2021-22 Squad

Discussion in 'Former Players Archive' started by hornetboy1, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    The key to being a good Troll is to try and keep your posts believable.
     
    wfcmoog and The undeniable truth like this.
  2. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Fair enough - but the issue is, he has admitted at regular intervals that he’s always carrying some sort of injury that he ‘plays through’ and then gives a story many months later about how he shouldn’t have. This has happened on far more than one occasion. So it hasn’t been a case of ‘if he’s injured, he won’t play’...because he has. Often. You say you want him to be ‘given a chance’...he’s had chances. Plenty of them. The chance to not come back pre-season unfit and overweight...the chance to score goals from open play in his favoured system...the chance to keep his mouth shut on radio. There’s always ‘one more chance’ again due to nostalgia.

    He has a football brain, I agree. But there’s point having the technology and nowhere to house it. PlayStation 5 games don’t work on a PS2.

    I agree the above is largely in part down to a lack of other real options at times. But we have also had Joao Pedro at times, Welbeck, Okaka...and yet it’s always been Troy preferred, playing through an injury. I accept however, that’s as much to do with skewed thinking from the club as it is to do with the player himself. We became too reliant on him to the point where we ignored what was in front of our eye because of nostalgia.

    Yes he has the odd good game (Liverpool) where his football intelligence shines through - but they are far outweighed by the mediocre efforts where he has shown he’s not up to it, not fit enough and demands a system built around him...occasionally he bails out those efforts by whacking a penalty or two.

    If he could sit quietly in the background and be a useful, PL-weathered sounding board of advice and experience for others, whilst simultaneously backing away from his radio commitments for a year (or the very least not make incendiary comments about the club or our opponents) then fair enough. But very very few people have confidence in his ability to do any of that - least of all himself who has said he’s not willing to be a bit-part player. Let’s believe what the player himself is saying rather than some perfect-world scenario that he has no interest in.

    He has always said he would respect the time when the club told him it’s time to move on. That time is now if he can’t fall into what’s expected of him for the next 12 months.

    I think the quickest, surest way to see that happen is to invest in a quality striker who he knows he won’t be able to get past for a starting place.

    As for your last point - I used to always think the MLS would be a perfect ‘retirement home’ for him. But I think even the pace of that league has increased beyond him now. I think it’s further complicated by his recent appointment to the PFA board as a representative for the Championship. Not sure how that plays out going forward given we are a PL club but I’m sure it rules out a move abroad if he wants to keep that role. Maybe WBA take another look at him....but I doubt he will go lower than that in the Championship. I don’t see Birmingham as a go-er at all for various reasons, mainly competitive and financial ones.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2021
    CYHSYF, Klein Lust, Jon G and 5 others like this.
  3. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    That is the sensible interpretation, yes. But he consistently claims he is playing whilst injured (subtext: he's too important to the club and better a half fit Deeney than anyone else...)
     
  4. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I find it incredible that the medical team of a professional football club would consistently let a player play whilst injured, every season for the past 5 or so seasons.

    I’d always assumed we employed medical professionals, carried out tests, had special equipment to determine a player was fit to play a 90 minute football match. All along it seems the players just self confirm themselves fit. I guess it explains why some of them are out for so long.
     
  5. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I agree it is foolish to let people play with injuries but has been know - not just with us.
     
  6. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    Happens every week.

    Most pros are managing minor issues most of the time.
     
    Jon G, folkestone orn and wfc4ever like this.
  7. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Oh, you mean the same Danny W we kept on the bench during the run-in, despite it being clear and obvious he was far more likely to get the goals we needed to stay up? Who kept him out of the team?
     
  8. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Key word there is 'managing'.
     
  9. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    Totally agree and I said so at the time, why was he not used? As we might have stayed up if had he been.
     
    Jon G likes this.
  10. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    When he did play got 2 goals and won a penalty so fair point.
     
  11. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    I’m not convinced we wouldn’t have found a way to get ourselves relegated, such was our weak mentality, but effectively lining up with 10 men while a fit and improving Welbeck was sat on the bench (or shunted out wide) was one of the biggest mistakes Pearson made during the run-in.
     
  12. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    Or even giving Pedro a go once Gerry was out rather than Pereyra.
     
    luke_golden likes this.
  13. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    I’m happy with Deeney/Gray/Success as our front three next season (as we’ ll prob sell Sarr).

    I can see them getting at least 30 goals between them , chuck in a few pens and that will see us getting 40 goals .
    Midfield chips in with 4 or 5 each, that’s 60 goals and then if we keep same amount of clean sheets as we did this season we should be comfortably mid table .

    And that’s without any extra signings !!!!
     
    folkestone orn likes this.
  14. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I’ve said this all along, utterly bonkers and another example of a manager buying into Troy’s reputation rather than judging things on what they’re really seeing with their own eyes.

    The other stupid thing was that Welbeck had suffered a series injury in October, but was back in training before lockdown and the season being suspended.

    With the game stopped for two months, he would’ve been as fit (or as unfit) as any other player when it resumed again. Nobody had match sharpness or match fitness at that point, Troy included. It was a level playing field from which to pick and unfortunately we decided to leave the goal scorer on the bench.

    As you say, we still may have been relegated but he couldn’t have done more when he was eventually picked, and he’s done plenty since to prove it was suicidal decision.
     
  15. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    :D:D:D
     
  16. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Another groundbreaking original thought from you, eh, TVOR. You're a veritable Cassandra.
     
  17. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    U forgot Peneranda m8
     
    BigRossLittleRoss likes this.
  18. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    :p
     
  19. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Worrying lack of activity.

    Get your finget out Muniz! Sign someone ffs!!
     
  20. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

    Good to know we have the ready cash available. I didn’t realise we were doing that well.
     
  21. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

    I’m not trying to be a troll, but I appreciate the advice from an expert.
     
  22. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

    Interestingly enough, the club was preparing to move him on at the start of this season, so (according to him in the WD18 interview) he started training on his own, so as not to disrupt the group. Then, for whatever reason, the club changed its mind and he rejoined the squad.
    Thanks for the reply - I agree with much of it, except the oft-repeated quote on here that he would not be prepared to be a bit-part player. What he actually said is that he wouldn’t be happy about it, and that he would fight for his place. Which is what I would expect from any professional footballer. I haven’t ever seen him say he wouldn’t be prepared to do it - indeed he usually goes out of his way to claim he does what is necessary for the group. Whether he actually does or not is difficult to know.
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  23. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    More importantly, the ITK's are very quiet.

    Tim, Jim, Ming, Lou 'Orns and Meredensi we need you!!!!
     
    wfcmoog likes this.
  24. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

    Possibly, but if that has been the case, he hasn’t made the decision because he doesn’t pick the team.
     
  25. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

    The manager.
     
  26. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

    More like the club were unable to shift him.
     
    Jumbolina and RS2 like this.
  27. Jon G

    Jon G Academy Graduate

     
  28. CarlosKickaballs

    CarlosKickaballs Forum Picarso

    I'd gamble on the current midfielders being good enough because we don't have enough ₿ to waste on that position given how **** the rest of the team are. Our attackers are all ****, maybe even Sarr when they work out to just mark him out the game. Unless other positions crop up to improve for free/loan/a couple £m we should focus entirely on attack.

    Hughes - likely good enough for an upper midtable team.
    Chalobah - good enough for PL if he is on it, we aren't able to sign anyone for enough £ to 100% be better.
    Gosling - would gamble on him being good enough based on the Norwich game where he at least appeared for 5 chances even if his finishing was ****. Like what I've seen so far in general.
    Cleverley - probably fine, not so poor I'd spend £7m+ to replace him.
    All above are just as good as likely to do well as any signing not over £10m would be anyway.

    I wouldn't choose these next players but we can make do.
    Zinckernagel - I don't think he is that good but not so bad I'd rather do without a 2nd new striker, plus can move to the wing when Sarr breaks his leg and is out for the season in October.
    Sanchez/Quina/Bashru - if his wages are low fine as a back up who'll probably start 2 games maximum and make maximum 15 bench appearances between them.

    In defence, Bournemouth have shown you can ********* a bad defence to concede
    less
    not so much
    not so great
    smaller
    slighter
    shorter
    reduced
    fewer

    goals.
     
  29. CarlosKickaballs

    CarlosKickaballs Forum Picarso

    Does this mean that in theory it is better to get relegated with a club like Leeds bottom than Burnley because they will generally get more TV fixtures during the season?
     
  30. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Good afternoon session was it?
     
  31. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    Compare this squad with the one that kicked off the 15/16 season.

    GK

    Gomes (14/15)
    Pantillamon
    V
    Foster/Bachmann (20/21)

    Not alot in it tbh. Maybe slightly better depth now.


    CB

    Prodl
    Britos
    Cathcart
    V
    Sierralta
    Troost-Ekong
    Kabasele

    We were slightly stronger in 15/16. Britos and Prodl were excellent, is Sierralta THAT good yet?

    Troost and Kabasele are both worse than 15/16 Cathcart IMO

    LB
    Ake
    Holebas
    V
    Masina
    Lazaar

    Not even close. I don't think Masina is as bad as some make out though. Both Ake and Holebas were streets ahead of him though.

    RB
    Nyom
    Parades
    V
    Kiko
    N'gakia

    Hard to call. Nyom was underrated imo, but Kiko has been excellent this season. Probably about equal, I would say.

    CM

    Watson
    Capoue
    Behrami
    Abdi
    Guedioura
    Suarez
    V
    Hughes
    Chalobah
    Cleverly
    Gosling
    Sanchez

    We clearly had more depth in 15/16. Capoue and arguably Behrami were a cut above what we have now. 15/16 wins.

    Wingers

    Anya
    Amrabat
    Berguis

    V

    Sarr
    Sema

    Positions we are definitely stronger in now, although have less depth.

    10
    Jurado
    Diamante

    V

    Zinckerbelle

    Hopefully Zinck adds a bit of end product to his 'neat and tidy' play. Hard to call, still.

    F
    Deeney
    Ighalo
    Oulare
    Ibarbo

    V

    Pedro
    Gray
    Perica
    Success
    Deeney

    Not even close. 15/16 is miles better. We clearly have deadwood in this position.

    I make it 4 positions were we are clearly weaker than the 15/16 squad. Today's LB and CF options definitely need vast improvement.

    We also need slight improvements in CB and CM.

    We got away with being uber-defensive in 15/16 because of the solidity in CD and CM, while Iggy was on fire. We could feasibly get away with Masina as 1st choice LB, but think we need good competition for him.

    How much money do we think Gino will spent this summer?
     
  32. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    Spend money?

    Why? Are they out of free transfers?
     
  33. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    Free transfers, usually require large signing on fees and increased wages! The likes of Alex Mowatt, Nick Powell, Ashley Young (if wages aren't ridiculous) are worth looking in to.

    Maybe get De Paul on loan (dreamland) and get a good striker on loan, maybe a fringe national team player, who wants to get into a world Cup squad?

    Loan in a good young CB, to potentially partner Sierralta.

    That would do us.
     
  34. Supertommymooney

    Supertommymooney Squad Player

    I had my tongue rather in my cheek.

    However I do think we'll get some free transfers in. Gino loves a free.

    We'll need to spend some money as well. If Sarr does get sold we'll need to reinvest that cash as well.

    No idea if we'll use loans, we haven't much in the Prem. Would make sense in the current financial climate.
     
    folkestone orn likes this.
  35. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    You are comparing a promotion squad with a squad prepared for the Premier League, which is a bit unfair. You need to wait for the transfer window.
     
    ITK platypus likes this.

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