Yes yes, i know we aren't safe from the drop yet but if we stay up McInnes has a lot of work to do i.e the transfer market It has become apparent that we need a new defense and has been that way since our 2nd season in the championship, and i think we may have seen our new defense. McInnes needs to do everything he can to get McManus and Bikey on a permanent basis, it would be great to see them along with fontaine Battling for 2 positions, along with James Wilson and nyatanga we may have a decent pair in the heart of defense. Foster can take the Rb and Lb but he cant do both at the same time so we will need a permanent LB in the mold of Naughton and Walker, with all of the above we may have a defense capable of competing, Gerken should be our number 1 next year with perhaps a young goalkeeper from a lower league who can keep him on his toes Now we move to the midfield. If Kilkenny was 6 foot and consistent we would be fine, but it is our weak link, he will be good to keep on board as a sub but nothing more, We will need another CM who can get us 10 goals a season as well as make a fair few assists, then we move onto the left side of midfield, we need another Albert, strictly for times like this, Albert's out of form so we need to have someone on the other side who can have the same impact as Albert can when on form then we will be deadly from the middle Strikers, this department needs some major improving, im starting to see pitman just isn't good enough to start so we need someone who is,Someone like maynard who can score us 20 goals a season, The perfect player for this would be Madine from Sheffield Wednesday, if they fail to get promotion we have to at least try to get this guy in, Plus Pitman from the bench would be a great thing to have, Stead always gives 100% and he chips in with his goals, but when wood goes he will need another striker like him to keep him on his toes, but when he isn't on form someone who can come in and still give us that physical presence when stead in unavailable So with 1 New goalkeeper, 2 new CB's 2 Cm's and LM/LW and 2 strikers ( i know sounds a lot ) We Could be competing next year, so long as we stay up Please leave a comment on what you think we need or if i have missed anything out?
Being serious for a minute, we need a complete revamp of our style of play. Even today, for most of the first half and the early part of the second, whenever we got the ball wide and went forward, it was pretty much Pitman and Stead in the middle against 4/5/6 defenders, NO midfielders busting a gut to get up in support - there was one occasion about 57 minutes in (I looked at the clock) when an attack was half cleared to the edge of the box and ANY midfielder running in would have been able to pick their spot. Instead, they were 20 yards away. I also thought that whilst NK became more influential as the game went on, I lost count of the number of runs that BP and JS made earlier where he did not deliver the ball. With the exception of Cisse, we need a new intelligent midfield that can connect with our forwards and attack as a unit rather than just pass the ball and say over to you guys. I think we have a couple of young lads good enough to promote from within which will save us some dosh which can be used to strenghten the attack/defence A bit churlish maybe after todays showing but you did ask. Our top scorer is still Nicky Maynard on 8 and he left over 2 months ago and NM's good season aside, it isn't much higher going back to GJ's days. Some of the personnel will be with us next year BUT, the whole playing philosophy must change...
I agree wholeheartedly with this Prem and had this conversation with my mates in the ground pointing out this lack of support at exactly the moment you describe. kilkenny still frustrates me slowing the play down and not moving the ball quickly enough. Adomah was woeful and looks miles off currently but bizarrely Bolasie looks like a like for like replacement with that old style 'albert' enthusiasm Linked up football is required, it's been missing for a few seasons.
I should think that I have managed to bore everyone on this board rigid over the last 3 years plus with my views on that subject except I call it "joined up" football but, same thing...
I did say we needed that sort of player Prem, and i agree we do need a new style of play and i think we seen that style in McInnes first 6 games, we played with pace confidence and skill, i don't know why he changed it but hopefully we will see it all next year
The likes of Pitman are not regular Championship players. Likewise Nyatanga, Woolford and others, and Carey and James are too old I watched the Reading v Leeds game and they way Reading play is something we should aspire to.
