RLB really doesn;t rate any of them does he. I think Adil has something to offer more than the others but he has worked under RLB before so he mustn't like. something about him It's a tricky window as we need cover on the wing to cover Roberts but Poveda will be back fit by then (Not sure if he is the answer but i would have been happy to sign him in January if we didn't have him now. Watson has now earned his place as a back up winger on the left to Mundle . We have Wilson Mayenda and Connoly fighting for the main striker with Wilson obviously no 1 choice and we know we need a DM and Henderson was linked but we will have Samad back who is very highly rated and another I would have loved to have signed in January if we didn't already have him. The centre of defence we have good options so I can only really see a fullback cover at present as we still have the likes of Ba Adil, Jewi in the squad getting paid and not fancied so unless we move any of them on I'm struggling to see what position we get in. perhaps an attacking midfielder to rotate with Rigg and Jobe but with Browne back . It really is a tricky one unless we stifle the progress of any of the younger lads like Rigg and watson which I don't think we will now Watson has shown he can handle the first team (Though he is still raw and has a lot to learn so we will have to be patient with him
I wonder if more loans would be the best way of approaching the window? Keeps the commitment down and also gives us time to know where we stand with one or two already on the books. January remains a crap time to do business in most cases. Perhaps we may stumble on some interesting opportunities that pop up and it makes sense to make permanent transfers (most likely for young players or ones nearing end of contract). However, for the dm and the winger I kinda hope that we go for loans
I think loans are a good idea TBH but i still have something in my water about a move for Henderson. Dan Neil even mentioned something about it and he speaks to him. I think it's in Henderson's court to fit in with our wage structure so it's down to him but if we went for a winger that would indicate it has to be a 1st choice one ahead of Roberts and Mundle as we already have back up. I certainly wouldn't be against that as just keep improving but we have said we will give young lads a chance so say we go for a left winger that will leave one of Mundle or more likely Watson down the pecking order. Maybe that's fine to give Watson a bit more time before next season really bringing him on but so far he has shown his worth. I would possibly say RW could be a shout with Roberts still not delivering many goals and Poveda unfit at present
Typically you can accommodate plenty of wingers in the squad. I'd expect us to carry a couple of them on the bench most weeks. And they tend to be the most likely ones to get rotated. Think this is where we hit an issue with RLB and his dislike for rotation and substitutes. Tougher to keep players feeling involved if they aren't getting a sniff of minutes. On Henderson I'm kinda wondering the same - albeit it's probably just sentimentality and wishful thinking.
I don't think we need anyone in January,if we can get our players fit and firing. If we take it step by step,was really pleased with Moore stepping in for Patto.....I have no worries about that position. I'm hoping both Huggins and Seelt can make it back into the frame in the New Year. With everyone fit and free from suspension,that's a formidable selection choice for us. If Samed,Browne and Neil can cover the CDM and we have Jobe,Riggy,Aleksic and Adil to push forward.....with Mundle and Tommy on the left,Roberts and Poveda on the right....I worry about Pat,and we've not seen enough Poveda yet....maybe the position we do need to improve,although we do have some prodigious talent in Jewi.? However, again we're waiting for Abdoullahi to come in,but,with him,Wilson,Elizar and Connolly,there might be enough talent there to get us the goals we need if we can create the chances for them. The second half of the season could be great for us!
People who believe every crumb that comes out of a very well ran publicity machine, need to understand that others know how the club is being run. And I love this club it's been a massive part of my life for many decades. Now some will say I'm stirring it up. That's not my intention, I am no longer bitter with anyone at the club. BUT, The longer RLB is told who and how to play people, it's not right. I understand the model I understand how the financing works. But to try and pull the wool over our eyes just so certain players get minutes to boost their value, at the expense of players who can to a better job, is baffling. I ain't getting into any slanging match with anyone, it's just what I believe is true and it's also my opinion. Have a great day.
Love you Bob....according to you there's always something devious going on behind the scenes,nothing is ever what it seems.....I have a dozen mates like you. I suppose it's the lack of success over the years that gives power to the belief that any kind of optimism can't be cast in reality and will ultimately end in failure.
Hasn’t he bombed our players who were fairly regular to the match day squads atleast? I’d say everyone in the team at the minute is there on merit? There’s no uproar when the team sheets come out because x or y is starting over those on the bench? Maybes I’m a happy clapper who knows
To be fair, Bob, the message about RLB talking about January wasn't anything to do with publicity machines. It was basic comprehension and you misunderstanding what he said. Maybe you are privy to info that others don't have. However, that doesn't mean that you're able to interpret that info accurately. As for 'certain players get minutes to boost their value' I wonder which players you refer to. It can't possibly be referring to our clear best and most important player, Jobe (who you and others used as a conspiracy stick to beak KS with last season). He deserves every single minute he gets and we're a much worse team without him. I'd say that all the players who could realistically fall into that bracket deserve their minutes too.
Name these players who are getting minutes simply to bump their value. I've no doubt that the model is to give young players game time to increase value. And I've no problem with that tbh. They need opportunities
There were rumours about Jobe last season and he should have been rested due to his age at times. IF what you say is true i can only imagine Rigg (and this is just playing along with your statement) that would have the clout to agree this in his contract. Them 2 players are pretty much the 1st names on the teamsheet this season so who else is getting played who RLB doesn't want to pick? Your post makes no sense as surely if Speakman wanted players picked bought by him to prove his worth Ba, Adil, Jewi would be getting playing team ahead of the likes of Watson who wasn't bought by Speakman proving they are not up to standard after paying fees for them. Name the players who can do a better job than the players who have actually been playing? I am really interested as no one on the bench or not in the squad should be ahead of any 1st teamers in my eyes. I am interested in your reply
You'll be waiting a long,long time marra. There's never a post saying.." hey,I think we have a really good bunch of players here,who can do well in this division", All we get is KLD has no money,Speakman is ****e,he's an arrogant bastard...no-one likes him...he's picking the team to get appearance contract clauses ticked,so we can sell for big money..that's the 5 year plan.
You believe it to be true so fair enough but don't come on acting like it's facts. You believe RLB is being told who to play, but you are acting like it's facts Folk hate speakman, you have mentioned several times that you dislike him so this is a way of moaning about speakman Appartently TM had to play the French lads and wasn't allowed to play Pritchard, then we appointment Beale who people kept saying was appointment as a yes man to speakman and straight away he started to play pritchard Our policy is to give young players an opportunity, sometimes that means giving them a run of games to see what they can do. Watson is a great example, he has got better and better each game and looked a really threat against sheff utd for best part of 60 mins
Current squad as I see it First team looks good, but lacking over in some key areas. Short at full back and there is some suggestion Huggins won't play this season Question marks over Poveda's fitness and Roberts' form/motivation/ability to look after himself off the pitch Ideally we'd sign a full back who can cover both positions plus a winger who can push/replace/challenge Roberts. If Samed can get fit, then i'm pretty happy with the options in the middle but there are a lot of players on that list who are, or have been injured and I'd be mildly concerned going forward without strengthening
@Bob the Mackem this bit has got me - "just so certain players get minutes to boost their value, at the expense of players who can to a better job" I am perplexed who this player or players are? the ones fit and available are all playing, the ones not featuring are injured. The you have the likes of Ba, AA, Rusyn who havent shown much at all
Think the total number of defenders in the senior squad make it difficult to bring in another tbh. I know they're mostly nominally centre halves, but with most of them being versatile it makes it really tough to justify in my view. If Mepham and Ballard are now our 'best' centre half pairing, where do Alese and O'Nien get their minutes? What does it mean for Seelt when he's back in the new year? He was lowkey a top end performer in his time and needs minutes both to get back up to speed and to develop. Hjelde needs minutes too (albeit I'd probably loan him from Jan to somewhere where he'll play every week). If we can find a good loan for Hjelde then maybe we could bring in a full back for the future. Alternatively, we could bring Bainbridge back and he'd give us another option. However, I'd fully expect that our second choice fullbacks when Hume and Cirkin aren't available will be O'Nien and Alese. And they're perfectly good options for that role in my view.
If Speakman was telling RLB who to start based upon increasing the value of our players then why is he starting a 30 y/o with no resale value (O'Nien) and a loanee (Mepham) over one of our prized assets in Ballard? O'Nien has also started out of position ahead of players younger than him such as Alese. Or why is a loanee starting over Mayenda? Or why have players like Jewi and Ba who cost a fair amount been bombed from the squad so Roberts who has little to no resale value can start every game? Browne started the first game of the season ahead of Rigg and was picked ahead of Aleksic. Connolly was picked in midfield ahead of Aleksic. The argument makes zero sense. As per, bullshit from you.
Wouldn't disagree with that, apart from the Bainbridge comment - if he's not getting minutes for Kilmarnock (has played 9 mins in the 13 games since his debut) then I'd warrant he won't be a genuine option here.
