Sounds Good (3 Viewers)

[dongonzalos]

The Sky Blues boss has promoted a number of young Academy players to his development group, including the likes of midfielders Lewis Rankin, Leon Lobjoit and Louis Garner, as well as young left-back Ryan Haynes, who is expected to be understudy to Blair Adams.

Goalkeeper Lee Burge and right-back Aaron Phillips are also expected to form part of a 25-man squad after their impressive spell on loan at Nuneaton Town last season as City halve their wage bill from last season’s £4million budget .

Pressley is also looking to bring in seven new players , including a couple of leaders who can help develop the younger players, but he insists that every place is up for grabs for City’s first game of the campaign at Crawley Town on August 3.

“With the 24/25 players we’ll have to work with we want to give them all equal game time during the pre-season,” said Pressley who was back at his desk at Ryton this morning preparing for Friday when the players are set to report back for duty.

“At times we’ll split the two groups but we want a tight squad whereby every player is vying for a place.

“Initially, the players will be a mix of development and seniors, but in the later friendly games it will be more based around the potential team for the start of the season. But I want the development players to all consider themselves as potential first-teamers.

“I want them to come back fighting for a place in the first game of the season, no matter what their age.”

Young Coventry City players will be given a chance

Louis Garner

He added: “The key aspect for me is also getting a number of experienced players with an attitude and leadership who can play a significant role.

“It has been a great success story at Manchester United where they have done that, where they have had leaders in the dressing room to help the younger players because it can’t always come from the manager.

“So I will be working hard to bring in a couple of characters who I feel can really enhance the group mentally.”

As for the youngsters to watch, he said: “Leon Lobjoit and Ryan Haynes will be part of the first team group because I am a great believer that if you are good enough you are old enough.

“Ryan has impressed me and shown me he’s more than capable of being part of the first team group. “We are delighted to have Blair Adams at left-back, who is a terrific young talent, but I want Ryan in and around it. Our younger players will be part of the squad because they need to be pushed.

“I’m very excited by them because young players who come through your system provide energy and pride for the football club, and we have some exciting players.”

 

---

[Astute]

Sounds good?

Can you remind me what happened a couple of seasons ago when we lost 1st team players then replaced them with youth players?

 

[dongonzalos]

Think you need your squad of 20 supported by 6 youngsters

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Sounds good?

Can you remind me what happened a couple of seasons ago when we lost 1st team players then replaced them with youth players?

It's hard not to get an uncomfortable feeling of deja-vu...still, at least we have a manager who believes in youth players. To the point where he seems unlikely to complain when that's all he gets.

 

[skyblueman]

Sounds like exactly what it is ... the only option - embargo no money.... god help us

 

[Otis]

It's hard not to get an uncomfortable feeling of deja-vu...still, at least we have a manager who believes in youth players. To the point where he seems unlikely to complain when that's all he gets.

Is this is a manager who believes in these youth players, or a manager who has to select these youth players cos he has no other choice?

 

[Astute]

I doubt these young players will be starting 20+ league games!

Besides, Clarke, Thomas, Christie and Bigi were all impressive that season and played with maturity beyond their years, it was the seasoned pros in our team, the likes of Platt, Cranie, Hussey and Clingan who didn't pull their weight.

I do think last season we had too many players, but we didn't have enough players in certain positions, for example, striker, wingers and CB (ish) - quality, not quantity.

I think the team as it is, is a good team, in areas, but the glaringly obvious weak point at this moment is CB, Edj, Malaga, IMO are not good enough whilst Willis, I'm unsure, he's young and isn't not be ready. Other than that, the team is relatively strong.

I agree with SP, if you're good enough, you're old enough, if Lobjoit was tracked by Man City, he must have something about him, likewise with Thomas, Christie, Clarke (somewhat) and Willis who have all been tracked by Championship/Prem clubs.

Are you old enough to remember two seasons ago?

We lost seasoned pro's. Was in an embargo. Had to play youth players. This season we have lost seasoned pro's. We are in an embargo. Will have to play youth players. And this time we don't even know where we are going to play our home games. Our away results were poor. We were only saved by our home form.

Our squad last season looked stronger than the one we have this season. This is the 1st season where I am worried about how we will do before the season starts.

 

[jesus-wept]

Youngsters have to start sometime. The old adage if you are old enough you are good enough comes to mind, however one or two at a time, yes, not half a team. I was surprised Lee Burge wasn't played for the final match last season, nothing to lose and would have done him good IMO

 

[dongonzalos]

Murphy Dunn Burge

Christie Clarke

Edj Willis Malaga ? (Need two more)

Blair Haynes


Fleck Moussa Garner Lobjit Barton
Thomas Jennings Baker

Clarke, Wilson (need two more)

I am assuming Cody, Bell, Wood, Sheff, Rod will be gone.

Not too sure Malaga will go anywhere

 

[TrueSkyBlueLiam]

Along with Sheffield United, we have IMO the best upcoming young talent in League One. Kids like Haynes, Wilson and Lobjiot could be bring us forward if we use them right

 

[skybluejack10]

luis garner is sick! he'll be a great future talent but thought lobjoit had returned to MK?

 

[Astute]

Murphy Dunn Burge

Christie Clarke

Edj Willis Malaga ? (Need two more)

Blair Haynes


Fleck Moussa Garner Lobjit Barton
Thomas Jennings Baker

Clarke, Wilson (need two more)

I am assuming Cody, Bell, Wood, Sheff, Rod will be gone.

Not too sure Malaga will go anywhere

:blue::blue::blue::blue::blue::blue:

 

[sw88]

Stop living in the past Dong. ROD has already left the building

 

[sw88]

Pressley gets more Andy Thorn-like by the day!

I'm sure Thorn said something similar the other year. 8-9 months later, we got relegated :facepalm:

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Is this is a manager who believes in these youth players, or a manager who has to select these youth players cos he has no other choice?

That is the 64p question.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

luis garner is sick! he'll be a great future talent but thought lobjoit had returned to MK?

Well I hope they quarantine him. We're short enough of players already without an epidemic.

 

[Otis]

That is the 64p question.

I'm sure he believes in youth players, but does he believe that these youth players are good enough for the squad, or is he just reacting to the fact of the embargo and that he has already told 6 senior players they can leave?

That's twice the question, so is worth £1.28.

 

[Noggin]

Youngsters have to start sometime. The old adage if you are old enough you are good enough comes to mind, however one or two at a time, yes, not half a team. I was surprised Lee Burge wasn't played for the final match last season, nothing to lose and would have done him good IMO

The phrase is if you are good enough you are old enough, however the way you have written it seems to be more like the policy we will be implementing.

 

[Astute]

The old adage if you are old enough you are good enough comes to mind

I am old enough. If I was only half my age I would still be old enough

Better go find my boots.

 

[dongonzalos]

Stop living in the past Dong. ROD has already left the building

Ah that's good it was a permanent move. Thought it was a loan again.

Just hope we can keep Murphy

 

[dongonzalos]

What seasoned pros have we lost? Wood? Stewart? Elliott? All very, very expendable, as they were average at best, maybe not Wood, but for the wage he was on, he wasn't worth it. I don't think you can compare this to; King, Westwood, Gunnarsson, Turner and later Juke (off the top of my head), in fact, bar Wood, we've only chopped the seasoned pros who were warming the bench, hardly a big loss! To compare this season to 11/12 is a massively unjustified comparison. Also, are you suggesting that Bigi, Christie and Thomas weren't amongst our top performers?

The squad looks stronger at this point than it did last season bar defence, no, including defence, back then we had; Brown, Ball, Malaga, Hussey, Cody, Kilbane, Elliott on the books and in the frame to start! Now we have; Moussa, Adams, L.Clarke, a reborn Baker, added to this squad and obviously before Crawley, they'll be more players added to this team, these young players won't start week in, week out like Bigi, Thomas and Christie had to back then, they'll be prodominantly used as subs, and cover for injuries until they are ready to start, or have proven they are good enough to start.

As I said, the only weak point that needs, and actually needs to be strengthened immediately is centre-back, even then, last season it was hardly a strong-point, it's been a weakness since Keogh and Cranie left. The rest of the squad is ok IMO, it still needs a player to improve the XI and squad as a whole.

For the record, I remember that relegation season quite well, and it isn't comparable to this season.

Strikers as well

If Clarke gets injured, game over

 

[Astute]

What seasoned pros have we lost? Wood? Stewart? Elliott? All very, very expendable, as they were average at best, maybe not Wood, but for the wage he was on, he wasn't worth it. I don't think you can compare this to; King, Westwood, Gunnarsson, Turner and later Juke (off the top of my head), in fact, bar Wood, we've only chopped the seasoned pros who were warming the bench, hardly a big loss! To compare this season to 11/12 is a massively unjustified comparison. Also, are you suggesting that Bigi, Christie and Thomas weren't amongst our top performers?

The squad looks stronger at this point than it did last season bar defence, no, including defence, back then we had; Brown, Ball, Malaga, Hussey, Cody, Kilbane, Elliott on the books and in the frame to start! Now we have; Moussa, Adams, L.Clarke, a reborn Baker, added to this squad and obviously before Crawley, they'll be more players added to this team, these young players won't start week in, week out like Bigi, Thomas and Christie had to back then, they'll be prodominantly used as subs, and cover for injuries until they are ready to start, or have proven they are good enough to start.

As I said, the only weak point that needs, and actually needs to be strengthened immediately is centre-back, even then, last season it was hardly a strong-point, it's been a weakness since Keogh and Cranie left. The rest of the squad is ok IMO, it still needs a player to improve the XI and squad as a whole.

Horses for courses.

We lost better players two seasons ago but were in a higher division. We are weak in defence. We are weak up front. We could lose more players yet. Most clubs are still looking at the players available. Last season we had a striker you haven't named who scored lots of goals for us. Yes this season we have Clarke up front and.............

You say the two seasons are not comparable? Loss of experience, players from youth squad to make up the numbers with an embargo in place. Sounds very similar to me

 

[SkyBlueSwiss]

What seasoned pros have we lost? Wood? Stewart? Elliott? All very, very expendable, as they were average at best, maybe not Wood, but for the wage he was on, he wasn't worth it. I don't think you can compare this to; King, Westwood, Gunnarsson, Turner and later Juke (off the top of my head), in fact, bar Wood, we've only chopped the seasoned pros who were warming the bench, hardly a big loss! To compare this season to 11/12 is a massively unjustified comparison. Also, are you suggesting that Bigi, Christie and Thomas weren't amongst our top performers?

The squad looks stronger at this point than it did last season bar defence, no, including defence, back then we had; Brown, Ball, Malaga, Hussey, Cody, Kilbane, Elliott on the books and in the frame to start! Now we have; Moussa, Adams, L.Clarke, a reborn Baker, added to this squad and obviously before Crawley, they'll be more players added to this team, these young players won't start week in, week out like Bigi, Thomas and Christie had to back then, they'll be prodominantly used as subs, and cover for injuries until they are ready to start, or have proven they are good enough to start.

As I said, the only weak point that needs, and actually needs to be strengthened immediately is centre-back, even then, last season it was hardly a strong-point, it's been a weakness since Keogh and Cranie left. The rest of the squad is ok IMO, it still needs a player to improve the XI and squad as a whole.

For the record, I remember that relegation season quite well, and it isn't comparable to this season.

Taylor,
The problem is, thoughts on whether a player/a squad is/are good enough is subjective. Some people think Rooney is equal to or better than Messi, whereas others believe him to be an overpaid moron. Who is correct?
My opinion in this matter? I think you are delusional, as do most bookies. I believe this squad is now much weaker than last season, and without McGoldrick the squad last season would have struggled. You seem to forget that even without the 10 point deduction we would have finished in the bottom half of the table, and when we did "almost get into the top 6" it was because we had played three or four more games than those around us.
Now we are making the exact same mistakes that got us relegated. That you do not appreciate that replacing wood and Elliott (plus replacing the other 6 senior players that have been told they are not wanted) with untied youth players and the mythical and imaginary 6-7 new players that Pressley would like to bring in will result in a catastrophically weak team for the coming season is indeed delusional imho.
Even without all the other issues surrounding our club, we are going to be relegated if things do not change drastically imho.

 

[Grendel]

Taylor,
The problem is, thoughts on whether a player/a squad is/are good enough is subjective. Some people think Rooney is equal to or better than Messi, whereas others believe him to be an overpaid moron. Who is correct?
My opinion in this matter? I think you are delusional, as do most bookies. I believe this squad is now much weaker than last season, and without McGoldrick the squad last season would have struggled. You seem to forget that even without the 10 point deduction we would have finished in the bottom half of the table, and when we did "almost get into the top 6" it was because we had played three or four more games than those around us.
Now we are making the exact same mistakes that got us relegated. That you do not appreciate that replacing wood and Elliott (plus replacing the other 6 senior players that have been told they are not wanted) with untied youth players and the mythical and imaginary 6-7 new players that Pressley would like to bring in will result in a catastrophically weak team for the coming season is indeed delusional imho.
Even without all the other issues surrounding our club, we are going to be relegated if things do not change drastically imho.

Strange. Most people at the start of last season thought we had the best manager in the league, a genius with an eye for talent who had assembled a magnificant squad (without mcgoldrick) which would storm the league.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Strange. Most people at the start of last season thought we had the best manager in the league, a genius with an eye for talent who had assembled a magnificant squad (without mcgoldrick) which would storm the league.

Looking bad though isn't it Grendel??

 

[SkyBlueSwiss]

Strange. Most people at the start of last season thought we had the best manager in the league, a genius with an eye for talent who had assembled a magnificant squad (without mcgoldrick) which would storm the league.

Grendel,
Could I ask that, instead of being sarcastic and negative in response, you actually answer a post for a change?
I would like to read your honest and open opinion on the state of squad, where you think it will be at the start of this coming season and how you think that squad will perform.
I genuinely would like to read your straight answer.

 

[dongonzalos]

Strange. Most people at the start of last season thought we had the best manager in the league, a genius with an eye for talent who had assembled a magnificant squad (without mcgoldrick) which would storm the league.

Did he want to sign mcgoldrick
How long did he get with his newly assembled squad

Meanwhile after the genius decision to sack him 4 managers later we are still in league one etc etc etc ....

 

[Grendel]

Did he want to sign mcgoldrick
How long did he get with his newly assembled squad

Meanwhile after the genius decision to sack him 4 managers later we are still in league one etc etc etc ....

He wanted to sign mcgoldrick in January the previous year. This would have been typical of thorn. Signing players in a division they were not good enough to compete in.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

What seasoned pros have we lost? Wood? Stewart? Elliott? All very, very expendable, as they were average at best, maybe not Wood, but for the wage he was on, he wasn't worth it. I don't think you can compare this to; King, Westwood, Gunnarsson, Turner and later Juke (off the top of my head), in fact, bar Wood, we've only chopped the seasoned pros who were warming the bench, hardly a big loss! To compare this season to 11/12 is a massively unjustified comparison. Also, are you suggesting that Bigi, Christie and Thomas weren't amongst our top performers?

The squad looks stronger at this point than it did last season bar defence, no, including defence, back then we had; Brown, Ball, Malaga, Hussey, Cody, Kilbane, Elliott on the books and in the frame to start! Now we have; Moussa, Adams, L.Clarke, a reborn Baker, added to this squad and obviously before Crawley, they'll be more players added to this team, these young players won't start week in, week out like Bigi, Thomas and Christie had to back then, they'll be prodominantly used as subs, and cover for injuries until they are ready to start, or have proven they are good enough to start.

As I said, the only weak point that needs, and actually needs to be strengthened immediately is centre-back, even then, last season it was hardly a strong-point, it's been a weakness since Keogh and Cranie left. The rest of the squad is ok IMO, it still needs a player to improve the XI and squad as a whole.

For the record, I remember that relegation season quite well, and it isn't comparable to this season.

The squad has zero depth to it and we are relying heavily on a handful of players to deliver the goods. If we proceed with the groundshare our revenues will only be adequate to sustain League 2 football which is what we'll get if it doesn't change. You talk with such confidence about us being able to strengthen the team, but with whom and what money will we be able to do this? The off field situation is a massive deterrent to any potential target and at any rate our current revenues are almost zero with all that's going on. A very painful season ahead for those of us still half interested.

 

[Grendel]

Grendel,
Could I ask that, instead of being sarcastic and negative in response, you actually answer a post for a change?
I would like to read your honest and open opinion on the state of squad, where you think it will be at the start of this coming season and how you think that squad will perform.
I genuinely would like to read your straight answer.

It's impossible to say as there will be new signings. Providing McDonald goes and is replaced with a striker who is fit and not just hungry for food it should be mid table.

 

[SkyBlueSwiss]

It's impossible to say as there will be new signings. Providing McDonald goes and is replaced with a striker who is fit and not just hungry for food it should be mid table.

Thank you and fair comment.
I would tend to disagree with that opinion. I think there is a high probability that we will lose Clarke and Baker before the season starts if anyone makes even a half-descent bid for them. I do not believe that we will "buy" a single player. We will - if there are any funds at all available for salaries - maybe get in a couple of players of frees that will most likely be worse players than those we let go because they will be significantly cheaper than those we let go, and SISU/Fisher will order Pressley to make up the shortfall with youths from the academy. All of which will, imho, lead us to relegation for the second time in just three years, and the downward spiral will accelerate. I genuinely believe that if SISU stay as our owners, we will be non-league in three years or less. Luton and Plymouth will start to look like very good setups!

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Thank you and fair comment.
I would tend to disagree with that opinion. I think there is a high probability that we will lose Clarke and Baker before the season starts if anyone makes even a half-descent bid for them. I do not believe that we will "buy" a single player. We will - if there are any funds at all available for salaries - maybe get in a couple of players of frees that will most likely be worse players than those we let go because they will be significantly cheaper than those we let go, and SISU/Fisher will order Pressley to make up the shortfall with youths from the academy. All of which will, imho, lead us to relegation for the second time in just three years, and the downward spiral will accelerate. I genuinely believe that if SISU stay as our owners, we will be non-league in three years or less. Luton and Plymouth will start to look like very good setups!

All so unnecessary. Just what competent owners could do with this club makes the mind boggle.

 

[Sutty]

It's not like Pressley's changed his tune though is it? Right from his first interview he was talking about wanting to bring young players through the academy. He pushed a 15 year old into the first team at Falkirk so this isn't necessarily a 'make do and mend' type solution.

It's also been suggested by him that we're going to make signings of more experienced players to fill out the squad, not just rely on youth. Sure, we're in an embargo, but we were last season as well and signed tons of players. Ok, they were mostly shit but the point still stands.

I agree with Sky Blue Taylor, the comparisons to the relegation season are, at the moment anyway, tenuous. In 2011/12 we lost some of our star performers from the previous season in Westwood, Turner, King, Juke, and Gunnarsson. Now, our better players from last year are still here. Clarke, Baker, Murphy, Christie, Adams are all still at the club. If we lose a few of these before the start of the season then I'll reconsider but for now, I think we only really need a handful of well thought through signings to give us a competitive squad.

 

[Otis]

It's not like Pressley's changed his tune though is it? Right from his first interview he was talking about wanting to bring young players through the academy. He pushed a 15 year old into the first team at Falkirk so this isn't necessarily a 'make do and mend' type solution.

It's also been suggested by him that we're going to make signings of more experienced players to fill out the squad, not just rely on youth. Sure, we're in an embargo, but we were last season as well and signed tons of players. Ok, they were mostly shit but the point still stands.

I agree with Sky Blue Taylor, the comparisons to the relegation season are, at the moment anyway, tenuous. In 2011/12 we lost some of our star performers from the previous season in Westwood, Turner, King, Juke, and Gunnarsson. Now, our better players from last year are still here. Clarke, Baker, Murphy, Christie, Adams are all still at the club. If we lose a few of these before the start of the season then I'll reconsider but for now, I think we only really need a handful of well thought through signings to give us a competitive squad.

Yes, Pressley was talking about wanting to bring young players through the academy, but the question is, was he intending to have to push so many through so quickly?

We can all guess, but what we do know is that;

1. 6 players have been told they can leave.

2. We are under a transfer embargo, so cannot sign any players.

Pressley was talking about targets and is now talking about youth players. Whether the two things are in anyway linked we can only surmise.

We don't know if he really rates these lads or whether he is forced into pushing them through early.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It's not like Pressley's changed his tune though is it? Right from his first interview he was talking about wanting to bring young players through the academy. He pushed a 15 year old into the first team at Falkirk so this isn't necessarily a 'make do and mend' type solution.

It's also been suggested by him that we're going to make signings of more experienced players to fill out the squad, not just rely on youth. Sure, we're in an embargo, but we were last season as well and signed tons of players. Ok, they were mostly shit but the point still stands.

I agree with Sky Blue Taylor, the comparisons to the relegation season are, at the moment anyway, tenuous. In 2011/12 we lost some of our star performers from the previous season in Westwood, Turner, King, Juke, and Gunnarsson. Now, our better players from last year are still here. Clarke, Baker, Murphy, Christie, Adams are all still at the club. If we lose a few of these before the start of the season then I'll reconsider but for now, I think we only really need a handful of well thought through signings to give us a competitive squad.

Yes Sutty but you've got to ask who's going to want to join a club with so much off field turmoil on the same or less money being offered by a stable club in the same division. If we stay at the Ricoh I think we should be about competitive with similar attendances to last season. If we don't it could well be disaster.