|
Post by kenglowhite on Apr 7, 2021 13:01:11 GMT
I agree with most of that, Whites, and wish to say in reply to Andy that in my experience that, with a little tweaking, a good side in one league is likely to be pretty good in another, witness our experience during the 70s, Eighties, and Nineties. While I hope there is some basis in your optimism about Maddison, I feel he has yet to go past a man successfully, and to play an incisive pass to a colleague. On that I live in hope, but I feel sure you should be fighting more strongly for the inclusion of Gnahoua in the inside left channel. He can dribble like Hoolahan (viz possible player of month), shoot like Sarcevic, and does his share of tackling back. He should be in the team before Delfouneso every time in giving support to Doyle. Doyle is a superb finisher, and it is definitely wrong to write him off for League One so long as he has the right kind of support. As for Brockbank I feel he is at least as good as Jones, but has been unlucky not be involved through his earlier injury in the team's successful run.
|
|
|
Post by OohMac on Apr 7, 2021 13:50:00 GMT
Nothing new getting said but heres the elephant in the room.
Since Jan, our most successful era for decades, we have played 19 times and scored more than 1 goal on just 6 occasions. We have scored 3 once.
In those 6 games we have relied on Own Goals, Penalties and playing against ten to aide us with those.
In the 19 games just once have we scored more than 1 without the help of an OG, Penalty or Red Card.
It does remind me of that Dougie Freedman run of good luck with Craig Dawson scoring a lot of winners. That luck ran out fast.
Difference is i think Dougie would shrug his shoulders if you told him those figures. I think Evatt wants better.
I cant think of too many promotion teams that struggle to score so much.
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 7, 2021 16:05:57 GMT
I agree OM, look at all the successful teams who win promotion, like Leeds, Norwich, even Peterborough recently and they regularly score 3 to 4 goals. We sneaked up under Parky and even if we did score a few occasionally, we still never controlled the games. In the Ricoh and Todd teams, we always had four or five strikers to choose from and regularly won games comfortably. I mean, could you imagine being in the play offs against Reading with our current make up and going two down in ten minutes? I accept that it’s down to finances and embargoes but hopefully with those easing next year IE will have better options than just Doyle or Miller, neither of who fill me with confidence, or are good enough for L1 in my opinion. Goals win games, points win prizes, both true sayings and though we’ve cobbled together the points, it’s not been without its fortunate streak. That ran out over the weekend and we need to get it back quickly. Hopefully Maddison can be the answer, he has the ability, let’s see if he has the attitude.
|
|
|
Post by whiteofthesouth on Apr 7, 2021 19:14:51 GMT
I’m a new poster and new supporter since 2019.
I don’t disagree with much of what’s being said here, but I have a few comments.
Firstly, I don’t think two games with bad results constitutes a trend. We were poor in the Colchester game - everyone including IE acknowledged that. Off days happen. In the Newport match we were the better team for three quarters of the game. They only scored because of an incorrect referring decision - Lee didn’t handle the ball. On another day we would have scored at least two. If we play like we did there I don’t think we’ll have any problems in going up.
Secondly, if either of those games had happened during our unbeaten run instead of at the end surely we would have taken it more philosophically. It’s only because we reached the automatics then got knocked back that people have become twitchy. Remember, no team around us has any consistency.
Like most others, I don’t understand why a player of Delfouneso’s quality isn’t adding more. Having said that, he did produce a brilliant assist for Doyle to win us a recent game.
My view is that we are missing Sarcevic. I know he seems to go missing at times, but he’s the best player we have at number 10. Good as Lee is, he’s not a number 10.
It’s been mentioned that we’ve been lucky and scraped through a few games in our good run. However, we’ve been equally unlucky, mostly with bad officiating. In particular that Morecambe’s player wasn’t penalised (and sent off for a second yellow) for pulling back Sarcevic when he was through on goal. Delany’s dubious sending off for a second yellow after a doubtful penalty decision for his first yellow. Maddison’s subsequently rescinded red card when we were one up that allowed our opponents to equalise. I already mentioned the incorrect handball at Newport leading to their goal. Generally poor officiating hasn’t helped us.
Yes, our goals against Southend and Barrow were late on in the game, but the way we play is at least in part designed to wear other teams out physically and mentally and late goals are a result of that. It very nearly happened again on Monday when Baptiste’s header may or may not have crossed the line - oh, I forgot, the goalie said it didn’t!!
All for now. I’ll comment some other time on whether or not I think we have the quality for league one next year.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2021 20:15:56 GMT
Welcome Whiteofthesouth nice to see new faces on the board , you dont come from Southhampton do you ? just asking cause some folks the last board i was on came from there .
|
|
|
Post by whiteofthesouth on Apr 7, 2021 23:02:24 GMT
I was in Southampton for a few years, but that was some time ago. Now mostly in London.
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 8, 2021 10:21:42 GMT
Welcome South, you’ve joined a few other new posters recently so hopefully you’ll comment regularly. Unlike some boards, there’s no abuse or animosity on here for those with different views, thus we can have good debates without the angst. I don’t think many are getting twitchy about the last two results, Colchester was awful but as you say, we should have easily beaten Newport and the actual performance was excellent. Delfouneso is a Marmite character I think, with much debate about his worth to the team. Personally I don’t think he does anywhere near enough to warrant a regular place in the starting eleven. Nobody denys his ability, he’s arguably the best we’ve got but other than occasional (very occasional actually) moments like the one you mention, he is largely uninvolved, weak in the tackle and missing from the penalty box. Seasons are always a mixture of lucky and unlucky and that’s what creates our talking points but let’s hope our talking points after Saturdays match are positive, with another 3 points in the till and by more than a single goal.
|
|
|
Post by OohMac on Apr 8, 2021 10:56:04 GMT
My frustration with Delfouenso is hes been given so many opportunities to fail whereas others hace been in, out and never seen again.
All the rest of the attacking options really have been treated like this. Delfouenso ever present albeit asked to do different roles.
Had a thought the other day, the lack of a number 10 and remembered we gave away a creator in Ali Crawford. Cant help but wonder what game he could have played with a settled midfield of Lee, MJ and genuine out balls with Maddison?
I think we needed to get rid to create a space and get off the wage bill. So its far from "I cant believe we did that!" More ponderous.
Back to Delf. If we get promoted do I think hes L1? No. If we dont i will level a good chunk of blame at him therefore I dont see him in future plans. Maddison we dont know. Elbozedi were not sure. Take these 7 games and lets get a definitive answer
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 8, 2021 14:01:28 GMT
We’re obviously a work in progress OM and when we do, as I’m sure we will get promotion, there is much work to do on this team. I’m sure IE knows that and is already planning a major recruitment drive, hopefully this time with a little more financial firepower? I think most of the pre January team will either be gone, or retained for back up but I can’t see the likes of Delf, Arthur or Baps still being here. Even the likes of Doyle, Miller and Isgrove, who look decent at this level, would struggle I think any higher up. As you say, the jury’s out on the likes of Maddison and Elbow and I think it very much depends on how they perform in the remaining games and also of course if they want to sign up. As long as the money isn’t silly, either way, I think they would both stay if offered the chance. Interesting times ahead but with the backbone of a decent midfield and defence, it’s the striking positions that need the most improvement. Doyle’s scored goals but has hardly impressed otherwise and really should have had a good many more. Interesting thought about Crawford had he still been here. In an out and out No10 role, properly supported, he might have improved but he hasn’t exactly impressed at Tranny and I could never really understand why he left Donny and why they didn’t seem bothered. Maybe he’s just one of those who doesn’t settle but in honesty I don’t think we’ve missed him. Maybe George should be given a chance in that role, he does have a bit of a Nobby look about him? Time will tell.
|
|
|
Post by whiteofthesouth on Apr 8, 2021 18:51:12 GMT
My thoughts about next season.
Of course this is premature as we don’t know which league we’ll be in, but in my optimism I’ll consider League One first, which I’ll cover in this post. So, which players would be up to the mark? It’s worth reflecting on last season when we were in that league. I don’t know what everyone else thinks about League Two, but I’ve been surprised. Teams have been better - or maybe just harder to beat - than I expected. In fact, are they much worse than many of the teams we played in League One last year? After all, we did win a number of games with a team that had poorer players than we have now.
Maybe it’s worth starting by asking which players are unlikely to stay. Top of my list is Declan John. He’s been excellent, but he will be on a big number with Swansea and, unless he thinks we’re a route to the Championship in short order and is content to take a dip in wages for at least a year when his Swansea contract expires, I don’t see him staying. My feeling is that the chance of other loanees being in the squad next year is higher. Some may have to take a wage cut, but we will be able to offer more in League One and they all have to be realistic about where their careers are going. I’m thinking of Maddison in particular. So I have ‘Dapo, Maddison, Elbouzedi as likely. Players such as Jackson and Jensen may also be around depending on what happens to Declan John and if Matt Gilks continues as goalie.
Back to who is good enough. To my mind, Gilks is a maybe. He’s made some great saves and only been guilty of letting in a couple he should have saved, which actually didn’t affect the result. He also helps organising the back four. Since he replaced Billy I’m not sure a better keeper would have resulted in more points. Back four next. If we keep Declan John, then I’m happy with Jones (much improved), Santos and John. Baptiste has been very good once we switched to four at the back. Can he last another year and at a higher level. We at least need someone capable of challenging for his position. Are either Delaney or Greenwich that player? Personally I think Delaney has been poor and cost us a few goals. Greenwich is better going forward - I remember a couple of marauding runs before he was sidelined - but a question mark remains over his defensive abilities. My view is look for another centre back.
MJ and Lee are both under contract and I believe they’ll be fine at the next level up.
Thomason is developing well, but if MJ and Lee sit in front of the back four where does he play. Strangely his longer passes are better than his short ones, so it’s difficult to tell if he can develop into a number 10?
Very few people have anything good to say about Delfouneso. He was certainly playing better earlier on when, as a team, we were playing worse. Clearly, he should have the ability to step up a level and I can’t see IE ditching him and he’s on a longer contract so maybe not worth dwelling on.
Isgrove is an extremely hard worker, but his final ball leaves a lot to be desired and he doesn’t score. Is the fact that he covers so much ground a pretext for keeping him?
Gnahoua is an enigma. He was poor for the Colchester game, but he’s been effective as a late substitute. However, I’m not convinced he’ll cope at a level up.
Sarcevic has been much maligned on this and other forums. However, I think we’re missing him and that he could be effective in League One. He does drift in and out of games, but has scored some vital goals and has both skill and determination.
On to the strikers. Doyle is competent and surely we can’t turn our noses up at the number of goals he’s scored. However, I’m not convinced that our style suits him. He’s a poacher whereas I think we need a more mobile striker who can turn and outrun defenders. Miller has looked OK when he’s come on, but I’m far from sure he’s the answer. I would say we recruit another man up front. Oh, I almost forgot, we’ll have Politic back by next season. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more selfish player, but he certainly adds something different.
It’s also with looking at who has a longer term contract. Of course, they can always be sold, but they’re more likely to stay. I won’t cover everyone, but it includes Santos, MJ, Doyle, Delfouneso, Sarcevic, Thomason, Lee, Politic and, I guess, Gilks is going nowhere! I read somewhere (could be wrong) that we also had options to extend on a few players including Jones and Baptiste. If we kept ‘Dapo, Maddison and perhaps Elbouzedi, that’s already a pretty good base to build on.
IMHO another striker, a central defender and an alternative number 10 are top priorities. Maybe also a goalie depending on if Jensen stays (and we have no idea if he’s good enough anyway).
Lastly, funding. Both L1 &L2 started the season with salary caps. As I understand it, this excluded players already on the books and academy players. However, a while ago the cap was declared illegitimate and done away with, reverting to the previous SCMP rules. I’m convinced we didn’t set out to buy this league (unlike at least one other team, that failed in this endeavour!). If that’s right our total salaries are probably close to the cap level of £1.5m. Of course, some of the loanees are on higher salaries, but their clubs will be paying the lions’s share of that. Loanees are an issue as it doesn’t feel like building for the long term or, indeed, building player value. However, often you get a better player at a knock-down wage. Useful in the short term.
The salary cap in League One was £2.5m, so it wouldn’t be surprising if most clubs are around that level.
In any case, we’ve now reverted back to the SCMP rules that limit player spending to a percentage of footballing turnover - 60% in L1 & 55% in L2. We must have the highest turnover of L2 by some way and will still be high in comparison to most (but not all) L1 clubs, and although that doesn’t mean we’ll spend up to the limit it does give us considerable latitude.
All for now.
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 8, 2021 21:53:38 GMT
Interesting points South, well put but as you say, it’s largely premature to decide who will stay and who will leave until we know which league we’ll be playing in. I suspect other than John and possibly Maddison, none of the other loaners will be on big money, so signing them shouldn’t be a big problem. The front and back are the main issues. I can’t see us signing Jensen permanently because he seems to be very highly thought of at Burnley, although since I suspect it was game time they sent him for, they may be a little disappointed that he hasn’t had any and if they’re not then maybe they don’t rate him as highly as we think? Definitely at least one and preferably two new strikers are needed. I’m not sure Doyle would cut it in L1, although it would be fair to at least give him a chance. We don’t appear to have much if anything coming through so imports are guaranteed. Miller can go for me as can Delfouneso and if I’m honest Sarcevic too who I don’t think is L1 quality and we can get a better No10. Likewise Isgrove and Gnahoua who would also struggle higher up. Like you I don’t think there’s a massive difference between L1 and L2 until you get near the top and then the difference shows. If we want to go straight through to the Championship then these players won’t do it. Anyway, we’ve got this season to finish first so I’ll concentrate on that for now!!
|
|