It’s hard to believe the same player got promoted with Forest but looked like Courage the Cowardly Dog for us.
Tbf to him, I blame shota. Probably expected the passing out the back game with probably zero done in training.
Agree 100%. If he was Grimsby’s player there would be several Championship clubs looking to sign him this summer on the back of this season alone. No point sending him out on loan. I’d be tempted to trust him as Alfie Jones understudy.
It’s not just experience of playing in the division, it’s about coping with playing at the top end of the league and what’s at stake. Not bottling it, working on set pieces, helping younger players. We might decide we’re fine with what we have, but I can’t see Rosenior going into a 50+ game season with three senior centre halves, especially as SB would be on a free and wouldn’t command mega wages. Our squad has an average age of 25.5, I’d say experienced players were vital.
It depends on whether he’s ready for it. I haven’t seen much of him but it sounds like he’s had a good season in League Two, which was the catalyst for Greaves to come into the first team. That being said, Greaves was stepping up one division, if we’re going to be challenging at the top end of the league, that’s a much bigger step for Smith to take. But yeah, if he’s good enough, absolutely keep him around.
No, I think the bulk of our spending will be done on forward players. Unless he was coming in as a player/coach, I can't see that happening. I reckon he'll go back to Doncaster.
I'm keen on signing a no nonsense Championship experienced CB, and Bradley definitely would fit the bill on a cheaper deal for me. Even if Smith is highly rated, I'd be really concerned about starting the season with 3 fit senior centre backs and him as the back up. Imagine we pick up an injury or two in the first few games and Smith is playing, but then we have a couple of bad results. It could easily end up snowballing if the confidence levels drop. Its much easier to blood a young player in other positions than it is CB for me. Bradley or someone similar would be exactly the kind of player I'd want to be able to call on in this situation. I'd be in favour of loaning out Smith to a League One club until January to see how he gets on, and then seeing what position we are in and his form before he is in real contention for our first team.
Andy Smith is still only 21, which for a CB is still young, I think he may well have another year of a loan to further develop him. Maybe Div 1 club, which is a step up from GY. If Liam decides this is the way to go, then Bradley would be a good signing. Having said that I wouldn't be against him being our standby CB, if Greaves/Macca/Jones are our mainstay.
What’s the point in signing a no nonsense centre back if they’d be brought into a side expected to play out from the back? He’d just become a liability like Figureido was/is
8th. He made 10 appearances, was ****, and was loaned out to Notts County. Sharp wouldn't improve our squad, FACT. As ST said I suspect he'll be on his way to Donny who are League Two. Or he'll stay at Sheff U and effectively retire and become a coach, which is what I started by saying.
Depending on their price, it'd just be as back up to shore us up if we need to grind out some 0-0s. Basically someone to rely on if we need to stop a rot. I'd not be keen on playing them every game.
Figs came through at the highest level of Portuguese football, captained Portugal U21s and nearly made the international side before it all went wrong. There must be a ball player in there somewhere.
I have no idea why Rosenior would want another left-footed centre-half, especially one that is 31, has played 20 games in two seasons due to injury and isn’t very good with his feet so wouldn’t fit our playing style. Seems to check none of the boxes. Hopefully, it’s bollocks.
No one bats an eye when 2 right footed centre halves fill the shirts. Maybe he looked at Macca on the right when Jones was missing and thought he looks comfortable enough there if required?
Is Bradley definitely left-footed? I haven't seen much of him since he played for us but I remember when he did play for us it was at right centre back with Cooper on the left, during an injury crisis when our senior centre backs were all injured. It was probably alongside Rosenior, incidentally.
