If we are unable to sign a competent striker in 3.5 years then either the model or investment has to change. It's that simple.
It's definitely hard to find a striker and you have to pay over the odds for a proven one but it feels like we're still focusing more on value. I'm in favour of that approach in general but it feels like we need to back our data, pick a player and go for it. Last season we spread our risk, 2 young lads (who could still have good careers), a lad from Ukraine who had potential upside and a loan from the Prem. This season we need a first choice striker, a player that Speakman and Harvey are going to risk their reputations on. If that's Mendy, then great. If we have doubts, then move on and go all in on someone we completely believe in.
If we put together a YouTube compilation of Ekwah, AA, or anyone’s best bits, and dropped it in here, we’d all be like ‘wow, get them signed…’ Facts.
If there’s complications with Mandy because of his club’s ownership should Speakman be patient to get the man he wants or get a less suitable striker. No need to flip out yet.
I think it’ll be mendy/ugbo then a prem loan on deadline day, just hope they’re more of a stansfield than a Burstow this time, feeling it’ll be the spurs lad, name escapes me though lankshear I think?
Not sure how it will go this season. Big positives with Ballard and Rigg signing. The club also is in no hurry to take the slightest offer for our best players also a big step in the right direction. Huge doubts creeping in again over the fact Dodds and Proctor are hanging round the new manager who hasn't as yet brought any of his own coaches in as far as I'm aware. The lack of a competent centre forward being acquired since the signing of Stewart and loan signing of Simms is going to hinder the team a lot. Will probably cost us 15-20 points if not addressed imo. We aren't far away from pushing for play offs but won't if the striker isn't bought and the manager doesn't get his own assistant in is my feeling at the minute.
Looks a talent. I think we might be waiting till end of window for a second option, will hopefully get Mendy over line and Mayenda and Rusyn will be bench options to start. Euros always slows the market down a wee bit, I don’t feel like the clubs at fault over Mendy, the timing of the Caen takeover has been a spanner that we couldn’t foresee. I genuinely see more positive than negative for the season, we are a playoff contender for sure. There’s that unusual thing if the relegated teams not being as strong. Luton will be decent cos too gaffer, not sure Sheff United be anything to fear at all. Burnley likely the strongest but I feel Leeds, Coventry & Boro are the teams we battling with.
I think we’re quite a way off the likes of cov boro and Luton mind (at the moment) but you never know in this batshit league do you?
I think the difference with those teams n us is the striker options, elsewhere we are as strong if not stronger Thats why we all know the striker situation is vital to us The big unknown is Le Bris, if hes amazing then we will be up there imo Sheff utd are an interesting one, theyve signed some quality players but still lots of holes in that team and im not convinced by Wilder at all At the minute i would be going for a top 6 of: Leeds Burnley Boro Coventry Luton Then the 6th spot im struggling on, ill give sheff utd the nod at the minute as i really like players like hamer, ohare burrows and moore should score goals I dont think we are a million miles away but we will be without a good striker
I certainly think we are a little bit behind them, I wouldn’t say a way off. I think Coventry are going to be excellent. Of the non relegated sides they the ones to beat, Summerville is a huge loss for Leeds. A lot for me is hanging on LB. A fit and on it Cirkin absolutely changed the dimension of us, it’s that fear of injury. If we were going into the season with Cirks LB and Huggins RB both got and on form then the balance and shape and options are massive. I feel we pinned a lot on not having a striker, and while I agree is mental, well we didn’t have one season before but we had better balance to move the ball. There’s more to it than plonk a 9 in. We have some lovely wingers, we have Dan, we have goals in the side. We can win with balance and shifting the ball.
I reckon we get some sort of solid link today, Mendy’s still training on his own and given that he’s probably Caen’s most sellable asset you’d imagine that the talks with him to try and keep him haven’t gone in their favour which would suggest he still wants away. we will be alright, we should know by now that we are usually late the party with our signings but would hope we can get a striker in before next weekend. just give me some form of hope.
I’m not far off that mate. I do think Coventry are going to be better than expected. Robins is quality and they have a nice bit of balance and depth. There’s always a curve ball in this league. Bristol City maybe, Cardiff could be half decent and Norwich & WBA always have a bit to show. As always a tough league, but we do have x-factor players if we can get some balance and Wor Reg has us moving the ball quickly.
WBA will be intriguing, class manager but seem to have lost a lot of talent - there squad was already thin as it is Norwich should be up there, all depends on how their new manager does Itll be a tight league as always but we still have a lot of quality that other teams will be jealous off I think we have 2 top 5 fullbacks in the league in Hume n Cirkin (Huggins argualy would be up there too if he wasnt always injured) 1 of the best CBs in the league in Ballard. As a 2 him and O9 actually performed really well as a 2 last season but lets avoid the whole o9 as a CB topic. Neil is up there with the best CMs, im not sure theres anyone else I'd start ahead of him tbh - i think he is going to be unreal this season. Browne has been a top 10 championship CM for a few yrs now Jobe will be one of the top goalscoring CMs this yr Clarke will be the best winger in the league (if he stays) once summerville goes We have some good squad players as well - ekwah, Alese, Roberts, Mundle, potentially Rigg n Adil this season as well. These are players that are good enough for the odd game, they need to show more consistency tho Patterson im not as high as others on him but i still think hes a top 10 GK in this league Its just that 1 glaring position at the minute - then a little more squad depth in certsin positions We certainly arent a million miles away from challenging
Maybe he has met Dodds, worked with him and decided he is exactly what he wants in an assistant. Dodds has been highly rated as a coach and he shouldn't be chucked out with the bathwater just because he was asked to do a job he isn't up to! Doesn't mean he is now not up to his original role!
also to put my ten piece in on this point (which I agree with every single point) Those players we’ve brought in over the last couple seasons who where inexperienced all have experience and a good amount of games at this level now, so we should also start to see them really show that. Very excited to see how well they do this season, I fully expect this season to be the one where Dan Neil really gets the media attention he deserves and what we can all see in him. I also hold a lot of belief that Abdoullah Ba can come into his own despite his critics, we haven’t got a player in that squad that can move the ball at his feet with the pace he does.
Agree with almost every word mate. I’d clean forgotten about Browne who’s a stellar signing. I’m same with Patto. He is absolutely good enough though there’s not great keepers in the league. I think his communication isn’t gonna improve now. Strange cos when you see him on the club training vids and such he doesn’t look reserved at all. For me, a fit and in form back 4 of Huggins, Dan, Alese and Cirkin would be utterly outstanding for the league (no slur on Luke), we will just never likely see it. We have some very, very good players. Clarke, Mundle, Poveda, Ba and AA all have brilliance in them, as does Roberts we just haven’t seen that for a minute. Dan for me is leagues best and still improving. We have some ****ing players mate.
100%, im excited by it at the minute We certainly have the talent but the balance still isnt right for me. Im hoping mundle looks good at RM as i think him and Clarke as a combo would be so hard to play against due to the pace they both play at All about signing a few more quality players between now n the end of the window - still got time but i also understand folks concerns/worries
I forgot about Poveda!!! If he plays like he did at wednesday then we have another xfactor player in our squad I would still like another CB to come in, Alese im not convinced by as a CB - i do like him as a LB tho I also wouldnt be against a 6 month loan of a RB to cover behind Hume as i have real concerns about Pembele as a RB
