Here's my thinking with the squad 11:46 - Jun 5 with 2194 views | _clive_baker_ | I've been musing, I think less is more this summer on the dealing front. IF we can get Tuanzebe to commit and keep hold of the other bigger tickets we're in a great spot. We need McKenna and team to be able to shape what we've got into a cohesive unit like the one we enjoyed so much pre Premier League. Understand each others games, the patterns of play, defensive discipline, off field relationships having time to develop. All the things we know we're capable of and haven't quite seemed to reach with the latest group. I can't help but feel the extent of the change last summer and lateness of a lot of it contributed to our performances (as well as the ridiculous jump in quality). I'm putting a bit of faith in the yoof. Keep our powder dry a bit, keep hold of McKenna as well. Continuity is vital, I wouldn't do too much. Not to mention finances, go bigger on fewer. Palmer, Slicker, Williamson Tuanzebe, Harry Clarke O'Shea, Woolfy Greaves, Baggott, +1 experienced head Davis, Townsend +2, Morsy, Taylor, Humphreys Hutchinson, Johnson, Ogbene, Burns Szmodics, Chaplin Philogene, Clarke, Broadhead Hirst, +2 Sell all 3 of Muric, Walton and AAH if we can. Burgess maybe to leave on a free. Go big on those 2 CM roles and 2 x #9's. 1 of those can be a loan. 4 big signings in, players who are a clear upgrade on what we've got through the spine of the side. 4 out. Give Baggott & Humphreys a chance around the squad in support roles. Possibly an experienced left sided CB to cover Greaves is something presents itself. Simplify the keeper situation with Palmer #1, Slicker back up and a young 3rd keeper. I'm sure we'll see a lot more in than 4, possibly double that, but I do hope we go for quality over quantity and have a settled group for pre season. |  | | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 11:58 - Jun 5 with 1791 views | flykickingbybgunn | I agree with quality over quantity. We want players coming in who can potentially stand up if we do get promoted. Part of the problem last season was there were just too many new faces and it is difficult to make them gel quickly. It was noticable that when Chappers, Burns and Broadhead were all on they just knew where each other would be. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 11:59 - Jun 5 with 1778 views | portmanking | Sounds good in theory, but at least 3-4 of the players listed in your squad are on their way. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:12 - Jun 5 with 1714 views | hype313 | Question marks over Omari, Davis, Broadhead, Axel, Taylor and potentially Morsy. Can't see us selling both Omari and Davis, but very feasible one goes. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:17 - Jun 5 with 1684 views | _clive_baker_ |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 11:59 - Jun 5 by portmanking | Sounds good in theory, but at least 3-4 of the players listed in your squad are on their way. |
They're all under contract with the exception of Axel. They're only on their way if I say they can (finances permitting). I agree we're likely to lose at least 1 other bigger name though, most relegated sides don't just see 1 big departure. There's a few in there that wouldn't be the most regrettable loss tbh and I could live with, but we should do whatever we can to keep as many of the bigger and younger tickets we can. If we can add 3 or 4 of real quality through the spine to the upper group we already have - Davis, O'Shea, Tuanzebe, Greaves, Hutchinson, Philogene, Clarke, Hirst then I think we'll be at a much higher base than we were 18 months ago and I'd back us to bounce straight back under McKenna. That's the core 8 to keep hold of as a priority IMO. I'd like to see at least 6 or 7 still here come August. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:19 - Jun 5 with 1660 views | BseaBlue |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:12 - Jun 5 by hype313 | Question marks over Omari, Davis, Broadhead, Axel, Taylor and potentially Morsy. Can't see us selling both Omari and Davis, but very feasible one goes. |
And probably O'Shea as well. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:30 - Jun 5 with 1590 views | SuffolkPunchFC | Can't disagree with quality over quantity, BUT a big problem last season was depth of quality. We need quality throughout the registered squad. In the Championship we'll have a little more leeway, but with promotion in mind we have to use the next 2 transfer windows to start improving the quality of the fringe players too - and quite considerably. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:33 - Jun 5 with 1562 views | SmithersJones | Maximum squad size might be an issue with that group. We’re limited to 25 and probably only Williamson of that group counts as an U21. Some of the newcomers could be young premier league loanees but not all of them. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:46 - Jun 5 with 1495 views | _clive_baker_ |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:33 - Jun 5 by SmithersJones | Maximum squad size might be an issue with that group. We’re limited to 25 and probably only Williamson of that group counts as an U21. Some of the newcomers could be young premier league loanees but not all of them. |
Good point, I'd need 2 of the incoming to be U21 as I think young Cameron isn't young enough Cameron now. |  | |  | Login to get fewer ads
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:51 - Jun 5 with 1446 views | burnbudgiesburn |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:30 - Jun 5 by SuffolkPunchFC | Can't disagree with quality over quantity, BUT a big problem last season was depth of quality. We need quality throughout the registered squad. In the Championship we'll have a little more leeway, but with promotion in mind we have to use the next 2 transfer windows to start improving the quality of the fringe players too - and quite considerably. |
I don't see depth of quality being an issue this season. Not many Championship squads will have our depth. I'm not sure how we address that this season tbh, noone who would improve our depth in the Prem is going to come here to sit behind our current first teamers. All 3 promoted teams will get their pick ahead of us too. Might be something we simply can't work on until we are promoted. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:52 - Jun 5 with 1437 views | monty_radio |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:33 - Jun 5 by SmithersJones | Maximum squad size might be an issue with that group. We’re limited to 25 and probably only Williamson of that group counts as an U21. Some of the newcomers could be young premier league loanees but not all of them. |
Having checked the rule, I think that both Humphreys and Hutchinson would still not need to be counted in the squad number for this coming season. Willing to be corrected. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:52 - Jun 5 with 1437 views | southnorfolkblue | So you’re going into the season with a back up keeper who has never played a league match… Slicker needs a loan to play some games. Perm any 2 from the other 3 plus a youngster and we’re sorted I reckon |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:53 - Jun 5 with 1426 views | _clive_baker_ |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:30 - Jun 5 by SuffolkPunchFC | Can't disagree with quality over quantity, BUT a big problem last season was depth of quality. We need quality throughout the registered squad. In the Championship we'll have a little more leeway, but with promotion in mind we have to use the next 2 transfer windows to start improving the quality of the fringe players too - and quite considerably. |
I think we will when you consider the bench could well consist of Woolfy, Morsy, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hirst, Burns etc. Most were the core last time, if we get the recruitment right this summer and elevate those CM and #9 positions we'll have excellent depth. Its a step change vs. Jackson, Harness, Al-Hamadi. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:00 - Jun 5 with 1350 views | _clive_baker_ |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:52 - Jun 5 by southnorfolkblue | So you’re going into the season with a back up keeper who has never played a league match… Slicker needs a loan to play some games. Perm any 2 from the other 3 plus a youngster and we’re sorted I reckon |
Its not ideal but I think the keeper situation is untidy at the moment and needs some surgery. I don't see a way back for Muric & Walton's time is possibly up as well. I'm very happy to back Palmer with the #1 shirt, and the 3rd keeper needs to not take up a squad place. The question then is who is the back up. Bringing in another #2 and letting Slicker go is possible and probably most likely in reality, but its not an easy one to recruit to get someone better than Slicker who is also happy to be understudy, and not somewhere we really want to be spending our time and money. I think we probably will but I'd deprioritise it personally. I've heard good things of young Slicks. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:08 - Jun 5 with 1277 views | southnorfolkblue |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:00 - Jun 5 by _clive_baker_ | Its not ideal but I think the keeper situation is untidy at the moment and needs some surgery. I don't see a way back for Muric & Walton's time is possibly up as well. I'm very happy to back Palmer with the #1 shirt, and the 3rd keeper needs to not take up a squad place. The question then is who is the back up. Bringing in another #2 and letting Slicker go is possible and probably most likely in reality, but its not an easy one to recruit to get someone better than Slicker who is also happy to be understudy, and not somewhere we really want to be spending our time and money. I think we probably will but I'd deprioritise it personally. I've heard good things of young Slicks. |
Don’t laugh at me but Muric will be an outstanding Championship keeper. He’s already shown that at Burnley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our no 1 during the course of the season. Fans need to keep the faith with him I think |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:09 - Jun 5 with 1260 views | LankHenners |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:46 - Jun 5 by _clive_baker_ | Good point, I'd need 2 of the incoming to be U21 as I think young Cameron isn't young enough Cameron now. |
Baggott as well. Even if we keep all the ones we want to then you're probably looking at the likes of Broadhead and possibly Johnson as those who we'll look to move on to make space for newbies. Agree with the general point though that we ideally need a fairly settled squad where we can (re-)learn the connections throughout the pitch. Do think the step up in quality was a massive hindrance to that last season. We went from pretty much dominating most games where we could play the game how we wanted to being under the cosh for most of it and maybe getting 2 or 3 breaks a half if we were lucky. If we can convince Cajuste to come back then that's someone who we know all about and who knows everyone already so we've got a head start on the embedding process there. Would make things a lot easier when it's apparent to everyone that the midfield is getting a big overhaul this summer. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:11 - Jun 5 with 1242 views | OldFart71 |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 12:30 - Jun 5 by SuffolkPunchFC | Can't disagree with quality over quantity, BUT a big problem last season was depth of quality. We need quality throughout the registered squad. In the Championship we'll have a little more leeway, but with promotion in mind we have to use the next 2 transfer windows to start improving the quality of the fringe players too - and quite considerably. |
Agree. One of our biggest problems that didn't arise in the two previous seasons were subs coming on capable of either changing a game or sustaining what we had. Oh course you need quality, but a bit more bite and mobility in midfield with strong running athletic types capable of carrying the ball forward, but also covering the likes of Davis when he moves forward. we have to remember we have already lost Phillips, Loungo, Delap,Enciso and Cajuste. I would think one of the goalkeepers would go and possibly one other big payday from a sale which seemed to have been referred to by MA. So a minimum of around seven players to come in. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:13 - Jun 5 with 1218 views | ITFCMonk | Interesting to see you’ve gone for Williamson as third choice over Gray who was exceptional on loan at Braintree, although not sure you knew that as I’m a Braintree fan. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:13 - Jun 5 with 1217 views | NthQldITFC |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:08 - Jun 5 by southnorfolkblue | Don’t laugh at me but Muric will be an outstanding Championship keeper. He’s already shown that at Burnley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our no 1 during the course of the season. Fans need to keep the faith with him I think |
I'd like to think that he could be rehabilitated here, he is a potentially great keeper of PL quality with a few things fixed, but very unfortunately it doesn't take more than a small percentage of impatient/ignorant fans to get on a keeper's back to totally f up any chance of that happening. Not sure he has the personality/culture to accommodate the necessary fixes at a place where it has already gone wrong him, which is a great shame. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:21 - Jun 5 with 1162 views | positivity |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:08 - Jun 5 by southnorfolkblue | Don’t laugh at me but Muric will be an outstanding Championship keeper. He’s already shown that at Burnley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our no 1 during the course of the season. Fans need to keep the faith with him I think |
while it's undeniably true (he was the best keeper in the championship when burnley went up), the question mark is over whether he can regain his confidence and if the team can regain its confidence in him. could see him going out in loan this year and then reassessing |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:27 - Jun 5 with 1089 views | burnbudgiesburn |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:13 - Jun 5 by NthQldITFC | I'd like to think that he could be rehabilitated here, he is a potentially great keeper of PL quality with a few things fixed, but very unfortunately it doesn't take more than a small percentage of impatient/ignorant fans to get on a keeper's back to totally f up any chance of that happening. Not sure he has the personality/culture to accommodate the necessary fixes at a place where it has already gone wrong him, which is a great shame. |
For all the reported checking on character and due dilligence we hyped ourselves up for when signing players, there must have been a power cut the day we checked on Muric. One look at the Burnley forum would have been an eyeopener with regards to his character. You would also hope, that given we rehabilitated Hladky after a very shaky start in L1 we could do the same here. Not sure we can afford to be writing off £8m players after half a season. But that does depend on the players character like you say... I think we dropped the ball here. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:28 - Jun 5 with 1082 views | _clive_baker_ |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:08 - Jun 5 by southnorfolkblue | Don’t laugh at me but Muric will be an outstanding Championship keeper. He’s already shown that at Burnley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our no 1 during the course of the season. Fans need to keep the faith with him I think |
I actually agree, he's the best keeper we've got on paper. I love the way he claims those aerial balls and set pieces which is probably more valuable to us in the Championship. Just think there's a bit of water under the bridge here now. |  | |  |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:28 - Jun 5 with 1078 views | Weekender |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 11:59 - Jun 5 by portmanking | Sounds good in theory, but at least 3-4 of the players listed in your squad are on their way. |
Is that based on anything Portman or more your opinion on what’s likely? Not expecting you to share specifics but appreciate you do pick up snippets before it becomes public. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:36 - Jun 5 with 1017 views | Illinoisblue | Seems like a big season ahead for Harry Clarke. He’ll be looking to rebound after an injury-hit rough year. Is the Championship his ceiling? |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:36 - Jun 5 with 1011 views | hype313 |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:36 - Jun 5 by Illinoisblue | Seems like a big season ahead for Harry Clarke. He’ll be looking to rebound after an injury-hit rough year. Is the Championship his ceiling? |
I'd say so. |  |
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Here's my thinking with the squad on 14:04 - Jun 5 with 867 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
Here's my thinking with the squad on 13:08 - Jun 5 by southnorfolkblue | Don’t laugh at me but Muric will be an outstanding Championship keeper. He’s already shown that at Burnley. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our no 1 during the course of the season. Fans need to keep the faith with him I think |
Agree. Last time he played in this league, he was named in the PFA team of the season. |  |
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