No More Signings (1 Viewer)

[dongonzalos]

Was hoping for a bit more shuffling around with K. Thomas moving on and RCC going out on loan.
I was also hoping for one of Willis or Stevenson to be sold, or maybe both.

However with the money we have received from George and Cian. Plus the wages freed up from......

G.Thomas
Cian Harries
Bigi
Foley
Gadchev
Nathan Clarke
Tudguy
Lameries
Rose
Finch
Spence
Whitmore
Turnball (partial)
Reid (partial)

I must admit I was expecting a better quality striker to be signed on top of what we have be it a freebie or a loanee.

 

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[johnwillomagic]

We have a huge squad for league two in comparison to most teams fact! The same idiots who said we need a 50 man squad in league one.....are actually at it again for even though we are now in League 2! A squad of 25 is more than adequate and we have 33!! People need to be given time to settle in just as people were getting carried away after two wins people are now going the other way after two defeats......I trust Robins to get it right .....it is a 46 game season there is a long way to go.....

We need to lose some players to get more in that cannot be that hard for people to accept now surely???

 

[Nick]

We have a huge squad for league two in comparison to most teams fact! The same idiots who said we need a 50 man squad in league one.....are actually at it again for even though we are now in League 2! A squad of 25 is more than adequate and we have 33!! People need to be given time to settle in just as people were getting carried away after two wins people are now going the other way after two defeats......I trust Robins to get it right .....it is a 46 game season there is a long way to go.....

We need to lose some players to get more in that cannot be that hard for people to accept now surely???

People don't understand that.

 

[Evo1883]

Desperately need a target man

 

[dongonzalos]

We have a huge squad for league two in comparison to most teams fact! The same idiots who said we need a 50 man squad in league one.....are actually at it again for even though we are now in League 2! A squad of 25 is more than adequate and we have 33!! People need to be given time to settle in just as people were getting carried away after two wins people are now going the other way after two defeats......I trust Robins to get it right .....it is a 46 game season there is a long way to go.....

We need to lose some players to get more in that cannot be that hard for people to accept now surely???

Which 9 players would you move on so one more can come into the 25?

 

[ccfcway]

People don't understand that.

most do, a handful don't. Same way most people think we should persist with O'Brien, but "people" want him dropped

 

[dongonzalos]

People don't understand that.

Which bit?.....

That our squad is too big?
That someone has to move before someone comes in?
Or
The squad is ok and people just need time to settle?

 

[johnwillomagic]

I am happy with a few players over the 25 players - however if I had to move on nine and get some money as questioned would go.
Some of those listed are still on our books which means we are probably playing some of there wages

RCC, Willis, Stevenson, Maycock, Turnbull, Reid, Devon Kelly Evans, Beavon

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

We have a huge squad for league two in comparison to most teams fact! The same idiots who said we need a 50 man squad in league one.....are actually at it again for even though we are now in League 2! A squad of 25 is more than adequate and we have 33!! People need to be given time to settle in just as people were getting carried away after two wins people are now going the other way after two defeats......I trust Robins to get it right .....it is a 46 game season there is a long way to go.....

We need to lose some players to get more in that cannot be that hard for people to accept now surely???

As mentioned above, a very large percentage of those 33 will not feature this year. They are names in the squad but to all intents and purposes they might as well not be there for all the first team game time they are likely to get, particularly in the league.

 

[johnwillomagic]

That may be true but we have them and we will be paying them they don't turn up out of love - if we have no intention of using them we let them go.
Or people accept that having this large a squad means no more unless some are moved on.

 

[steve82]

It amazes me how people can watch football all their lives and not have a clue what is actually unfolding before their eyes. McNulty is a striker who hasn't played regularly for a while, snatched at a couple of half chances and is clearly lacking a bit of composure which comes with confidence, whilst simultaneously playing in a team with two central midfielders who have barely strayed 5 yards from the back 4 and has had the majority of passes to him lumped long. And because of that, people want us to sign either a lump to deal with that shit we're throwing forward or a mythical 20 goal a season striker who's going to score with every touch. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, it's the tactics we need to get right with the players at our disposal. Robins has had a look at almost all our core squad in these first 5 games now and should still be learning about them with each game. He should have learned that Nazon isn't a wide player, Andreu isn't match fit and needs players with movement and a brain around him to excel, Biamou isn't ready yet, McNulty is a 9 not a 10, our centre mid pairing won't work most games etc. He needs to put those jigsaw pieces together and we will start playing better. Beavon will start looking better too if we actually start playing through the middle - he works hard and pulls defenders about, which is of limited use when playing big crosses or long balls into the box.

Completely agree with vast amounts of that. Beavon although not a natural goal scorer works from the front for the 3 behind to reap the benefits as long as we stop lumping silly balls to him, he's not that type of forward.

McNulty will come good, his movement is good enough but in a 4231 it's him or Beavon as Andreu is our natural 10. I've not been to disappointed with McNulty in the 10 to be honest but I'd favour Andreu.

However If we're suggesting nazon is a more central player too then we've a squad imbalance with a lack of natural wide players and too many central forward players to occupy the no 9 and no 10 roles.

 

[Hobo]

Was hoping for a bit more shuffling around with K. Thomas moving on and RCC going out on loan.
I was also hoping for one of Willis or Stevenson to be sold, or maybe both.

However with the money we have received from George and Cian. Plus the wages freed up from......

G.Thomas
Cian Harries
Bigi
Foley
Gadchev
Nathan Clarke
Tudguy
Lameries
Rose
Finch
Spence
Whitmore
Turnball (partial)
Reid (partial)

I must admit I was expecting a better quality striker to be signed on top of what we have be it a freebie or a loanee.

Who is this striker?

 

[steve82]

We have a huge squad for league two in comparison to most teams fact! The same idiots who said we need a 50 man squad in league one.....are actually at it again for even though we are now in League 2! A squad of 25 is more than adequate and we have 33!! People need to be given time to settle in just as people were getting carried away after two wins people are now going the other way after two defeats......I trust Robins to get it right .....it is a 46 game season there is a long way to go.....

We need to lose some players to get more in that cannot be that hard for people to accept now surely???

Problem is having a vast amount of youth players that have been promoted to the senior set up in the last 2 years, well I say problem it's a luxury to have at this level but it's inflating the numbers.

Take them away and in reality we've around 20/22 that are genuinely competing for the match day squad and that's with 3 senior keepers.

 

[Esoterica]

Completely agree with vast amounts of that. Beavon although not a natural goal scorer works from the front for the 3 behind to reap the benefits as long as we stop lumping silly balls to him, he's not that type of forward.

McNulty will come good, his movement is good enough but in a 4231 it's him or Beavon as Andreu is our natural 10. I've not been to disappointed with McNulty in the 10 to be honest but I'd favour Andreu.

However If we're suggesting nazon in a more central player too then we've a squad imbalance with a lack of natural wide players and too many central forward players to occupy the no 9 and no 10 roles.

I really meant Nazon's not a wide midfielder, I do think Nazon could play as wide of an outright front three though. He reminds me a bit of Ndlovu, which sounds silly because their physique are total opposites but I mean it in the way that he just gets the ball and wants to run at players without really knowing what he's going to do next. He's got the ability to beat a player but that's much more intimidating against the last line of defence than it is from wide midfield and as it's a skill that comes with various degrees of success it was more danger to us than the opposition on Saturday - a) even if he beat the first man there was another layer behind and often they had men over because their midfield had no-one to mark due to the depth of Doyle/Kelly b) it left us open to very quick counter attacks a few times when he failed to beat his man from left midfield.

Personally, as I said yesterday on the Yeovil match thread, I'd like to see Andreu play in midfield with Doyle so that we've got actually got a midfield to play through and 20 yards higher up the pitch. I'd then play Nazon in a free role at 10 and just let him wander about across their back line, taking players on. The teams we've played in the last couple of games have been very organised and well drilled - I don't think they'd have a clue what to do with a player like him doing what he likes high up the pitch and it's very hard to double up on a player who has no fixed position. Andreu would then have space centrally to arrive late into and no team can afford to double up on Nazon AND JJ which has happened since his hattrick. When he's knackered after 70 mins bring Beavon on who will continue to stretch a now tired defence already 3-0 down No problem to bring Kelly on to play with Doyle either when already winning well or to swap him direct for Doyle if not, and Biamou can get a a go at 9 in a team actually playing football. The key to all of it though is the midfield playing higher.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

I really meant Nazon's not a wide midfielder, I do think Nazon could play as wide of an outright front three though. He reminds me a bit of Ndlovu, which sounds silly because their physique are total opposites but I mean it in the way that he just gets the ball and wants to run at players without really knowing what he's going to do next. He's got the ability to beat a player but that's much more intimidating against the last line of defence than it is from wide midfield and as it's a skill that comes with various degrees of success it was more danger to us than the opposition on Saturday - a) even if he beat the first man there was another layer behind and often they had men over because their midfield had no-one to mark due to the depth of Doyle/Kelly b) it left us open to very quick counter attacks a few times when he failed to beat his man from left midfield.

Personally, as I said yesterday on the Yeovil match thread, I'd like to see Andreu play in midfield with Doyle so that we've got actually got a midfield to play through and 20 yards higher up the pitch. I'd then play Nazon in a free role at 10 and just let him wander about across their back line, taking players on. The teams we've played in the last couple of games have been very organised and well drilled - I don't think they'd have a clue what to do with a player like him doing what he likes high up the pitch and it's very hard to double up on a player who has no fixed position. Andreu would then have space centrally to arrive late into and no team can afford to double up on Nazon AND JJ which has happened since his hattrick. When he's knackered after 70 mins bring Beavon on who will continue to stretch a now tired defence already 3-0 down No problem to bring Kelly on to play with Doyle either when already winning well or to swap him direct for Doyle if not, and Biamou can get a a go at 9 in a team actually playing football. The key to all of it though is the midfield playing higher.

Interesting comments , you'd make a good football manager or coach !

 

[Esoterica]

Interesting comments , you'd make a good football manager or coach !

I'm more Special Brew than Special One.

 

[steve82]

I really meant Nazon's not a wide midfielder, I do think Nazon could play as wide of an outright front three though. He reminds me a bit of Ndlovu, which sounds silly because their physique are total opposites but I mean it in the way that he just gets the ball and wants to run at players without really knowing what he's going to do next. He's got the ability to beat a player but that's much more intimidating against the last line of defence than it is from wide midfield and as it's a skill that comes with various degrees of success it was more danger to us than the opposition on Saturday - a) even if he beat the first man there was another layer behind and often they had men over because their midfield had no-one to mark due to the depth of Doyle/Kelly b) it left us open to very quick counter attacks a few times when he failed to beat his man from left midfield.

Personally, as I said yesterday on the Yeovil match thread, I'd like to see Andreu play in midfield with Doyle so that we've got actually got a midfield to play through and 20 yards higher up the pitch. I'd then play Nazon in a free role at 10 and just let him wander about across their back line, taking players on. The teams we've played in the last couple of games have been very organised and well drilled - I don't think they'd have a clue what to do with a player like him doing what he likes high up the pitch and it's very hard to double up on a player who has no fixed position. Andreu would then have space centrally to arrive late into and no team can afford to double up on Nazon AND JJ which has happened since his hattrick. When he's knackered after 70 mins bring Beavon on who will continue to stretch a now tired defence already 3-0 down No problem to bring Kelly on to play with Doyle either when already winning well or to swap him direct for Doyle if not, and Biamou can get a a go at 9 in a team actually playing football. The key to all of it though is the midfield playing higher.

Fair comments, seems you've thought about what your saying and not ranting... so fair dues.

Unfortunately Yeovil was the first game I've missed this year so I cannot really comment too much on highlights and listening to Geoff and Clive and id rather not join the "I didn't go today, but... " brigade so I cannot comment on how deep we were or to much tactically or how nazon was.

In the Blackburn game I thought his decision making was poor and held onto the ball too long at times when Devon Kelly-Evans was in useful positions. Nazon is young tho and on loan here to get rid of those traits unfortunately.

On Andreu I'd much rather him in the 10 he's got a eye for goal and went close Saturday I think if I recall? Kelly and Doyle is a new partnership and in the first 2 games carried each other well, I think that partnership will come good.

Biamou isn't ready yet, hopefully some game time tomorrow will help out that rather than 10/20 mins chasing a game.
Ironic he's the 6th oldest player in the side tho at 26 and shows how young as a side we are still and still naive at times.

I feel we should be far nastier in our play.

 

[rupert_bear]

It isn't so much new players we need more the players we have being set up and playing the right way

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I said weeks ago that the squad was to big and full of players that are no use, we have signed players to play in the under 23' and have players who will only play in them I don't give a shit if we win the under 23 league it's what the first team do that matters. I would try get at least 8 out of the door and replace with two players for the first team. Start by clearing two keepers out you don't need four, I would also sit Beavon down an explain to him that he is a striker and if he just wants to run around take up athletics.

 

[Esoterica]

I said weeks ago that the squad was to big and full of players that are no use, we have signed players to play in the under 23' and have players who will only play in them I don't give a shit if we win the under 23 league it's what the first team do that matters. I would try get at least 8 out of the door and replace with two players for the first team. Start by clearing two keepers out you don't need four, I would also sit Beavon down an explain to him that he is a striker and if he just wants to run around take up athletics.

You're basically advocating doing away with the top layer of our academy. It's a very short term view, almost SISUesque The players that make it out from the academy will be what keep us going in the post SISU world in the same way they've kept us going in the last 5 years. Being in and around the first team aids their development and a club with a successful academy that values it's players and offers chances will attract players that might normally have gone to clubs in a better place than us right now. It's one of the few areas of pride left in the club.

 

[Nick]

Problem is having a vast amount of youth players that have been promoted to the senior set up in the last 2 years, well I say problem it's a luxury to have at this level but it's inflating the numbers.

Take them away and in reality we've around 20/22 that are genuinely competing for the match day squad and that's with 3 senior keepers.

Surely teams like Crewe will still be feeding youngsters through? Some teams will be relying them even more than we are in League 2.

Some won't have the Luxury of having a centre midfield of Doyle and Kelly, Stevenson on the bench and then Vincenti and Andreu who could slot in. They will be having to have their Shipleys and Maycocks on the bench.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

You're basically advocating doing away with the top layer of our academy. It's a very short term view, almost SISUesque The players that make it out from the academy will be what keep us going in the post SISU world in the same way they've kept us going in the last 5 years. Being in and around the first team aids their development and a club with a successful academy that values it's players and offers chances will attract players that might normally have gone to clubs in a better place than us right now. It's one of the few areas of pride left in the club.

Some of the players that came through the academy the year before last are no nearer the first team than me we have players called Sayoud, Maycock and Shipley these players should be pushing hard for the first team or not here.

The group that have just come through are useful, the main objective should be promotion from this terrible league and nothing else.

 

[Nick]

Some of the players that came through the academy the year before last are no nearer the first team than me we have players called Sayoud, Maycock and Shipley these players should be pushing hard for the first team or not here.

The group that have just come through are useful, the main objective should be promotion from this terrible league and nothing else.

Stevenson is only on the bench though, even DKE is struggling to make the matchday squad now.

I haven't seen enough of Maycock and Shipley and still think Sayoud is a made up person to be able to form an opinion. We do need to stop having the Jack Finch type players lurking about for years now, we aren't Chelsea who can collect players like football stickers.

 

[Adge]

You're basically advocating doing away with the top layer of our academy. It's a very short term view, almost SISUesque The players that make it out from the academy will be what keep us going in the post SISU world in the same way they've kept us going in the last 5 years. Being in and around the first team aids their development and a club with a successful academy that values it's players and offers chances will attract players that might normally have gone to clubs in a better place than us right now. It's one of the few areas of pride left in the club.

But in reality in why we find ourselves in the situation we are in due to non investment and these "kids" being thrown under the bus too early when they are clearly not ready and in more cases than not, not really up to the job anyway.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Stevenson is only on the bench though, even DKE is struggling to make the matchday squad now.

I haven't seen enough of Maycock and Shipley and still think Sayoud is a made up person to be able to form an opinion. We do need to stop having the Jack Finch type players lurking about for years now, we aren't Chelsea who can collect players like football stickers.

If these players can't get into this team in the bottom league then football isn't right for them, I think the Kelly Evans full back has been harshly treated he has always performed well when I have seen him.

Don't mention Jack Finch again what a useless piece of shit he was

 

[oucho]

Really? How many teams can do that in l2?

I just think we need a senior squad if 22 not including the likes of Ponticelli, Maycock, Devon, Camwell, Shipley etc. 2 seniors to cover each position, so we are short of a CM since we pick 2 and only have one as cover.

 

[Nick]

I just think we need a senior squad if 22 not including the likes of Ponticelli, Maycock, Devon, Camwell, Shipley etc. 2 seniors to cover each position, so we are short of a CM since we pick 2 and only have one as cover.

That's where you have players that can pretty much play in 2 positions to help out.

You can't have 2 senior CMs like Doyle and Kelly and then another 2 senior CM's on standby before you get to Stevenson, Maycock, Shipley. That's madness.

We do mostly have 2 players for each position, but some of it means players being able to cover in different positions if needed. ie Pearson can come on at right back or centre half.

 

[oucho]

That's where you have players that can pretty much play in 2 positions to help out.

You can't have 2 senior CMs like Doyle and Kelly and then another 2 senior CM's on standby.

But if you use players from elsewhere in the squad, you're not picking specialists in the role. You're also removing cover from other positions.

 

[Nick]

But if you use players from elsewhere in the squad, you're not picking specialists in the role. You're also removing cover from other positions.

The only way to do that would be to not bother with the youngsters at all.

To draft in 2 another specific CM now rather than use Andreu or Vincente would mean we would have way too many CM's on the books. Most of which aren't anywhere near actually playing.

 

[oucho]

The only way to do that would be to not bother with the youngsters at all.

To draft in 2 another specific CM now rather than use Andreu or Vincente would mean we would have way too many CM's on the books. Most of which aren't anywhere near actually playing.

We"d be weak and vulnerable if we had two pick one of those as a CM. I do think a lot of our struggles in recent years has been due to not having sufficient cover for key positions...can't throw kids in, look how the likes of C Thomas, Finch and Maycock have struggled when the manager threw them in due to sheer necessity

 

[Bristol sky blue]

I really meant Nazon's not a wide midfielder, I do think Nazon could play as wide of an outright front three though. He reminds me a bit of Ndlovu, which sounds silly because their physique are total opposites but I mean it in the way that he just gets the ball and wants to run at players without really knowing what he's going to do next. He's got the ability to beat a player but that's much more intimidating against the last line of defence than it is from wide midfield and as it's a skill that comes with various degrees of success it was more danger to us than the opposition on Saturday - a) even if he beat the first man there was another layer behind and often they had men over because their midfield had no-one to mark due to the depth of Doyle/Kelly b) it left us open to very quick counter attacks a few times when he failed to beat his man from left midfield.

Personally, as I said yesterday on the Yeovil match thread, I'd like to see Andreu play in midfield with Doyle so that we've got actually got a midfield to play through and 20 yards higher up the pitch. I'd then play Nazon in a free role at 10 and just let him wander about across their back line, taking players on. The teams we've played in the last couple of games have been very organised and well drilled - I don't think they'd have a clue what to do with a player like him doing what he likes high up the pitch and it's very hard to double up on a player who has no fixed position. Andreu would then have space centrally to arrive late into and no team can afford to double up on Nazon AND JJ which has happened since his hattrick. When he's knackered after 70 mins bring Beavon on who will continue to stretch a now tired defence already 3-0 down No problem to bring Kelly on to play with Doyle either when already winning well or to swap him direct for Doyle if not, and Biamou can get a a go at 9 in a team actually playing football. The key to all of it though is the midfield playing higher.

Agree, great post.
Yeovil panicked on a few occasions when the Duck just ran at them (was cynically hacked down from behind for a well deserved yellow at one point) and we saw what he can do briefly in the first game. A free role would be ideal for him and it would create space for others.
Spot on about the midfield needing to play higher.

 

[Nick]

We"d be weak and vulnerable if we had two pick one of those as a CM. I do think a lot of our struggles in recent years has been due to not having sufficient cover for key positions...can't throw kids in, look how the likes of C Thomas, Finch and Maycock have struggled when the manager threw them in due to sheer necessity

I don't think we would be weak if Kelly got injured and we had to chuck Andreu in with Doyle at CM. If anything we would do better because Andreu could play CM but a bit more advanced and link the play up a bit compared to having 2 defensive midfielders.

Yes if there's a major outbreak and Doyle, Kelly, Andreu, Stevenson, Vincente all got injured and we had to play Shipley and Maycock it would be a worry.

 

[mark82]

The striker situation concerns me a bit. We don't seem to have a natural goalscorer. But, if the budget is spent, we will have to make it work with what we have. A bounce back win at the weekend and things will start to be forgotten. Still believe our squad is better than last year's.

 

[thekidfromstrettoncamp]

Said a month ago although people on here were saying recruitment was going well I did not think so I did not see any improvement in the overall squad from last year .Questioned the striking dept. no use having the ones we have on our books without having a "James Collin's" type player could nick a goal when your under pressure and change the whole complex of a game . Agree on playing to too deep don't create chances or score goal as the old saying goes "attack is the best form of defence".

 

[mark82]

Said a month ago although people on here were saying recruitment was going well I did not think so I did not see any improvement in the overall squad from last year .Questioned the striking dept. no use having the ones we have on our books without having a "James Collin's" type player could nick a goal when your under pressure and change the whole complex of a game . Agree on playing to too deep don't create chances or score goal as the old saying goes "attack is the best form of defence".

I think he's recruited well on the whole. McNulty has scored goals in the past but seems rusty or maybe we aren't playing a style that suits him. It could be that Kwame Thomas or Ponticelli are the answer, as they seem to be doing well in the under 23s, however, we won't know until they are given a chance.