bubbly -what has mactheduff done this season to justify a large fee being paid for him, where ARE Palsarse in the league and if mactheduff was that good surley palarse would be doing very much better?
One player doesn't make a team mate, as you well know! I'm good mates with a Palarse season ticket holder and he has easily been their best player this season! A big fish in a small pond! Last season from what I saw of him I'd have said I was more worried about facing him than Andy Johnson in the play-offs! The game we lost 3-1 on the friday night was ran by McAnuff, he took us apart! He scored more goals than Smith last season and contributed more in terms of assists! Granted Noddy got Derby player of the season last year, but look at his scoring record last year compared to McAnuff...also look at where Derby finished! I think I could have got Derby player of the year last season! McAnuff is also younger than Smith!
Ah come on Paddy, you saw McAnuff take us to bits in three matches last season like the rest of us. Certainly looked more dangerous than Smith has ever done. I agree with Bubble - we arsed around with finances when straight talking chairmen like Jordan would have put a take it or leave it figure on the table. Seen as it was rumoured to be about £2m it would have been a bargain.
If Smith is so poor why has he been one of our most ever-present players this season ? Who else do we have that can play on the RIGHT wing as well as he has ? Half of our decent chances have come from him. Bouazza has provided the other half (I'm ignoring Ashley Young since he's no longer with us). Maybe he is not a 'premiership' player, but he's as good as or better than 9 of our other players on the pitch most games. We have all said stuff that we should not have said. The fact that he was willing to come back to us and that he HAS made the effort to do his best for us shows that he deserves a second chance. As for next year... IF we are relegated, I suspect that Aidy will let a few players go and loan out a load of the remaining ones... including possibly a few that might be interested in staying in the Premiership... If it allows him to keep players that have sale-on-relegation clauses for when we are re-promoted, he may be willing to let them go on a season-long loan. Worse case scenario, they do well in the Premiership for another team and are worth more when we do sell them. Some of his January transfer dealings were pretty obviously intended to give players an extended trial. 18 month contracts allow him to try them for 6 months and then get something for them if he decides to flog them.
The simple reason he has played is because we have no depth in that position! It's either Chambers or Smith and to be honest as much as I despise Noddy i wouldn't play Chambers in that position! To say half of our chances have come through Smith is laughable! To be honest we probably created more chances away at Bolton than we have in all our other games put together...we have the worst strike rate in Prem history!
nah, we should keep mariappa and demerit. personally i think we should keep smith, francis and henderson as well. francis had done alright for us this season, hes a much better player than mahon. players that should go - powell (coaching role,released, sold, whatever) mackay (coaching role) hoskins (from what ive seen of him, im not impressed) mahon (hes getting worse from match to match and with so many centre midfielders in the squad, we dont need him)
I think Malky was very solid last night. Was clearly putting the effort in and still has his place in the side, albeit alongside a quicker partner like Jay.
Totally agree, he's so important when it comes to on-pitch organisation and he knows all the tricks of the trade, ie when to give a striker a sly kick or a nudge without getting penalised. I always laugh when i see the first goal in the play off final as Malky practically has Paul Butler in a headlock to clear the way for Jay to head the ball in!!
Release Mahon and Jarrett Sell Francis and Kabba Loan out Robinson, Grant, Parkes, Loach and Diagouraga. Move Mackay, Powell and Chamberlain to coaching. Then, the ideal, and maybe realistic squad: Lee Konstanstoplous (from Hartlepool) Smith (From Notts Forest) Chambers Doyley Mariappa Shittu DeMerit Carlisle Avinel Smith *New Right mid.* Williams Williamson Bangura *New Centre mid* Cavalli Rinaldi McNamee Bouazza King Henderson Hoskins Priskin Ashikodi *New striker*
Right. So you'd free transfer a player who plenty would pay at least £500k for (Mahon) and sell a striker who scored into double figures in the Championship last season? Each to their own!
So who In your opinion cuts it in the prem with all the players in our squad taking into consideration we are now 2nd from bottom.
Dids Mackay, Powell, Chamberlain, Mahon Dos, Shittu, Foster, Demerrit, Bouazza. Maybees Lee, Priskin Cavalli, Marlon, Francis (in right position) Futures Bangers, Mariappa, Moses Dont think so Doyley, Stewart
Our full Professional squad Pofessionl Squad 38 players[/U] My thoughts on who should definitely stay: - Goal Keepers Ben will be gone back to manure - unfortunately Lee Loach Chamberlain - sign as cover Player/coach Right Backs Chambers Centre Backs McKay - sign as cover Player/coach Shittu DeMerrit Marriappa Left Backs Stewart Parkes Right MF Smith Kabba Centre MF Francis Bangura Williams Left MF Hammer Cavalli Strikers Marlon King Priskin Hendo Ashikodi Hoskin Players I'm not sure about: - Doyley - if we a get an offer he will probably go, with my blessing!!! Osborne - don't know enough about him? Carlisle - if fully recovered keep him!!! Avinel - don't know enough about him? Powell - would prefer a younger player!!! possile as cover? Jarrett - should have made break through by now so probably out!!! Mahon - I think it may be time for him to move on? Good player, but does not fit in anymore though IMHO!!! Blizzard - depends on fittness, probably out Diagoura - Could go, does not seem to be fulfilling his potential? Williamson - don't know enough about him? Rinaldi - don't know enough about him? Campana - don't know enough about him? Gill - don't know enough about him? Macca - probably time for him to go, could do a great job at a lower level!!! Robinson - May struggle to get a look in, maybe loan out. Grant - same as Robinson That leaves a definite 22 man squad 3 GK 1 RB 4 CB 2 LB 2 RMF 3 CMF 2 LMF 5 Strikers Obviously some of the others will stay, possibly 8 to 10 of them!!! but if none of them are good enough, I think we would need to sign: - 1 GK 1 RB 2 CB 3 MF Those I think should leave are: - Mahon Powell Jarrett Blizzard Diagoura Macca Doyley (Probably?)
I'm sorry, but no-one, bar a muppet would pay 500k for Mahon. As for Kabba, he might have scored a few goals at Sheffield United last season but he is a lazy *****, Priskin is ten times better and I say that having seen him play vs Accrington in the Cup.
Stockport wanna keep Blizzard til the end of the season: http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx...=57&lid=&title=Gannon+hopes+for+Blizzard+stay
It's one thing playing well in League 2, quite another to do well in the Premiership. I read very little into this other than the fact he's probably fitter now.
And most lkely, Blizzard has found his level of ability. He is most likely a league 1 player at best, who we saw could do a job in the championship but not a fantastic one. He has always tried for the club and to be honest, we have supported him well during his illness, so I think it would be a good idea at the end of the season for us to let them have him on a free but we have 25% of any future transfer fee
Me and my dad were discussing summer activity for the summer. We agreed we had the nucleus of a solid Championship squad however with the money we have available we need to sign 3 or 4 players with ‘a little bit extra’. We have a lot of hard working players, who have done a lot for us and been with us sometime, but if we are to move on to the ‘next level’ I think some very tough decisions have to be made. So players out: Doyley – I like Doyley, last season he proved that he can be a good defender but I don’t think he will get much better. I’d rather we signed another right back with more quality. Francis – Put simply I have felt let down by him. When we signed him I thought it was another ‘Aidy Coup’. I think one of the promoted sides will be after him, after all to the neutral his goal scoring record looks good. Macca – Again like Doyley I like Macca, but he’s not consistent enough, and has probably run out of time now Mahon – Controversial. I know I’m going to get stick for this, but I should start by saying I haven’t criticised Mahon and I think he has done a good job this season. He’s hard working, and is one of our longest serving players etc. However I honestly believe if we want to move up a gear we need a similar type of midfielder (that does the dirty work) but who has a bit more skill/control on the ball. Kabba – Only on a two year contract, so unless he shows great improvement I think he will be off – was probably only a short term attempt to replace Marlon anyway. Powell – Can’t see him staying, unless it is in a coaching capacity All of these are (at least potentially) first team regulars but if we get good replacements (which we need to) I don’t see the point in having large numbers of players if they don’t add anything different. Players who should be given another season to prove themselves Mariappa – Struggled this season, distribution is poor but he is still relatively young, should be given a chance to improve Priskin, Hoskins, Again young potential first team players who should be given at least another year in a lower division Bang-Bang – Without doubt one of my favourite youngsters, but unfortunately he hasn’t looked so good this season. However a year in a lower division should help him to improve again, Premiership probably (like for most of the players) just came too soon. Carlisle – Could be added to the first list, but that would seem harsh considering he’s been injured. Clearly doing well for L*ton, so still a good asset for a Championship side. With Malky moving onto coaching he should add depth at least. Players in: Urgent: A Goal Keeper (obviously!) A right back (preferably an attacking one with good distribution) A solid Centre back Also if possible A midfielder who can play on both sides A midfielder who can play the ball, defend and attack (only needed if Mahon is sold) Easy business being a manager isn't it!
Aberystwyth, I think you have raided Aidy's office & had a sneek peek at his plans for the summer, I think you're spot on, I think we may well see Parkes & Robinson promoted into the first team squad & Blizzard may well fill one of your midfield vacancies with Carlisle being given the central defence role.
I find myself.... agreeing with most of what you have said, and I have been thinking Mahon may well be on his way as well. After all look at all the MF's we brought in and with the likes of Blizzard and Diagoura (spelling) to come back into the squad, I think it may well be bye bye Gavin. Having said that I think Diagoura could go as well, as his potential does not seem to be coming through.
Blizzard is worse at passing than Mahon. Bangura isn't miles better either. Mahon is worth keeping for his experience alone. How many teams outside the Prem can say they have a player in their squad who's played in two FA Cup Semi Finals, two League Cup Semi Finals, won a Play Off Final and is still only around 30? I agree there should be a debate in the summer as to his permanent place in the team but to discard him would be our loss and a rival's gain.
I could see someone like Steve Bruce coming in for Gav. Mahon is a Birmingham boy and fan isn't he? and might suit them if they do not sign Muamba (sp?) from the gooners. I agree with virtually all of Aberystwyth comments and back up UEA about Blizzard. Two years ago everyone wanted Blizzard out, just because he is playing for a side in league 2 and doing well, does not make him a definate Watford first team player next year. I would be happy with Williams, Williamson, Cavaili and Rinaldi as our central midfielders with Bangura out on loan to a team who play passing football where he could learn to add that to his game.
I didn't include Blizzard in the list but I don't think he will stay either for the same reasons as Doyley. Doing well on loan so clearly a good league 2 player, could develop into a squad championship player in the future but i don't think he will go much further than that
I can see Doyley staying due to versatility of being able to play centre back but a lot might also depend on Chambers staying on going. Doyley having come through the ranks is more likely to settle for a place on the bench than chambers who might want first team football at his age. I do worry about a lot of our players not being able to pass a ball. Doyley's distribution is apalling, Maccas has never been good, Mahon seems to have done one decent pass this season (which created a goal on Sat!) and Young could never cross accuately. I think we need a bit more practice on that on the training ground this summer before we have any hopes of promotion
Did I miss something or didn't we only reach one League Cup semi final? Or was the other one with one of his previous clubs?
Two legs. Although one semi final in total they were both big games. Guess that just comes down to interpretation - one is still pretty good.
I cant Believe all the critism that Blizzard gets,its clearly obvious he was ill while playing for us,and to be honest he was not that bad.He put in some good performances last year even with his illness.Cardiff away he was superb and he won us that game with his midfield performance. He will be alot fitter by the time pre-season comes around.and someone said about him only playing 2nd div football,where did williamson and Hoskins come from,they have never played at the level they are at now.Williamson hasnt even had a sniff yet,so is he good enough or was it panic buying? Blizzard has played CCC footy while ill,and it will be like having a new signing.We have to sell players 1st then recruit because we do now have a very large squad.
