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Reply | Bad luck, only Ok signings, poor finishing...
at 15:59 2 Apr 2025
Yep, I certainly agree with your points.
And my point on luck is that we needed more than we deserved. And we have not had that, sadly ...
We definitely made our own luck in the 23/24 season ! |
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Thread | Bad luck, only Ok signings, poor finishing...
at 12:55 2 Apr 2025
At Christmas staying up looked possible, even likely.
We knew that McKenna improves players, so believed the second half of the season could be better than the first.
I'd offer three main reasons why that has not happened.
Luck.
You need plenty of it, especially in the season you come up. On balance, it has been against us. We needed a deflection or two to go our way, a few 50:50 penalties to be awarded, and certainly far less injuries.
Injuries have been brutal, a core reason behind ever changing team sheets.
Signings.
They've been ok. We'll all argue for our favourites, and who hasn't quite worked, but they are obviously all capable players. Even Muric was good in several games.
But they've only been ok. Delap has been a standout, especially in the first 20 games. Apart from him it is hard to say anyone has been the amazing signing we hoped for. And we probably needed three or four to be amazing, like we had in previous windows.
Finishing.
Sadly, just not good enough at this level. In many recent games we have had the first chance, or two, and not taken it. And then the oppo have taken theirs.
Loads of other reasons of course, just these are at the top of my list
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Reply | What stops us winning the Championship next year?
at 15:41 27 Mar 2025
Totally agree.
I would also argue that luck was more on our side last year.
We had far less injuries, and, especially in the early games e.g. both QPR & Sunderland Away, that bit of luck that you need to create momentum. [Post edited 27 Mar 15:47]
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Reply | Greaves getting pelters and rightly so but
at 12:54 16 Mar 2025
Davis is an excellent player. Great engine, good vision, unselfish, good pace. An excellent attacking left-back / wing back. And he has defended pretty well, mostly, against world-class players.
He's a PL level player, and I'm not surprised he's close to international level.
But this season he is playing in a team that is struggling, in a defence that chops and changes, against great players. So of course it is harder for him to shine like previously. |
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Reply | Goalkeeper stats.....
at 15:53 9 Mar 2025
Looks good so far. Very good shot stopper. Brings a much needed calmness. Hasn't made silly mistakes.
I have question marks over his ability to dominate the area though. He doesn't have a physical presence. Hence corners are aimed at him: that did not happen with Muric. |
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Reply | Like any business that is failing
at 16:43 2 Mar 2025
Absolutely, long contracts help with FFP. But these contracts have to be paid, year after year, obviously.
So without knowing the wage bill is, it is difficult to know if we can still invest if we go down as you suggest... or whether we will need to sell to take wages off the books, plus to help pay for the wages of the new players (even with reductions for relegation).
I'd agree that it surely should be fine next year.
My bigger concern is the total rebuild that will be required in midfield. |
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Reply | Like any business that is failing
at 16:19 28 Feb 2025
Hyperbole from the OP aside, we really don't know where we are on 'the project'.
Whilst there would have been no expectation on being promoted last year, the (possible) relegation puts up back in the Championship.
So we are back where we were, albeit with lots of positives, and some concerns
Some positives:
Parachute money for 3 seasons. That is massive.
Several players with potential to be sold for big profit
A stronger squad
Experience of the PL
An attractive club to join for up and coming players
McKenna
Some concerns:
We have spent a lot. How many do we have to sell?
Delap. Is there loads of profit there, or is it limited by a buyback clause?
Do others have 'get-out' clauses meaning they can be sold for relatively low fees e.g. Davis?
Wages. Did we have to offer much more than we'd have liked to attract players? Even with relegation clauses, our wage bill could be too high?
Various players out of contract such as Tuanzebe, Burgess, who would be great in the Championship. They'll need to be replaced.
Midfield is a big problem. Morsy and Luongo will be end of career stage. Phillips and Cajuste will leave.
McKenna. What will happen?
We'll be much better placed in many ways than at the start of 2023/4. But there will be lots to be sorted. [Post edited 28 Feb 16:22]
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Reply | Is it time for George Hirst?
at 15:16 23 Feb 2025
Golly.
We know how good Hirst is: and he's nowhere near as good as Delap. I like Hirst, and yes, good team player, but he isn't in the same league in terms of pace and power.
Delap - even yesterday, not his best game... he nearly scored in the first minute, hit the woodwork with a header, bullies and harasses...
He's not the issue. Arguably he's our only player who would get into a top 12 PL team. |
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Reply | Cam Humphreys
at 17:43 19 Feb 2025
Leif doesn't have a goal in him, or twist and turn players, or operate in tight spaces. They are very different in that respect. Cam is a real baller.
Leif likes space where his pace and energy and great crossing are so fantastic, and I totally agree he is more of a left sided midfielder than a left back for us.
Anyway, we have different views, nothing wrong with that. |
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Reply | Watched the Rovers game and Cam last night….
at 16:05 19 Feb 2025
I did not see last night's game but that is how he's generally been playing. Often with good bite in the tackle, too, and always giving 100%.
And some of his passing is almost too good - team mates don't read what he is trying to do.
Its been a great loan for him. Definitely a Championship player in the making. |
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Reply | Cam Humphreys
at 15:57 19 Feb 2025
I have a different view. I'd be amazed if he ever plays left back again.
Surely if we had wanted that to be an option for us in the future we would have sent him to a club who would have played him in that position, or at a minimum on the left of midfield?
I've watched a lot of him this season: he's a a connector, a passer, has real vision. His place is in midfield.
Not sure it will be with us, but we'll see. |
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Reply | Delap compared to our other Premier League era forwards
at 18:49 17 Feb 2025
Having seen them both, I think he could be in same league as Mariner, in time.
They have similarities: strong, bit nasty, take no prisoners, pacy, play with a smile on their face, look like they are enjoying it. Have a goal in them.
Far to early to say of course. Mariner made the most of his talent, was a fantastic team man, and played in a truly great side. 35 caps for England says just how good he was.
But by the same age, Delap has achieved more! Mariner debuted in Division 1 when he was 23.
I'm going to enjoy seeing how far Delap can go. |
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Reply | Delap compared to our other Premier League era forwards
at 15:53 17 Feb 2025
and before the Premier League, there was still a top division !!!
No dig at anyone, but I hate the artificial PL era 'cut-off' - grrr!
a few additional stats, top scorer only - and ignoring John Wark as he was a midfielder
Brazil, 22 goals in 35 (81/82)
Brazil, 17 in 35 (80/81)
Mariner, 17 in 41 (79/80) |
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Reply | Very happy with Phillips
at 11:29 16 Feb 2025
False equivalence. Posh phrase!
Think you are digging. Of course Phillips is trying to hassle, tackle, nick the ball. It is what his position demands. He was excellent yesterday AND yes the free kick he gave away was the one that led to the goal - he wasn't perfect, rarely does that happen. And the goal could have come from many other free kicks.
As a comparison: Palmer could have been sent off early on. Wasn't, thankfully. Always, always, a game of margins.... and opinions. |
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Reply | Kieran's first team
at 15:30 10 Feb 2025
Interesting, if that is what happens we'll have two wingers that we spent £40m on as reserves!
And Johnson and Phillips - possibly our two best paid players, though I'm guessing of course - on the bench too.
Funny old game |
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Reply | Right wing options...
at 09:53 30 Jan 2025
If this has been our weaker position, then perhaps we should play a different type of player in that role?
Like Clarke or Broadhead !! |
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Reply | Recent ex-players you'd have loved McKenna to have coached
at 15:48 29 Jan 2025
yep, I'd said Delap was an obvious exception !!!
I think, as another poster - gsoly - says, in most cases it is very hard to spot.
I feel that if we survive it will be because one or two others also show great improvement in the next few months. [Post edited 29 Jan 15:49]
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 96 | | Comment Votes: | 132 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 228 |
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