Okay, we've lost Dawson but looks like we might just be signing someone of excellent experience and more proven quality in Figueroa. Is that sufficient for the squad in the premier league? We have Dudgeon who was looking very promising at Championship level, is young and has room to develop as a left-back also. Then for the wing-back option I'll quite happily back Brady. He has bags of pace, screams quality, but for the rest of our defence.... On the right, I'll back Rosie all day - He's done a job on the left side in the PL before, He's a better player now and right sided naturally anyway - I see him as a better defensively than Ricketts, though Sam might, by a thread have had better delivery in the opponent's third. Assuming we sign Elmo, as long as the back 3 and deep lying midfielder take care of runners, I can see him doing a wing-back job, with McShane a third option when solidity is necessary. At Centreback, Hobbs will win most things in the air at any level, and Chester reads the game very well. We have experience in Faye, and adequate backup in Bruce. I would like to see a bit of pace in the middle though at the back. Does Davies offer this? If he does then great, but I do think we need a solid covering defender with pace in this league as perhaps a first-choice C.B. In all honesty I don't see our back-line as a massive problem - for ages we've been a tight defence and as long as we can show something going forward and have defensive mid-field support, we won't be the biggest conceders of goals this season. In support of the defence, I see the holding midfield as a significant area if we want to survive. Corry Evans, on his game can do the job against anyone except the really top players, but can be inconsistent. Meyler I feel is a good complimentary player to that role but seems to prefer to play box to box, and has looked good at that level for Sunderland, but again, not consistently. What kind of player is McCann? If he's another in that mould then we may be okay, and Bruce and Faye could be limited stop-gaps in that role, depending on the opposition and game-time required. I'd back Faye against anyone, but only really for about 15 minutes, a bit like Deano was dangerous for half an hour in the first half and 15 mins in the second in our first promotion season, deadly effective as he was.... Then we come to the attacking element. Has Meyler got the creative nous to set up play from the centre of midfield? Koren has but isn't getting any younger - his latter performances this last season have gone a little unrecognised in my view' because he put in grafter's shifts rather than matchwinning ones, but coming off the bench, fresh, in the latter stages, with licence to maraud, I'm sure he'll be a threat. Can he do that for 90 mins though? for the odd game at home, against more limited sides, probably - but probably not one I'd start every week, though in Boyd we have another option with genuine quality. Whether Boyd can match the physical demands remains to be seen, but he did look quite "butch" in a pink ball dress in the vegas pics, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - for now....! So yeah, An alternative attacking threat from midfield is probably needed. Wide players - on the left, I'd back Brady and Aluko to be competitive, as I would Elmo on the right. We could probably give Koren a drifting role from the right when pushed, Boyd possibly, but again, I think we need another attacking right sided player, preferably with pace, but also a bit of versatility who can be effective both in a 3-5-2 and play as a traditional winger also. Then we come to the forward line.... Oh dear. Matty Fryatt is probably our best potential asset, but is blatantly a confidence player. Has ability, but needs the crowd on his side and I'm not convinced he'd shine in a struggling team. Besides, he likes to drop deep and again' I'm not sure his nous, considerable as it is is gouing to cut agaist pacey defenders who can get done, but still come back for more. Proschwitz can finish, but again appears limited and doesn't make the most of his stature. No worse than Vennigoor of Hesselink though, I might add. I think we need two in up-top to stand a decent chance of being competitive in that bottom 8 mini league. A fit Gedo might be one, and I'm sure we have an agreement that if we want him we'll get him. That lad has instinct if nothing else. So - a centreback with pace, a box to box midfielder, someone else for the right and 2 up top, as well as the obvious problem of a number 1, that's assuming we get Figueroa. How we do in these areas, for me will be the difference between staying up and coming back down. That said, I do have the confidence in our current management structure to know we'll sign players this summer who'll get us back up if we do come down, and I'm taking a longer-term look at this. Thoughts please.....?
you have assessed our teams strengths and weaknesses quite fully. Personally I'd question whether Fahti can cut it in the EPL, we aren't privvy as to what SB is thinking when he sees him on the training field - I trust Brucey when it comes to choosing teams for the PL cos let's face it... he has a tad more experience than us armchair managers. just one question though. how long is your longer term look gonna be, is that if we go down or stay up?
Apart from striker and goalkeeper we have good players in the squad........at Championship level. That's why we were promoted last season. We also have player who we know SHOULD make the step up to the Premiership; the likes of Chester, Aluko, Brady, Meyler and Koren. But the overall strength of the squad is a long way off being good enough to survive. Forget about the Manchester Uniteds, the Chelsea's and the Arsenals of this world we need to match the Fulhams, the Norwichs, the Southamptons and West Broms of the Premiership for quality in terms of overall squad. Top priority, though, must be goalkeepers and strikers........and I really mean that in the plural. We MUST Premiership quality in both areas. Going to be one hell of a ride! I just hope (and think) we don't screw the pooch financially this time!
A pretty comprehensive summary of the situation, ideally we want to get to a point whereby all positions have cover. I guess a lot will depend on whether SB will opt for a 442 or 352 next season, on what players he will buy. I would expect that for most games he may well go for the 442, as defensively that is likley to be the best formation.
I wouldn't say Aluko would be used as a wide player. I can see him being deployed in a similar position to last Season. Free roaming behind the striker (I can't see us buying two quality strikers) with Brady out wide on the left. Although that was a pretty good summary of the squad. Improvements need to be on Goalkeeping and scoring.
You have to get the balance right though. There's a reason the kind of PL established strikers we could go for move from relegation fighting club to relegation fighting club: relegation.
If for any reason the Figueroa(very much an upgrade with Dawson leaving) deal ends up going south then i woukld like us to try and land Erik Peters,25 from PSV who is available. Dutch international left back. Ambitious yes but why not at the right price. Figueroa looks almost nailed on now though by all accounts.
A good piece and hard to disagree with it. For sure IMO the priorities are strikers who score goals first and then GK and then fill the remaining spaces which i am sure Bruce is well on with. I doubt we shall get blown away much if at all next season. If we can get the goals For sorted then i am thinking a Southampton type season for us.
You forgot about Quinnesta in midfield. If him and Brady can get the understanding going again then with Rosie and Elmo on the right and those two on the left with Aluko running at them through the central areas we have a half decent attack to back up defensive quality. Injuries permitting.
