Might a couple more quality signings...... (1 Viewer)

davebart said:

really? Do you mean in terms of the opposition we are likely to meet? or that we would have been better off trying to avoid relegation with the current squad?

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Give me a better idea what you are asking and I will answer you.

Last season we had nearly half a team of academy lads without experience. We have all of these still other than Bigi. They now have experience. We have lost Fatwood. We have lost a few other players, but have replaced them with quality signings for the division we are in.

Having a better squad does not say our opponents are better, worse or the same. We have added some good midfielders, one of which can also play LB, a position we needed to strengthen. By the sound of it there are also more players about to join us.

Or are you saying we have a worse squad than at the start of last season when our 1st team got ripped apart before the start of the season?

You seem to have answered my question perfectly.

I understand your thinking. Lets hope our stay in Div 1 is a short one.

froeinger number 2, jennings and keogh staying is enough for me

although waggot made out that next few weeks will be jsut as busy? maybe even more signings? another striker?

Looking interesting if Keogh stays

-------------Murphy---------------
Clarke Keogh Malaga Hussey
------Jennings--- Kilbane--------
Elliott-------Fleck-----McSheffrey
-----------McDonald---------------

oh man im so giddy for start of this season

honeymoon is making me miss games 2-5 though argh!

will sign up to sky blue world...missus can take a back seat!

pretty sure Wood will get the nod over Malaga in that team

Malaga over Wood for me any day. I realise I've seen nothing of Malaga yet, but I have no reason to doubt his ability. Wood has also had major fitness problems, and I just don't rate his footballing ability.

AFCCOVENTRY said:

Looking interesting if Keogh stays

-------------Murphy---------------
Clarke Keogh Malaga Hussey
-/----Jennings--- Kilbane-----\--
Fleck----McSheffrey-----Elliott\
--\--------McDonald---------/-----

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That's my version with arrows to reflect Elliott going narrow and Hussey overlapping most of the full-backs with Kilbane dropping in to cover and Elliott more likely to graft than Fleck on the other flank. It's probably a bit offensive for away, but with our defence-IF Keogh stays-it should cope. Not sure the midfield balance is right either-I think I prefer:

---------------Murphy-----------
Clarke--Keogh--Malaga--Hussey\
/Fleck\--Deegan-Jennings-Kilbane\
(Free \ ---------Sheff-----------
role) \-------Cody-------------


A narrow 442/433 with the CM's the deeper platform and Kilbane allowed to come narrower with Hussey breaking outside him and Sheff as a slightly withdrawn striker drifting to the left. Fleck provisionally on the right but with licence to roam with Clarke exploiting space and Deegan doing graft between them. Baker as impact sub or cover for Fleck, Elliott likewise and cover for Sheff or Cody.

It's partly prompted by a concern that we're "doing an Adams" and signing a squad overloaded with left-footed players! Elliott, Jennings and Kilbane are all left-footers, which slightly imbalances the midfield.

It'll all be pointless when we sell 2 and sign 1 before the big kick off!

Nonleagueherewecome said:

Malaga over Wood for me any day. I realise I've seen nothing of Malaga yet, but I have no reason to doubt his ability. Wood has also had major fitness problems, and I just don't rate his footballing ability.

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no offense, but thats MENTAL !

Wood had a bad season with injurries last season, yet history shows he is far from having "fitness problems". Also a leader and more than capable at this level.

To be honest, not sure its an arguement we need to have, it will prob be Wood and Malaga anyway, as Keogh will be off

Nonleagueherewecome said:

Malaga over Wood for me any day. I realise I've seen nothing of Malaga yet, but I have no reason to doubt his ability. Wood has also had major fitness problems, and I just don't rate his footballing ability.

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Major fitness problems? Practically an ever present for every team until last season. Played 90 more gameds than Cranie and they are a similar age.

Does it matter if a player is left footed and playing in the middle of the pitch?

OK then, last season he had major fitness problems. This season follows last, so if we are talking about this season, it's the most relevant area of his career record at this moment in time. I believe he wasn't fully fit at the start of pre-season? And even if he is, I think he's a donkey of a defender whose good-Championship level wages would be better invested elsewhere in the squad. I'll take a bit of Gallic caress over Yorkshire hoof every time, and given that Thorn has spoken about him being comfortable on the ball, that already an asset he has that Wood sure as hell doesn't. And it's not exactly like Malaga is a short-arse, so we don't lose height in the team.

ccfcway said:

no offense, but thats MENTAL !

Wood had a bad season with injurries last season, yet history shows he is far from having "fitness problems". Also a leader and more than capable at this level.

To be honest, not sure its an arguement we need to have, it will prob be Wood and Malaga anyway, as Keogh will be off

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Sorry, Wood was good with McPake under Coleman, but other than that spell has been utter bollocks in a CCFC shirt. Just don't rate him. Cameron over Wood for me!

Astute said:

Does it matter if a player is left footed and playing in the middle of the pitch?

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Ideally you want in a 4:

Right-Right-Left-Left.

If you only have a two, in the middle, it's:

Left-Left.

That's the long answer: short answer, yes! More so in midfield.

Nonleagueherewecome said:

OK then, last season he had major fitness problems. This season follows last, so if we are talking about this season, it's the most relevant area of his career record at this moment in time. I believe he wasn't fully fit at the start of pre-season? And even if he is, I think he's a donkey of a defender whose good-Championship level wages would be better invested elsewhere in the squad. I'll take a bit of Gallic caress over Yorkshire hoof every time, and given that Thorn has spoken about him being comfortable on the ball, that already an asset he has that Wood sure as hell doesn't. And it's not exactly like Malaga is a short-arse, so we don't lose height in the team.

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You've never seen the French guy play but because thorn thinks he's good on the ball then that's that. I assume this is the same thorn that once proudly admitted signing Mcpake then would never play him even making a 17 year old play at right back and leaving him and wood on the bench.

Wood was fit at the start of the season he got injured at bury. I think you will find the previous season he played 40 games (I haven't checked) and our goals per game ratio defensively was better when he was in the team. As for distribution are you seriously saying Cranie was better? The guy couldn't make a pass to save his life and was horribly uncomfortable on the ball. As a full back he could defend bit once he ventured beyond the half way line it wasn't pleasant.

Nonleagueherewecome said:

It's partly prompted by a concern that we're "doing an Adams" and signing a squad overloaded with left-footed players! Elliott, Jennings and Kilbane are all left-footers, which slightly imbalances the midfield.

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And one of them can play LB, so don't understand the imbalance of midfield. It also gives extra cover on the left when the injuries/suspensions start

I worry about where all this money is coming from. I fear we are flying or dying this season.

SkyBlueUkeman said:

I worry about where all this money is coming from. I fear we are flying or dying this season.

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All those free transfers. Don't worry, we are hardly splashing the cash. It is sensible investment for once.

Now, a centre midfielder and a striker proven at this level and I am happy.

SkyBlueUkeman said:

I worry about where all this money is coming from. I fear we are flying or dying this season.

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Theres no guarentee ,but by my sums ,there are some going ,who for how much will determine how many.

SkyBlueUkeman said:

I worry about where all this money is coming from. I fear we are flying or dying this season.

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Fatwoods wages alone will have paid for 3 of them. Fleck has taken a paycut to come to us. There is a good chance it is in their contracys that they get payrises if we go up to help persuade them to sign.