Firstly i recognise that this thread can possibly be regarded as grave digging an already debated to death topic, however i just wanted to give my view, which i think as a starting point on a thread is rarely 'glass half-full'. As mentioned in all the debates about the season it is seemingly the defense that is our major downfall, one of the highest goals conceeded but also scored as many as Reading throughout the season. Yet since the season ended there seems to have been a bit of a sense of panic that the current squad would struggle without major additions throughout the team. I don not agree with this view although accept that added depth would be beneficial throughout the squad. GoalKeepers In ALB, we have a keeper who is admittedly very error prone and inconsistant. So to put it simply Yes its vital we bring in a number one, but i think ALB is a good option to have in reserve and if we did have rely on him it wouldnt mean we would be guaranteed to conceed Defense Unquestioningly we need a centre back but smith is finally showing the progress we all thought he was capable of, he just needs a suitable defensive partner, preferabbly one that is experianced. delaney can act as cover, again not ideal but acceptable bench defender. in the full back dept. left back is covered with by cresswell and whight so we need no new additions there. RB again we only need cover because despite defensive errors edwards does provide good attacking options and attack is the name of the game. So far out of 5 positions we need 3 Midfield I acctaully think here we are very strong Assuming the first choices would be Hyam and Drury in the centre we have stevenson as cover and despite an awful first full season no-one can claim having the option to bring on a bullard skilled player from the bench isnt a fantastic option. Let's remember, however you feel about squad unity or the ipswich way, bullards going to be looking and playing for a contract... beyond that we have lawrence to blood in The Wings a very crossover section but i identify JET and Carson as the current 'first choice So straight away we can see a certain amount of depth would be beneficial, however, considering RB can regarded as a priority position if we get someone in there Edwards can be regarded as cover, so we only need one which could potentially be murphy, if not Gallagher has been linked. if not Martin can always cover on the left so its not essential we get someone in Strikers As mentioned goals haven't really been a problem. A Chopra that stay confident can knock them in regularly and Scotland can provide the 'muscle' martin the creativity and danger with JET as a constant option and then we have murray that we can fit in So in conclusion to field an 11 id be happy with we need a GK and a CB, what would be nice to see brought in would be a RB another CB and possibly a dedicated Winger. But i still believe with no additions and assuming the whole squad isnt injured at the same time we would certainly be no worse off than this season.
Jussi Jaskelinan (spelling) GK, Matt Lowton RB, Luke Chambers CB, Ryan Nelson CB, Anthony Wordsworth CM, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake CF The whole spine needs replacing and I reckon these players would be ideal. Jussi would command the defence and the younger kids would learn a great deal from him. Matt Lowton from Sheff Utd would be the Right Back version of Cresswell allowing Edwards to get further forward. Ryan Nelson is a fellow countryman of Tommy Smith and would provide experience and much needed know how along with Luke Chambers. I have always rated Wordsworth from Colchester as a good creative midfielder who is capable of making the step up. The marque signing would be Ebanks-Blake who would be deadly up front in this league and would provide the perfect foil for Chopra with Scotland coming off the bench.
I agree all those signings would be beneficial but i dont understand why the spine 'needs' to be 'replaced'. Its the team that needs adding to.
I would certainly be quite worried if we didn't sign anyone. The squad is not strong enough and has little depth. But like Mike says, for the first time in a while I don't think the spine of the team needs 'replacing' it just needs adding to. I thought the piece by the supporters chair in the EADT summed it up quite well, whilst certainly the squad is weak a core of players have emerged that we can build upon.
Sorry guys but I don't agree! We are weak from goal keeper right through the middle to up front. Wholesale surgery is required yet again this season due to a comedy errors from Clegg and Jewell. Another season of transition awaits due to a failed strategy last season.
JWM - its no good just repeating the same things youve been saying without backing it up with your reasons why you believe that
but that has been over the whole season. from janurary were 10th and thats my point, its only small additions that we need to rise 4 places to 6, infact as i was going to get the link ive realised were equal on points gained with Leicester in 6th http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship/2011-2012/custom-table how does that need wholesale changes
I'd like to see a strong GK a good CB(captain material) and a RB to go straight into the side then maybe one or two more to add pressure to the first team.
We have got a weak squad with little quality and key positions like the spine of the team all needing urgent additions with quality. The only players I would keep in our first team squad are Cresswell, Drury, Smith, Edwards, Hyam, Martin, Chopra and Scotland with JET at a push. The rest are just run of the mill mediocre players that do not have the ability to take us to the next level. I include JET eventhough he is a luxury player but with added quality around him we might get the consistency that is badly lacking from his game. You can quote all kinds of statistics but the bottom line is that we have failed yet again to even break into the top 10 with this group of players that Jewell has assembled. This is a damning verdict on his and Clegg's inability to bring in the quality players that we need in order to compete. We need bold transfer targets like the ones I have mentioned. I include Edwards in the A list as he does have quality going forward eventhough he has been asked to play in an alien position.
but it was a different set of players from january that is showing playoff competing form. ok weve only risen at max 5 places since december but you cant critise the current team for the position we find ourselves in now. It was the team in the first half of the seaon jewells dads army that was responsible. Yes to progress we need additions, the team in the second half of the season included a loan keeper and winger 2 of the positions i mentioned and we need a centre back at absolute but wholesale changes are not needed, this is a squad we can add to. The thing is with the players you mention in your A list that can form a team for in essence you agree with me. From your 9 Gk Missing RB Edwards CB Missing CB Smith LB Cresswell RM JET CM Hyam CM Drury LM Martin ST Scotland ST Chopra and thats on the assumption you would ignore carson who would play on the left allowing martin to play in the middle
It's all very well naming names, but just think of the wages the likes of Ebanks-Blake, Nelson and Jussi would be on. Apart from the fact that I've seen Arsenal fans talking about signing Jussi as a cover goalie- realistic I think not. Ebanks-Blake has 1 goal in the league- sounds like a certain Mr Scotland to me. We need to be realistic about the players we can afford and/or attract. Despite still being in the 'Jewell in' camp, I agree with you that we need to sign 5+ players, and in the positions you have listed. However why would someone like Lowton come when he thinks that his team could do a Southampton or Norwich- he would be realistic if Sheffield United don't go up. Have to admit I don't know too much about Wordsworth, but he seems realistic,
Ebanks-Blake has hardly featured for Wolves this season. His goals got Wolves Promoted a few years ago and he would be awesome in this division. Yes we need some realistic bargains but we do need some proven quality in the mix and if Evans is serious about getting us promoted then i'm afraid he will just have to get his cheque book out! The real conundrum is that i don't trust Jewell to deliver with or without money!
As a SQUAD goes yes that list isn't bad but we need more improvements to the starting 11. We have a few quality players but obviously not enough as our league positions over the last 3 years will testify.
you've got two very decent strikers at championship level and, well, thats sort of it really. i very much doubt any other championship club will look at your current squad and think its got a 'decent spine'. i'd go as far as saying there is barely a spine at all! you've no keeper, no centre half, no top midfielder... (hyam and drury are potentially pretty good but can you honestly say they are top championship players?). warky may be slightly over-ambitious targeting some players, cos their wages would be high (ebanks-blake for example), but at least he seems to realise that you've not actually got a very good set of players as it stands and that you need major improvements to move forward from your currently stagnated football club.
I can see an essay coming on...... I think everyone can see that we need a fair few players in this summer, most can see that. I think we are all signing from the same hymn sheet just saying it in different ways. We have a few players emerging who could be very good for us over the coming years and have good quality but there are gapping holes our squad i.e GK & CB. If we get in a good GK and CB our team would be pretty decent for this level: New GK, Edwards, New CB, Smith, Cresswell JET, Drury, Martin, Hyam, Carson Chopra For me that's a pretty decent 1st team at this level. Plus having players like Scotland, Stevenson, Bullard, Lawrence & Whight to come in and do a job. For the first time in a while, we actually have some players showing some sort of form and are potentially very good players at this level. I geuss the main concern is are they going to play to their potential. Edwards, is defensively poor but I cannot remember a more dangerous attacking full back at Ipswich before, there aren't any better in the division at going forward. Smith is only young and could go on to be a very decent CB at this level, his awareness for his age is very good. Cresswell is one of the best LB's in this division and our best LB since Clapham JET's potential is unlimited, he can play at whatever level he wants to, next season is a big one for him, he's always going to have off days. Drury I think could be our player of the season next year, very accomplished on the ball, good passing, good vision, good movement. Potentially one of the best midfielders in the division. Hyams got alot of potential as a DM. Martin, has shown great form this season and looks one of the better players at this level (can't believe I'm saying that) Carson, has great potential just needs to knucle down and work hard. Chopra, on his day is one of the best strikers in the division. We've got a couple of promising youngster in Lawrence and Whight who will hopefully play some part next season and also Scotland(if he signs) is a threat on his day at this level. And Bullard if he gets his act together is probably the best midfielder in the division. Don't know too much about Stevenson but if his goal last weekend was anything to go by could well be a decent player for us. Also many of our players can play in different positions. Edwards can play Rb or on the wings, Cresswell could play on the LW aswell as LB, JET can play in any attacking midfield position and as a striker as can stevenson. Martin, Carson can play in any attacking midfield position. Drury can play on the wings, as an attacking midfielder or an out and out CM. So for me the only place we desperately need reinforcements is GK and CB probably RB. We have a good core of players emerging, the team doesn't need replacing but it certainly needs strengthening. Like I've said a GK and CB and RB are a must. I think I'd like to see us get in a GK with a bit more experience but one with a few years playing left in him Kuszczak would be ideal but wouldn't be adverse to Jaskalinen. What do people think of Joe Lewis(I know not experienced), I see he has been released? was very highly rated at one point, not sure he's been on form this season or just fallen out with the heirachy at Peterborough? Or perhaps not realistic but Lee Camp or Fraser Foster. I'd also like us to sign at least 2 CB's and a RB. I really like Trippier but again I doubt Burnley would be willing to part. Players like Joel Ward and Halford would be good because they can both play in a number of positions although I do feel we need specialist out and out CB's most importantly a dominant CB who can read the game and help out those around him. Whilst the rest of the squad we are not desperate for players I would still like us to get in a CM, a solid player, not an overly attack minded midfielder neither one that is an out and out DM, a player in the mould of Matt Holland or a playmaker. Perhaps someone like Clingham from Coventry, was always impressed with his positional play, one of the most important things in a CM is that they offer themselves for the ball something alot of our player over recent years have been very poor at particularly Leadbitter and especially Norris. I would also like to see us get another winger, although this is not a priority. And 2 Strikers, Scotland is one of the best hold up players I have seen but we need someone with a bit of height, a target man upfront plus we need a goalscorer, someone to come in and compete with Chopra or replace him if he gets injured. So I we do have good players at the club we just need to add to them.
