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Post by jaystan on Mar 27, 2024 9:20:03 GMT
Of course i want us to stay in this division, we all do. But the ball is in our court now. The players got themselves in this mess and only they can get themselves out of it. Nobody wants a relegation on their CV so a lot of them are playing for their future. Unless they cant be arse of course but who knows!
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Post by dutchblue on Mar 27, 2024 9:33:28 GMT
On a slightly side note but still very related, I truly believe in my soul that regardless of the managerial clown show this season ANY single one of the permanent managers this season would have had significantly better results had we acquired the centre forward we were right from the very start so clearly lacking. From the last few years you take out a Pukki, Toney, Gyokeres or Carlton Morris from their respective championship sides and put them in this blues squad and I think we'd have at the very least been top half and more than likely challenging top 6. Some teams can play without that focal point but not this squad, they needed it, they always needed it. They're not bad players but that lack of a proper athletic pacy focal point made it too easy for other teams to defend against us and stopped us being able to cut teams open the way several of our players are capable of playing if all the parts of the jigsaw are in place.
Not sure about Rooney, but that’s not really the point. Point is, we are in total agreement here, we have been desperately missing a focal point. Pukki (or similar) would have had us at the very least in the playoffs. To be honest, we do not even need a prolific goal machine, just someone quality to play off, with Stansfield behind. If only we had brought in a mobile forward and a keeper. Decent Keeper Drameh/Laird, Roberts/Sando, Aiwu/Bielik, Drameh/Laird/Buchanan Pritchard/JJ, Paik/Dozell Stansfield/Miyoshi, Bacuna/Stansfield, Paik/Bacuna/Dembele Pukki-like Lots of options, plenty enough goals. And Eustace all season, or Mowbray* since Christmas if we were out of the top 10 (*yeah, I know, if only things had worked out better for him). It’s all a bloody crying shame, but here we are. |
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Post by choc on Mar 27, 2024 10:06:01 GMT
What I am sure about it would take a minimum of 2 more seasons, not 1, to get where the owners want us. We will have to build for L1 because we have so many players out of contract or on loan. This has been the biggest issue this season. This is why we are where we are. Would you want to chance your arm with any of this lot next season in what ever league we find ourselves in. The mystique doesn't exist. It's always been about having the best players and best manager to be successful in any game of football with an added chunk of luck. It will take a minimum of one more season as you say so the difference is one season? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
We will have to build for either division one or this division whatever happens and we actually had more players out of contract or on loan at the end of last season which tbf most people saw as a good thing and an opportunity to offload aging players on big contracts aswell as dead wood.
Chancing our arm with these players? Most if not all those out of contract won't be renewed and I'm fine with the vast majority that will remain, there are various reasons why they've underperformed this season, many of them not of the players' own making. I think there's some pretty talented players there that would be head and shoulders above 95% of their division one counterparts, which tbf should be the case if as I contend we're not really a bottom 3 side but on ability a mid table championship side. If we stay up then yes the quality of players replacing those out of contract wil need to be higher, aswell as a bit more regard given to the character of signings and how the character of the squad as a whole meaures up.
On a slightly side note but still very related, I truly believe in my soul that regardless of the managerial clown show this season ANY single one of the permanent managers this season would have had significantly better results had we acquired the centre forward we were right from the very start so clearly lacking. From the last few years you take out a Pukki, Toney, Gyokeres or Carlton Morris from their respective championship sides and put them in this blues squad and I think we'd have at the very least been top half and more than likely challenging top 6. Some teams can play without that focal point but not this squad, they needed it, they always needed it. They're not bad players but that lack of a proper athletic pacy focal point made it too easy for other teams to defend against us and stopped us being able to cut teams open the way several of our players are capable of playing if all the parts of the jigsaw are in place.
You hope 🤞 |
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Post by choc on Mar 27, 2024 10:11:29 GMT
Of course i want us to stay in this division, we all do. But the ball is in our court now. The players got themselves in this mess and only they can get themselves out of it. Nobody wants a relegation on their CV so a lot of them are playing for their future. Unless they cant be arse of course but who knows! If you knew you were up the road in a couple of months time, would you be arsed. Would you be totally committed in the tackle knowing you will be looking for another club in the summer? |
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Post by dutchblue on Mar 27, 2024 10:16:02 GMT
Of course i want us to stay in this division, we all do. But the ball is in our court now. The players got themselves in this mess and only they can get themselves out of it. Nobody wants a relegation on their CV so a lot of them are playing for their future. Unless they cant be arse of course but who knows! If you knew you were up the road in a couple of months time, would you be arsed. Would you be totally committed in the tackle knowing you will be looking for another club in the summer? I suspect that most on the leaving list are not arsed, we’ve all seen it too many times. A few on the not leaving list as well. I hope GR can sort out those who want it, from those who don’t and pick a team and formation based purely on that. I hope 🤞 It’s not about ability at this stage, it’s about attitude. Just pick a team of tryers Gary. We can get behind that. |
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Post by bubba on Mar 27, 2024 22:19:18 GMT
Not sure about Rooney, but that’s not really the point. Point is, we are in total agreement here, we have been desperately missing a focal point. Pukki (or similar) would have had us at the very least in the playoffs. To be honest, we do not even need a prolific goal machine, just someone quality to play off, with Stansfield behind. If only we had brought in a mobile forward and a keeper. Decent Keeper Drameh/Laird, Roberts/Sando, Aiwu/Bielik, Drameh/Laird/Buchanan Pritchard/JJ, Paik/Dozell Stansfield/Miyoshi, Bacuna/Stansfield, Paik/Bacuna/Dembele Pukki-like Lots of options, plenty enough goals. And Eustace all season, or Mowbray* since Christmas if we were out of the top 10 (*yeah, I know, if only things had worked out better for him). It’s all a bloody crying shame, but here we are.
Yeah agree including about the centre forward not necessarily being a big scoring striker (although I picked all examples that were) just that focal point and better still with pace and good movement that could have let the talented players behind him play off AND run off him would have transformed us.
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Post by bubba on Mar 27, 2024 22:23:07 GMT
Actually I hope not, unless we do drop, then yes I hope (and believe) but concede my hopes and beliefs are worth the square root of feck all in the actual outcome.  |
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Post by choc on Mar 28, 2024 9:35:54 GMT
Actually I hope not, unless we do drop, then yes I hope (and believe) but concede my hopes and beliefs are worth the square root of feck all in the actual outcome. Obviously our hopes and aspersions will change considerably should we survive. This is why it's so important that we do. |
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