It's amazing how history gets rewritten. Snodgrass was PotS and deservedly so. Yes he wasn't quick (and Howson is), but he was a very complete player either going forward or tracking back when the ball was lost. One of the best free-kick takers we've ever had. Sadly, though we've moved on and he wouldn't fit the current jigsaw.
My biggest fear is the ever present financial prudence. Not saying we should spend stupid money but as usual it will be a net spend of around 25 quid. A couple of 2 million pound journeymen and that will be your lot. There is a lot at stake for next season so therefore there has to be some element of calculated risk. We have the basis of a good squad but i think we could get shot of a few and maybe bring in 10 or 15 million. then replace them with some quality. A net spend of 20 million would not be crazy.
It was Thurnby who first mentioned the 'jigsaw' as getting the best combination of manager, players and tactics. His point was that players have to fit the whole combination for the whole thing to work. If the player fits the missing piece in the jigsaw, then he's a good acquisition. If he doesn't, then you're doing a QPR!
I am ok, been super busy with work . Hope you have had a good Christmas and Happy New Year. Will be over at Easter for my daughters wedding. Hope to catch the Newcastle game
I thought Olsson was our best player that season. His dead balls and deliverys were excellent however he was so one footed he got found out and struggled to get them in.
WBA, Cardiff and Hull were the other names mentioned. 17 yr old defensive midfielder or centre back, whose played a handful of games for York. Seems far too early to know if he'll develop into anything special based on stats, but presumably scouts say otherwise. He's not on a professional contract yet, so probably wouldn't cost a lot. Might go to a tribunal though I guess.
I genuinely don't get all the hate for Snodgrass. In s relegated team he was by far our best player. Most goals and assists, genuine threat from a dead ball and good enough to be one of the very few of that team to have Premier league clubs wanting to buy him. He seems to be being blamed for Houghton's tactics and dull play but I felt he was fundamentally just doing his job. Yes he went down easily to buy the team some free kicks but people seem to forget just how hard he worked and he clearly gave a toss whether we won or lost. When We was fluttering his eyes at Villa Snodgrass was rolling his sleeves up and putting a shift in. You may be hacked off that he left when we went down not that he was the first or will be the last but to criticise our best player in a relegation season seems a tad disingenuous to me.
Snoddy was always a marmite player. I did like what he brought to the team, but he also frustrated me. Much like Redmond now. Maybe it's a right winger thing!
I don't have anything against Fer or Snodgrass but if I had to have one it would be Fer. Yes he was frustrating and maybe not the player you need when you need to battle but there is no doubting he can do something special. I never feel we utilised him quite right and he should have been used higher up the field. I could see him playing in behind Mbokani and going through defences but I don't think we could bring him back for a price I would be interested in. As for him and Snodgrass leaving - I am sure neither put up a huge fight to stay but I am sure McNally would have been keen to "balance the books" with us going down and selling both players enabled us to keep the majority of the squad together and get promoted again....... none of us can say it worked out badly.
Much as I liked Fer I would not want him back as in my opinion he is too injury prone and got relegated in back to back seasons so clearly didnt do enough to keep us up and even failed to stay up at QPR despite being surrounded by WCT. Classy player but never seemed to roll up his sleeves and put a shift in when things got tough.
I don't get this either? Pieces of a jigsaw are rigid and will only fit in a certain place. Yet, at the start of the season either Rick or OCF was commending Alex Neil for signing players who offer 'options', like Brady, who can, and has, deputised at LB as well as a very useful left flank player. So, if the players are fluid and flexible, but have to fit together like rigid jigsaw puzzle pieces or building blocks...then I don't get it? Or maybe my subconscious new year's resolution is to be as dense and obtuse as I possibly can?