| Welcome to the next chapter… 23:45 - Sep 1 with 723 views | megnuts |
It’s hard to ignore that we’re entering a genuinely new era.
From a squad perspective, we’re in a place we could barely have imagined a decade ago. The quality, depth, and profile of player we’re now able to attract is on a completely different level, it’s bonkers to think how quickly we have had to evolve and adapt.
With KMc and Ashton, we have a clear playing identity and a manager who is capable of maximising the tools at his disposal. And a chairman who is making difficult decisions that are ultimately improving us.
We’re stronger off the pitch than at any point in the club’s modern history. The financial picture is as healthy as it’s ever been. There are serious, sustained investments going into the training ground, scouting department, data analysis, stadium, and wider infrastructure. These aren’t short-term fixes, they’re building blocks designed to support success for years to come.
This means some difficult decisions are being made. It’s a totally new group in the space of 12-24 months. A number of players who helped get us here have moved on, and that’s natural. Most have found homes at lower-Championship sides, which probably reflects their true level. They deserve enormous credit for helping deliver one of the most memorable periods we’ve had ever, but the club has to keep evolving.
This is about progress and perspective. We finally have the foundations in place, on and off the pitch, to compete sustainably at the level we want to be. If McKenna can get this group functioning (and he’s going to have to pretty quickly) to its potential, I have no doubt they will deliver more success than the last group of heroes.
I know it’s rough now, but back McKenna. Back the club. Back the players. The future is going to be extremely bright! |  | | |  |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:50 - Sep 1 with 668 views | pointofblue |
For the money we had available I think the squad build has been messy, however. Our fourth choice centre back is Baggott, our fifth central midfield options is Humphreys. Both should be getting game time on loan rather than filling out the squad. We have no specialist left back to cover Davis. It feels like we're a man short at centre back and central midfield. We do not have a keeper who suits our style of play.
As fans, home and away, we need to continue to support game after game. That doesn't mean debate should be stifled away from matches. |  |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:51 - Sep 1 with 639 views | Reti |
Had felt quite negative today so cheers for the positive outlook before bed. Just wish the next game wasn’t so far away, want to get back to it quickly now so we can start winning some games! | | | |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:20 - Sep 2 with 558 views | Garv |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:50 - Sep 1 by pointofblue |
For the money we had available I think the squad build has been messy, however. Our fourth choice centre back is Baggott, our fifth central midfield options is Humphreys. Both should be getting game time on loan rather than filling out the squad. We have no specialist left back to cover Davis. It feels like we're a man short at centre back and central midfield. We do not have a keeper who suits our style of play.
As fans, home and away, we need to continue to support game after game. That doesn't mean debate should be stifled away from matches. |
For me you can't just stock pile top quality CMs and CBs. Why is Baggott still here at his age if he can't be relied upon to be 4th choice CB in an injury crisis? It would need O'Shea, Greaves and Kipre all to be unavailable for him to play anyway, as I suspect Furlong would move across anyway. |  |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:29 - Sep 2 with 534 views | pointofblue |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:20 - Sep 2 by Garv |
For me you can't just stock pile top quality CMs and CBs. Why is Baggott still here at his age if he can't be relied upon to be 4th choice CB in an injury crisis? It would need O'Shea, Greaves and Kipre all to be unavailable for him to play anyway, as I suspect Furlong would move across anyway. |
Due to injuries, he's had so little time on the pitch he really needs to go and get first team football. Not sit in the stands as - if Furlong moves across first - fifth choice centre back. He probably would have gone out on loan, if Woolfenden has agreed to stay.
It's where the McAteer signing sticks for me a bit. Don't buy him, sign Caceres instead, and centre back is covered. More than covered. Plus Baggott could get vital experience elsewhere. | |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:45 - Sep 2 with 484 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:50 - Sep 1 by pointofblue |
For the money we had available I think the squad build has been messy, however. Our fourth choice centre back is Baggott, our fifth central midfield options is Humphreys. Both should be getting game time on loan rather than filling out the squad. We have no specialist left back to cover Davis. It feels like we're a man short at centre back and central midfield. We do not have a keeper who suits our style of play.
As fans, home and away, we need to continue to support game after game. That doesn't mean debate should be stifled away from matches. |
Both Baggott and Humphreys should be playing regularly for their development but they would be getting into plenty of Championship sides' matchday squads. They are back-up for if we need them.
Young is fine at left back. Kipre can cover there and so can Humphreys. All of them are plenty good enough at this level. Beyond that Boniface is your specialist back-up. We are plenty well covered there.
Centre backs should be fine. I think Baggott is plenty good enough to cover in an emergency which is what 4th choice should be. Furlong and Johnson can cover there too.
Taylor has gone from 2nd choice (i.e. starting) CM to 4th choice and Nunez or Cajuste is now 3rd choice. Humphreys is cover there in his natural position.
I would say the clarity over who plays which role in attack will be interesting to see how it plays out. Do we have enough in the number 9 role? I also agree about the keeper and style of play.
Of course we have the right to question. The biggest issue for me is finding partnerships that work, developing confidence, speeding up our play and becoming effective as a team. A collection of talented individuals is not enough but I don't accept that the squad is "messy". |  |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:50 - Sep 2 with 452 views | Garv |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:45 - Sep 2 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Both Baggott and Humphreys should be playing regularly for their development but they would be getting into plenty of Championship sides' matchday squads. They are back-up for if we need them.
Young is fine at left back. Kipre can cover there and so can Humphreys. All of them are plenty good enough at this level. Beyond that Boniface is your specialist back-up. We are plenty well covered there.
Centre backs should be fine. I think Baggott is plenty good enough to cover in an emergency which is what 4th choice should be. Furlong and Johnson can cover there too.
Taylor has gone from 2nd choice (i.e. starting) CM to 4th choice and Nunez or Cajuste is now 3rd choice. Humphreys is cover there in his natural position.
I would say the clarity over who plays which role in attack will be interesting to see how it plays out. Do we have enough in the number 9 role? I also agree about the keeper and style of play.
Of course we have the right to question. The biggest issue for me is finding partnerships that work, developing confidence, speeding up our play and becoming effective as a team. A collection of talented individuals is not enough but I don't accept that the squad is "messy". |
Think the attacking positions pick themselves very clearly now.
RW: MacAteer, Egeli
CAM: Szmodics, Akpom
LW: Clarke, Philogene
CF: Hirst, Azon | |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:59 - Sep 2 with 423 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:50 - Sep 2 by Garv |
Think the attacking positions pick themselves very clearly now.
RW: MacAteer, Egeli
CAM: Szmodics, Akpom
LW: Clarke, Philogene
CF: Hirst, Azon |
Probably.
I wonder how much they will adjust with unavailability and who comes in where. I think we would have liked a 3rd choice striker - is that now Ayinde? Or does Akpom slot in there at which point who provides the option at 10? It just feels like we are relying a lot on a couple of those players who haven't yet fired for us to do so. Does Johnson provide RW cover? Can Humphreys, Taylor or Nunez play as the CAM cover? | |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 01:44 - Sep 2 with 375 views | mutters |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:50 - Sep 1 by pointofblue |
For the money we had available I think the squad build has been messy, however. Our fourth choice centre back is Baggott, our fifth central midfield options is Humphreys. Both should be getting game time on loan rather than filling out the squad. We have no specialist left back to cover Davis. It feels like we're a man short at centre back and central midfield. We do not have a keeper who suits our style of play.
As fans, home and away, we need to continue to support game after game. That doesn't mean debate should be stifled away from matches. |
Respectfully disagree.
We are a Championship club. We should be filling our squad out with players from the academy imo. Humphreys has looked useful, building on his great season last year at Wycombe. Baggot should be able to step up and play in the odd few games that he's asked to, we have other players who can slot into the CB position if he doesn't work out.
We've got to cut our cloth accordingly |  |
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| Welcome to the next chapter… on 01:45 - Sep 2 with 374 views | Everydayblue |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:29 - Sep 2 by pointofblue |
Due to injuries, he's had so little time on the pitch he really needs to go and get first team football. Not sit in the stands as - if Furlong moves across first - fifth choice centre back. He probably would have gone out on loan, if Woolfenden has agreed to stay.
It's where the McAteer signing sticks for me a bit. Don't buy him, sign Caceres instead, and centre back is covered. More than covered. Plus Baggott could get vital experience elsewhere. |
Can't see Caceres wanting to sit on the bench as cover, with a World Cup year looming.
But agree, he would add more depth to the squad.
That back up CB position is hard to fill with a quality player. Someone like Baggot is probably lower maintenance for KM. And will probably get very few minutes, if any.
Could see him getting a loan move in Jan', if he's not getting a run out now and then, here.
I actually like him. But his pathway here looks very limited, unfortunately. | | | |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 05:21 - Sep 2 with 283 views | BeachBlue |
With respect, I don't think we should consider ourselves as negative or afraid of change.
I think a lot of us are sad that the established favourites have moved on and an era has ended. I know I am.
... and that's perfectly okay, we just need some time to adjust. |  | | |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 06:51 - Sep 2 with 163 views | bsw72 |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 23:50 - Sep 1 by pointofblue |
For the money we had available I think the squad build has been messy, however. Our fourth choice centre back is Baggott, our fifth central midfield options is Humphreys. Both should be getting game time on loan rather than filling out the squad. We have no specialist left back to cover Davis. It feels like we're a man short at centre back and central midfield. We do not have a keeper who suits our style of play.
As fans, home and away, we need to continue to support game after game. That doesn't mean debate should be stifled away from matches. |
And who would the club be able to sign that is willing to come in knowing they are 4th or 5th choice for their positions that is a better option than those two. Why do you think Woolfenden left? Debate is obviously welcomed but so is common sense.
Filling those outliers with the likes of Baggott and Humphreys is exactly what a strong championship club has to do as PL clubs won’t be willing to loan out players just to warm a bench either.
The left back situation is frustrating but we do have a right back who can also play left back well enough that he did it in a World Cup semi final.
Considering the size of club we are I think it’s been a fantastic transfer window and the squad we have is ridiculous when looking at individual ability. It’s now over to the coaching team to make it click. |  | | |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 07:02 - Sep 2 with 118 views | Vic |
| Welcome to the next chapter… on 00:45 - Sep 2 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Both Baggott and Humphreys should be playing regularly for their development but they would be getting into plenty of Championship sides' matchday squads. They are back-up for if we need them.
Young is fine at left back. Kipre can cover there and so can Humphreys. All of them are plenty good enough at this level. Beyond that Boniface is your specialist back-up. We are plenty well covered there.
Centre backs should be fine. I think Baggott is plenty good enough to cover in an emergency which is what 4th choice should be. Furlong and Johnson can cover there too.
Taylor has gone from 2nd choice (i.e. starting) CM to 4th choice and Nunez or Cajuste is now 3rd choice. Humphreys is cover there in his natural position.
I would say the clarity over who plays which role in attack will be interesting to see how it plays out. Do we have enough in the number 9 role? I also agree about the keeper and style of play.
Of course we have the right to question. The biggest issue for me is finding partnerships that work, developing confidence, speeding up our play and becoming effective as a team. A collection of talented individuals is not enough but I don't accept that the squad is "messy". |
Excellent post NSB.
I think I can see What KM is doing - though i doubt it has worked quite as he wanted it too! I doubt he wanted Burgess, Tuanzebe or Morsy to leave, and im sure that Townsends injury threw a spanner in the works. But then I doubt any of them would have been first choice this year. We forget that Samy was really atruggling after January and by the end of the season was not first choice.
Its a very interesting rebuild - a new chapter indeed. |  |
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