That 6-0 Blackpool loss really shows we are in desperate need of a few players. I personally think N'Daw will prove a shrewd signing. I really believe he'll help the defence no end, especially for away games. I think this scoreline shows while Hyam and Luango are good players, they are both young and some experience wouldn't come amiss. Anyway, a few points. 1- What positions do you believe we need strengthening? 2- Who do you recommend for each position? Personally, I believe we're a centre back/ left sided winger/ strong man short at minimum. I have NO idea who would be available/good centre back, however I'd like to see Murphy or Wickham come back for the other role.
Talk about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic! The fact is we are incapable of bringing in any quality players so we will be left with this shower of ****e for the coming season! Sticking plasters are not going to be any good when it is full surgery that is required. Jewell is totally out of his depth and he living on what he achieved 7 years ago! For example why keep setting the team up with Chopra as the lone striker? Everyone apart from Jewell knows that Chopra isn't a target man and his strength is playing off a target man like er Scotland! No chance of getting Wickham back as he is on his way to Blackburn and Murphy is not prolific enough! The hapless Clegg simply hasn't got a clue and is just the stooge for the faceless one. We wont pay the money to attract quality so we will be left with panic signings of loanees in the desperate attempt to paper over the cracks. Things could have been so much different but as it is we will do well to avoid the drop this season. Lose at Carlisle and Jewell should get his marching orders!
I'd say a new keeper, certainly 2 new centrebacks, right and left backs would help along with accompanying wingers, for the middle you want probably 2 new central midfielders. Up front I'd go for a new striker and a new partner for him. When you put all that together they'll be only one thing missing. Cash in Marcus Evans bank account.
with time running out i can only see us bringing in 2 more players before the deadline. so for me the priority is a centre back and someone who can play on the wing and up front. off the top of my head, i know george boyd could fill that position of a winger/striker. he has scored goals before in this league and was rated very highly a couple of years ago? as for a centre back i'm not really sure but someone who is 26+, 6ft 2 + and has plenty of championship experience at a good club. so I'm not sure who fits the bill, anyone have any suggestions?
PP George Boyd! Are you having a ? He is way out of our price range I think it's time to get real and face reality!
Thank you Portman Paul for that, actually subjective. A lot more difficult to say what YOU would do rather than simply slating the manager. That attitude reminds me of half the nation who don't bother voting yet have numerous political opinions. Your opinion remains reduntent unless you vote one way or other................... "Lose at Carlisle and Jewell should get his marching orders! " OH DEAR................
I agree with JWM with regards to us being able to attract/afford the quality needed. I will be shocked if Jewell/Clegg manage to bring in 2 new players and if they do i bet one will be someone like Rob Hulse (please no) Personally i think Jewell will panic and bring in a couple more loanees (if allowed, not sure of limit) Warky i think sacking Jewell tomorrow is a tad soon, at least wait until a certain Jordan Rhodes has put 3 past us!!
I don't think we'll lose at Carlisle because I have a feeling next we will play a side in red... a Man United, Liverpool or Swindon perhaps (if theyre still in it)
JWM what would you say to Westy's question if you were asked before the blackpool game? just so we know your comments aren't purely a reaction to that hammering!!!
Maybe whats needed/would be more beneficial right now (as JWM alluded to under his cloud of negativity) is just a rethink of the tactics used, they worked well at the at the end of last season but for whatever reason doesn't seem to be entirely fitting right now, all though that could just be a result of the attack not firing on all cylinders. In all three games our performances have been praised by the opposing manager we just haven't been nearly clinical enough. A blog by itfccymru on TWTD suggest a wide 442 diamond. the usual back 5, Hyam/Luongo, JET outwide on the right, Carson on the Left, Martin as an attacking midfielder behind a Scotland and Chopra partner ship. I like this idea because it allows Martin to play where he has shone behind a partnership that was one of the only positives at the start of last season. Hyam would have to shoulder a lot of responsibility in protecting the back four, but why not trust him?. Having wide midfielders instead of wingers would provide more protection for Cresswell and Edwards, theoretically, while not completely abandoning attacking down the wings. Having Luongo on the bench would allow him to be used to replace either Martin or Hyam. I cant see JET being entirely comfortable being RM but him drifting up to a more wing like position when were going forward wouldn't necessarily be a problem. When i first saw Carson play he looked very comfortable playing as LM. I suppose the other option is a JET Chopra Partnership with Drury on the right but that would bring us dangerously close to playing 4 CM again. But back to the Original Topic of the thread im an awful scout but i would say Signings in order of priority 1. Competition for Carson, not a replacement, I think the confidence of being picked ahead of another first team player might see a resurgence of the Carson that originally broke through. 2. Competition for JET, Edwards might provide that in when Hewitt becomes available but it seems Jet needs a kick up the back side 3. Cover for central defense, I put this 3rd because although he his primarily a midfielder he can also play defense if needed so we do have cover. The quality of Smith and Chambers can be questioned but before Saturday the back 5 had only conceded once in the league, our attackers had been striking balls everywhere but the net. 4. Any other signing that can genuinely and significantly improve the team
Just to broaden this out a little (not trying to hijack your thread Westlake). I'd like to think I know quite a lot about football but I am also very well aware that I know very little compared with the professionals. Are we saying that some or all of the players we have just aren't good enough? If so, then we need to enter the transfer market to replace them Are most of the players good enough but we need to replace one or two? Are the players fine but the tactics / management poor? If so, just strengthen the squad and take a close look at PJ. Do we think that all the players give 100%? If not, their fault or the management? What do you think? Until I can get my head round this, and come up with a factually based opinion, then I will find it difficult to answer Westlake's question. However, if I rely solely on what has happened for the last few seasons the situation remains much the same. A decent centre back, an experienced midfielder (not just a big name) and another striker.
N'big doors would be a good signing ? try hanging them off the posts and closing them when them come in your half !
" What makes any of you think that we will get in the required quality players by Friday? " The fact we're football fans and we live in hope ! Whether Jewell is or isn't the man for the job, he's gonna be here at least another 3 months so we may aswell get behind him!
Either the faceless one backs him or sacks him and judging by what we have spent on players so far I think it's very much the latter! Evans should just put the poor bastard out of his misery sooner rather than later
rushmere, i genuinely believe that the players we have at the moment are good enough and with 2/3 good signings before the window (as you say westy, we live in hope) then we have a good a chance as most teams in the division to do well.but unless these signings are made and our squad has more quality and competition then we won't be going anywhere. i like the tactics we use but this season it is clear that we aren't penetrating enough so maybe a swap for a game or two wouldn't be the worst idea. in terms of the players giving 100% or not i can only base that on what i've seen so far. I went to the blackburn and watford game and i think it is clear to see that the players are a lot happier and there is much more of a team spirit about this team than the shower of ****e keane came up with. so basically for me PJ has got us on the right track but if we want to have a chance of doing well this season then these next few days have to be used extremely well!
How can you say that you like the current tactics when we are playing 4-5-1 even at home and then you go onto say that we aren't penetrating enough! Chopra isn't a target man for christs sake and you have got to get Scotland playing up top with him in a 4-4-2! It isn't rocket science! JET is a luxury player that we simply can't afford and in this division it is all about work rate and physicality which he simply doesn't show. Jewell has had 18 months to solve our defensive problems and with this 4-5-1 set up the goals will dry up as well. Jewell is clearly out of his depth! How many more thrashings does it take for some of you to realise this?
i would firstly say its more of a 4-2-3-1 and although we haven't looked that penetrating so far we have in the past and i don't doubt that this will change. of course work rate and physicality are essentials in this division but you'd be an idiot not to try and sprinkle that with a bit of class (e.g. taraabt). JET is an interesting one and before the season i was convinced he was going to start the season on fire. he hasn't but will he turn round and produce 3 man of the match results? he is the only player we have capable of that but would that not be enough for you? its an interesting one! as for the thrashings, yes they are inexcusable and there are too many under PJ. and with this current squad they may well happen again but if Jewell can take advantage of the next few days then for me, we can be up there come the end of the season. But it is a big If!!! get it
JET seems like the type who needs to play every week to get better and find form but for me at the moment he is more cold than hot. Is he offering enough to the team overall? Opposition managers do seem to rate him as a threat though and probably prepare accordingly. It's all well and good having eleven solid players but you need somebody with a little bit of sparkle or unpredictability to give the other team something to think about. It's a tough one. Like I said before, we shouldn't be getting spanked by six goals by any team in this league though. Far too many heavy defeats under PJ. We may have played anti-football under Keane but we weren't as bad as this defensively.
