With the transfer window shutting in a few days, let's have a look at what we've got in terms of our squad, in main position and second position (italics). In brackets after name denotes a possible action by club: GOALKEEPER Paddy Kenny Jamie Ashdown Alex Cairns (LOAN) RIGHT BACK Sam Byram Lee Peltier Tom Lees Zac Thompson LEFT BACK Stephen Warnock Adam Drury Aidy White Charlie Taylor (LOAN) Danny Pugh CENTRE BACK Tom Lees Jason Pearce Scott Wootton Lee Peltier Ross Killock (LOAN) CENTRE MIDFIELD Rodolph Austin Luke Murphy Chris Dawson (LOAN) Alex Mowatt Paul Green (SELL) David Norris (SELL) Michael Brown (SELL) Danny Pugh (SELL) Michael Tonge Simon Lenighan (LOAN) ATTACKING MIDFIELD Ross McCormack El-Hadji Diouf Luke Murphy Noel Hunt WINGER Ryan Hall (SELL) (LOAN) Aidy White Luke Varney El-Hadji Diouf STRIKER Ross McCormack Matt Smith Luke Varney Noel Hunt Dominic Poleon El-Hadji Diouf (SELL) So it seems not a complete fire-sale needed, but definitely a few to move on if possible. Clear that we need quality in key areas. Hopefully we can move those not needed on and bring in some talent.
Realistically if we sold Pugh, Norris and White then that would be enough out the door imo. Loaning out youngsters would help there progression more than our wage bill I would imagine and don't think we would be signing players on the back of loaning youngsters out anyway.
We wouldn't sell Green, Norris, Pugh and Brown. 2 from the 4 maybe, but we'd need the depth - the diamond needs 3 CM (not including McCormack at the point) and selling all 4 would leave us with 3 CM + Mowatt/Dawson. Reckon we'll try to sell Pugh and Norris, but Green and Brown will stay
Josh, agree the loans are for development. Any players sold I would expect replacements coming in, even if it is in another position. So regardless of who goes, McD will have someone in mind to sign.
I still think BMD has a plan to slot Byram into midfield, he has said as much last week in the media. We really do need to lob out some dross though which will either free up some cash for a new signing, or at least allow sMowatt to get some game time under his belt.
If Byram played in midfield, that'd give us the option of playing a flat 4-4-2 with some width and pace, but the question is who would play on the left? (Please nobody suggest White )
In a 442 & depending on where you play Ross (up top or attacking midfield), its difficult to see where you play White. Byram RM, Austin CM, Murphy CM or LM, & perm one from Mowett, Diouf, Norris, McCormack, Green, Tonge as the other midfield slot. White's only place at the moment is on the bench, unless someone can get him to use his speed to get to the byline & stick it on Smith's head.
Guys forget White. Its sad because I was chuffed to bits when he signed a new deal last year, but lets be honest besides the goal he scored last season, he's useless to us and the way we play now. Hall and White had a great opprtunity when Brian bought Smithy. He said to them both, look boys can you see smithy's head? run past your marker and get a cross over and Smithy will knock it in and make you a hero. Not one of them is capable of going past people and getting a decent ball in, so useless to us and need moving on. But who wants to buy wingers who have no end result?
We shouldn't have that big a problem getting rid of White, there are clubs in the Championship who'd take him, I just think we'll struggle to get a decent fee for him. We may just have to cut our losses with Hall, I doubt he'd want to drop a division now and I can't see any Championship teams wanting him. Any idea how long he has left on his deal? Hopefully just this season...
I don't believe people that say Hall isn't capable of delivering an end product/good cross. He had the highest assists in the football league the season before we bought him. McD obviously doesn't think he is ready otherwise he would be playing him but I think he has more chance than white imo.
Problem is, he's 25 already - if he's not ready now, when will he be? He obviously has some ability, 14 goals and 25 assists the season before he joined (albeit in L2) suggests he has talent, and he's played consistently well in the development squad, but there's clearly something holding him back...and if he hasn't sorted it out by now, you have to wonder if he ever will, because he's not a kid anymore.
yea I understand that 25 isn't considered young but he hasn't been bad when he has played unlike white, he has just been a bit ineffective. You can clearly see technical ability there when he plays and thats what leads me to believe we should give him a chance.
Forget hall. Two managers have had extended looks at him and don't see fit to give him ten minutes match time. After eight months with us, he's clearly hopeless and a waste of whatever wage he's on.
