Deffo need a permanent replacement for Luongo, Wolfenden and broadhead....then we are pretty much good to go, just a few loan deals to help strengthen the squad
Woolfy will take over from Morsy as captain when he leaves or retires. Broadhead will make for a great squad player in the same bracket as Chaplin and Luongo.
Think we need a LB unless we feel there's enough cover in the squad for that position now but given how we play would be good to see a specialist there rather than a RB/CB/CM cover. Think our priority would then be CM. Think we could get away without strengthening any of the forward positions but another left sided forward would be useful. Have to say from the video which shows some impressive saves and distribution I agree with Stretchy wasn't overly impressed but funnily for the opposite reason, I thought he stuck to his line too much. To be fair Walton is a superb sweeper keeper and one of the best I've seen at claiming crosses which takes a whole load of pressure off the back line. When Hladky first got into the team last season I felt he stuck to his line too much initially but you could see after a few games he improved and became very good at sweeping things up, so maybe Muric they see the potential to develop and improve that aspect of his game. It'll be interesting to see part of me feels Walton could still be our first choice next season and another part of me feels he could be out of the door.
We signed Greaves to cover LB. There is no way we will sign a dedicated LB who can’t double up in other positions to sit in the reserves all season. Walton was a decent shot stopper in League One but the rest of his game is nowhere near up to it.
As Yorkie says, no way do we need lb cover, Greaves is more than capable. If Wolfie is our regular CB, we are in big trouble, too slow and too weak!! Broadhead is more than capable as back up, never said he wasn't but not good enough to start imo!!
Billie Jean to Villa is confirmed. I will be shocked if he’s not mostly a bench warmer brought in to make up the numbers, play mostly in cup competitions and dead rubber Champions League games. Shame for us and a bigger shame for him I reckon. Guaranteed to score against us on 29th September, though.
Ipswich should try to sign Sergi Roberto as he has left Barça and wants to try Prem. He ain't gonna get in any top sides, Ipswich would be a good fit I think!
Hladky’s gone to Burnley. They’ve effectively swapped with us and got £10m out of us. Trouble is, he’s not a great shot stopper and Burnley are not as dynamic and attacking as Town so this one has egg on face for him written all over it.
Part of me agrees with you but just think that's the world we operate in at the moment. I've watched some clips of the new lad very confident with his feet and a decent shot stopper, almost has a nonchalance about him which in some situations means he's willing to take risks and obviously others you mean you have egg on your face. I'm sure I will be proven wrong but Walton looks a safer bet at the moment. Odd though Hladky not staying here, obviously we don't know the ins and outs but strange decision because as things stand he's not even no.1 at Burnley, surely you'd risk it even if you were a no 2 for you first opportunity to play in the PL. I see Broadhead is injured makes you realise we probably need another wide forward in there to compete.
He got a 2 year contract the same as we were offering but he wouldn't sign it, so as a free agent he can command a signing on fee and big wages because there's no transfer fee involved, very devious so we don't need someone who's not interested in the Club.
From bad to worse with this signing. I hate to think how many goals this clown will let in next season
It's going to be tough going up against Prem strikers and midfielders but we will know a lot more after 20 games, it doesn't necessarily follow that Hladky would have been as effective in the Prem so let's have a look at him.
The only stat that matters is whether we finish 17th or higher. Chances created, possession, saves and goals prevented all come under his remit. At the moment, we have no bench mark to go by so there is no number of goals conceded we can set that will define his success next season. It’s a fairly meaningless stat. 10 goals against in a defeat is still only 3 points dropped and 4 goals conceded in a victory is still worth 3 points.
Harness played a blinder yesterday. I reckon he will start the season in the 11 role with Wes right and Omari in the centre.
I am convinced we owe it to our nucleus of talented players to give them a decent run in the Prem with our 4-5 new players dovetailing in the squad. Some of whom will get early starts. Team confidence is everything. Lets give our new keeper a fair 'hearing' and time to bed in. Walton isnt a bad keeper. Hladky it seems wrote himself out of the script. Only a few weeks now before L'pool come to Town. Cant believe this old gaffer is saying that!
Players we sign late in the day and who had surgeries and other knocks probably won’t be starting those first two games. We will probably line up against Liverpool something like this: Muric Johnson Woolfy Greaves Davis Morsy Luongo Hutchinson Chaplin or Harness Hirst Burns
