I think I agree with Sads when he described the squad as being in ‘rude health’.
Personally I think although the recruitment is almost done it wouldn’t surprise me if we still made a couple of additions and I’d be prioritising the wing back positions as I think they are so important to a successful 3-5-2 formation and there are questions to be answered by the current incumbents in those positions and particularly their final ball and ability to contribute necessary assists.
Seeing Foulkes on Friday, I feel like he is a defensive RB, rather than a RWB. Maybe he just needs a bit of confidence to go forward. In the first half Knowles was so lost at RWB. Him and Priestly were all over the place in terms of marking. Really need a specialist RWB
A sort of ‘satisfactory’ recruitment then if true we are nearly done.
The first 50% of the recruitment was really good - then second half of the recruitment has been really underwhelming.
Mid table mediocrity incoming. I don’t think we will struggle, but I don’t think we will score enough either.
Yeah I was disappointed in Preistly.
Do we all really think wing backs of Gordon and Knowles are going to be effective and fire us up the league ?
Also, I really haven’t seen a massive difference between what we’ve witnessed the last 4 years. Especially in the first half against Rochdale, I genuinely don’t think you could tell a massive difference between the D.C. teams, MT and Flynn. There were still a lot of long balls, and Channel balls, and not really an effective transition through the thirds. It improved when Stirk came on, but the other gaping hole is the number 8 position. We need a ‘marquee’ signing in there, and we will be a lot more dominating.
I didn’t see an attacking, aggressive, front foot style on display against Rochdale. Let’s see if we can muster up something better agains Solihull. You’d expect the starting 11 will be the same for when we kick off against Morecambe.
Great tackler and good in the air but maybe they just need time to get a partnership going. Although it seemed like Hussey and Gordon/Allen already had an understanding of each other. Probably because of Hussey’s experience
Danny Johnson underwhelming?
You said second half of the recruitment has been very underwhelming. We signed DJ & Draper who could potentially be our starting strikers and potentially be our highest goalscorers in the team.
No. Read again.
I do not wish to sound negative but on paper i dont really see how this squad is a great deal stronger than the one we had for the start of last season. For instance, Monthe and Williams have gone and replaced with Farquharson and Matt. Both like for like. The only positive for me is that Drapper is a far better player than Abraham’s was. Admittedly we seem much stronger with the 3 CB’s but then the rest of the squad overall is much the same.
Given our lack of pace up front and also the “where are the goals coming from apart from DJ” argument, Knowles is wasted at RWB. The same weaknesses we had last year with both the wingbacks and also creativity in midfield have not been addresed well enough. If Hutchinson has a bad start to the season with his form and confidence, then it is a lot to expect RAM to step into that role. Who else ca step in and fill that position?
There have been positives in the recruitment so far, but for me there are still some serious weaknesses that need to be addresed if this season is to be a successful one, I can’t stand another season where finishing mid -table is deemed to be a success and an expectation. As fans we should expect more than this. Play-offs should be the minimum target set by the Board and Owners. I don’t go with all this incremental improvement crap. It’s smacks of taking the fans for idiots and just tries to lower expectations if another season ends up going down the toilet.
There is still time in this transfer window for a few rabbits to be pulled out of the hat, but i wont hold my breath. Remaining loans could prove to be very important.
Got any rumours that you’ve heard recently Westie?
Absolutely spot on.
Working away all last week again, so out of the mix a bit contact-wise unfortunately.
I heard he had got @WestieMabel up the duff
I don’t think there was many long balls in the match, no where near as many as when Flynn was in charge. I thought what we did well in the second half which unlocked Knowles a lot more was switch the play. It allowed him to run at players a lot more
Ive seen
Smith better than Pryzbek
Hussey better than White
Priestley hopefully more consistent and comfortable on ball than Monthe
Willians a great prospect and better to have than loanee Low
Draper better than Williams
Stirk potentially most comfortable midfielder who always wants to ball
No more long balk,Long throws and better corners
IMHO
I agree the squad looks to be improved on last year but we need just a few more signings. Biggest concerns for me are the fact we have a rookie manager, lack of pace upfront and out wide. Our formation needs the wing backs to be 2 of the best players on the pitch. I love Knowles but he’s not a rwb and Gordon doesn’t do it for me, though I can see he’s got potential. Players with potential shouldnt be first choice though!
Yep, this doesn’t get enough attention, under Smith we played 1 upfront (Bradshaw) who worked incredibly hard off the ball. Last season the front 2 (there were lots of combinations) were incredibly static. If we are to improve this season this needs to change.
Agree we need another rwb,cam and pacy striker,then ill be happy with the squad.
We do have a rookie manager but Waddock hopefully brings experience
Draper showed both pace and strength against Rochdale. Admittedly he was only on the pitch for half an hour against a tiring NL defence, but I’d tip him as one to watch this season.
Knowles also showed he can burst past a defender when he tried to drive into the box and find a pass rather than cross from wide. Ditto Allen when he replaced Gordon.
I’m more worried by a loss of pace in the back line now Monthe has gone - it saved us a few times last season (although some of those would have been him recovering after his own mistake). On the other hand, the distribution out from the back is now much much improved.
Defence will be fine. It always is pretty solid. Yet again lack of goals will be the problem. If Dj picks up a serious injury that’s the season written off