Think rusyn could occupy the cb. Not big but some of his running off the ball is top notch. Creating more space for others
I still don't think a striker is our biggest issue at the minute as long as we get balls into the box when Hemir plays or pass the ball through the channels when Rusyn is playing. Someone like Moore would allow us to play a different way for sure but would we even put balls into the box for him? As long as we have a winger such as Ba or Roberts on the opposite flank to Clarke it means teams will really struggle to double up on him as it would leave space for both Rusyn and Jobe to run into. A back 4 would struggle to mark Ba/Roberts, Clarke, Hemir/Rusyn and also Jobe in a game. We just need to play to our strengths and not push everything through Clarke. Transfer wise I think a proper CDM is more important to provide protection for Ballard and O'Nein.
Eternal dilemma,mate. There are those of us who want promotion at any cost,regardless of the consequences,and who,if achieved,assume the ownership will bankroll a challenge to escape PL relegation. There are those of us who want to wait and who think that the current model we've adopted,acquiring young talented players on long term deals, and combining them with talent developed through our Academy,will,in the course of a few seasons,provide us with a side capable of competing in mid-table PL. Almost all of us agree that the gap is getting wider and wider,and the longer we remain a Championship team,the harder it will be to regain entry to the top flight. Almost all of also agree that we don't want to go back to the PL and get thumped every week.....rather stay in the Championship and enjoy our football. As Michael Miles used to say.....Take Your Pick!
It'll last for as long as it takes for him to ping his first set-piece straight into the midriff of the first defender.
If we simply buy our way up, and pay to stay there, we'll be signing the same players everyone else is in the market for. We'll therefore become just like them while forever being unable to compete in the top six. So we'd sacrifice what we have to become another Sheff Utd imo. To me this is different to what we've done before, and more interesting. We've seen some great football and the 'on the job' development of some wonderful young players. Along with the likes of Rigg, Neil and Patterson we're seeing the youngest team regularly competing with, and beating, clubs who've gone down the usual route of signing 'established Championship players'. I find our way more interesting, often more exciting, and a change from the same old stuff as before. Take your pick is dead right mate, we're all different.
Agreed. Personally, it's better for my mental health to believe in the model and be patient. True, the gap is getting wider, but I think it's already so wide that we're spending a few years building foundations than splashing cash now and splashing again if/when we get into the PL. The playoffs are a lottery - we should wait until we win that lottery, then splash, IMHO. Automatic places are probably unreachable (but... Ipswich) Obviously, the one thing I 'fudged' was whether we have enough to make the playoffs, and whether this is essential or just desirable.
It's the million dollar question....most of us think that if we can plug the obvious gaps...ie cdm and striker,and hang on to Clarke and Neil,it's at least feasible.
It'll be interesting to hear his side of the story. Especially as his new manager would be in a position to confirm anything.
I like the 'new' approach too. The 'spending' way all seems a bit hopeless in terns of the dream of winning the league. When I was a kid (pre-Sky) I used to think well we might crap now, but the size of the gates and the revenue generated would mean that at some point we would get it right and have a chance on being a contender. But that's not the case now, where a Bournemouth or a Brighton can get in to the prom and generate just as much money as we do. So 'the only way' left to generate the extra cash we need is through player development like we are trying now. Frustrating but that's the way it looks to me.
As you know Smug we just need somebody to plug the gap with electric pace and power able to lead from the front and charge around in midfield whilst keeping it tight at the back and cover every meter, we don't need static defenders or wingers who attract too much attention. All in all more consistency and less surges and blackouts to help us steady the ship and regulate the team and obviously treat the players fairly and offer extensions when earned.
I think the important thing is that models have to be able to flex to adapt to changing circumstances, whether better or worse than predicted. Like our overperformance last year.
It will have been spun about "not being in the right mental state" as that is the buzzword these days that people do not challenge. He knew what he was doing
