 80% are from other clubs cast offs or clubs much lower than us. Id say over 50% are still the same as when we came up from the championship. And some took us down to the championship in 15/16 are still here.
Yep: Lacselles, Darlow, Shelvey, Dummett all from prior to relegation. 15/16 Hayden, Ritchie, Gayle, Murphy, Clark all from the Championship season 16/17 Fede, Schar, Dubravka, Manquillo from 1st season promoted 17/18 Longstaff and Woodman were here since the academy obviously So 15/25 man squad were here to try and keep us up 4 years ago. So the squad we have assembled since coming up: Gillespie Krafth - CBX - CBX - Lewis Hendrick - Willock Fraser-Almiron-ASM Wilson SuperSub: Joelinton Who at the club has been in control of the transfers? Wtaf have they been doing - OK the front line looks a lot healthier but there is no improvement to any defensive aspect of the club in 4 years FFS and defence (IMO) is the most important part of a team - if you can't win don't lose!
Wow so 15/25 since our promotion season started still at the club. And that’s after 4/5 years. So that says to me that the players are just happy yes people happy getting their wages and striving for nothing. That’s absolutely mental isn’t it. No wonder we are so bad.
Just shows how under cared the club was under Ashley and how incompetent the staff behind the scenes were. There was clearly no plans to improve the defense last summer either because Murphy, Dummy, Fede and Schar got extensions (alongside Gayle). Willock was purely down to how well he did at the end of last seasons and (in fairness) pushing for him.
Do we have to just stop at 5? Coz i'm thinking at least 22 of that 25 man squad currently need shipping out. but for starters. 1. Clarke 2. Guy we signed for free from Villa 3. Irish guy whose name escapes me at the moment 4. That dickhead who has cost us every game he's played in this season, think he's meant to be a defender 5. Knacker who got sent off the other night after 9 minutes.