I suppose with Ballamy injured and Blake gone the number of call ups will have reduced. It also helps having some quality 'non-internationals'. At least Maynard, Noone, Mutch, Connoly and Smith won't be flying all over the place. Apart from Marshal, all of last week's starting 11 will stay with the club. As for Kimbo, nice of him to drop in. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...ekistan-for-south-korea-match-91466-31759299/
At least he's building his airmiles. Lets hope all come back fit for the Leeds game. With Bellers???? and Turner back the bench and those not even in the 18 will be almost as strong as the starting 11.
I agree blue, great position to be in. It would have been interesting to see how our current 'mid week side' would have done in the cup. We're two full backs away from a very good second XI. Putting last week's starting XI to one side (and I'm not saying Bellars and Turner wouldn't be straight back in) how about - Lewis ??? Turner K9 Nugent Kimbo Gunnar Mc Phail Kiss Bellamy Mason With Cowie, Conway, Earnie, Rudy, Parish, Eti on the bench!
Kiss to right back - we know he can tackle, Cowie in midfield and Ralls on the bench. A 28 man squad and some good youngsters in emergencies. As you say, 2 full backs and we are there. I was told at the weekend that we might get Jenkinson from Arsenal on loan. The source was right about Bellers coming, a month before it happened. This one looks a bit of a stretch though as Jenkinson played at Liverpool Sunday and Arsenal are not well endowed with full backs especially with Sagna out injured.
Forgot about Ralls who has looked good in pre-season and off the bench. Haven't included Harris either. MM's comments a week or so back were interesting. He was saying how he has a conveyor belt of talent. I think that is where the Smith and HH signings come in. They are for here and now but he doesn't expect longevity. He has a core of 20 - 24 year olds with some experence thrown in. He's building a team for the future as well as the now. Connoly and Turner both 24 with Hudson at 30. Mutch, Kiss and Gunner all 20 -24 with Whitts at 28 and McPhail at 30 (ish). Kimbo and Noone early 20s with Smith and Bellamy 30+. Eti, Maynard and Mason 20-24 with Earnie and HH 30+. With the youngster coming through such as Harris, Ralls and the like in their teens you can see continuity for some time to come. By the time HH, Smith, Bellamy and Hudson move aside, there will be a lot experience built up in a group of comparitively young players. It can only be good for the future. I feel confident that MM and the board are planning strategically, not something we've seen up until now.
I see QPR are looking to move a few out in the loan window to reduce their wage bill. Luke Young, D J Campbell and Rob Hulse in particular. At the risk of becoming QPR cast offs surely Luke Young would do a great job with us provided he wasn't too greedy on the wages front, perhaps QPR would contribute some to reduce their bill? He can play all across the back 4 but would give could cover at right and left back. Campbell and Hulse would be okay too but I think we are pretty well off on the striker front. I can see Earnie, Jarvis, Harris and possibly Conway and Ralls being loaned out by us. Harris and Ralls to give more playing experience and the others because they have little chance of a game for us - Conway possibly excepted if we get injuries out wide.
There must be quality young full backs who need game time in a good few pl squads. We need to sign the next Kyle walker (but a left back) on loan for a season. I think we could do better than young, but he'd certainly improve the current situ if we signed him. Really wouldn't want hulse or dj Campbell.
Everyone seems to have forgotten, the forgotten signing, Young Kadeem Harris. Doesnt seem to get a mention anywhere. Send them out on short term loans so the gain experience is an option.
