I think over the season not replacing Hamer is what really did us. Hope we fix that in the summer.
Caught some of Sheffield Utd today and he looked by some distance their best player and the only real threat. Good chance he stays in the division I think so hopefully a bit of extra cash for us.
A good post this. think in reality when you look at it with 6/7 games we still had a realistic chance of the playoffs in fact even half decent form we may have been able to get there the way wba and Norwich finished their seasons.
But it’s clear we are short in quality and numbers but Robins knows this and I’m sure King does and let’s hope that’s remedied in the summer. We have the making of a good squad. The goals we’ve conceded recently are poor and that’s worrying. But I do think the edition of a strong keeper who can command his box is a must prob more than any position. It’s been a while since we could say we had a really good keeper and this is the summer to sort that.
Not that I’m blaming collins for all our problems but I do believe the defence has lost some confidence in him and that goes through the team somewhat. But refresh in the summer we go again in what will hopefully be a year less dominated by those teams that come down.
But it’s clear we are short in quality and numbers but Robins knows this and I’m sure King does and let’s hope that’s remedied in the summer. We have the making of a good squad. The goals we’ve conceded recently are poor and that’s worrying. But I do think the edition of a strong keeper who can command his box is a must prob more than any position. It’s been a while since we could say we had a really good keeper and this is the summer to sort that.
Not that I’m blaming collins for all our problems but I do believe the defence has lost some confidence in him and that goes through the team somewhat. But refresh in the summer we go again in what will hopefully be a year less dominated by those teams that come down.
Massive part of it and obviously it took time for the strikers to settle. If they would have hit the ground running ( a lot to ask I know) we’d be in the play offs
Was thinking earlier, considering the Hamer fee bought in Kitching, Mason Clark and Torp.
What position would we be in if we had kept him and not had them three players, good chance we would be in the playoffs for me but still a way of automatic.
The winger situation is by far and away the main reason we aren't in the playoffs. We needed one in Jan at a minimum, ideally two and got none. If one or two had come in we had rotation/competition for Saka & Wright, cover for Saka's injury and Milan can stick to right back.
I'm convinced even if we had just signed an average championship right winger we would be in 6th right now.
I'm convinced even if we had just signed an average championship right winger we would be in 6th right now.
Having someone more convincing than Lati at RB would also be a necessity so you can rotate MVE without giving up too much. Could have signed Cannon on a free last summer as one example, BNC would be a decent target for the one coming up.
People keep saying this, but we've been told that Torp is the "Hamer replacement". (Even though they are pretty different players in a lot of different ways)
Torp is nowhere near, and won't be near Hamer.
Like Eccles and Sheaf just a different type of player. Hamer gave us energy on and off the ball we’ve really been lacking. Sheaf Eccles and Torp take far more touches before getting a pass off which slows us down too.
Yep, absolutely - if you are saying Torp is like Eccles/Sheaf - totally agree.
Said it so many times on here. Hamer was like having two players on the pitch, taking one place on the team sheet.
The amount of clean sheets last year was heavily influenced by his ability to get back in/round and dis-posess..... Then spring a counter by running/or picking out quality passes.
Anybody who says they wouldn't have him back knows nothing about football.
I find all of this incredible but the most crazy statement is he lacks control. The thing that he is absolutely brilliant at is controlling the ball. The number of times I have seen him take down really difficult balls this season with instant control! He so rarely loses possession too.
Some people will never see it but he is a really good and skillful player.
Close control isn’t taking a ball down, it’s like Dasilva has: the ability to be in a group of players and dribble your way through. Hamer would often spring us by getting stuck in or beating a couple of men up close then driving into the space behind them. Eccles is a very tidy player with a good eye for a pass and excellent athleticism. I like him a lot, and there’s three players in our midfield but none of them provide what Hamer did. Sheaf does what Eccles does but better and calmer mostly, Torp seems good around the box and set pieces. But no one gives us what we lost when Hamer left.
And the sum of the parts isn’t equivalent either. We move the ball too slowly, are dribbled through too easily, don’t break quickly enough, and are too careless with the ball generally.
I think it's gonna take a far bigger rebuild than some (most) are acknowledging.
I also think that rebuild will be hamstrung by the 'will they/won't they' drama of messrs Gyokeres and Hamer.
This is the exact reason
Milans interview yesterday pre game also, alluding to frustration with mistakes.
They are human and want to win as a team, when they see a 4 million centre half constantly scoring own goals and getting sent off, and the New Keeper we signed being utter fucking horse shit, its not going to be all champagne and blowjobs is it?
This is why we need to sell Sheaf. If we can upgrade our later targets cos of a Vik windfall then great but we shouldn’t be relying on it.
But you have to view things through the prism of the Championship. Of course Eccles is no Graeme Souness, but he’s a top quality Championship midfielder. We’ve scored more goals this season without Hamer so if we are lacking what he bought we’re obviously making up for it elsewhere somehow. Every player is clearly not world class but I think we have to appreciate that it does take time to settle in a different country so we have to cut Torp some slack. Trust our scouts - they’ve done ok so far.
It's been a solid season. We've finished where most expected and got to Wembley in only our second ever FA Cup Semi Final.
We finish the season poorly but will be getting rid of deadwood. We've got Sakamoto to return and the best player in League 1 coming in for £4m
Last year, a world class striker and the best midfielder in the Championship carried us to the play offs with Callum Doyle and McNally. It was a real rebuild ahead. This summer will see some changes, but we're not losing the quality we did last year.
We finish the season poorly but will be getting rid of deadwood. We've got Sakamoto to return and the best player in League 1 coming in for £4m
Last year, a world class striker and the best midfielder in the Championship carried us to the play offs with Callum Doyle and McNally. It was a real rebuild ahead. This summer will see some changes, but we're not losing the quality we did last year.
You also have Wilson on the bench watching it and probably feeling hard done by in comparison, though he isn’t the answer either.
We only need 1 or 2 starters, then a some depth options. I wouldn't call it a rebuild.
If we don't sort the keeper out everything else is irrelevant.
We had two CBs and three keepers available today. And one of the CBs is leaving!
If we don’t invest in our threadbare defence that’s been leaking goals for months, it doesn’t matter who we have in goal. Signing more and more keepers doesn’t improve the team if they have to watch Joel Latibeaudiere play 40 times a season in four different positions.
Yes he has been injured, and hasn’t played enough yet to form much of an opinion, next year will see the best of Torp
I think the club will try to move Collins on and if they cant he will be the new S Moore. I just don't see Collins being a genuine No 1 GK, doesn't command his area or is vocal enough in my opinion.
Im sure we will be bringing in some experienced and very vocal players in GK, CB and CM positions.
Im sure we will be bringing in some experienced and very vocal players in GK, CB and CM positions.
