Given the depth in the squad, and that Browne looked a useful stand in at RWB, I can only see that we’d need to bring anyone in if we have loanees recalled/sent back or a major injury crisis between now and then. Although I suppose we may have our eye on a prospect or two, a la Jellis, for next season.
I do feel DJ may be off though, either on loan or permanently, and I wouldn’t blame him.
Thoughts?
Interestingly, DJ seems to be in front of Cleary in the pecking order. I think if there was a genuinely good move for him we’d let him go, but I suspect he will stay around as a bit part player as he has been all season. He has still played his part when needed.
We just really need to keep Lowe, and not do anything daft like sell anyone and I am certain we will go up.
Another player to play the role Matt plays would be good, but I suspect Josh Gordon will be used (in a different way obviously) when he is fit.
If Lowe is off, I would like to think DJ could replace him given how he , according to Sadler, has knuckled down and worked hard on what Sadler wants from him.
As well as Flash, DJT could be in the mix again too. Neither of them, or DJ, is a direct replacement for Lowe, but it’s about the team/squad rather than just 1 player.
Firstly, let’s all hope Lowe is with us for the full season
Secondly, and not to be dismissive as his work rate was good last night but we just couldn’t finish (as a unit) - DJ is nowhere near an equivalent replacement for Lowe if we do lose him in Jan.
I think where Lowe has really benefitted from being here is playing with and learning from JM - he’s become a real handful for defenders and has the physicality, pace, guile and finishing skills to play at a much higher level.
I really want DJ to be part of a successful Saddlers team but with our current options and playing style, he’s not getting enough game time so if an offer came in for him, he may go simply to get more frequent starts…
Assuming we don’t lose anyone I would like to see another Matt style player brought in as I doubt he will go through the season uninjured.
If DJ was off, from a selfish point of view I’d only want to let him go to a NL side. He’s a goalscorer and I don’t want to give anyone in this league a helping hand.
I’d try to keep it exactly as it is though, no incomings and no outgoings!
Lowe will stay
Cleary will go back
We’ll sign Freddie Draper on loan
Not the first time you’ve mentioned Draper.
Know something?
Given the forward players that we have, it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t replace Lowe if he goes back tbh.
We still have:
Matt
DJ
DJT
Cleary
Josh
Uncle Albert (often plays up front)
That’s a good bunch for this level.
I think at least one of them will have to leave / go on loan in order to bring in another striker.
No don’t know anything, more of just what I’d like to happen.
Makes sense though, he can’t get into the Lincoln team, Lincoln will probably want a striker of their own signed in January.
They won’t loan him out to another team in League 1 and we have a good relationship with their staff from when he was here last year.
But we still might see him again. Wouldn’t surprise me if he went back out to a L2 team where he’ll get more regular play. I don’t think the stop/start is helping him. It took him a while to get up to speed yesterday, but improved late on.
Don’t think he’s a bad player, but he hasn’t been in a league matchday squad for over 2 months and has played 18 minutes of league football since Bradford at home.
I don’t agree.
Firstly, I don’t think Lowe will go back.
Let’s say he does, none of the above can do what Lowe does, not one of them can run in behind for a start, possibly Clearly but he doesn’t seem that type of player.
DJT, not for me, not now. We are in such a good position, this isn’t a time for gambles, these opportunities don’t come around that often. If the worst does happen and Lowe is recalled, we absolutely have to get the best possible replacement we can find, even if it costs a bit of money (we’ve made a fair bit from cups this season) Promotion is there if we want it, but if we piss about it could be a missed opportunity.
DJT is on loan at Drogheda until June, we may recall him in Jan, see how he goes, and send him back again, or he may well stay there.
I’m going to say something controversial here, but I don’t hugely rate Albert, undoubtedly he’ll be great to have around the dressing room, but he’s too wasteful at times, and loves to give away cheap and unnecessary fouls.
Which bit don’t you agree with Mark?
The only point that I was making was that we have a lot of forward options, and that if we lose Lowe, I’d be surprised if we replaced him without shipping out someone else.
I also think that Stoke will allow him to stay here, but who knows?
Like others have said Lowe is the one striker we really could do with keeping and it seems to me that it’s a perfect fit atm. He’s getting regular starts is in good form and alongside Jamma they are a great combination.
It’s good for him to be part of a team pushing hard for promotion too.
It must be frustrating for DJ because he brings something different which is a useful variable to have as an attacking option.
He looked off it last night but that’s understandable with the game time he gets but he was in the right place at the right time last night regardless of the chances he had earlier. I actually feel sorry for him because he’s done everything asked of him and still can’t get regular starts.
I hope we can keep him but wouldn’t be surprised if he moved on. The important thing for me is the competition for places, we have the likes of DJ skip, Weir and Hornby all very capable players who are finding it difficult to get into the side.
It wasn’t that long ago it seemed that once fit skip was a nailed on starter for his leadership qualities (and he’s a brilliant captain) but it tells you something about the strength in depth we have when he’s on the bench.
People saying if Lowe goes we need to bring someone in (replace him ) harder said then done ,goal scorer’s like him just not about, a rare commodity and I don’t think we will be front of the queue if one is .Draper not same player as Lowe more a Jamma type .if Lowe goes back his goals and all round play will be hard to replace .not gonna be easy .personally think he’ll be here after January.
It wasn’t really, you said you wouldn’t be surprised and hinted at least that what we have got would be good enough. I don’t agree with that.
Also, DJT isn’t even with us we would have to actively recall him (I wouldn’t personally) Cleary looks more like a development loan, hardly been picked even on the bench, playing for WBA reserves.
Josh Gordon, if he comes back from his injury okay he can do a job but not the one Lowe does that’s for sure.
DJ, I am still a big fan of DJ, but I wouldn’t want to rely on him as Lowe’s replacement.
Uncle Albert is never a forward in this world.
We have plenty of options but are any of them good enough to get the job done?
Ah right. I said that I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t replace him if he went back, not that I thought he would.
My other thought was that we have a lot of forward options (quantity) for a L2 club. Some aren’t even in the matchday squad.