So... what are we lacking?

[Slim Man]

For a play off push? (No I am joking, no pressure but we showed we're no mugs)

A BRILLIANT 3 points yesterday, under pressure at times and fortunately Jota had an off day but you need that stroke of luck sometimes. Sheffield double to boot. Gap restored...

We've shown a lot of doubters what we can do yesterday, and had Micky Gray waxing lyrical on channel 5. Matched Brentford in every department just about and we won't see many better sides, but we can think ourselves lucky they missed a couple of golden chances, and that Blackman saved that 1 on 1 which he had no right to.

Their pace was clearly giving us allsorts of problems, and I would like a bit more. I think it's imperative to do well in this league you need a bit of pace upfront. We didn't seem to have an outlet later on and we were just hoofing if upfield and waiting for it to come back.

We kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas but you hope that will come with time. Maybe nerves on opening day as well played a factor.

The beginning of the second half was brilliant and we really had them on the ropes and it SHOULD have been 2 - Leon was NOT offside. So that was unfortunate. But as the second half went on we were sitting really deep at times and on another day one of their chances might have gone in.

Im not gonna single anyone out how well they place because every single one of the lads should be proud of how they played yesterday, but like Chris said we are a bit light on bodies, so what do we need and where? Where do we need to improve?

I really think we have nothing to fear. A couple of gems, the emergence of Brooks and who knows where we can go? Momentum is everything in football and we've got plenty of it.

Oh it's good to be back

 

[Ricky]

We're not desperate for anything now and I think we could get by with what we've got, at least until January, but I would like a striker/attacking player with pace. But ideally someone who'll be a starter, so it's not an easy task finding one.

The good thing is that we don't have to rush into making any more signings, we can bide our time and wait for the right ones, especially as some will only become available late in the window.

 

[JohnDenver]

Pace and trickery up front because we'll need to play on the break a lot more this season. Away from home against good sides (like Brentford) we won't dominate possession and will need to spring quickly to hold a threat. Sharp and Clarke aren't really the players to do that.

 

[McGrath]

Pace up front and someone with a magic spark just behind

 

[Ricky]

Pace up front and someone with a magic spark just behind

Brooks.

 

[Roygbiv]

Pace is the thing we need the most. Adrian Littlejohn style

 

[JohnDenver]

Via the medium of song:

 

[Rodley]

We're not desperate for anything now and I think we could get by with what we've got, at least until January, but I would like a striker/attacking player with pace. But ideally someone who'll be a starter, so it's not an easy task finding one.

The good thing is that we don't have to rush into making any more signings, we can bide our time and wait for the right ones, especially as some will only become available late in the window.

Agree, for me it's a really mobile centre midfield who can do the defensive stuff as well. Plus a pacey striker on loan. The difficulty on a PL loan is we'll be paying out £400k for a loan fee.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

For a play off push? (No I am joking, no pressure but we showed we're no mugs)

A BRILLIANT 3 points yesterday, under pressure at times and fortunately Jota had an off day but you need that stroke of luck sometimes. Sheffield double to boot. Gap restored...

We've shown a lot of doubters what we can do yesterday, and had Micky Gray waxing lyrical on channel 5. Matched Brentford in every department just about and we won't see many better sides, but we can think ourselves lucky they missed a couple of golden chances, and that Blackman saved that 1 on 1 which he had no right to.

Their pace was clearly giving us allsorts of problems, and I would like a bit more. I think it's imperative to do well in this league you need a bit of pace upfront. We didn't seem to have an outlet later on and we were just hoofing if upfield and waiting for it to come back.

We kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas but you hope that will come with time. Maybe nerves on opening day as well played a factor.

The beginning of the second half was brilliant and we really had them on the ropes and it SHOULD have been 2 - Leon was NOT offside. So that was unfortunate. But as the second half went on we were sitting really deep at times and on another day one of their chances might have gone in.

Im not gonna single anyone out how well they place because every single one of the lads should be proud of how they played yesterday, but like Chris said we are a bit light on bodies, so what do we need and where? Where do we need to improve?

I really think we have nothing to fear. A couple of gems, the emergence of Brooks and who knows where we can go? Momentum is everything in football and we've got plenty of it.

Oh it's good to be back

Not sure how you can say we won't see many better sides than Brentford.
Lets got to give it 8 to 10 games

 

[Slim Man]

I think signing a centre mid should now be pretty low on our list. Much more pressing matters.

Can't see anyone displacing Coutts and Fleck.

A striker with serious pace would be my 1 wish.

 

[Slim Man]

Not sure how you can say we won't see many better sides than Brentford.
Lets got to give it 8 to 10 games

We won't, it's a prediction. I think they're a top 8 team in waiting.

 

[Jehovah]

Their pace caused us serious issues. It's clear we need some pace. I don't exist many sides to have as many pacey players as they did though.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Too early to judge,I think the eleven can improve on yesterday imo
Felt a little it like a cup game yesterday where we seemed to drop deep and not have a real out ball ,was interesting that wilder didn't trust Brooks enough defensively to come on
Maybe sensible but the team seemed to have a bit of an inferiority complex those last twenty minutes

 

[Slim Man]

Their pace caused us serious issues. It's clear we need some pace. I don't exist many sides to have as many pacey players as they did though.

I can only think of Fulham who have as much pace as Brentford. They're like a team of sprinters.

 

[JJBlade]

If the aim is to stay up we are not lacking anything

If the aim is reaching the play offs we are lacking in every department

Because I think the aim is to survive this year we should be ok, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't improve the team further.

Anything we do this season recruitment wise makes the job of putting a decent side together easier for next year

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I just watched Fulham v Norwich on Ch 5 and fuck me they have pace and tricks up top to butn and agree we need a bit of that. Can Lavery provide it? Could a fit Ched? We need to give them a shot.
I'll get pelters for saying this,but unless Coutts wasn't match fit yesterday I would be concerned about his lack of pace and his lack of defensive ability given how deep he plays. Think Carruthers can provide the midfield spark with Brooks waiting in the wings.

 

[Barney]

Brooks on the field from the opening whistle.

 

[Jan Age]

As others have mentioned we need; pace, pace, pace....but with an end product .... that will cost a fair bit otherwise we will just have another JCR on our hands. Pace was the most obvious thing missing yesterday .... both up front and in midfield.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

We won't, it's a prediction. I think they're a top 8 team in waiting.

Sorry didn't finish my Post, bloody sensitive phone posted it before I had finished it.

Your probably right, but I can remember seeing sides before and thinking they'll be challenging for promotion only for them to be mid table or worse. Their finishing was a bit woeful after all.

The one thing that struck me from yesterday was how quick they moved the ball about compared to us. Not sure our players can do that.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Not sure how you can say we won't see many better sides than Brentford.
Lets got to give it 8 to 10 games

I watched a lot of Championship football last season and there might be many teams more organised, more physical and definitely more effective BUT I agree Brentford and Fulham are 2 of the more technical teams in thar division.

Brentford were technically better than us and one of the most technical sides in the division but that doesn't mean they are the best.

There's loads of other attributes that makes winners not just pure ability.

 

[Ricky]

As for central midfield, about 6 years ago when it looked like we were signing Leonard, I think we all assumed that would be it for central midfield recruitment. There wasn't any suggestion we'd sign another one as well as him. We've now signed Lundstram, and while they might be different in some ways, I don't think that explains the extent of the shift towards thinking that we need another one.

I'd like an athletic defensive midfielder but for how long they'd likely spend on the pitch, would it be worth it? I think the funds could be better used elsewhere. Then we can wait and get Leonard for less in January, if we need to.

If we sign Lenihan then we certainly shouldn't be spending on a central midfielder, because he'll cost a bit, and he can play there too. This could make him the priority signing, and Wilder's preferred way of addressing the midfield situation.

 

[Davalon]

It gets said a lot as this thread proves, but pace for me would give us something extra and make that difference at times.

You don't need pace everywhere if you've got footballers both in terms of technique and intelligence.

However there were a number of times yesterday when balls into the channels or over the top would have either created chances or give us a much needed breather defensively. Instead we were straight back under the cosh.

And I say that thinking Billy and Leon were both excellent yesterday.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I think we can all be accused of focusing more on what we don't have, rather than what we do have.

I would estimate the 18 on duty yesterday would have a combined market value well in excess of £20m.
Maybe even as high as £40m. Several players in the £2m-£3m bracket with you know who potentially £5m +.

We do need to add strength in depth but even with the squad as it stands, I don't see a relegation battle looming any time soon.

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

I'm not sure how anyone can think we're fine with what we've got.

First XI is arguably fine, but we have little else within the squad to step-up when needed. Our bench looked very weak.

We need someone who can play the CB role Basham does as cover.
We need a midfielder who can do the hard work. Box to box preferably. Leonard would be perfect, but failing that at least someone on loan to January (when we could perhaps slot Whiteman into the squad.
We need another striker. Someone with pace and trickery. Clarke was great yesterday but can he do that every game? I don't see him as a starting striker for all the season.

If we lost two key players to injuries (Basham and Fleck, for instance), we'd be screwed.

The bench potentials are:

Duffy - question marks over fitness?
Brooks - untested. Can he do the defensive side?
Wright - Can he step-up again, and if so, is it only into the position occupied by Stearman?
Evans - Can he get fit and be anything like the player he was?
Hanson - Is he good enough for this league?
Lavery - Could he step-in to become a regular starter, if needed?
Baldock - The one I think will be fine
Thomas - Where does he fit in and can he play at this level?
Lafferty - Think he can fill in at LWB or LCB but not sure he's good enough to do so if Stevens picks up a bad injury

Goalkeeping looks fine to me. The rest of the team looks a little short.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

I'm not sure how anyone can think we're fine with what we've got.

First XI is arguably fine, but we have little else within the squad to step-up when needed. Our bench looked very weak.

We need someone who can play the CB role Basham does as cover.
We need a midfielder who can do the hard work. Box to box preferably. Leonard would be perfect, but failing that at least someone on loan to January (when we could perhaps slot Whiteman into the squad.
We need another striker. Someone with pace and trickery. Clarke was great yesterday but can he do that every game? I don't see him as a starting striker for all the season.

If we lost two key players to injuries (Basham and Fleck, for instance), we'd be screwed.

The bench potentials are:
Oops fine to you is an untried rookie goalie.
Duffy - question marks over fitness?
Brooks - untested. Can he do the defensive side?
Wright - Can he step-up again, and if so, is it only into the position occupied by Stearman?
Evans - Can he get fit and be anything like the player he was?
Hanson - Is he good enough for this league?
Lavery - Could he step-in to become a regular starter, if needed?
Baldock - The one I think will be fine
Thomas - Where does he fit in and can he play at this level?
Lafferty - Think he can fill in at LWB or LCB but not sure he's good enough to do so if Stevens picks up a bad injury

Goalkeeping looks fine to me. The rest of the team looks a little short.

So the only one who looks fine to you is a rookie goalie yet to make his debut,bar Baldock,we won yesterday and you're still slashing your wrists

 

[wizadry]

I'm not sure how anyone can think we're fine with what we've got.

First XI is arguably fine, but we have little else within the squad to step-up when needed. Our bench looked very weak.

We need someone who can play the CB role Basham does as cover.
We need a midfielder who can do the hard work. Box to box preferably. Leonard would be perfect, but failing that at least someone on loan to January (when we could perhaps slot Whiteman into the squad.
We need another striker. Someone with pace and trickery. Clarke was great yesterday but can he do that every game? I don't see him as a starting striker for all the season.

If we lost two key players to injuries (Basham and Fleck, for instance), we'd be screwed.

The bench potentials are:

Duffy - question marks over fitness?
Brooks - untested. Can he do the defensive side?
Wright - Can he step-up again, and if so, is it only into the position occupied by Stearman?
Evans - Can he get fit and be anything like the player he was?
Hanson - Is he good enough for this league?
Lavery - Could he step-in to become a regular starter, if needed?
Baldock - The one I think will be fine
Thomas - Where does he fit in and can he play at this level?
Lafferty - Think he can fill in at LWB or LCB but not sure he's good enough to do so if Stevens picks up a bad injury

Goalkeeping looks fine to me. The rest of the team looks a little short.

I disagree, I think we'll be fine and will finish no where near the bottom but another couple of additions can only bolster our team for now and the future. Exciting times at the lane and thank fuck Wilder knows what he's doing and how he's going to go about it.

 

[FlamingLip]

Pace up front and someone with a magic spark just behind

To credit Brentford, they made it hard for our midfield. Has anyone pressed us as hard? But I've faith carruthers will give us some of that magic.

 

[Ricky]

Brooks - untested. Can he do the defensive side?

Sick of reading that, and I hope it's not a big factor for Wilder.

He's a very talented attacking player. How about focusing on what he's good at?

People seem to talk about Brooks and the 'defensive side of the game' as though he'd somehow be a total defensive liability from an attacking midfield position and as if none of the other midfielders ever get caught out, give the ball away or make defensive mistakes. I can think of plenty from Fleck recently.

Citing the defensive side as a reason not to 'risk' Brooks or players like him is largely bullshit in reality, IMO.

 

[Antonb]

I would have put Brooks on for Samir, and told him to run at them! Because I don't think shoring up midfield actually worked in that last twenty mins. Brooks would have given something for them to think about on the break.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Pace up front definitely, and maybe a bit more bite in the middle. But we have known this for a while though.