So after spending last season watching Karl Henry gluing every possible combination of midfield pairing together, it became apparent we couldn't play 4 in the middle in any combination. All seemed to agree that some a tall strong CM was needed at least but in reality 3 would be preferable. Massimo is small and can't play next to another short arse, Ben Gladwin may not make at this level, Jet who can play wide has been bombed out, Ale is gone, Goburn vanished, Tozer has a bit of a stinker but may come good if he gets a run, Phillips is gone and so is Fer. God only knows what the club will agree with Junior. We have signed Ariel Borysiuk who I know less than nothing about, I hope he does well, I hope he's taller than 5ft 5". By my count that's, 3 or 4 that have left, 1 that the manager won't play, 1 that may not cut it. surely we're a bit light on numbers and quality here? Without shifting through all the rumours, is there any news or deals going on that may excite? It's just I'm getting that feeling again, you the one where you think we will announce a great deal that's been held back but in reality you just know Tony's playing Fifa on his PS4 again and we will **** it all up on deadline day again. Hope I'm wrong......
Borysiuk looked really good against PSV, he tackled and passed well. If Shodipo can breakthrough into the first team we will have another Taarabt/Messi/Sinton all rolled into one. This lad is got a fantastic future, skill, pace and an eye for goal. He is the real deal.
Starting X1 for tonight's game against Chery's old club : Ingram,Furlong,Lynch,Kpekawa,Henry,Doughty,Petrasso,Chery,El Khayati,Emmanuel Thomas. ! TED will be happy.
I still think Doughty has the ability to command a squad place. I never saw what Henry could do that he couldn't and their abilities are going in opposite directions. Also he has the legs to be part of a four if required, unlike Henry. Luongo didn't do a lot wrong IMO last season. Another capable of playing in a four if alongside a defensive player like the Polish guy. Gladwin capable of a squad place at least on the left side I believe.
I think he's at Carlton but I had heard that deal was still on, I don't know enough about cousins but his wiki profile show 3 season without many breaks in appearances and a very dodgy hair style that look like some sort of wound dressing. Just to note he's a massive 5ft 10" so almost capable of winning a header. I always chuckled when we bitched Greeno's kicking when we were effectively fielding snow white and 10 dwarfs, Just want more height... Interesting to see JET getting a game, is another club interested or has Jimmy had a change of heart? Good news on Shodipo then, been dropped from the starting 11, lets just hope he's sub. Some of the Swindon fans I work with were keen on Doughty and would of like him to stay, so good that they said he may still make the step up, I think he'll need a run of games early in the season or at least I hope that's when he gets one.
Rate Cousins highly, charltons player of the year two years in a row, only 23, loads of energy. Hope we get the deal done.
4-3-3........... will help open up the midfield. If we ever have 4 across the middle, that'll be the end of our season and we'll be at exactly the same place as last season.
But we spent last year playing 5 or even 6 in the middle, do we have the personnel to carry a 433 formation past Christmas? I don't think we do yet.
Thanks for asking. I had the op on 15th of July last year and, touch wood, all is fine. I've played football maybe six times in the last three or four months and always been fine. Sometimes stiff the next day but nothing too bad and feeling stronger all the time. Back in the gym regularly and stuff. I don't run partly out of a hatred of running and partly not to put too much strain on it but do plenty of rowing/cross-training as well as building it up with weights. Did my first 10km row the other day and only had pain in my arse.
