Summer window

All about getting the right player(s) in rather than just anyone. Weve signed 1 striker already n going by all the rumours weve had plenty of bids in for others. We still have almost 1.5 months till the window closes to bring in 1 or 2 strikers

 

Hemir looks like a cracking signing and although early days is showing great signs he will score goals / lead the line.

The RS situation with his injury, the lack of interest in signing a contract is affecting the plans imo. We clearly have striker targets in the pipeline and I'm expecting at least one to sign in the next week or so, but until he commits or goes we may not see the third striker as we don't need 4 strikers with the way we play.

As it stands today Hemir is our starting striker and I could see Lihadji or Jewi being an option if we need to rest him or are chasing games, the set up appears to me to be much more fluid between midfield and the forwards with more of a threat coming from attacking midfielders.

The issue we had last year (imo) was we had to play a 10 to rightly accommodate Amad where as this year we appear more a hybrid 433 / 4231 with 2 of the midfielders supporting higher up

 

Not surprised at all m8, if one KS wanted (not a one that we or rtg wanted btw), was there available for a price we believed was right I’m sure we would have one, otherwise we’ll be trying for another one.

 

I agree, whilst it is true that Speakman has done a great job in many areas of the field. With the caveat, the principle factor in losing to Luton was a lack of big tall players to defend corners. A point that TM has brought up... could be the reason Michut not retained? Ps wtf letting Baath leaving?

Strikers seem to be his weakness, not bringing in an adequate replacement last Christmas. However by and large Stewart was not missed as much as I thought as we still scored goals. By luck or judgment?

The club really has to get to grips with the striker problem.

Then even I will admit that Speakman walks on water.

 

The height problem has been addressed, The striker problem is being addressed.

 

I agree. He's a good player and has the rare gift of being genuinely two footed, which opens the game up for him. Worth saying as well that any club needs to be very well stocked with midfielders.

Injuries, suspensions and lack of form all pile up, plus two at least for the bench ( which by the sounds of things will soon take up a stand!).

 

There wasn’t even really a ‘height problem’ in the squad make up. More just a injury problem amongst our taller players. We had Stewart, Baath, Ballard, Cirkin and Alese all missing. Even just a couple of those being available would’ve made a huge difference to our defending of set pieces.

 

We can but hope so!

 

The principle reason we lost to luton was having too many key players out injured, those key players also happened to be our most physical players

I hate this whole we need to sign big players, no we need to sign quality football players. The bonus is always if those quality footballers also have physicality.

If batth n ballard were fit against luton we win. 100% i agree we needed more depth in certain positions, CB n CF being the main 2. We now have the depth at CB, now for us to get the depth upfront

 

Two very good posts above pointing out again what is frequently ignored. We didn't play the season with a small defence and it finally bite us on the arse at Luton.

We had numerous injuries to tall places and ended up with a small defence against a physical team. Wasn't mentioned in January as something he needed to address but now quite often it's chalked up as a failure to recruit in January.

 

Hopefully one of a few signings we'll complete this week.

 

He hasn't left yet, and IF the reorts that their Owners have decided that there will be NO new players coming in, are correct, then he won't be going there.

So far this time round, our early business has looked very promising.
But last season showed that we didn't have enough cover at Centre Back.
We have brought two in but it looked as if two were going out, so the problem would still remain.
But even if Baath stays, I'd like to see at least another experienced one in.

Hard to have too many Centre Backs.
They do tend to get injured more often that any other position.

 

I’m sure it was said last week on here that there’d been a change of heart and Baath was staying

 

Easy to overlook that decent strikers are the hardest part to replace and find.

I don’t believe for a second we didn’t try in January, which lead us to Gelhardt who wasn’t a great fit style wise, but played his part.

Given the way most of our signings come about, highly likely we tried for multiple and couldn’t get them over the line.

Given budget for first season in championship would have been super low to stay in line with the regulations, it makes sense.

That will increase year on year, the TV deal is a lot bigger this season, and when we come to replace sponsors and kit deals there should be a massive uplift.

Growing the club organically and making it sustainable has openly been the owners route, and after the financial meltdowns 3 times in my lifetime under Murray, Drumaville and Short I’m all for it.

We simply have to nod at this academy. People overlook the funding that has gone into that, the owners and Speakman have absolutely aced that and that is the clubs future and its foundations.

You build everything from the bottom, and if the academy is our bottom **** me it is solid ground.

 

How many cb would you like. We have 7 out on tour atm. We'll not be looking to add anymore. The likes of Anderson and Johnson will possibly go out on loan. 5 cb will be more than enough. Last season we were unlucky with injuries there.

 

I don’t think we ever wanted him to go this season, we’ve just been honest that he might play less and if things go according to plan we’d be unlikely to extend his contract. Nothing to see really.

 

We gotta be picking away at Blackburn if they are ****ed financially.

3 or 4 real talents over there.

 

Be nice to have a new keeper and 2 new strikers in this week. Wishful thinking I know.

 

Not that I’m saying we need more CB’s but why wasn’t Anderson/Johnson used against Luton instead of a back 3 that had Gooch in it?

Nobody is making a case that gooch would be more effective in any way shape or form that game than a natural defender who’s 6 inches taller than him and can actually win an aerial duel.