Morning Troops, Looking at the squad we have, and where we are currently placed in the league, do we deserve to be in the position we are? Are we exceeding expectations? Is this just a purple patch? Would you settle to finish 6th, come the last day of the season? I think a lot of it will come down to our wheeling and dealing during the January transfer window. If we were to permanently sign Blackstock and Burke, would you be pleased? Would that be enough for a top six finish? Some of you might have read Byrams recent comments about a top two finish? How possible is that?
Morning all I think with the squad we are overachieving, not sure whether we can continue but I'm hopeful. Credit to BMD really and would definitely take it come the end of the season. I don't expect us to do much in January to be honest, think Blackstock and maybe one other. Think Dexter has earned himself the permanent move and I would definitely say that he is our second best striker at the moment. Still not sure about Burke but could be proved wrong, think there are other players out there I would prefer, Mackay Stevens would be one. Byram is ambitious as is most of our squad so of course he is talking like this, also we don't want to be underachieving so setting high targets is always good for everyone, not just sportsman. Think we are already a fair way away from top 2 though and even a very good run would still see us struggling to catch the top 3 in the league at the moment. Personally as a fan, I'm happy to play down our chances though.
Morning people and that means everyone on both sides of the LUST debate. I have said before and still think I'm right: We are punching above our weight because we dont have the financial clout of those clubs above us and even down to number 12 in the league. We dont have rich new owners or parachute payments, so we are doing really well now considering. I agree that there is a long way to go, but if we can carry on getting results when not playing well, and winning when we are looking good, then we can maybe get a top 6 place. I still expect us to be around top 10, but much will depend on what teams do in January. BMD may be given cash to ensure we stay top 6, but I expect a lot of teams will be splashing the cash to try and get promotion. I wish the FL would fine/deduct points for clubs who have abused the finance systems like Watford and QPR. I dont like points deductions because it hurts the fans, but why should already rich clubs just pay a fine and still get promoted on the back of cheating.
Morning all. I think that BMD has settled on a formation that works. Ross is doing what he's paid to do. And we have more or less a a full and fit squad. As such, 6th is the minimum we should be aiming for. Top 2 would be a bit of a push. But with ER fast becoming a bit of a fortress, anything's possible. I certainly think we should sign Blackstock. Don't know enough about Burke, or who he would replace. The squad is big enough with decent enough cover for this season. If all Burke is going to do is push someone for a starting spot, rather than go straight in, who would he replace and why?
Morning all. Not so sure were overachieving or certainly by much. This has been a very even division for some years now. A manager can make the a difference of maybe ten places in this division. Were the perfect example. Warnock signed the nucleus of this team and we were ****e. Ive always maintained there was a very real chance of relegation had he finished the season off. McD has moved us to the other end of the table. We can't make top two but with money available in January, Ill be disappointed if we don't make the lottery of the play offs. Sign of a good team has always been getting three points when you weren't playing well. Its an admirable trait and we seem to be developing it
Not sure Colin would have relegated us Eire, but that's only because my cup is always at least half full. That said, it did appear to spring a leak somewhat towards the end of the season, which was plugged the moment BMD walked through the door!!!
Indeed Eire, & there was me singing his praises when he first arrived. Cue for a song along the lines of, "we're winning away, how crap are you" as we sang so merrily at the Valley the other week.
Eire/Boggers I'll ask you both if you thought Grayson was better than his final couple of seasons? I say this because we all thought he was the bees knees and once he got us promoted, we had a shyte start against Derby but then turned the season around. We went straight into the top 6 within a couple of weeks and reached top of the table for one week in December. Grayson wanted a couple of players in January and didn't get them thanks to Bates and then we we went on the worst run ever and hardly did anything and even though we had been in the top 6 all season we finished 7th. Thats when the relationship changed between Grayson and Bates. Bates stopped us being promoted in the first season back in the championship, everyone knew we should have won back to back promotions. From that time until this season we have gone backwards because of that January. We are now 6th again and you both think our squad should be enough to keep us there. I respect your views and you are more likely to be right than me judging the last few results. However I still think promotion is only on if we can add to the squad. I think there are at least 4 teams who will panic in January because they have already spent a fortune and not odds-on for promotion yet. QPR a case in point. Played poor but solid and not leaked goals, but can't score yet still 2nd
We'll never know Doc. I've maintained for sometime that Papa Smurf put the club on a stronger financial basis than was previously the case. However, what is now crystal clear is that with a bit more investment in players and a bit less on the ground, we could now be pushing for lower half of the PL. However, would Grayson have had the nouse to move from a diamond formation to 352, or whatever passes for a change in his preferred formation to one that has lead to us creating significantly more chances with the same squad? Difficult question that, but I wish him well for the future. He did get us out of L1 and the hierachy at the club didn't make his life any easier. But I thik he'll progress.
Managers like players, have their level. Grayson for me is a good League 1 manager. Could survive in the championship but only with a club with no ambition, mill wall for example. McD s level is top championship and probably good enough for mid table pl. Warnocks was just simply over the hill and I too had great hopes for him when he signed
Whatever the reasons were for sacking Grayson which I did not agree with he has done very well at Preston with little or no money .Warnock to me was all mouth but at least he wrote to me occasionally .I think if the various numpties leave this new manager alone we will do very well .I like his style bringing in some good youngsters in unlike the old regime bringing in players for their last payday. I have said on numerous occasions what we need is stability and investment and continuity to become successful look atArsenal and Manchester U not many changes in managers there. Burke would be a good aquistion in my opinion
Guys on Grayson I'm of the opinion that if Bates had backed him in that January Window we would now be in the prem, and in a better place than Norwich. Grayson also had his team sold from underneath him at the same time, so on one hand was lucky to have that promotion team, yet unlucky to have it sold from under him. He was actually shyte at trying to replace those players and used old journeymen and has beens. So I dont know if he would have been a good manager. Warnock gave me the horn when we got him and I just couldnt believe how bad he turned out to be. BMD seems to be great with the fans and media. He seems to know how to get the best out of average players and instill confidence in kids. He also seems to be experienced in picking up good potential in players and has tactical nouse and experience of promotion, running TA and the acdemy and could turn out to be fantastic.
Afternoon all ... I don't believe we are in a false position, key now is to keep winning at home and average a point per away game and we'll be cooking ... McD is a very good manager and is still improving, we need to keep him for a long time ... with Posh tumbling down Lge 1 maybe its time to sign Rowe ... Blackstock will be a decent addition but will be surprised if Forest let him stay ... Burke may be useful but not sure in a 3-5-2 with Byram and Peltier already occupying the right side role ... Birmingham apparently facing a massive player garage sale in January due to financial issues, may be on or two worth looking at if there are bargains to be had ... a win against Rovers on Saturday will really push us on and cement confidence and belief ... Leeds starting to behave like a BIG club again
Evening all. Given how little has changed in terms of personnel it must be down to BMcD we are going so well. Would I settle for 6th on the last day? Too right I would. But I would be happy with a top half finish if it looks like we are progressing on the pitch. There is a feel good factor at ER at the minute, granted that could be easily broken. I feel I am turning up with expectation rather than hope now. If we can get rid of a few of Warnocks men and get in a bit more quality we have every chance of at least the playoffs. Happy to have got my Donny tickets today. Could do without so many local away games this close to crimbo. I am giving Blackpool a miss.
Burke would be a pretty bad buy imho. I think he's a good player but a) we don't actually play with wingers in our current formation b) if we did i'd rather play a younger winger with potential rather than one hitting 30 i.e Poleon Buying players for the sake of it is pointless and he'll only end up wasting away on the bench. A young LB to provide cover/eventually replace for Warnock would be better if we got promoted i'd love Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich got a great cross on him.
Gambling with the very existence of the club by lying and cheating creditors. Followed up by using the money generated by the club to pay consulting fees and other charges, while splurging on expenses for his own benefit. But not to worry, he very graciously was chairman for no pay. What a prince, eh? We were/are so blessed to have had him
Having the dosh, definitely gives clubs an advantage over those that don't. However; 1) We have much larger attendance than some of the others which should close the cash gap, and 2) Ultimately it depends on what each club does with the extra moolah. So in terms of over-achieving, punching below or above the belt, etc. , I think the question should be framed based on each clubs' squads. Based on the players we have, is 6th position about where we should be?