I mentioned this the other day and everyone seemed casual with 09 covering. To go up we need a team that keeps 09 on the bench. I think we need a RB, LB, 2 strikers and that's before anyone leaves. I wouldn't mind a CH to go alongside Ballard if I was being greedy.
Disagree about Seelt, but it’s a moot point. The real point, though, is that you simply can’t build a squad with 22 single position specialists. If you want to have a squad that is sharp, involved and engaged then you simply have to accept more gadget players who can fill in at multiple roles - particularly in defence where rotation won’t tend to happen. Does it leave us a bit exposed in the short term? Yeah till Huggins is back. Is it worth committing transfer fees and wages to a player who could conceivably barely feature? That’s a more arguable one. Again I’m happy for them to see if they can find one. If we have to line up with Onien playing right back or Alese plying left back for a game or two instead, I’m not arsed in the slightest.
You’re right like, I thought this about both Brandon Williams and Djed Spence last season. The kind of players that would thrive here imo but they just wouldn’t start over Cirkin and Hume for me. Neither of them have done anything worth losing their place in the team and I personally think Huggins is actually better than Hume it’s a shame he’s had some rotten injuries.
I don’t know about you lot but after having a good think about it, it’s my considered opinion that we need a striker.
It’s the likes of Ba, Anderson, Hemir, Ruysn, hjelde, Bennette and Aouchiche to a degree that makes me think the bloke is not up to the job as sporting director. at the end of 22/23 all he had to do was keep the core of the squad together and make a few quality signings and we would’ve gone up last season I have no doubt. it’s all fallen apart since the rumours of binning Mowbray started.
Nor do I. There is something there, he has a bit of bite about him and his work ethic is clear for all. Never a lone striker though and we don't play 2 forwards, which is why I'm surprised, in hindsight, why we went in for him. I'm not writing him off, it's not looking good though, unless something changes.
Agree with the sentiment but Hjelde was closer to 1 I’m told not the often quoted (from Leeds side). I like Rusyn’s commitment and work rate but he doesn’t show much else. Wasteful. Last summer wasn’t great.
We wouldn’t have dedicated, specialist full back cover, but we’d certainly have cover. It’s about usage for me. Put our money into players who will get minutes. If we could find a Huggins clone who’d cover both sides then great. But a ready to go Huggins clone would expect game time.
Every sporting director will get plenty transfers wrong tho - its easy to forget about some of the quality signings that hes made (stewart, clarke, hume, ballard etc) Anderson is poor n i dont know why we ever signed him tbh - the others i can see why we signed them The issue is we signed most of them at the same time, we couldnt ease them in n we didnt have a settled manager in place in their 1st season Too early to write off some of them at the.minute imo What i will say is the next couple of weeks is huge for speakman
Surprised you say that, he was miles better personally. Ba didn't even complete a dribble or create a chance.
Would it surprise anyone to learn that Speakman wanted certain players put 'in the shop window' tonight?
I think he’s done a hell of a lot right, he was flying from 21-23, was very happy with him and the signings he was making and the work he’s done off the field. Although Neil wasn’t happy, the summer of 22/23 was a brilliant one. The way we strengthened and kept the core together was unbelievable. it seems to me he’s got caught up with his own self importance since the end of 22/23 and it’s unravelling big time.
Time is against speakman. But not in the way people think. Truth is he’s been here for a while and after time it’s natural that there’ll be a few failures on his balance sheet. And the reality is that fans tend to hold grudges over the failures far tighter than they remember the successes. It’s a crescendo that even a promotion will only quieten for a time. There’s internet points to be had!
You're right, Johnson is not a Right Back. We know that and he knows that, yet he always seems to get shoved out there. Thought he didn't have a bad game really. Would have preferred him and Triantis in the middle of the back four. Anderson is not a footballer and it's questionable if Hjelde is too. Ba is so frustrating and just hasn't kicked on. Mundle on the other hand is showing signs of being a useful player Rigg was one of the few in red and white tonight who looked like a Championship player. Class Act. Aouchiche was lively first half but anonymous second half. Unlike Rigg, I don't think Ekwah imposed himself on the game. Looked like he was going through the motions. If his sale allows us to bring in a couple of strikers, I'm all for it
He definitely did complete a dribble mind. First half early on he beat his fullback wide right. I just thought mundle was pretty insecure on the ball tonight. He really doesn’t like using his left and it had him turning into trouble a fair bit. Also ‘completed’ a few passes that played his teammates into trouble. All good though. I know he’s able to contribute for us. Could just be that I already hold him to a high standard - which is a good sign I think.
