When he dropped out of the team our season dropped and Bonne stopped scoring. IMO he's our best signing of the summer for this level
Sounded like a much more balanced team today, something we haven't really seen all season, I'm a big fan of the 352 system (must be from the Burley days) when you've got the players to play it. Midfield sounds like it still needs looking at and it's a shame Fraser didn't get a chance today in his favoured position. Think we could do alot worse than sticking with Norwood and Bonne upfront think they'll give most defences a run for their money and no matter how the team are playing will always put the defence under pressure and also offer an outlet for our defence when they're under pressure.
Agree 100% ITFCPC, lets give this formation time to settle, a bit more fine-tuning in the midfield, I can see KM relishing his task. I also think SD is right & Mick was wrong! Morsy showing his captaincy duties, the last thing we need is an injury prone Burns. Much look frwd to seeing how things improve in coming weeks. A few wins under our belt, no frigging mid week distractions, and we might climb the table and begin to challenge for play-offs. Happy Xmas everyone, a happier Gaffer today!
Morning gaffer! Remember the inbound postponements and resultant fixture pile up. It could be the best ever timing of an appointment. McKenna may have a few weeks to drill them before the next game. Incidentally it’s the half way mark in the season and although we’re ten points off the play offs there are still 69 points to be had so still very much all to play for. In a poor quality league where we show regular patches of excellence (in no small measure thanks to Paul Cook) if KM can turn us into a consistent side I believe we can do it.
Although I imagine unless he fails to ever score again, it’s Bonnes to lose as he’s the local lad come good, Roy of the rovers story.
Team looked much more fluid playing 3-5-2 and 1st half was pretty much as well as we’ve played this season but unfortunately didn’t put the game to bed. If we continue with this formation, the main positions up for grabs are the 2 central midfielders (Morsy will definitely be the 3rd). Aluko played well yesterday but I’m still not convinced by Evans, there is a good player in there - just don’t think we’ve seen enough of it consistently to guarantee him a start. We also need Coulsen back as an alternative to Penny as LWB. All in all a positive performance, just need to string some wins together
Do we think we need a decent striker in January regardless of whether Bonne stays or goes ? He hasnt scored for 10+ games and the opposition seems to have worked out how to stop him so is he really all that ? Just asking.
He’s got to prove himself all over again now so perhaps there’re still goals in him. I’ve always thought you need at least four performing strikers (Jackson and Piggott don’t count) and it would be my priority above all else.
I'd say we're okay striker wise but definitely should sign Bonne. He's still taking up good positions and hopefully will start to get more chances because one of the most concerning things is he hasn't really been missing chances which means we haven't been creating then. There must be a good player in Pigott he just looks a little lacking confidence, plus Chaplin can l play as a striker and Jackson isn't a bad back up for this level
I agree with Itfc, we have 4 who can play up front, it has been a matter of poor service and confidence. Normal service looks like its being resumed! I would love to see Edwards properly coached out left and given another go with Bonne & Norwood up front. He can rip it up on his day, but needs drilling on delivery.
Nah we shouldn’t be content with strikers until we have two players getting 20 goals each and the deputies chipping in regularly too. This is League One level - there are no excuses for Piggott and Jackson - they just couldn’t hit a banjo with a barn door. Thankfully we’ve got a few goals from most of the attacking players and had players scoring from all over the park or we’d be relegation fodder with our defensive record.
So you'd farm the lot of them out would you? Who would you bring in? A striker who scored 20 goals in this league last season?
I’d 100% ship out Jackson and I’d put Piggott with the reserves until he is banging the goals in regularly there and if he does that give him a few games off the bench to make some kind of an impression. The goals he scored last season don’t count for us this season and we need to get out of the habit of allowing players to plod along in the first team. Ideally I’d be looking to sign three strikers - someone around 26 and someone teens or early 20s - scoring a goal every other game at a decent level from abroad and / or someone in the upper reaches of the scoring charts between League One and the National League and a veteran striker to drop down to come off the bench for us and nurture the others. Then with that set up and competition you might just get the best out of Piggott too!
More than happy with our midfield, wide and full back options. The other main areas to strengthen are centre back and a long term #1. We’ve only got one centre back who’s comfortable on the ball and he’s been bang out of form.
I think both Bonne and Norwood could get 20 goals a season at this level, Bonne just needs the service and Norwood has just got a phenomenal goals per minute at Town, think I read somewhere it's a goal every 164 minutes in his time at Town (shame he hasn't been on the pitch for more minutes). With both of those if they're in a high functioning team creating chances they'll score loads. Pigott must be a decent player and technically looks good but needs to find his rhythm, through good management and knowing how his strengths he could be a decent player. In my eyes Jackson has always been quite a limited player and if we're serious about promotion shouldn't be a first choice but he's decent back up and when playing 2 up top would be a good player to be able to bring on in games. Remember the season when Norwood got injured and Jackson was pretty much our only striker, we were still in the playoff places...Lambert even tried playing Judge upfront. now we have an embarrassment of attacking options. Then we have Chaplin who can play as a support striker I'm sure and even Aluko and Celina if needs be. I think we've got enough talent upfront it's just finding a system which suits the players and getting the best out of them. I think we could still strengthen the midfield, if Morseys injured we have no 'strong man' in there who will do the defensive work nor do we have any player who has shown consistently this season with Harper looking a little bit green and not keeping the ball well enough, Carroll being injured and Fraser being played out of position. Plus Evans never really impressing despite being given a run of games. For me Morsey is the only guaranteed started in a 3 or 2 there. In a 3 I'd like to see Fraser being given a chance alongside another...perhaps Harper in time could play that box to box player. We definitely need improvements at CB especially in a back 3, Edmunson is a must have in the team. Other than that I'm not sure, I thought Woolfenden looked like he was going to be a superb defender when he first came on the scene but like many before him haven't really kicked on, Donacien I thought probably looked at his most comfortable I'd seen him playing RCB the other day, think it suited his strengths and weaknesses, then Toto for me is a no, he's too rash as a CB and the Burgess I was quite impressed with to start of with thought he actually looked better than Edmunson initially but really slow turning circle, maybe if the balance is right at the back he can slot in but there's too many players who haven't found their place at the back.
First of all - playing a full season yes I’m sure that Bonne and Norwood are both 20+ goal strikers at this level but Bonne is not our player and Norwood doesn’t have the best fitness record, plus we need options to come off the bench, play cup games - never mind covering resting and injuries so there’s no question we need to invest there. In a good spell we’re okay but if Bonne was recalled and Norwood became injured we’d really be in trouble. Edmondson and Burgess are okay defenders but awful on the ball. Woolfy hasn’t been great but he’s the only footballing centre back we have in the first team. Our horrible goals against tally is mainly due to constant unforced errors giving away possession.
Seriously how many players do you want for every position? We've got one striker (Stewart) and a couple of players who can stand in and 'do a job' if needs be. We are always willing to give youth a chance, too. I find it remarkable after you've just signed all them new players you guys are still shouting that the squad is light and more players required. It's league one ffs, you have more than enough for a decent manager to work with at this level.
