how things change after one, meaningless result...carney had a good game other than that none of the outfield players really stood out and most would fall into the 'did okay but' category. yes we need more players, hopefully with at least championship experience and diamond (as striker) has done little else but show how lacking we are on the striker front as if we did not know... not going to join in the name calling of certain players as i honestly dont think anyone did badly they just did not do enough and as just about everyone said and agreed before kick off, it was more minutes in the lads legs and get through without injuries and for that it was a job done. i expect little else from the rest of the friendlies and refuse to base any kind of judgement on what is little more than a practice kick around for both teams.
Not basing anything from today's result, but I said about a week ago I'd take mid table finish with no nonsense as it stands. Obviously one or two players will still come in of that I'm sure, and without sounding like a massive fanny, that squad as it stands is 60 percent leauge one. With the amount of season tickets sold, I just hope it isn't knives out if expectations don't go the way alot of new season ticket holders want it to go. As I've said before anyone dives on, it's the squad as it stands.
Especially in this weather. I think it's safe to say that a football match played on the hottest day England has ever experienced shouldn't be judged too seriously.
Not really judging the game last night thought it was more about some of the fringe players and the shape and style we were looking to play rather than a result. Thought the new lad Alese played well and showed some good touches. Gooch looks like he needs a few more games and a couple of the young lads need a half a season of Mens football just to get them on track. I don't think AN was looking for a result as we played a lot of football around our box so it looked like it was about the shape and style of play and let's not forget this is the first pre season AN has had so he is probably learning a lot about all the players
Call that news... its a transfer window we are short of players for particular spots and we are expressing interest... God what a waste of space... There are no hints who we are after... fair enough on the clubs front... but journalists...
Wouldn’t be surprised if some are quite far down the line, he said after Roma nothing was round the corner then Alese was announced out of nowhere a few days later
@Bob the Mackem - not wishing to be funny mate but you should choose your words with a bit more care. "unravel" implies everything is turning to sh1t, which I hope it's not. I think "unfold" would get me a bit less panicky
I actually think that Alex Neil interview is quite revealing: he specifically calls out players from premier league clubs are only just returning from international tours (ie Parrot and Broadhead) he also specifically says "there are a number of positions" that need strengthening - not just keeper and up front and he also calls out that many of our players are inexperienced at this level so we need more championship experience. This indicates to me that he doesn't just want to fill the squad gaps we have and still wants to improve. Which is great, and unsurprising, but its the first indication we have had in a while that he at least wants to improve rather than just consolidate what we had. Of course it might be a coded message to Speakman and Harvey to hurry things up if they can. And a sceptic would think he played that side last night and didn't bring LND on to further highlight the lack of striker gap.
he said yesterday we are in for a striker that hasn't been linked to us anywhere. but didnt say who... so he could be making it up. I dont know what criteria he uses for deciding when he tells his "tails"
i think the most telling part is the 'numerous targets', usually hear a manager talk about 'one or two in talks' or 'we have a couple of irons in the fire'...this sounds like the club are not putting all their hopes on a couple of players and are looking at two or three (maybe) for each position, gives me a little more confidence than the old 'oh sh1t, player #1 has turned us down at the last minute, who is left that is out of work?'
If the manager is reduced to making coded signals after a few months in the job, then we are in proper trouble. I doubt it. They'll be looking at who they can afford, and who wants to come, as most clubs are. In recruitment I'd trust Speakman, as most of his calls have been right. Clearly not in all other things, but he has a lot of credit in the bank regarding recruitment.
