Current state of the squad

[Ashley]

We don't need to rush to get the full squad in place by the start of the season.

It's not ideal but as long as the whole squad is done by September then it'll be okay. More players will become available and more importantly much cheaper when the season kicks off.

The signings so far have brought us a lot of time because they are all realistic starters.

As long as we get a couple of decent CMs and a decent AM we should have enough to put out a decent enough XI to start the season. After that we can gradually fill in the gaps in the squad up until the end of the window.

 

[Project Zeus]

Colback, like Lolley (tin hat being prepared) will have a part to play this season. Neither will start but both will feature... We played three Prem sides last year and Colback didn't look out of place against any.

Seasons are long and an individual is at best 1/11th of a team. A Prem team wouldn't look at him now as he's too old but he's the quality to hold his own in the top flight, especially as a bit part player.

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Colback will. He's an experienced head that we'll need, with such a young squad. He's versatile as well.

Lolley is destined for the glue factory.

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[Master Yates]

Agreed.

We don't need two players for every position. Someone like Biancone can cover both RWB and RCB. Chances of Worrall /and/ Williams being out at the same time is slim, and even then you could still make do with Mbe Soh at RCB provided there's two others for CB and LCB.

I know we're after Toffolo but if it doesn't happen I'm not sure we'll go for another LWB. Richards is our go to man but if he's injured we could rely on Colback (who will not be a starting CM mark my words) or Niakhate if desperate.

Ultimately we need quality in CM and AM for the starting eleven, and backups for those two positions as well (because I don't really fancy making do with Cafu or Ojeda).

I think we'll make five or six more signings:
2x starting CMs
1x starting AM
1x backup AM
1x backup striker
1x backup wing back

That'll be enough to be competitive. Review in January if necessary.

I don’t fancy making do and thankfully I don’t think Marinakis and Cooper do either.

I fully expect us to sign another wing-back on both sides, two more for the middle of the park, at least one and probably two in AM, at least one more striker/forward and a backup keeper.

I believe Hennessey, Toffolo and O’Brien are close, so I expect 5 more after that, including our other domestic loan slot.

Henderson, Hennessey, Smith
Worrall, Biancone, Cook, McKenna, Niakhite
Williams, Richards, Toffolo, RWB
O’Brien, CM, Yates, Colback
AM, AM/RW
Awoniyi, Johnson, Surridge, CF/LW

That’s 22, plus Mbe Soh and Mighten who won’t need to be registered as u21.

As long as we get the extra CM and one of the AMs before Newcastle, we’ll be ok to get the final 3 in the last few weeks of the window.


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[Ashley]

Colback will. He's an experienced head that we'll need, with such a young squad. He's versatile as well.

Lolley is destined for the glue factory.

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Agree with this. Colback will be useful to have around, but something would have had to have gone horribly wrong during the remainder of the transfer window for Lolley to have any real involvement this coming season.

 

[Master Yates]

Agree with this. Colback will be useful to have around, but something would have had to have gone horribly wrong during the remainder of the transfer window for Lolley to have any real involvement this coming season.

Prime Lolley from two seasons ago would probably fit that backup AM/winger role perfectly, but unless he recaptures that form, I agree with you.

And he’s not going to capture that form unless he’s playing, so I can’t see it happening.


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[Steve B]

Out of necessity, due to budgetary and time constraints - I think you might end up seeing the younger players that you've bomb squadded - such as Mbe Soh (do we really need to invest any more money in a 6th choice center back?), Ojega and Mighten used as back-ups for now, with a view to either proving themselves or being replaced later.

on the yates point, we will need another body there anyway (as a priority) due to his injury.

If Mbe Soh is over his injury problem and is looking good in training I have no problem with him as 6th CD. Would be a waste to buy someone else in that position in my view and might create unrest. Only downside is Mbe Soh might not get regular enough game time to accelerate his own development.

 

[Rzar]

Love Lolley but I wouldn’t have wanted him involved if we were in the Championship next year - we are going to need better.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Out of necessity, due to budgetary and time constraints - I think you might end up seeing the younger players that you've bomb squadded - such as Mbe Soh (do we really need to invest any more money in a 6th choice center back?), Ojega and Mighten used as back-ups for now, with a view to either proving themselves or being replaced later.

on the yates point, we will need another body there anyway (as a priority) due to his injury.

And that’s fair as I said some of the bomb squad Will may have to be squad fillers depending on budget and that’s fair. Whatever happens we need to prioritise 2 cms and at least one attacking mid , I know we will need more but that’s the priority.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Colback, like Lolley (tin hat being prepared) will have a part to play this season. Neither will start but both will feature... We played three Prem sides last year and Colback didn't look out of place against any.

Seasons are long and an individual is at best 1/11th of a team. A Prem team wouldn't look at him now as he's too old but he's the quality to hold his own in the top flight, especially as a bit part player.

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I’m with you on Colback and I love him but Lolley who I used to have a love affair I think has now lost it which is shame because he was awesome when he was good

 

[Omar Devone Little]

Lolley has lost that yard of pace he had. He's never been super quick but he had that ability to just give the defender a sniff so they commit only to then beat them to the ball and touch it past. Whereas someone like Johnson for example can push the ball past them and beat them in a race.

Now Lolley has lost the yard he's the one getting beaten to the ball and his trademark cutting in onto his left foot is predictable and a half-second slower than it used to be which gives the opposition time to block. If he's unable to create this yard in the Championship then it's unlikely he'll be able to against Van Dijk et al.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

Lolley has lost that yard of pace he had. He's never been super quick but he had that ability to just give the defender a sniff so they commit only to then beat them to the ball and touch it past. Whereas someone like Johnson for example can push the ball past them and beat them in a race.

Now Lolley has lost the yard he's the one getting beaten to the ball and his trademark cutting in onto his left foot is predictable and a half-second slower than it used to be which gives the opposition time to block. If he's unable to create this yard in the Championship then it's unlikely he'll be able to against Van Dijk et al.

Don't know who Van Dick is, but that's a name and half.

Lolley in his prime would trouble any defender, but like others have said I'm not sure he's as effective nowadays.

Leave it we Coops.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Lolley has lost that yard of pace he had. He's never been super quick but he had that ability to just give the defender a sniff so they commit only to then beat them to the ball and touch it past. Whereas someone like Johnson for example can push the ball past them and beat them in a race.

Now Lolley has lost the yard he's the one getting beaten to the ball and his trademark cutting in onto his left foot is predictable and a half-second slower than it used to be which gives the opposition time to block. If he's unable to create this yard in the Championship then it's unlikely he'll be able to against Van Dijk et al.

Its Lolley's lack of end product now for his position that is worrying. His shooting has now become really bad. I actually think his general play is good just his end product has now gone off a cliff edge. Maybe that is linked to his lack of pace now that he is struggling to get into the correct body positions quick enough.

 

[Yossarian]

No offence to Lolley but he should be looking at one of the bigger L1 clubs.

 

[congo_red_49]

Its Lolley's lack of end product now for his position that is worrying. His shooting has now become really bad. I actually think his general play is good just his end product has now gone off a cliff edge. Maybe that is linked to his lack of pace now that he is struggling to get into the correct body positions quick enough.

This is a fair assessment. He still generally looks after the ball, passes it as well as anyone, does his bit of defending/tracking back when needed. But beating a man with a dribble, through ball or anything else creative is gone, along with his shooting boots.

 

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

Anyone know how Lolly is performing in preseason so far? Didn't he go off injured in the 1st game?

Unless he's looking like he's back to his old self then we should be looking to move him on.

 

[Ashley]

No offence to Lolley but he should be looking at one of the bigger L1 clubs.

He could perhaps do for someone like Sheffield Wednesday or Ipswich. Think the Championship is beyond him now though.

I do feel sorry for him; a few years ago he was one of the best players in the Championship, but the last couple of years he looks a shadow of his former self. Injuries have ruined him sadly.

I do hope he goes somewhere where he can play regularly and enjoy his football again. A great servant to the club and a top bloke, but he just isn't at the level we require anymore and hasn't been for a long time now.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

He could perhaps do for someone like Sheffield Wednesday or Ipswich. Think the Championship is beyond him now though.

I do feel sorry for him; a few years ago he was one of the best players in the Championship, but the last couple of years he looks a shadow of his former self. Injuries have ruined him sadly.

I do hope he goes somewhere where he can play regularly and enjoy his football again. A great servant to the club and a top bloke, but he just isn't at the level we require anymore and hasn't been for a long time now.

Biggest shame ever because he wa so good that season under Karanka and watching him Carvalho and Grabban was beautiful. Unpopular opinion but Karanka was my favourite manager between Davies mark 1 and Cooper.

 

[weejockmcplop]

Biggest shame ever because he wa so good that season under Karanka and watching him Carvalho and Grabban was beautiful. Unpopular opinion but Karanka was my favourite manager between Davies mark 1 and Cooper.

Just a shame he turned out to be so karanky

 

[Caveman Ninja]

Just a shame he turned out to be so karanky

And that the football was shit. Didn't we break our longest ever run without scoring (again) under him?

 

[Omar Devone Little]

Now that Hennessey has signed we're down to 7 needed for me.

2 wing backs
3 midfielders
2 attackers (wide or central)

 

[Collymore!]

In think we need:

Toffolo
O’Brien
3x CM / ACM
1x LWF
1x ST

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

And a partridge in a pear tree.

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[Heffing Psycho!]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1549347660150218754

 

[gamble]

GK Sorted
CBS Sorted
LWB Sorted
RWB Sorted maybe with Bianconen.
Just need a few more in the middle and 1 striker and then we have a decent team with a half decent bench

 

[PynchonForest]

Toffolo confirmed now. Very few holes left to fill.