I’d imagine so. Time served as a principle does apply to sporting bans too. His current 16-month ban ends in March 2026. If he gets it halved to 8 months, it should end in early July this year. Just in time for pre-season, or most of it.
I was hesitant about us signing both him and Puerta but it already looks like we’ve activated Zambrano’s buy-clause. Puerta’s will be triggered when he hits 23 games, I think. If Zambrano’s ban is overturned then a midfield three of Alzate - Zambrano - Puerta would be a solid base to work with next season. Then you’ve got Slater and Crooks as options too but I think the all-Latin American midfield would offer us a lot of balance. Alzate offers technical ability and creativity, Zambrano offers similar but also more as a ball-winning defensive midfielder and Puerta offers energy, aggression and the ability to drive the ball forward.
I think that midfield offers a lot of promise. Puerta seems to be getting stuck in a lot more which gives me hope that he can be the medium between Alzate and Zambrano/Crooks. It's good that we have these options depending on the opposition. Puerta's dead ball delivery is also very good. Given what Baz has said and a little snippet I've heard about Gelhardt's potential asking price (Leeds would take £5m), I think we could be looking very solid for next season in the midfield area. Like I said in a previous post, I think loaning Barry and Lincoln again would be a good idea (if Fener were open to it) in order to ease the burden on Millar/Belloumi coming back as they've both looked sharp and would be useful squad members at worst. The defence pretty much picks itself outside of a dedicated left back; I think Andy Smith having a good loan at Gillingham has gone under the radar a bit but if he keeps it up there'd be no need for Fin Burns to come back and to have Macca, Jones (humble pie choked down, he's been fantastic this season and more fool me for doubting him earlier), Hughes and Egan with Smith in there too really gives us depth at centre half. If Blackburn come back in for Macca, we can take a few quid and still have four decent centre halves for next season, but it would leave us a bit short on that left hand side.
Say that all comes to pass, do you think it’s enough to compete higher up the table next season? I expect us to stay up and start next season with Sellés, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if the target suddenly shifts back to wanting a finish in the top six again.
Was a discussion on our podcast yesterday as it feels like the first time in quite a while where we will have not only a consistent manager season to season but a reasonably consistent squad as well. Under Shota and Liam we had a large overhaul in their first summer, whereas I would think under Selles it will only be tweaks around the edges. To that end, it feels like we should be able to progress reasonably well.
It will depend entirely on the striker situation, which I think needs somebody to sit Acun down and explain to him that we have a very good goalkeeping and defensive unit, but our forward line lacks goals. Can we rely on a 34 year old Joao Pedro to reach double figures next season? It's asking a lot and that's assuming we trigger his clause. I like Kyle Joseph, I think he's got a great hold up play in his game but he doesn't strike me as a consistent Championship goal scorer, he seems to be better suited to the "other striker" role that plays off the main goal threat. This has been obvious for some time, yet it hasn't been remedied in any serious way. In some ways its the final piece of the puzzle; a striker that is going to get 20 goals can never be guaranteed when signed in August, but we came pretty close with Delap last season (I'm being generous and allowing for him probably scoring more without injury) and it's going to cost us a fair whack to get one in. We have between now and July to find one for a reasonable price (assuming FFP will let us spend a decent amount on a striker), there are options out there for us to go for, but it needs to happen. I still think Shankland at Hearts is worth a shot if the price is right; he hasn't hit the heights of last season but he's a proven goal scorer at a decent level. Adriano Bertaccini at Sint Truiden has had a cracking breakthrough season in the Belgian Pro League and is the kind of forward player Selles likes. I have no doubt that Selles will try and raid Reading for Harvey Knibbs and Kelvin Abrefa. I also know we've been watching Joseph Gbode while we've been monitoring Andy Smith's loan at Gillingham and that will be one to watch as we'll face competition from some big clubs, but as exciting a prospect as he is, he wouldn't be walking into our first team and banging in goals.
Woah I was about to correct you and say he's 32 but just saw he turned 33 two days ago - only 6 days after I turned 33. Means it's even closer to home when people call him old..
See, Deano managed it back in our promotion season but it was a different league then. Back then, Rory Delap long throws, midfields that for some reason featured Keith Andrews and Simon Walton leg breaking tackles were the norm. I'd like to think Pedro is the better all round footballer (sorry Deano), and for as long as his legs can keep up with his brain, he'll be an asset to the club. I suppose it will also depend on what he wants to do with his career, will he fancy staying here for another season or will he want to head back to Italy where his wife is from?
I think physically he looks up for it and he's come a long way from where he was at the start of the season. Even at 33 that's not ridiculously old and could offer a season or two more for us. I'd certainly want to target a new first choice striker though if we don't think Joseph can do it.
Speaking of your podcast, on the discussion about the grounds for the red card, you discussed whether it could be categorised as 'violent conduct' or as 'denying a clear goalscoring opportunity', but there is a third category of 'serious foul play' which is what Pedro's would fall under, and that is also a three match ban like violent conduct.
Good catch, I tried to do a bit of a Google while Dan was talking to see what categories it could come under as I wasn't sure (at that stage) if it was a 1 or 3 game ban initially. I don't think he had much chance of getting it downgraded on the serious foul play classification!
Where strikers are concerned, sadly I think the best bet is brining in a prem loan player, far more chance of success than the likelihood of picking up a Watkins or Toney from the lower leagues, the obvious downside is if they work out they're inevitably costing 20m plus the next season
