Okay, from the start, this is a bit of a ramble. It's a bit of therapy for me to write all this down as I can get things a bit clearer in my head First things first Chris Hughton Very, very impressed. From what I've seen of him he comes across as a very intelligent, very likeable bloke. Obviously passionate about football and knowledgable too. His transfer movements so far have been just what I've liked to see, combination of a bit of experience, exciting youth and nailing down our original "Key" players. He made Getting holty to sign his number one priority, and he delivered. Simple as that. Can't wait to see what he's got next and see how he performs in a game situation The Squad Heres the Current Squad: GK John Ruddy DF Russell Martin MF Bradley Johnson FW Steve Morison MF Andrew Crofts FW James Vaughan FW Grant Holt FW Simeon Jackson MF Andrew Surman MF Anthony Pilkington GK Declan Rudd MF Wes Hoolahan MF David Fox FW Chris Martin MF Elliott Bennett MF Korey Smith MF Simon Lappin DF Leon Barnett DF Elliott Ward DF Marc Tierney MF Jonny Howson DF Daniel Ayala MF Tom Adeyemi DF George Francomb GK Jed Steer DF Ryan Bennett DF Steven Whittaker MF Jacob Butterfield Divide them into positions and we can see what we have by position Goalkeepers GK John Ruddy GK Declan Rudd GK Jed Steer Status - Good Ruddy is number one and has done really well. He'll probably be getting called up for England this season and he thoroughly deserves it. With the Backups we have two very confident young keepers. Last year Steer had a loan spell and he really did well till he got injured. I'd like to see Rudd get a loan deal to get him games this season. I have no issues with Francomb being backup while rudd is away. It's been discussed that we get a "Senior" backup for Ruddy, but I think we're well set up. No point in tinkering and messing up the mix. Changes - None needed. Defenders Centre Back DF Daniel Ayala DF Elliott Ward DF Leon Barnett DF Ryan Bennett Right Back DF Russell Martin DF George Francomb DF Steven Whittaker Left Back DF Marc Tierney Status - Needs Work Last season, we gave away too many goals. Simple as that. We need to tighten up. If we look from the very back we have two young centre backs in Dani and R.Bennett. They are doing fine but I'd personally like an "older head" with one of them. I think Barnett has come as far as he can with us so if we replace him we're left with Ward and "X" as the older heads, with Dani and Ryan battling for the second space. At right back I think we're pretty set, and either of them can fill in in other areas too so it's a great flexibility. Francomb.... Not sure, another loan? I rate him but he's got to overcome two good players to get game time. At Left back, we have a big problem. At the moment we have tierney, we're not sure of his condition yet. I LOVE Tierney, and I can't wait to see him playing for us again, we need someone else in there too though definitely. Changes - We need an experienced Centre Back and a Left Back Midfielders I've Broken it down like this:- Wingers MF Anthony Pilkington MF Elliott Bennett Attacking Midfield MF Wes Hoolahan MF Jacob Butterfield Physical Midfield MF Andrew Crofts MF Bradley Johnson General Purpose Midfield MF Andrew Surman MF Tom Adeyemi MF Korey Smith MF Simon Lappin Keystone Midfielders MF David Fox MF Jonny Howson Status - Minor tweaking So, always the hardest one to analyse but a couple of things stood out when I organised it like this: Do we need to "trade up" Crofts for another Physcial Midfield Battler? Do Adyemi and smith go back out on Loan? Keystone "String Pullers" look good I think swapping Crofts and getting in another midfield Physical man is definitely an option we should be looking at, but Crofts hasn't let us down. Maybe we should keep him (I'm so sentimental) It would be great for the younger players to get game time via loans. I hope Hughton can get a good look at them in pre-season and see what he thinks. Korey and Adyemi are very nearly there, it will depend on what Hughtons thinking is. I think what would be great is a another midfield "WOW" player that can change a game with pace and skill. for me, I'd love to get Pacheco, but we'll see Changes - A physical player and a "wow" midfielder Strikers FW Chris Martin FW Grant Holt FW James Vaughan FW Simeon Jackson FW Steve Morison Status - Tweaking Needed Basically, at the moment we have two physical front men, two pacey ones and the great conundrum that is... Chris Martin. I think the two bang on keepers are Morison and Holt, I'd be very tempted to put them in my starting lineup. They did very well last season and I think they'll both do alright this year Then we have Vaughan and Jackson, these guys are more at risk. Less goals from them, Vaughan is a bit of an unknown quantity. If one had to go I'd say Vaughan. It's a shame but Jacko is full of running and effort. I think we could do with another striker like this though Then we have Chrissy Martin. do we re-train him into attacking midfield? Do we give him another shot? He divides opinion but I think he's a good player and I'd like to at least give him the chance to work his way in. Changes - We need another option up front, haven't decided what I want yet though Conclusions We look okay, but we need tweaking We could do with: x1 Centre Back, x1 Left Back, x1 Physical Midfielder(POSSIBLE), x1 "WOW" midfielder, x1 Striker I think this and we'd be good to go. We probably have no money and 30 players now but I won't think about that Well, I feel better after that, I feel a bit more sorted about what we need. What do you guys think?
Agree with all positions but my wow midfielder would be a winger to compete with pilks and Bennett as I can see CH using wingers a lot more than PL did. With that in mind: Snoddy, Eagles, Matt Philips, Ince, Jarvis, Adomah.. For me.
Yeah the "wow" midfielder can be from any attacking midfield position, just a midfielder that offers an option to Unlock a defence.
Really good read beef, agree with pretty much all of your points. However could you not have included a few sly digs at Binwich or KooPeeArrrr?
I calculate that if CH agrees with you then 3 of the existing squad have to go. Barnett, Lappin and Chris Martin would be my suggestion if they can be persuaded to go. As I have said many times before if Smith, Adeyemi and Francomb are classed as underage players I think CH either puts them in the squad or lets them go - I really cannot see the sense in loaning them out again. All of this, of course, relies upon Mr Lambert not acting in his normal manner by turning up with his cheque book open!!
I think I need a nap, after going through all that and barely a single thing you don't like, we must be virtually perfect. Tell me, why write all of that when you feel everything is rosy anyway. What's the point? There's nothing inciteful, interesting or compelling in doing this kind of article, what is there to react to, you know its the general consensus anyway. It's just bland formulaic assessment. Is it just to get a pat on the back from your peers? . "I think swapping Crofts and getting in another midfield Physical man is definitely an option we should be looking at, but Crofts hasn't let us down"- So why do we need to swap him for another physical man? Honestly it is stuff like this that gets my goat. If you think Crofts is not up to it then SAY SO!! If you think he needs to go then SAY SO!!! What is the point, if you are not going to express yourself fully!!! To surmise Get rid of Barnett Get an experienced centre back and left back Keep everyone one else because you can't possibly say they aren't good enough and should be given a chance Everything's rosy Fantastic
Its so easy to just say "crofts isn't good enough, sell him" But why would you tear up a squad that's done so well? Why would you upset it. Sometimes you have to look at keeping someone to let them prove themselves or to reward their loyalty. Football can be a "cut throat" sport, but we don't have to be at our club.
Only when it comes to the incorrect use of less and fewer. Any other incorrect use of words I'm fine with!
Are you serious?? What about the growing number of people - from all walks of life, who use 'of' when they mean 'have'. As in " I could of throttled him" when they mean to say " I could have throttled him". Lazy lingo in the extreme but growing in frequency, sadly. Textspeak has much to answer for.
One of my bugbears is people using are when they mean our and Northampton's use of his when he means he's, I try to ignore it but it really does something to me!
