| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled 19:53 - Apr 26 with 3288 views | unstableblue |
The squad is in three groups of acquisition:
1) the old guard for the 23/24 glory promotion
Burns, Walton, Davis, Hirst, Taylor (and Baggot*)
2) The Premier League ‘survival’ purchases
Johnson, Greaves, OShea, Townsend, Clarke, Philogene, Palmer, Cajuste
3) The 25/26 champ purchases
Button, Kipre, Young, Matusiwa, Akpom, McAteer, Azon, Furlong, Egeli, Nunez, Mehmeti, Neil
First thing that strikes you is the sheer scale of new arrivals this season, the limited old guard, and as always that players from prem league purchases have only gelled in this season (Clarke et al)
So here’s my view of how the squad (and new purchases) have panned out, what’s your view (not added Button, Palmer and Baggot as they’ve clearly been helping training, and obviously Townsend):
Excelled:
Matusiwa, OShea, Walton, Furlong, Philogene, Clarke
Worked:
Davis, Greaves, Kipre, Taylor, Johnson (due to stepping in so well), McAteer (due to late rally/form), Nunez, Mehmeti (just)
Struggled:
Young, Akpom, Hirst, Azon, Neil, Cajuste, Egeli
The obvious insights - all three centre forward have misfired, we’d be up by now if they had. Thank God Taylor found form. Harsh on Egeli as he’s had moments and I’m convinced will come good and maybe thrive in the Prem if we make it.
You can see from the above why we are ‘Pragmatic FC with Passages of Flair’
And of course who is Prem ready?!?! This will get the TWTD forum discussion of the summer!!! I’d say:
OShea, Walton, Furlong, Greaves, Philogene, Clarke and Matusiwa. But certainly not all as starters.
COYFB |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:56 - Apr 26 with 2627 views | Blue_Moses |
Unfortunately none are physical enough for the Prem. |  | | |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:58 - Apr 26 with 2607 views | unstableblue |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:56 - Apr 26 by Blue_Moses |
Unfortunately none are physical enough for the Prem. |
You may be right. Philogene and Clarke spring to mind. I’m thinking OShea and Furlong are athletic enough? | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:59 - Apr 26 with 2594 views | TripSwitch |
I would drop Clarke into the worked category rather than excelled. He's scored a few goals but he has also flattered to receive just as often.
Would stick Taylor into the excelled category along with Kipre who lets not forget has been starting most of the season - some recency bias there imo
And over the course of the season Macateer has to be in the struggled category, although he looks like he might have adapted now.
Prem ready - O Shea, Davis, Philogene, Matusiwa, Walton. Not having Greaves or Jack Clarke or Furlong as Prem ready and Philogene would not be a starter either [Post edited 26 Apr 20:01]
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:02 - Apr 26 with 2574 views | jas0999 |
If and still big if ….
We go up …
We will need 7 or 8 new starters.
That’s just the way it is. | | | |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:07 - Apr 26 with 2547 views | unstableblue |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:59 - Apr 26 by TripSwitch |
I would drop Clarke into the worked category rather than excelled. He's scored a few goals but he has also flattered to receive just as often.
Would stick Taylor into the excelled category along with Kipre who lets not forget has been starting most of the season - some recency bias there imo
And over the course of the season Macateer has to be in the struggled category, although he looks like he might have adapted now.
Prem ready - O Shea, Davis, Philogene, Matusiwa, Walton. Not having Greaves or Jack Clarke or Furlong as Prem ready and Philogene would not be a starter either [Post edited 26 Apr 20:01]
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Can’t really argue with your points
Although Clarke is our top scorer with 15 goals, many crucial.
Funnily enough my ranking are quite reflective of FotMobs stats per player over the season. With interestingly Akpom, Azon and Hirst at the bottom of those rankings. | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:08 - Apr 26 with 2550 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:58 - Apr 26 by unstableblue |
You may be right. Philogene and Clarke spring to mind. I’m thinking OShea and Furlong are athletic enough? |
O'Shea yes. His recovery pace is a big plus.
I am amazed how many Town fans I see who think Darnell Furlong would be a capable Premier League player. He is a solid 7/10 most weeks championship right back who has done a good job for us.
I think he would get eaten alive in the prem. I would keep him in the squad, I think he has a role to play if he is happy to be a backup (bit like Conor Townsend was last season) but he cannot be your starting right back in the prem if you go up.
As for Egeli thriving in the Prem, I mean the bloke couldn't even make the bench yesterday and has games where he looks like he can't run. He needs a loan. [Post edited 26 Apr 20:09]
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:25 - Apr 26 with 2430 views | unstableblue |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:08 - Apr 26 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
O'Shea yes. His recovery pace is a big plus.
I am amazed how many Town fans I see who think Darnell Furlong would be a capable Premier League player. He is a solid 7/10 most weeks championship right back who has done a good job for us.
I think he would get eaten alive in the prem. I would keep him in the squad, I think he has a role to play if he is happy to be a backup (bit like Conor Townsend was last season) but he cannot be your starting right back in the prem if you go up.
As for Egeli thriving in the Prem, I mean the bloke couldn't even make the bench yesterday and has games where he looks like he can't run. He needs a loan. [Post edited 26 Apr 20:09]
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Oh Furlong definitely not a starter.
Townsend a great analogy. He actually looked more fit for the Prem than many of our players is his limited starts. [Post edited 26 Apr 20:30]
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:30 - Apr 26 with 2398 views | Swansea_Blue |
That seems a reasonable assessment. We are a long way off being PL ready in terms of personnel and team cohesiveness. We can do something about the first issue through recruitment, but that will need to be better overall than 24/25. That aim was to be in a better place for the next promotion. We do have mre individual quality than in 23/24 but 'm still not sure it's going to be enough and we'll need wholesale changes (which then come with the issue of gelling the team).
Let's just copy what Sunderland have done! |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:47 - Apr 26 with 2323 views | FrimleyBlue |
I wouldnt say philogene or Clarke have excelled. Both are solid additions but both are very hot and cold with their performances.
Azor and furlong I do believe have excelled as theye done more that anticipated. |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 21:53 - Apr 26 with 2134 views | MK1 |
Think we will need at least 6 additions.
Walton, Palmer, Button, Furlong, O'Shea, Greaves, Kipre, Davis, Matusiwa, Nunez, Clarke, Mehmeti, Johnson, Townsend, Neil, Philogene, Taylor, Hirst & Azon are good enough for the squad.
We will need at least 1 CB, 3 in Midfield and 2 Forwards. These mustn't be investments, but proven PL players who will add quality and experience. Won't be easy or cheap, but survival is vital for our long term plans.
I actually see as many as 10 or 12 ins and outs. |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:13 - Apr 26 with 2083 views | itfcsuth |
On this season.
Excelled: Walton, O’Shea, Taylor, Matusiwa
Worked: Davis, Furlong, Kipre, Greaves, Jaden, Clarke, Nunez
Struggled: Egeli, McAteer, Mehmeti, Neil, Cajuste, Azon, Hirst
Not enough football to categorise: Palmer, Button, Young, Johnson, Townsend, Burns, Akpom |  | | |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:14 - Apr 26 with 2077 views | grow_our_own |
"Prem ready... OShea, Walton, Furlong, Greaves, Philogene, Clarke and Matusiwa." - I'd add Davis in there. We were too green and kamikazee down the left in 24/25, but that side has step-improved this season. The left-10 is pressing better, and not leaving Davis as exposed. Whole defence and keeper will be fine IMO, and they're departments that were woefully inadequate last time.
We'll need half a new team in attack, starting with a box-to-box midfielder next to Matusiwa, a right-winger, and striker. Easier to build a team around a solid defence, so overall I'd be more confident if we go up this time. | | | |
| 26 goals between them is pretty good? on 22:14 - Apr 26 with 2076 views | unstableblue |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 20:47 - Apr 26 by FrimleyBlue |
I wouldnt say philogene or Clarke have excelled. Both are solid additions but both are very hot and cold with their performances.
Azor and furlong I do believe have excelled as theye done more that anticipated. |
And some of their goals and dribbling has been excellent and exciting to watch
One been injured
One had to do well from the bench
I do know what you mean… but I think a little better than signings who’ve just ‘worked out’ | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:14 - Apr 26 with 2074 views | itfcsuth |
Who’s ready to step up to the PL:
O’Shea, Matusiwa, Davis
Simple as that. Of course some will form part of the wider group, but in terms of the core group, to rely on week in week out, we really only have 3 players who look ready. | | | |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:16 - Apr 26 with 2055 views | NthQldITFC |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 19:58 - Apr 26 by unstableblue |
You may be right. Philogene and Clarke spring to mind. I’m thinking OShea and Furlong are athletic enough? |
O'Shea definitely is. I like Furlong a lot, but I think a PL full back needs more pace than he has. |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:28 - Apr 26 with 2009 views | grow_our_own |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:16 - Apr 26 by NthQldITFC |
O'Shea definitely is. I like Furlong a lot, but I think a PL full back needs more pace than he has. |
Must avoid throwing babies out with bathwater like last time. The value of players who've already bonded on the pitch was underestimated last time. Burgess was/is better than Greaves, and we lost defensive solidity by trying to upgrade. I'd leave the defence & keeper well alone. They're the meanest in the Championship this season. We've got far more pressing areas to spend our transfer kitty in more advanced positions. [Post edited 26 Apr 22:29]
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:58 - Apr 26 with 1938 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:14 - Apr 26 by grow_our_own |
"Prem ready... OShea, Walton, Furlong, Greaves, Philogene, Clarke and Matusiwa." - I'd add Davis in there. We were too green and kamikazee down the left in 24/25, but that side has step-improved this season. The left-10 is pressing better, and not leaving Davis as exposed. Whole defence and keeper will be fine IMO, and they're departments that were woefully inadequate last time.
We'll need half a new team in attack, starting with a box-to-box midfielder next to Matusiwa, a right-winger, and striker. Easier to build a team around a solid defence, so overall I'd be more confident if we go up this time. |
Im not as confident on Matusiwa as some of our fans are. Defo good for a squad, I would worry he has too many limitations to play in a two man midfield in the premier league. | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 23:00 - Apr 26 with 1936 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 22:28 - Apr 26 by grow_our_own |
Must avoid throwing babies out with bathwater like last time. The value of players who've already bonded on the pitch was underestimated last time. Burgess was/is better than Greaves, and we lost defensive solidity by trying to upgrade. I'd leave the defence & keeper well alone. They're the meanest in the Championship this season. We've got far more pressing areas to spend our transfer kitty in more advanced positions. [Post edited 26 Apr 22:29]
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If you leave that defence alone you may as well not bother going up. | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:07 - Apr 27 with 1506 views | redrickstuhaart |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 23:00 - Apr 26 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
If you leave that defence alone you may as well not bother going up. |
It's actually the same defence as last time minus tuanzebe... | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:27 - Apr 27 with 1440 views | Chris_ITFC |
O’Shea aside, this would be my list of Prem-ready players: |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:30 - Apr 27 with 1443 views | Vic |
Of all these the one who has disappointed me most, and who I really fear for, is Sindre.
He came with so much expectation and a huge price tag - we really did push the boat on on him, but he just hasn't found his feet and actually gone backwards.
I really, really hope we are able to help him find his confidence and get him developing again. The talent is clearly there (he's done it in every age group and team so far), but ITFC just hasn't worked for him. I know he's young, but there are many his age who are playing regularly in the champ and Prem.
I really, really hope we didnt waste our record transfer fee on him. |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:38 - Apr 27 with 1419 views | Bellevue_Blue |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:30 - Apr 27 by Vic |
Of all these the one who has disappointed me most, and who I really fear for, is Sindre.
He came with so much expectation and a huge price tag - we really did push the boat on on him, but he just hasn't found his feet and actually gone backwards.
I really, really hope we are able to help him find his confidence and get him developing again. The talent is clearly there (he's done it in every age group and team so far), but ITFC just hasn't worked for him. I know he's young, but there are many his age who are playing regularly in the champ and Prem.
I really, really hope we didnt waste our record transfer fee on him. |
I agree, he's just not a Championship RW.
He's got to have a huge summer in the gym/ on the pitch. Unless he becomes a bit more explosive/ physical its hard to imagine him making it in England.
All being well and we go up, I'd be loaning him somewhere he can play as an out and out 10/ second striker like he does for the national team and where the pace of the game is a little slower. | | | |
| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:40 - Apr 27 with 1413 views | southnorfolkblue |
For me Hirst is definitely in the worked category if you judge him on his entire time here.
Mehmeti hasn’t worked imho, but we are playing him out of position tbf to him | |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 08:51 - Apr 27 with 1380 views | chicoazul |
Threads like this depress me so much. Will we ever see a team with 2, 3, 4 of our own youth players in it? A team of misfits weirdos and cast offs like 92 00 and 24? Probably not. |  |
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| So, 25/26 squad and transfer assessment - who’s worked, excelled, or struggled on 10:01 - Apr 27 with 1305 views | EddyJ |
Controversial, perhaps, but I don't think anyone has had a fantastic season. We are a team built around pragmatism. Lots of players who have done well enough. Lots of 7/10s. But I really struggled to find a player of the season.
Excelled:
Worked: Walton, Furlong, Davis, O'Shea, Kipre, Greaves, Johnson, Taylor, Matusiwa, Burns, Philogene, Clarke, Nunez, Mehmeti, Hirst, Azon.
Struggled: Palmer, Cajuste, Neil, Szmodics, Egeli, McAteer, Akpom.
Too Little Data: Button, Townsend, Baggot, Humphreys. [Post edited 27 Apr 10:02]
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