Just watching Pulp on iplayer, someone in the crowd with a Green King top on , brilliant!@@ 1 minute 22 seconds in
Anyone know of any decent wendy players we can nick for free? Is Adthe Nuihi still playing, he always used to bag a goal or two against us
Good to see Halo as the shirt sponsor - reported today. The main bonuses are that it's reportedly a lot of money they've paid, they're a Suffolk-based business, the logo isn't an eyesore, and they're not a gambling company. Their HQ is not that far from where I live. In a classic 'small town' tradition, I know a few people who work there too. They've got a bar in the office and a weird slide that goes from the second floor to the reception area. I do wonder how much interest they get from their marketing strategy. They sponsored the recent snooker World Championships and sponsor the McClaren F1 team. The front shirt sponsor is likely to be their most expensive sponsorship deal yet, but if we get promoted again quickly - they'll get a lot of exposure.
As for the transfer window, I'm hoping we can get some early deals confirmed for pre-season. It's interesting to see Ashton saying recently that we're looking for more 'physical' players this window, particularly with a view to competing better in the Premier League if we get instant promotion. My thoughts on the squad situation as it stands: Goalkeeper Four goalkeepers competing for two spaces must mean a departure or two. I'm not sure if we'll sign a third goalkeeper in a year, but I think Palmer, Walton, and Muric are all good enough for a promotion-chasing side in the Championship. The question is whether we think any of them are Premier League class? Muric is too error-prone at that level. Walton can't save low shots at that level. Although Palmer steadied the ship, he was beaten an awful lot in that terrible second half of the season. I'd like to think it'd be Palmer and Walton for numbers 1 and 2, with Muric moved on or loaned out elsewhere. But Walton only has the one year left on his contract, so he could be off if we get a good enough offer. Slicker could do with first team football at a high-ish level, but if we're selling Walton and offloading Muric - keep Slicker as the back up. Reassess in January. Defence With our first choice right back and a good centre-back leaving the club, we'll need reinforcements. Davis and Townsend down the left are sorted as far as McKenna's 'two good players in each position' philosophy works out. Harry Clarke and Ben Johnson down the right might be enough for this season, but I'd like to see us be a bit bold and invest in a first-team starter that can elevate the quality. O'Shea, Greaves, Woolfenden, and Baggott as the four centre-backs seems decent enough - but I'd like to bring in a left footed centre-back to give Greaves some competition. We should probably loan Baggott out again. Midfield Clearly the area where we're the weakest, as things stand. Morsy's getting on a bit, Jack Taylor has never convinced, and Cameron Humphreys hasn't played regular Championship football. I'd like to see Humphreys given an opportunity this season, particularly after his stand-out form at Wycombe in the division below. Either way, we'll need at least one addition through the door to build resilience. A progressive ball-carrier with physicality would be the ideal type of player to target, alongside somebody who gets stuck in to do the gritty defensive side. Attacking midfield Oh we've got the options and the ability here for this division, in a stacked area of the squad! My only concern in this area is down the right side. How will Burns and Ogbene come back after serious long-term injuries that can potentially hamper a career? Will they be the same player if they lose a yard of pace? I'd trust either of them at this level. We also have Hutchinson able to play there (where his best performances in the Championship came from). I'm hoping we can keep hold of Hutchinson, but after a brilliant U21 tournament with England, I think he's likely off. Out of everyone last season, I thought he'd be the best player we have to adapt and perform if you drop him in a better starting eleven - and he's still young. Down the left, we've got plenty of options in Szmodics, Broadhead, Jack Clarke, and Philogene. All should be good enough for the Championship, but is this also where Ashton has in mind for a more physical player? The number 10 role has Chaplin along with Szmodics and Hutchinson able to drop in. This area of strength will begin to look like an area of weakness if Broadhead, Hutchinson, and Szmodics all move as per the rumours. Centre forward After Delap's departure, this is another area of weakness for me. Hirst is a more than capable first team striker, but his fitness and injury record over the last couple of years means we shouldn't be relying on him. Al-Hamadi doesn't have the ability, in my opinion, and would better fit a lower-mid-table type of Championship side. There's a potential argument we need two, not just one, centre-forward here. I'd like to see a Hirst-type, 'hold up the ball and play others in' type of striker, but if we can get a pacey, physical type player (like Delap) in to help bludgeon deep defences, it'll give McKenna options. Ideal signings - 1 first choice RB, 1 back up LCB, 2 CMs, 1 ST (and replace any attacking players that depart from here on out).
Don't think is a genuine rumour, but what about the likes of Calvert-Lewin? Will probably want a large salary, but will be a freebie....or is he too injury prone?
Very good assessment. Think the PSR for this year finishes today so hopefully some signings not too far away. Would love to know who we are bringing in as CM. I wouldn’t mind us selling Taylor (not sure what his best position is) to free up another squad position
Agree with your assessment Nuggets although I feel we need a minimum of 3 CMs to come in, it was an area we lacked depth in last season and we've lost Phillips, Cajuste and Luongo. I also think it's an area we should consider playing a 3 in....too many times we were overrun in midfield last season and even the season before (but we got away with it). I agree with Ashton the physicality was a huge issue especially down the flanks and the 10s with the exception of Tuanzebe we looked a bit lightweight in those areas. The recruitment was surprising in those areas, we seemed to recruit a lot of light weight players in those positions and spent a lot of money doing so, not really convinced me they could cope with the physicality of the PL. All however I'm sure more than good enough for this division but it's also a crowded space weve got essentially 8 players for 3 positions and that's not including Johnson and Taylor who've played those positions before. I also think Clarke would actually be suited to the RW more than RB. I'm also of the view that we might wish to solidify our midfield and therefore might favour 2 forwards and a striker rather than 3 and a striker.
And lets hope we have a small team of fresh experienced European scouts prowling the top Euro leagues right now. We need a new policy here. Havent seen a Dutchmen for years!
Just that your opinions will change at the drop of hat to suit the narrative you have chosen that day.
Just to put things in perspective, I hear that Diogo Jota and his bro have been killed in a car accident. How very sad, and life can be so cruel. I think he scored Liverpools opener against us.
I'm probably going to get shot down in flames for this but still....Tragic as the death of a young man in his prime is,with everything else that's going on in the world,I found it quite strange to see grown men with no real ties to him in tears on the news last night.
Interesting point BigAl, all rather emotional, understandible for those connected, trained, played, coached or close family connections. My son and family live in Portugal and support Porto, so thats my link.
I reckon millions of people do have genuine ties to him, just the same as Diana, John Lennon, Liam Payne - and anyone else that people have formed an emotional bond with. This chap just lifted the title and got married. Even if you don’t care about football, that sequence of events is nothing short of a tragedy worthy of a work by Shakespeare. I was personally very emotional when we lost Jon Brookes and Rob Collins and relatively few people will even recognise those names, so it’s not for me to judge who has and hasn’t touched other people. It’s all valid and doesn’t diminish the horrors and trauma of wars, terrorism and genocide.
