Reading between the lines in the LM yesterday I am really annoyed that we are pretty much prepared to let Hobbs and Waghorn leave the club. All Hobbs needed last season was someone with some experience beside him, like the year before. Wayne Brown, not a great player but was hard and experienced and helped Hobbs, we lacked a better replacement for him. He also needed someone to put an arm round his shoulder and give him some confidence, Pearson did and got the best out of him. He isn't the complete player but has a lot of potential so WHY are we not developing him and instead developing players for other teams, for them to get better and then to go back to their parent club. Is Hobbs any better or worse than Bruma, who know's long term but they both made mistakes last season as they are young but we should develop our own players rather than others! And for Waghorn. Has he has a chance in his true position under Sven? No. Is he any better than Vassell? Vassell works hard and puts a shift in but so does Waghorn, is 10 years younger and has time to develop. It's not as if Vassell is banging the goals in week in week out. We need a settled team for sure, less loan players and more players who want to be at this club. And no favourites when they clearly aren't good enough! But we also need to nuture our talent, we have it but for some reason Sven isn't keen on them and has not given either a fair chance. And before anyone moans I want Sven out etc, I don't - I just want the players who served us well the season before last to be given a fair chance rather than just chuck another loan player in! I think Sven has failed this two pretty poorly.
Tunchev, Hobbs, Bamba and poss Vitor will be fighting for 2 central defender slots next year imo. Waghorn, Vassell, Gallagher, Dyer and possibly Kamara/Yakubu will be fighting for 3 attacking roles next year. Tbh they have not been given a chance this season, but if they are not willing to put their heads down and prove to Sven that they are worth a first team place, then they can go for me. It did seem as tho Waggy had done this, but unfortunatly got injured at the wrong time.
Well here ya go - a very bad decision in my opinion! http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6926716,00.html
I agree, not good. Leicester Wizzard - do you really think we will see all those loan players again, I really don't think we will. We weren't good enough in defence this season so we need a change anyway...one or two back, but thats it...
All the players i listed are permanent players, apart from Vitor and Yak, which Sven is looking into making permanent by the sound of it (i cant imagine he would go for Kamara as well as Yak, but you never know). Agree that we do need a change at the back, but whether its getting Hobbs back, or buying someone completly different, it doesn't really matter to me. Maybe all this transfer speculation will enlighten Sven into just how good Hobbs is. I said it somewhere in another thread, If we get 1-2 new centrebacks in, then Hobbs will go, but atm we only have Bamba, Hobbs and Tunchev that can play there, and lets face it, you cant guarantee that Tunchev will be upto form, especially for the first few games after such a long injury. Dont really need a new striker do you? thought that Fryatt and the ex-p/boro guy (i forget which one it is mickael-smith or mclean) are working well for you?
Sorry LW - what I meant to say was even some of those permanent players could go. Dyer hasn't had a sniff in recent weeks which is a shame, will he sign the Yak, only if he reduces his wages. I think its almost a foregone conclusion Hobbs and Waghorn are out of the door. I just don't want loads of loan players again and I hope Sven will look to sign players asap so they can gel in pre-season, which looks like we have one this year, better than last thats for sure!
Sven has said that he expects to get some new players in as soon as the premiership finishes. Hopefully that means people like Kyle Naughton, Ben Mee, Diomansy Kamara and Yakubu are signed up
They both have their price. I think that if we can keep Tunch fit then Hobbs is replaceable and Schlupp seems just the same mould as Waggy, only with higher confidence.
Keep both Hobbs and Waggy in my opinion Strikers for next season Yak, Kamara, Vassell, Waghorn, Owen/Heskey Centre halfs Hobbs, Bamba, Tunchev, Mee and if we can get Vitor We would do well to get 25-30 games out of Tunchev over the season. He is going to be like Ledley King. If we sign Mee he can cover left back and same with Vitor, he can cover right back
Which begs the question - if he's keeping Schlupp why is he releasing Waggy? Ok obviously Schlupp has shown potential, but he's only played at League 1 level. Waghorn is proven to be a good Championship player at the least, with potential to improve. I really would rather we got rid of Vassell, I've got nothing against the guy but whilst he's been given plenty of chances he's really not done very much of note at all. And lest face it, he's never going to be played in the centre.
No. He's actually a good squad player, but the logic of saying he's better than Waggy? I don't get it.
It's not that we don't need a new striker (Mclean hasn't exactly set the world on fire) its just that we would never pay the ã3 Million that you did for Waghorn. Plus we need a target man to go with Fryatt and Waghorn isn't it. Saying that I wouldn't be too disappointed if we took him for a smaller fee or on loan.
I wouldn't say that we should get rid of Vassell. He scores some important goals and is a top pro who has 'been there and done it'. However, I agree that Waggy should stay but I was only suggesting that it wouldn't be the end of the world if he we're to go. But I reckon Sven's aim is to just get promoted first before the huge money is spent. I would like to see the likes of Schlupp and Waggy play a prominent role but its not going to happen. At best they will be bit-part players who will get between 5-10 goals each.
I would keep Waggy without doubt if it was up to me and reassess him in 12 months time. Remember Waggy has never had a pre season with us, he is class just needs a chance
I always thought that McLean is overrated. Tunch played him off the park in League one. I have never seen a Centre Half dominate a striker (who was on about 20 goals at the time) like he did that night.
That is a good point. HE never had the pre season of fitness (although he didnt miss out on much, he did miss out on enough) not to be fit for Sven's opening few games. They are the vital one's as they prove points to the manager. Lets hope we can bring in Yakubu and another quality striker and have Schlupp and waggy as cover.
You have to remember Tunchev was never league 1, so it is unfair to judge Mclean compared to Tunchev. If Tunchev didnt have these injury problems he would be in the prem. He is 2 steps ahead of the striker. Would love a Hobbs and Tunchev partnership again.