Not too bothered about going out this cup. And taking a step back we changed 11 players. Would be interesting to see how many teams in this league would fair any better with their u23 second team Also changing 11 didn’t give a true reflection of some of the players potential slot one or two into the first team with better players and it’s a different story For me showed we need a better mix in our second string more physicality and experience needed for the bench Quite enjoyed a lot of the game but not really sure what RLB has learned from so many changes
Glorified B team friendly. Rigg looks class, mad that it was the 17 year old who was demanding the ball and looking to do the majority of trying to drive the team onwards. Mundle had a good first half but faded. Theres definitely a player in there. For the others on the periphery it kind of just showed why they aren't starting currently, either bad decision making or at times poor technique. Aouchiche and Ba really frustrating inparticular. Pleased we got the likes of Johnson, Watson and young Jones getting minutes.
Was there a new coach on the bench tonight? I'm still away and it was on in the background. It showed RLB early doors and there was someone on the bench I didn't recognise.
Summer of 2023 was poor, I think most agree, but managing to bring in a player who I think will be the biggest sale in the clubs history is still pretty good. My issue with Speakman is I think he's hamstringing himself. We are in the 0-2.5m market, he and the recruitment team have found some absolute gems but the hit rate at that price range is extremely low. But if he was to be actively looking to sell a player we could increase our potential price range for incomings and increase the possible hit rate.
I totally agree with you that we need to sell someone. It's just a hard balancing act on who to sell imo. Sell Clarke and buy 3 quality additions or sell someone else and bring in 1 and 2 squad players (I'm only using this as an example)
I love Clarke but would getting 17m for him and spending £1.5m on Millar (reported fee Hull paid), then being in the race for a Haji Wright level of signing for the forward position and then having some money left over not be better for the club?
Definitely, however, imo I think our 10 starters (minus the obvious) and 3 or 4 subs are decent. Could we not hold off on Jack atm and sell for example, an Ekwah and buy a centre forward? I wouldn't be against selling Jack if we could bring in 3 quality additions, but I honestly don't think we need too much. Think we've got a good team
Yeah, there is that . Was just using him as an example. What I'm trying to say is, could we not wheel and deal a bit (hate that saying) and sell someone we could replace but get decent money for, to allow us to spend on a forward. Let's say Patterson as another alternative.
Patterson is an interesting one in that I’m sure the club has one eye on Patto going for decent money in the next year or two. Problem is, we already have his successor in Young but he’s a year off being ready. That longer term view and scheduling of succession is a tough thing to nail.
We all know what we need for our first choice to improve. Just depends how the club choose to get there really. Sell Clarke and buy a few. Sell another and buy 1. Put money in and buy 1 (which isn't going to happen, and I'm glad, we need to be sustainable) It all depends on which side of the fence you sit really. I don't think we're far away, where as others think we're miles off and need 2 for every postion. Imo we'll buy Mendy and maybe loan Lankshear. I don't see us bringing in many more.
Need a better CB, natural DM and 9. Ekwah defo the easiest loss to the squad as harsh it is not sure what we’d get for him would cover 3 quality players though.
We're nowhere near ffp limits though, are we? Not suggesting we go crackers and overspend, or anything near that, but keeping Clarke, Ekwah et al, AND spending 3 or 4 mil on a player, in the grand scheme, isn't out of scope or crazy...is it? Not bad business either if you're going to play those players and further increase their values in the meanwhile.
Nobody in the league is spending without earning first, everyone is petrified of the rules so i'd rather just stay well clear. Sell big, reinvest and repeat.
Personally I don't see us buying a dm, Dan's the man they want and I don't see anyone coming in to sit on the bench. We might get another cm in if ekwah leaves, but it'll be between Neil, jobe, browne and rigg for the 3 spaces. A cb, maybe, but I mentioned before, I think RLB likes Johnson, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's Ballard, Onien, Alese, Hjelde and Johnson until jan.
Really tough, if we don't go up I can see Young being no1 next year. If we get promoted, he'll be out on loan again.
