Okay, it is very,very disappointing to have only picked up two points from last twelve, but honestly how many of us would have been pleased with our position going into the transfer window? It is clear we need to strengthen ... Mowatt struggling physically now, Byram not yet back to full fitness, McCormack can't be expected to score 35 on his own ... let's hope that McD can get something done in the window and bring in some much needed players ... I think this Christmas run simply proves how poor our squad is with the likes of Varney, Norris, Green, Drury, Brown and Diouf simply not stepping up and pushing the manager to play, and when they have come in they've been dreadful. Can we still get promotion? It is really going to depend on how the challengers approach the transfer window. Those who strengthen, and strengthen well, will definitely improve their chances. We are not out of it just yet, clubs like Burnley, Ipswich and Derby do not have big squads, and they haven't been fully tested in terms of injuries and suspensions just yet. Our squad is definitely creaking now, but at least the club understands this and McD has a green light to sign targets. Fingers crossed!!
But our first team still isn't the best either... we had our first 11 out today and struggled against an average Blackburn side.
Centre of the park looks weak. Murphy isn't the answer. Gobly looked ok when he came on. So another winger (Rowe), another box to box midfielder, a squad forward, and a taller goalkeeper. I would sell Poleon, and give Varney, Drury, Green, Tongue and White away.
Why do you keep saying Rowe ? He's missed half the season injured with no sign of being able to play.
Is he injured, or are Peterborough just making they don't lose being able to sell him. Heard that he is fine, but they don't want him walking on a free in the summer.
The manager is the best we have had for a while but I do have to question a few team selection choices. I also have to question the transfer budget blown on Murphy and the signing of Hunt. This is not a call for the managers head but I do feel he needs to make the next signings count in a big big way. That is assuming the second takeover goes ahead and that funds are available for the players he wants. Austin blows hot and cold, I know Smith scored today but it was a fortunate chance and a tap in. I agree with GH we are very weak in the middle with a squad full of average players. Back to the original question - Who would be happy going into the transfer window in this position? - It all depends on if we have money to sign players and how those players perform. Murphy at £1.2m is a waste at the moment and Zaliukas a bargain find.
Season a fraction over half over and already lost 9 games. Five points behind fifth and sixteen off the top. There are now eight teams competing for the final play off spot. So in answer to Billy's original question, no we have no chance of promotion. As usual season more or less over in January. Only difference this time is we may have a few positive titbits in January. It will take a large amount of investment to turn this lot into promotion contenders. Rant over
Every transfer is a big gamble, he is young, has pace to burn, and won't be knackered from playing loads of games.
Murphy will improve though. We've seen glimpses of what he can do. Remember Mowatt wasn't at his best today either. A lot of the team weren't. Lack of competition for their place is a big factor, we are very thin on the ground as per usual.
Can we win promotion? Not this year not with this squad. We need to make a good few signings this month and next summer. As much as I like the signings of the young players, I truly believe that we need to bring in some DECENT experienced player at this level. It's all good bringing in the likes of Murphy and Smith who are under 25 but they've not played that long career wise. If we bring in a winger this month I think Burke is the answer, it's all good looking at Stewart but he's not been playing well at Hull or Charlton. Granted I know different manager can get different things out of a player. We've been talking about Wells a fair bit in the last few day but until 12 months ago how many of us knew who he was? Yes he's scoring for fun in league one but so did Beckford and now look what's happened to him. A Blackstock esq player would be brilliant, it would get the best out of Ross. On to McD's signings. MZ has been the buy of the season saying we got him for free. Aribiyi should be given time he's only young and just been released. Hopefully in the next couple of years he'll be prolific. Hunt is a waste of a signing, we could have got somebody else. Murphy was a gamble and I'm not sure it's going to pay off but again give it time. Also give Smith time as well. Wooton just might be one of those players that come back to haunt the prem like many Scum academy rejects. Agree with GH sell Poleon and give Varney, Drury, Green, Tongue and White away. Also put on that list Brown, tbh I wouldn't mind seeing the back of Diouf and Pugh. Also I think it's a good idea to get rid of Pearce and bring in a Naylor/Radebe player who has a giant passion for the club
Agree with most points made ... would keep Pearce, Murphy will get better, maybe Poleon needs a run of games at a Lge One or Two club to bring him on, but can't see him making a difference this season ... the players McD brings in will tell us a lot. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
We have to clear out the dross Green, Brown(came on yesterday, 30secs - booked, prat), White (ffs sounds we have a rainbow in our team) Varney, Poleon(not going to make it) EHD the lot. Give BMD a sizeable pot of dosh to play with and lets see what happens, if there is improvement then all well and good, we go backwards then seeya BMD, bring a person in who knows how to kick his way out of this tough league. The bottom line the fans deserve better than what is being served up at this moment in time............MOT
That's it in a nutshell. Years of selling our Crown Jewels have come home to roost. Probably 10m needs spending to turn us into anything near a top two team. Probably an indication of how mediocre the squad is when we regard Byram so highly. There hasn't exactly been a flood of clubs clambering to sign him but he is one of our top lads. Also notice the lack of success at trying to get rid of our dross last summer. No one wanted them and were having to run all the contracts down
Looking on that transfer website, in last 5 years teams like Forest have spent about 12m while we have net sales of about the same. £25m overall difference For me it's tragic mismanagement and it's amazing with such low spending on transfers we are even where we are
Right now it just shows the problems Ken Bates caused at the club. 9-years of selling our best which went straight into Bates's pocket. Those players being replaced with less than average players, and the club relying on its name and history to attract players. If GFH had not bought the club we would have gone into administration again. I thank GFH for that, but the time it took to do the deal sent us even further back, and then it comes out that GFH dont have funds and are skint arabs in reality. So more time wasted trying to find another buyer/investor which is about to happen, but yet again the club will have limited funds. Another season lost in the backwaters whilst smaller clubs go up and earn £90m in the prem. This club is called Leeds Utd and have history and the best fanbase in the country, yet we are still expected to carry on pumping our money into this project. When will we see some results?
Eire, £10m sounds about right, but will McD get that much ... too many really bad signings made, but thankfully in July a lot of the rubbish will be off our books ... if we don't go up this season, then the summer signings will be vital ... we need to go up no later than end of next season, that Prem £90m is just way too huge a gap to be giving smaller clubs each year Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Not sure we're £10m away from a top 6 side. It will also be interesting to see what happens when Hunt returns and plays in this more attacking formation. If he fails, he'll leave. If he shows what BMD believes he can show, we'll have ourselves another genuine attacking option. That said, we still need another winger and a creative midfielder.
Probably not ut were 10m away from auto promotion which must be the target, obviously not this year. Finishing in top six is still only a lottery with a 25% chance of success. People are constantly referring to the top six as if it guarantees something which it doesn't
