Interesting point GH. Hope you're right. We need reliable cover for Warnock & its not going to be White anytime soon.
Kenney Byram Kisnorbo Wootton Who was the big C/H we had who did a great job. SAM??? Warnock Snoddgrass Howson Austin Gradel Beckford Becchio Subs McCormack BJ Ankergran Naylor Mowatt
Doc, you've one too many players. But I'd have McCormack instead of Becchio and Howson or Austin, probably Austin.
I knew we'd get a Yellow somewhere in there GH. I was thinking that 'Wall fans hate coming Noorth, as they end up feeling a bit jaundiced (Yellow Fever)... or is the only yellow our now discarded yellow kit?
I know Essex Whites will be there in numbers as per usual, and rumour has it there'll be one or two of us in the home end (West Stand )
I am indeed. Once bbc ended though I've only ever read the forums without contributing due to a few WUMs that we are all very well aware of! I was a Sociedad for a night, although its the first time in my life I've fallen asleep during a match. Glad Fellaini got what was coming to him after he wanted Reither retrospectively punished. I know he's made a few questionable challenges he's gotten away with so he's not one to talk.
The rumor is that after how bad his performance was at Derby away, McDermott will never let him play for us again!
Ouch, reading this from the start, all these injuries sound very painful! Personally I've been lucky enough to have never broken any bones so Iâm not sure what that feels like but I have managed a fair few sports injuries (torn ligaments, pulled muscles, dislocated the odd body part), sadly none of which were under funny circumstances, usually just bad tackles. As for our squad right now compared to the 1st season back in the Championship, I think we're about the same but just with a different balance.Back then we had a little more creativity with the personnel up front and confidence having just been promoted but I think we had a poor defense. Between then and now Bates did what he did and the squad slowly regressed across the board. More recently however I think we've really addressed some of the defensive issues with the squad learning to play as a unit, the box to box play of Austin, Byram coming of age, Warnock being brought in and the right organization been introduced by BM and the addition of Wootton etc. I'd go so far to say that as of right now our defense now is better than it was back then. However the attacking side to our current squad still has a way to go before I'd ever say it's better than before. If Mowatt keeps up the pace of his development and the change in formation can pick up the confidence in the players we have and play to their strengths, we're not far off being a better squad. Snodgrass has been the biggest loss for me, the hardest to replace at any rate. Off the pitch things have improved dramatically which is the foundation the squad is built on, so when we do finally get or bring through the attacking flair to replace the likes of Gradel, Beckford and especially Snodgrass, I think we will hit the point where on balance we are a better squad. At the moment I'm just very happy that so far it appears we're heading in the right direction whereas back in that first season back it was still clear from Batesâ actions that the club wasnât going anywhere anytime soon except by fluke.
Sorry - they were replies to earlier posts in the thread. Posted the quick reply but without the quote But regarding Paul Green, I've heard that after his performance at Derby away Brian will never play him again. Although time heals all wounds
So on balance it seems most of us think that we have a mixed balance of the old and the new and the squad is around the same quality. Howson, Delph, Snoddgrass, Sodje, Gradel, Kisnorbo, Beckford, Becchio, Killa and Naylor all seem to be big misses for us. I dont think we've replaced them only learned how to play as a unit better without the same flair and attacking. Theres at least 4 players there that we will never replace until we get to the prem, but how long that takes is open for debate. I can't see us ever getting promotion under the present ownership and present parachute payment situation. However I am pleased that we will be able to compete around the top 6 to top 10 places, without those high levels of investment.
Wouldn't say Naylor was a particularly big loss. He certainly knew how to put his foot and head in when required, but any forward with any nouce would push it past him and run. A bit like Kisnorbo in that regard. Naylor was always too slow to deal with it. That said, his knowledge and experience will be of great benefi to the Academy and the Development squad.