Replacement for Darling at MK Dons or McNally at Oxford would both be good moves for him I think. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we took him back next season to compete with Ballard, Wright and Bath but he wouldn't get the amount of game time he needs.
I think most fans are on board with the recent recruitment strategy....we all got so sick of seeing journeymen players coming here to claim a payday towards the end of their careers. In a crowd of pushing 40k...which is what it's going to be..there will always be some dissention about allowing players the time they need,but I sense a developing trust in the strategy, and in the coaching staff, from the vast majority. Everything depends on what happens on the field of play,of course.
Absolutely right mate. Patience with young kids is essential. Dan Neil is a prime example. In the past we have either flogged them to death or given up on them after a few bad games. And I think we have the manager to get the balance right. As soon as he came in he spotted the balance was wrong with the young players Personally I'm more happy now than I've been in year to sit back let them get on with it Think we are in good hands
Things are a little bit different now too,in that it's very difficult to introduce young players into a side that's being taken apart every week,as happened to us in the PL. Now these players can grow as the team grows,they're the mainstay of it,and they get the chance to develop and become better. As a caveat,if we can build on last season and achieve some kind of success,it won't be long before our recruitment strategy will be tested by the top PL clubs coming in with bids to sign one or two of them.
I've not seen this one linked anywhere, it's just a suggestion of my own, but I'd love to see us make a move to bring in Calvin Ramsey on loan at right back. Scottish Young player of the year last season, he's an attacking full back who can use both feet and has a superb delivery. He's not going to get much time at Liverpool just yet so they'd possibly be open to loaning him out. He also doesn't get in the way of us developing Huggins or Hume to be the long term right back for this club. What it does is allow Hume to go out on loan for the season to league one and get a year of football under his belt. It also allows Huggins some time to come back from long term injuries and find some form.
Nope, would want decent wages and I expect at his age would want guarantees that he would start most weeks. Need to get away from these types of signings imo
Yeah I was a huge fan of his last season but I would go ambitious and try and get Nathan Patterson on loan. I know there's a good chance we wont get him but if Lampard doesn't trust him yet then would be an unreal signing on loan for a season for us. On Hume - I honestly think there is a quality player in there, if he comes back looking like he's kicked on I'd be happy with our RB options
I've always been a fan of Shane Long, I like a striker with a strong work ethic. I also think that 1 of the 2 strikers we need should be experienced and be prepared to come off the bench more often than starting. But I think Shane Long's days even for doing that may be behind him. He's had a good career though, made the most of his talent.