Alan Knill

[seanbeenstattoo]

It may well just be me,(and probably is),but I think Lavery could be a very good championship striker as both creator and finisher. Pace,young and fearless,skill,self belief,swagger. Liked him since I first saw him.

 

[Slim Man]

Leon Clarke hit form towards the end, an eye for goal

He's never scored goals at championship level. I like Clarke, he's good for League One, but he's never done it at Championship level and he's past his peak.

 

[Slim Man]

A bit of an absolutist Danny, given your reply it seems we might as well forget about existing alternatives and just consider Sharp as the only outlet for goals.

Truth is, I've no idea who will step up to the plate and give us what we need. What I do know is that Wilder's no mug and his experience will offer us solutions should we fail in specific areas. It's a first season back in the Championship, if we keep the ball out at one end and score a few at the other it might put a very different gloss on matters. Best advice is be patient and let Wilder do his job.

More than happy to let Wilder do his job but are we as fans not allowed to voice our opinion unless it's positive?
I'm not a pessimist or an optimist, I'm a realist. And our top scorer last year besides Billy was a right back. The fact we haven't strengthened upfront (Ched isn't strengthening, it's just a gamble.) has to be a worry.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

It may well just be me,(and probably is),but I think Lavery could be a very good championship striker as both creator and finisher. Pace,young and fearless,skill,self belief,swagger. Liked him since I first saw him.

You are not alone in your admiration of Lavery

 

[Slim Man]

You are not alone in your admiration of Lavery

I think he's a good player but he isn't a finisher. A good creator he is.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

I think he's a good player but he isn't a finisher. A good creator he is.

So he creates,Billy scores,like Beardsley and Lineker,hope he has a good pre season and stays injury free,I'm very relaxed about our striking options personally speaking

 

[itsinyerblood]

More than happy to let Wilder do his job but are we as fans not allowed to voice our opinion unless it's positive?
I'm not a pessimist or an optimist, I'm a realist. And our top scorer last year besides Billy was a right back. The fact we haven't strengthened upfront (Ched isn't strengthening, it's just a gamble.) has to be a worry.

There doesn't appear to be much room for grey areas in your thinking, do they son? Of course post an opinion, but equally, if another poster disagrees with you, aren't they permitted to say so?. Listen, you may be right, but if it suits your temperament to get your view in this quick, knock yourself out. I doubt Wilder is sitting on his arse being complacent, he'll do what he's paid to do, something we have to rely on. No doubt he'll have his targets and he'll do his very best to secure their signature. If that's not good enough there'll be a vacant chair in the manager's office sooner rather than later, and thus the circle will continue.

 

[FTPE]

It may well just be me,(and probably is),but I think Lavery could be a very good championship striker as both creator and finisher. Pace,young and fearless,skill,self belief,swagger. Liked him since I first saw him.

Me too.
I think he could be a Jamie Ward for us.

 

[FTPE]

I think he's a good player but he isn't a finisher. A good creator he is.

I trust you more because you said it in a Yoda voice.

 

[Maidenhead]

We need immediate results though. Hanson won't score a goal, Clarke if fit MIGHT score a few, Lavery has never been a big goalscorer. Evans is a huge gamble based on 4 years ago.

Literally leaves Billy, so if he doesn't cut it...

If we don't sign another forward we are potentially screwed. Surely a forward who has recently scored a few goals at Championship level isn't too much to ask? Of all our players only Billy has EVER.

Want to back your assertion that "Hanson won't score a goal" with hard cash?

If he plays more than a handful of games as opposed to 10 minute substitute appearances here and there I'm absolutely certain that he will score.

 

[Slim Man]

Want to back your assertion that "Hanson won't score a goal" with hard cash?

If he plays more than a handful of games as opposed to 10 minute substitute appearances here and there I'm absolutely certain that he will score.

He scored 1 goal for us in League One, how can you possibly believe he'll even manage a goal in the championship?
I don't rate him at all

 

[Cerberus Blade]

He said Carey was one not happening too - not one they are interested in. Says he has resigned for Plymouth.

EEL interest but no bid

Good!

I think we are waiting in the fall out from the Prem 25 before we bring in a centre half and EEL won't be the one.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Want to back your assertion that "Hanson won't score a goal" with hard cash?

If he plays more than a handful of games as opposed to 10 minute substitute appearances here and there I'm absolutely certain that he will score.

"a goal"

Yes he will. Just the one mind.

 

[Maidenhead]

He scored 1 goal for us in League One, how can you possibly believe he'll even manage a goal in the championship?
I don't rate him at all

You didn't answer the question.

 

[Slim Man]

You didn't answer the question.

How many games you saying? If he plays 46 he might manage 1...

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Hansen is not a Championship centre forward.
I would be happier if he was going to be played at CB.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Hansen is not a Championship centre forward.
I would be happier if he was going to be played at CB.

Now that's not as daft as it may sound! Dion Dublin springs to mind.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Alan is our BFG isn't he?

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Now that's not as daft as it may sound! Dion Dublin springs to mind.

I'm not just a pretty face.

 

[Maidenhead]

How many games you saying? If he plays 46 he might manage 1...

So you've already moved your position.

If he plays 900 minutes, the equivalent of at least ten full games, he will score at least one.

Of course there's a chance that he might get moved on in which case he won't score for us but if he's still here next May he will have scored for us. (which you initially said he wouldn't)

 

[Slim Man]

So you've already moved your position.

If he plays 900 minutes, the equivalent of at least ten full games, he will score at least one.

Of course there's a chance that he might get moved on in which case he won't score for us but if he's still here next May he will have scored for us. (which you initially said he wouldn't)

I have 'moved my position' based on him playing 46 games. Which he won't.

Do you rate James Hanson out of interest?

 

[Maidenhead]

I have 'moved my position' based on him playing 46 games. Which he won't.

Do you rate James Hanson out of interest?

I think he is a useful alternative

Defenders hate him because he puts himself about and causes real nuisance, thereby opening up space for others.

I also think he is a tremendous asset when we're defending set pieces.

He will never be a top striker or top goal scorer but he will pick up a few along the way.

Teams need to be able to do something different to change the course of a game and he gives us something completely different.

I would always have him in the match day squad because of that but wouldn't necessarily start him.

Always absolutely bloody hated it when he played against us and well pleased to have him on our side now.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I think he is a useful alternative

Defenders hate him because he puts himself about and causes real nuisance, thereby opening up space for others.

I also think he is a tremendous asset when we're defending set pieces.

He will never be a top striker or top goal scorer but he will pick up a few along the way.

Teams need to be able to do something different to change the course of a game and he gives us something completely different.

I would always have him in the match day squad because of that but wouldn't necessarily start him.

Always absolutely bloody hated it when he played against us and well pleased to have him on our side now.

Well said, decent summary of Hanson's usefulness to us. Last season, when he joined, he was more than useful for us going forward. Before casting him to the lions let's see if he serves a useful role this season. He's not a first choice, far from it, but in order to get us out of Div 1 he contributed in ways that only the blind would fail to see.

 

[COME BACK CHED]

Alan is our BFG isn't he?

Dont kid yourself that Alan Knill is soft ,he has had the very unpleasent job of telling hundreds if not thousends of youngsters , they wont make a living out of playing football , over the years , not a job i would want , some of there Dads are Massive .

 

[stringer]

If Hanson can prove a handful for one of the finest defenders the country's produced in my lifetime, I'm sure he can do a job next season

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co....s_Hanson_for_leaving_Chelsea_black_and_Blues/

 

[Maidenhead]

Dont kid yourself that Alan Knill is soft ,he has had the very unpleasent job of telling hundreds if not thousends of youngsters , they wont make a living out of playing football , over the years , not a job i would want , some of there Dads are Massive .

Hardest thing I ever had to do in my working life was tell a 16 yr old yts girl that she hadn't got a job at the end of her training

She was a lovely girl but she just wasn't up to it.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Hardest thing I ever had to do in my working life was tell a 16 yr old yts girl that she hadn't got a job at the end of her training

She was a lovely girl but she just wasn't up to it.

I've got to tell half my team next week in their mid year performance reviews they aren't up to it. It will either make or break me as a manager

 

[Maidenhead]

I've got to tell half my team next week in their mid year performance reviews they aren't up to it. It will either make or break me as a manager

Good luck mate.

I had plenty of tears at performance reviews.

I could cope with that, but finishing a 16 yr old yts was a whole different ball game

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Good luck mate.

I had plenty of tears at performance reviews.

I could cope with that, but finishing a 16 yr old yts was a whole different board game

Shit sandwich time I reckon positive, negative, positive.

At least at 16 her life was in front of her and it could have spurred her onto better things?

 

[Maidenhead]

Shit sandwich time I reckon positive, negative, positive.

At least at 16 her life was in front of her and it could have spurred her onto better things?

And I thought I was meant to be the optimistic one

More seriously, you may be surprised how well it goes.

In one round of appraisals I had tears from a girl I thought I had given a great review to because I graded her a "C" and my predecessor had always given her a B.

I told her what to address and where she needed to improve and she got upgraded just over a year later
When I moved on she rang me and asked if she could come and work for me again!

On the other hand I gave another girl who had always had a C before a bottom grade.

She just looked at it and said "gosh, am I really that bad?"

Be prepared for some surprises and once again, good luck.