As fladders has pointed out this might need it's own thread. It's a good debate as the 4 he mentioned I disagree with 2. I don't think Hume will and Cirkin who a few weeks ago thought would I'm starting to doubt. I think Neil, Rigg , Jobe ,Mundle, Watson,, Le Fee , I think Mayenda may also develop. Samed may as time goes on and I definitely think Huggins is if he gets his fitness back
All about having quality across the squad. You can't carry anyone in the PL and poor players will be exposed. Look at the Southampton bench yesterday, all of them are good championship players at worst and they can't get in the starting 11 for the worst PL team this season. Same goes for the Wolves bench, Tommy Doyle has started 3 games this season yet he was excellent for Sheff Utd in 22/23 in the championship. Can add Ipswich to this aswell, their bench looked good yesterday but in reality its a poor PL bench.
I think we have players that would be PL quality playing along side quality player, I think Ballard could be if he was along side a top quality CB. I think we are missing a trick not playing Le Fee along side Jobe and DN, they are quality but would be even better with him there. I think it showed with Jack Clarke last season, he was always better when Cirkin played because he complimented his style. I totally agree that you can carry players but I do think a few of our players will step up with quality players around them. I also think we have a few playing every week that I wouldn't expect to be at the club if we go up
It's quite likely both will go to the PL, without us, if we fail to reach our goal. It also depends on who leaves, we might need to replace half the team.
Tough one to answer because of our model. By signing young players you expect that yr on yr they'll continue to develop and go up a level or too. I like that we don't have many that are championship only players. What i mean by that is that they dont have much room for improvements - I'd say browne o9 and Roberts probably fall into this camp If we were to go up this yr I'd want 6 really good signings (not easy to do i know) Likely - GK, RB, CB, RM, CM, CF The spine of the team would be vital in the top flight so I'd like a couple players that have played there before. I think jobe, Neil and Cirkin would all do well in the PL. I think Isidor and Mepham if they signed permanently would do well. Mayenda would be a handful at times because he has the pace and power you want. Mundle and Watson could make the step up imo - just need to see a bit more of them in the championship Rigg will play most of his career in the PL but probably wouldn't be a week in week out started to begin with Le Fee has the potential to be able to play there but need to see how he adapts to English football 1st Hume would be fine as a squad player but his lack of pace will hold him back, and I have the same doubts about Ballard. If ballard stays fit I think he will be a PL CBs The rest I don't think could make the step up but you just never know who might kick on
(If they stayed) the only players I'd expect to be able to make the step up would be Jobe, Rigg, Neil, Le Fee, Samed, Mepham. Ones who could maybe do it (possibly just bench options): Isidor, Mayenda, Ballard, Hume, Cirkin, Patto, Mundle, Watson, Huggins Bench at best, or sold: O'Nien, Roberts, Alese, Hjelde, Browne
It could be years before we’re in the PL If this squad somehow get us up, it would need serious investment for any chance of survival It would be a hectic summer with loads needing moved on
Of course there would need to be investment but it all comes down to good recruitment Teams have come up, spent loads and gone straight back down Our model will help us imo, we are signing players with the potential to grow into PL players Who knows when we will get there, I'll just enjoy the journey The PL isn't the be all and end all - for me it's about enjoying what we are trying to do
Isn't it funny that people say if we don't go up, half the team will leave for the PL ... ... but less than half are good enough if they go up with us. It's a fact that some players, such as those at Bournemouth, may not be good enough for Spurs, Villa, Man Utd, West Ham, etc ... ... yet they're above all those clubs. In the system they play, and the way the team operates, they play well above their talent. Bournemouth are greater than the sum of their parts ... ... precisely what we're aiming for in my opinion.
That’s my fear mate We must prove ourselves good enough to get promoted with the core of the team playing in the premiership If we don’t make or on scrape through and not prove we are going to be some sort of a force in the premiership We will have to let some of our players leave and rebuild yet again I would like us to have a decent run of form and take us up automatic Other wise we then will have to strengthen the team when we go up
Strengthen the spine and allow our talented lads to see what they can do. They’ve got the talent. It’s just whether they can acclimatise fast enough. I’m not betting against them any time soon.
I believe much as Smug has said...if we don't go up we will lose about 5 of our first team squad.... I'm betting all of them go to Premier League or European clubs. That doesn't mean they are good enough as we have seen with Jack Clarke....he's not getting a sniff at Ipswich. But IF we did go up, I maintain, Jobe, Neil and Le Fee.... Maybe Cirkin and Ballard at a stretch. I'm on the fence with the likes of Mundle, Watson as they are totally unproven even in the Championship...maybe they are good enough, but for me, way too early to say. After watching Premier League players this weekend the one thing that strikes me is the size skilful and powerful players clubs have in their squads. Jobe is probably the only one we have like that....probably why top clubs are eyeing him up. But whatever happens, I'm pleased the way we are going... a blip yesterday, nothing more than that for me
I think this will be a continual rebuild situation mate ... .... lose Stewart, bring is Isidor/Mayenda/Another, lose Clarke, bring in Watson/Mundle/Another. Even if we go up Jobe will leave, sooner or later, because he's too good. We clearly can't afford to bring in another player, at an equal level, so we have to find and develop them. Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth do this but it can't always be a continuous process or everyone would do it. Sometimes you just need a bit of luck to go with all the data and planning ...
I know Hume has had PL interest but I'm not sure he's got enough pace for a PL . I think he might still end up there yet but not sure he'll flourish, I think lately he has conceded possession quite often and even yesterday he did but redeemed himself with the assist for the first and scoring the second. 2 months ago I would have been certain that Cirkin would have made the step up, however lately I'm not sure but that might be to do with not having a natural RW in front of him
IF we go up, we need to keep the core of the squad and add a few quality additions. Squad harmony appears great and too many changes could disrupt it. Of the existing squad I think most of the starting 11 could make the step up / do a job when required but we would obviously need better if we hope to progress away from the bottom 3. The worst bit of promotion yo the premier league is the journey is far better than the destination
There is something about some of our players I think we forget sometimes. That is out them amongst better players they will be even better. Quite often players show up so much better in the level above. I argued in L1 we would shine in the champ because we had players who were at that level. It was true, we surprised the heck out of the league. I think we have lads that will be more effective because of playing against much better players. They will find the rythm so much easier, and the intensity more to their liking. Cirkin, Jobe, Neil, Rigg, Mundle. Will thrive. Watson, Hume, Ballard may well be on the verge, and Watson in time will be a real prem left winger. Isidor will be better in the top league if he stays. Too early to say on Le Fee. But if we have 5 or 6 that will be natural prem players, which I think we do, we arent a rebuild club, more a refinement club. For me I would want a quick and composed centre back. And that would be priority number 1. Then a right sided midfielder, real old school pacey winger. Depending on Huggins, who is a prem player without injuries, a real utility man in full back position. It would take 1 major cf signing of course. Isisdor will relish the league, but someone to lead the line and go really high as a 9 would be massive to make the pitch long. Isidor as a second striker in 60% of the games. I am a bit torn on Patto. Have to say I have hated to read comments from posters on here about his social life. Even if you know it to be true, splashing it about on the internet is a low move imo. Should take a think about what good you are doing, which is nowt imo. Sad. He has a tonne of fundamentals that are right. He isnt overweight in any way, if he was he wouldnt be picked and would be fined. He looks a lad with a bit of a confidence issue to me, and one that needs to play through it. I would have my arm right round him and stick by him. All the videos from the club show the players love him. I wouldnt be at all upset with him and young as our two prem keepers. Anyway, bottom line, we go up we finish 14th. Heard it here first.
Totally agree with you but I'm curious. Your quick and composed centre back, would that be Mepham or someone else and if it was someone else, would you try and get Mepham to play alongside?
