OK, it's not even Christmas yet - but I'm already thinking that the players we gain or lose in January will decide the rest of our season and possibly even the future of the club.
Is that too dramatic - No, I don't think so.
My opinion is that we are heading for League 2 unless we strengthen, this could have long term impact on the club, so we need to fix it this time in January. It worries me as the club has a poor record in recent Januarys.
I actually wouldn’t do too much – for me it’s about sorting out a few key issues and replacing a few players that simply are not good enough.
We do though need to get the best out of the players we have – but I’m assuming Warne will stay. I’d love 10 of us to take him out for a pint and give him better advice than he’s getting from whoever is at the club around him just now.
I’m assuming Moore goes, I think in his head maybe he’s already gone as he’s lost his Mojo since the club have made it clear they’d love to keep him – but only if he’s available for 50p.
Other players that can go for me : Mattock, Rodak, JCH
So who would you bring in – what positions or players ?
For me – the most pressing position to get a quality player in is left back. Since Scarz was allowed to go (too soon) this has been a problem position.
Secondly, one, maybe two centre backs – currently we can’t defend any decent cross or set piece.
I don’t think we are that bad in midfield or on the flanks.
Up front – If we could get Proctor back that would be a great plus – but failing that we need a striker to replace Moore. So someone to play alongside Ball.
Goalkeeper to replace Rodak - he just cannot catch a cross and makes the defence nervous and unsure. Or play O'Donnell instead and stick with him. Striker to replace Moore obviously as we won't get keeping him.
Really I don't think we need that any. Goal Keeper, a Left Back, 2 Centre Backs, decent back up Right Back, replacement for Frecklington for when he gets injured again, replacement for Moore, JCH, Taylor, Matock. Oh and a decent tactician
Other than that we don't look bad once the ball hits the deck
I have got a list longer than any I ever made as a child.
Moore is leaving. That is a fact.
O'Donnell is probably a good back up keeper. He is the best we have got at the minute. Price is too error prone. I don't know why we got Rodak. Waste of a signing. Our defenders are nervy enough without having to worry about whether Rodak is going to stick or twist. So Price can go and Rodak can go back to being Fulham's third choice, and we need a new keeper tp compete with O'Donnell.
***mings and Emmanuel - neither offers anything on the ball or going forwards. ***mings is marginally the better defender. The Wigan right-back Byrne gave a masterclass yesterday - one of the best players I have seen at the NYS this season. We need strengthening at right back but not a priority.
Left back. When Mattock concentrates he is ok. I thought he was actually probably our best player yesterday. But in the medium term he isn't the answer. He knocks off defensively on occasion. I wouldn't have given him a new deal. Purrington hasn't yet convinced me that he is better than Mattock. Same as right back - left back we need strengthening but not a priority.
Centre backs. I haven;t seen enough of Oniarise but assuming he isn't ready yet we have three to choose from. I think Warne retained Wood in the belief that Ajayi and Ihiekwe might be the first choice pairing with Wood as solid back up and good to have around the place. In fact although he hasn't torn any trees up, Wood has been the best of the bunch. Playing Ihiekwe and Ajayi together would be suicidal. Ihiekwe has been marginally better. There might still be hope for him. Ajayi has been a massive disappointment. For his size he is poor in the air and he seems to make at least one very bad mistake per game resulting in a goal against. On the basis that this must be Wood's last season, two new centre backs are needed and this is an absolute priority.
Centre-midfield. Potter has to do more. We can't have a player in there purely to patrol in front of the back four and play five yard passes. For me, he doesn't win enough ball or cover enough ground, and he doesn't seem to be vocal enough. Vaulks I don't really rate at all I am afraid. I would keep him but only as utility cover, but if he is ever in the starting eleven it can only be as cover. Frecks just isn't the player he was. Towell is a good attacking option. At some point we need to give Wiles a go.
Wide players. We miss Taylor's pace and energy although he often disappoints with end product. Williams is a confidence player - on his day he can cause havoc in opposition defences but on a bad day his head drop quickly. Newell is a good player when he is interested. Forde to my mind would do a decent job in the Conference or whatever it is called these days and that is his level. Bray - where is he?
Strikers. JCH needs to move on for the sake of his own career. Yates just hasn't cut it. Needs to go out on loan and see if he can score regularly in League Two. David Ball is a good player but he isntt someone to run channels and feed off flick-ons. Proctor - such a shame he got that injury.
For me given an ideal world there are only a handful I would keep. Forgetting the loan players, the only permanent players I would be keen to keep would be :-
O'Donnell as number 2 keeper. Wood to the end of this season. Williams Newell (just) Wiles (for his potential) David Ball
I would like to keep Moore and Towell if we can.
The rest, for various reasons not fussed.
The priorities in January given that we are probably only going to be able to do limited business would be:-
1. A keeper 2. A good centre back 3. A striker with real pace to stretch defences and run channels
-- Edited by smiler on Sunday 26th of November 2017 03:10:00 PM
We must not forget that many of these are Warne signings so what confidence can we have of him signing better replacements ? Still makes my blood boil that Warne got the job in front of potentially available candidates (at the time)such as Graham Alexander,Nathan Jones and Gareth Ainsworth,all three of whom will probably get their teams promoted this season !
We must not forget that many of these are Warne signings so what confidence can we have of him signing better replacements ? Still makes my blood boil that Warne got the job in front of potentially available candidates (at the time)such as Graham Alexander,Nathan Jones and Gareth Ainsworth,all three of whom will probably get their teams promoted this season !
don't forget Hursty.... we are surely a bigger club than Shrewsbury and he has them flying...
Goalkeeper to replace Rodak - he just cannot catch a cross and makes the defence nervous and unsure. Or play O'Donnell instead and stick with him. Striker to replace Moore obviously as we won't get keeping him.
Goalkeeper to replace Rodak - he just cannot catch a cross and makes the defence nervous and unsure. Or play O'Donnell instead and stick with him. Striker to replace Moore obviously as we won't get keeping him.
A proper goalkeeping coach !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yep i have heard from a very good source that pollitt doesn't do any post match evaluation with the goalie
defensive coach as our defense is **** poor
get dom ball back and see if he can be any better
defensive midfielder with a vision as potter as gone form as gone like wet clay
striker
if we lose our next two games a new manAger ass manager gk coach and hamshaw
cos we are on freefall hope im wrong but a win against bristol rover plymOTH AND mk dons only papers over the cracks create by the one and only tony ( i dont know much about football) stewart. well get someone in.
if you need a plumber to install central heating do get an recommended expert in which will cost but will work. or do it on cheap with a bloke who fixed his leaking tap do it yourself and end up either way cold probably in divorce courts
also can they get tech guy in to sort and the audio and visual sync for the big screen so we dont get the visual delay we are currently experiencing
