Well it has been a long time since i last posted here! Not that i want to do anything other than have a drink (Pub time very shortly!) but i have been thinking, where do we go from here? I think we have a decent squad, but if we want to be comfortable next season against some very good sides, we do need to strengthen. Personally i think the middle of the pitch is where we are weakest. I reckon JJ should be playing in the middle next season, as technically he is our best midfielder and he is a proven playmaker, plus he just doesn't have the pace to play out wide. I'd rather see us sign N'guessan and play him on the left to allow JJ to play in the middle. We do need to clear out some players as well, the likes of Doc, Alonso, Hughes and Clarke id let go, and although i dont think Hayes is a bad player, something has clearly gone on there and he will never displace Yann the Man. I would like at least one more striker with a bit of class about him to give a bit of competition to BWP, i feel sometimes he would be more up for it if he had someone waiting in the wings for a chance to bang them in. Don't really know who will be available but i suppose we will see. I have heard that HMPS have just signed some welsh bloke who isn't too bad up front, don't know what league they are in though........
Why thank you Tewkes, it has been a while! I am not actually sure what road we will take transfer wise, i know there was a five year plan to get us back to the prem, so i assume there is a bit of money to throw around at some point, but now weve gone up and Sir Chris has shown he is good in the transfer market, could we see a few decent names in our colours? It is bugging me already and the season hasn't even finished yet!
Relax and enjoy the moment. They don't come along very often. For some clubs never, in a century or more.
I don't want to downplay any of the fine work our team has put in this season, but a few changes need to be made if we want to challenge in the Championship. Looking at today's starting line-up, I would drop BWP, Pritchard, JJ, and Waggy. I think they are good for supporting roles, though. Stephens, Green and Hollands have question marks over their heads at the moment; but they are young and can improve for sure. Haynes could be a regular starter next season and I expect him to hit the ground running given the chance. Russell, Hughes and Hayes have probably played their last matches for us. Hollands and Taylor are good for starting berths.
A few months ago i wouldn't have really doubted any of our starting 11, but Taylor and Morrison have not been on as good form as they were, I think Cort has come in and done rather well, but Morrison, who i thought was the calmest defender i had ever seen at the start of the season, has been showing signs of uncertainty and nerves. I hope it is purely down to the fact its been a long hard season and nothing more sinister. Agree about Haynes, he looks to be a threat and has a touch of class about him.
Hollands is 26 so he is not going to improve just by getting older. But I think he is already good enough for the Championship. He just needed a rest. I know he was not the one who actually gave birth but the arrival of the triplets was a massive disruption in his household and while his form was brilliant at the very start of the season it only regained that level in patches afterwards, not helped by an injury and undeserved suspension. The kids will be sleeping better by next season and so will he be. Interesting to see if CP brings him back for these last two games. We could see what difference an enforced rest made. Private Stephens and Private Green are flaky. Too many flicks and tricks and not enough bottle. Not the sort of guys I would want alongside me in the trenches. But Sergeant Holland every time.
I think Morrison has just been getting used to his new CB partner and that's why he's been a bit shakey, definately a first choice CB for us in the Championship though. I wouldn't consider dropping BWP at all, 22 goals so far this season despite a 2/3 month goal drought. Plus 21 (?) goals the previous season in a bottom and a mid table side. He's shown us in pre-season that he's just as deadly against Championship defences. When Stephens is in form he's easily good enough for a top Championship side in my opinion. Its just the misplaced passes/lapses of attention that he needs to improve upon. I'd still have Green over Waggy, but I'd probably prefer if we were to sign a new RM ahead of the two for next season. -Still not convinced by N'Guessan. -Lee Cook should be signed (and perhaps even first choice LM) -going to come under a lot of criticism here, but I don't think Johnnie Jackson is anywhere near good enough to be first choice LM. Shopping list for the summer: -backup RB -New RM -New CM (in case Hollands isn't up to it) -New LM -Striker to push BWP Outs: -Doherty -Hayes -Clark -Hughes -Alonso -Bover
I agree with those five positions. -backup RB Some stalwart in the latter part of his career who won't mind sitting on the bench. Richardson is still too good and Murty is too old. Someone in between those two. -New RM. Agreed -New CM but I would say in case Stephens isn't up to it. I have total confidence in Hollands. -New LM. Agreed -Striker to push BWP. Agreed. But we may go with Haynes and borrow someone if he doesn't cut it. [/QUOTE]
RB - Cousins (can play RB and CB ) just what we need, needs to be given a chance like solly has been RM- Antonio of Sheff Wed/ Reading CM- Move Jackson inside LM- Dont know Dont need another striker got BWP, Kermit, Hayes and Haynes
If you bring in another right midfield then either Waggy or Green will have to go, you can't have three right midfielders (who think they should be starting) at the club.
I will be shot down for this, but I'd sell waggy. That cross in the 2nd half when he had all the time in the world, but Skyed it, that sums him up. Will be found wanting in the championship. Antonio and Green would do for me.
Glad it isn't just me who thinks Jackson should not be out on the left but instead in the middle, i think him and Hollands would be more than good enough in the Championship when in form. N'guessan i like, but have not seen anywhere near enough of him to say with certainty he would be good enough. Maybe a young player with something to prove on a season long loan with a view to a permanent deal would be a good shout at LM? Waggy is a tough one, i like him, but he is inconsistent. If he could perform like he can on a good day on a frequent basis i think he would be fine, but sadly that just wont happen. And Green is another inconsistent performer, hasn't got much pace and sometimes is invisible for an entire game bar one or two ok crosses, defensively he hasnt got a clue either and i think he leaves Solly too much to clear up
Green is a winger who sends his crosses in from deep. That's not unusual. Waggy showed yesterday why he won't make it further- the first half when he had a rare chance to run at basey, he had no idea what to do. His head went down and he took it far too wide, put his head up and the chance was gone. Then the cross in the second half was just embarrassing. I know he's a popular guy, but he isn't up to championship football.
Agree with Super, Waggy won't cut it in the Championship. Yesterday confirmed that for me. Someone on here (can't remember who) says Waggy plays as though he learnt how to by playing Fifa, completely agree. I like Green, despite being anonymous for about 80 minutes every game, he still always manages to put beautiful crosses in. He'll be okay in the Championship, but needs a fast winger (willing to take on the full back) to challenge him.
I agree with this point, Eddie. What I actually meant was that I think Hollands will step up to the mark as the standard of football increases. He is the main man for the midfield, in my opinion. As for BWP: I totally understand why everyone thinks he is the dog's dangly bits and why he should spearhead our attack next season. But, for me, I think his level is League One and that he will struggle to score in the Championship. I don't buy in to this great enigma idea, that his sullen and mopey behaviour is a ruse that draws defenders in to thinking that he has not got a goal in him, then all of a sudden he springs into life and destroys rearguards with his explosive pace and deadly finishing. He is a good player, yes. He works hard, agreed. I just don't like his attitude, sometimes. His career could rocket if he sorted it out, but I don't see this happening. And his one-on-one record stinks!
From November I will have to agree with you. He is having some sort of mental block with one on ones, as he used to bury those chances no problems. I think he'll step up, but am not against having a 4th striker to compete with him. SAF always spoke of the importance of having 4 top strikers on the books, and with Hayes seemingly surplus to requirements(sadly), a new hotshot is needed.
I think you hit the nail on the head, SuperC. A fourth striker would increase competition and perhaps spur BWP on to greater things. His record is good. But it could be so much better!
