this is the same guy that scored 5 goals in the Premiership aged 16/17 yeah? I agree that he is often Injured, but now that he isn't injured we should be looking to play him!
you've totally missed the point with regards defensive midfield. we haven't got one on our books who is good enough to play that role to a consistent level. fox is not a defensive midfielder. yes he lies deep but he's a play maker, a string puller - totally different to what we need. crofts is sadly not good enough and that isn't his strongest position anyway, likewise johnson who is better than crofts but likes to get around the park. we absolutely need a quality, solid midfielder who can control the game but also get his foot in and make us more difficult to break down in midfield. its such a glaringly obvious problem that it worries me some can't see it! as for vaughan, not sure horrified is the right word, it would only be a loan, but i don't think it would be the right move for us. could be wrong but even if he only plays half the games this season i think he'll be a valuable asset.
Yeah, fair enough maybe I did get a bit excited about that. He looked really good when he actually played last season though. I, like everyone else, have no idea what formation Hughton will play, but it sounds like he likes his attacking football so I'd be surprised if we ever used an out-and-out defensive midfielder anyway! I'm quite happy with what we have, I think we need to fill out the defense and it will be less of an issue!
i think he'll play with width but one up top. i think last season showed that we were a little too attacking and was a main reason why we conceded so many goals. every single team who does well has a holding player, sometimes two. we HAVE to have one in my opinion - without one we'll make the same mistakes as last year. i think pilks and benno will benefit from having hughton instead of lambert because he'll play with more width and not use the diamond. we'll still be counter attacking but hopefully be more solid. the defence for me was not the major issue - they made individual errors but as a unit didn't do bad at all. they were let down by the lack of midfield cover and therefore isolated.
Maybe you're right, I assume you've seen more in person than me, I'm at uni in Stoke so I watch online! I just feel like Johnson, if he remains calm, could do a solid job there. Defense and Attack would be my targets for now, at least until Crofts leaves, but that's just my opinion!
johnson isn't disciplined enough to play that role to any great effect. our best results came when fox played deep and although i'm a massive fan, we need someone with a bit more steel in that department. we need our own 'water carrier'. they don't generally get the praise as you don't really notice the good ones that much but players like barry and de jong make such a difference to a side. the dirty work so to speak
Obviously a player like that would be nice, but I think we need to ship out Crofts, and maybe Smith on loan, before we start looking for anyone else there, other areas need strengthening more for me
in my opinion the first position we should be looking at strengthening is defensive midfield! if we continue to have a soft centre it will affect the whole team. i don't care when they arrive, so long as a holding player comes in i'll be happy
Seems a sensible move to me. We get a decent, experienced centre back which we definitely need. And we get some game time for a striker who has barely played a game for us - if he succeeds, we've got a great new player for next season, if he fails we know we need to cut our losses and let him go.
I'd like to see us go for something like a 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 with a fairly standard back 5 and Holt/Morison up top, then with the midfield have Bennett and Pilks for width, an attack minded CM, and then Fox and a defensive midfielder who is prepared to sit and break up attacks, and I agree that Johnson isn't quite that player. Unfortunately I can't think of anyone in our price range who fits the bill, but I'd be more than happy for that player to be our biggest signing. On the Davies/Vaughan thing, if Vaughan is only loaned out, then I'm happy with it, if we bring someone else in up front. If Vaughan can get fit, find some form, then return to us and give us a boost later on in the season, it's brilliant. If he gets injured, then there's no guarantee he wouldn't have done with us anyway.
I just can't see why, after a seasons without him, we would be so ready to send him away! We must be able to afford Curtis Davies without a makeweight, especially as we've already made two free signings! DH, fancy Anthony Annan for DM? Ghanaian (I think) who looked impressive in ACON and would probably be available around the 3-4m mark
Will say, james nursery has said that a loan for vaughan is a stand alone deal. We must surely have another striker lined up!
