Since promotion, how many have improved the team?

[Champagneblade]

We’ve had 3 windows now.

How much has the recruitment moved us on?

Keeper - yes, given Moore on the bench.

Right back - evens, more depth but Freeman/Baldock very similar ability wise.

Left back - not so sure anymore. Enda is such a weak link defensively. Not tight enough to his man.

Centre back - same in 2/3 cases. Stearman/Egan upgrade on Wright though the latter got excellent results.

Midfield - worse, for now. The best midfield of promotion season is still the best now, only one is injured and one not picked.

Attack - same. Billy and Leon still feature but 2 years older. McGoldrick adds depth and experience and Woodburn vs Brooks is an open question.

Perhaps I am out on my own here, but after three windows, I would have expected more of the League One team to have been upgraded. I get the feeling a few may be on their last legs at the top of the pitch sand getting a nee front line forward isn’t proving easy.

Thoughts on the squad building since promotion?

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

With a couple of exceptions, the fact that our additions have either been free (or cheap) or loanees tells its own story. But that is the problem we have had for ages. McC hasn't got the financial clout and Princey won't use his.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

We have cleared out a lot of the bit players out who just wouldn’t make it at this level. Get em off wage bill and improvement in what we have left overall is a tick.

But we don’t own Henderson and Woodburn, a financial necessity but they would never come to us under
Adkins. They haven’t gone to Hull with their recent Premier experience have they? Ability to recruit talent is a tick.

We are moving forward but the Boa constrictor of the Direcotrial dispute and our wages and finances mean it’s slower, gradual and more clinical than we would like.

But we have to cut our cloth, sadly..

Yes there are vulnerabilities and Saturday threw them up. But under the conditions he is working under
Chris has done a great job. Just maybe not enough for promotion.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We have a much stronger squad than we did when promoted, but not a particularly stronger team. Indeed I think if you lined up our team vs Swansea against our team vs Brentford the latter would probably edge it.

 

[metalblade]

I think the OP about nails it. One by one the recruits of the last couple of transfer windows are showing that they are duffers. I know not every player bought from lower leagues are going to make the step up but the failure rate is starting to be a concern.

 

[WoodMillBlade]

We have or are going backwards.

Ageing attack.
Midfield depleted of creativity
Defense may have been improved
Gk same.

Bottom half of championship finish

 

[siblade]

We have a much stronger squad than we did when promoted, but not a particularly stronger team. Indeed I think if you lined up our team vs Swansea against our team vs Brentford the latter would probably edge it.

Nails it 100% for me this.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Watch Leeds v Stoke yesterday - Leeds were pretty much like us last season and like us played a relegated side, who most had got down as Promotion favorites.

Leeds were excellent - they TOOK the game to Stoke and wanted to win the game - we decided not to lose to Swansea.

Speaks volumes - play to YOUR strengths and try and win a game of football. Whatever players we have signed, we need to play our way whether they are £4m centre halves or free, end of contract players.

Lets see how we approach M'boro.

UTB

 

[Rob86]

We have or are going backwards.

Ageing attack.
Midfield depleted of creativity
Defense may have been improved
Gk same.

Bottom half of championship finish

I’m almost in agreement purely because of the forward line. I’d like to see how Duffy/Woodburn go in the next 10 games before saying we are definitely weaker though. If Duffy’s form has gone and Woodburn doesn’t come good, I think we could be in a bit of trouble.

It’s been extremely difficult to make significant improvements due to our financial constraints so we have to look for hidden gems and they just haven’t been found up top or in the 10 role.

 

[BladeInIreland]

We don't have the money to make significant improvements in a short space of time unfortunately.

We would need 3 or 4 Egan style signings, I.e Proven championship players capable of looking comfortable in a top 6 side.

Reality is we have to sign gambles and we also risk losing our big players.

I think the money doesn't buy you sucess brigade are starting to see the importance.

On a side note its not always easy to attract players to a club recently promoted till its settled.

Progress will be slow given we will probably lose O'Connell and fleck in the coming Windows.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Our issue has been that we can’t spend the funds available - wilder is hamstrung by the wage structure even when trying to bring in upgrades.

CW admitted last year was consolidate and supplement to improve the squad this time round was supposed to be improve first team and bring in quality. And being honest we’ve only added Egan that fits the bill and is our own player.

12 months down the line we need to replace Henderson and Woodburn in all probably and we’re no closer to solve the elephant in the room of our aging attack. We really need to get some targets over the line or focus on ones which are actually attainable - Hogan, waghorn and Gallagher have all been dead ends while we could have focused elsewhere and got some over the line and bolstered the squad.

That said there is still time to sort something - or else we don’t panic buy and keep our powdered dry and try and tie up some deals in January. I’m less keen on loans as that’s just pushing the problem down the road.

 

[Ricky]

Taking loans out of the equation...


Moore

Basham Egan/Stearman O'Connell

Baldock Coutts Fleck Stevens

Duffy

Clarke Sharp


That's how we've improved the starting 11. Only 3 players. Not great. And the wing backs are questionable.

We could've done much better but as we all now know....... wages.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Reading much of the above, although it's clear that a few posters prefer to concentrate om Wilder's 'shortcomings', it's abundantly clear that the root problem where promotion is concerned lies with the Board. Was there any forward planning, or were the owners caught up in their now publicised wrangle to the point where they were distracted, thus not providing the funds for Wilder to strengthen with players equipped for the Championship.

We may never find out what lay at the root of the club's delay in answering the demands of the Championship, but we're now in a very different world, one step away from the Premiership, and whether we can compete, whether we can genuinely prepare for promotion, time and desire will shed light on who was ready for the fight ahead, or badly prepared, once promotion had been achieved.

 

[super_pig]

we’ve bought some good ish players (steers .. can’t think of anyone else) but haven’t ‘significantly’ improved one position
it’s been musical chairs aka smoke and mirrors ..the promotion team was ‘already’ champs standard that’s why they got 100 points
so kev you’ve done fuck all bar rearrange the deckchairs on the titanic .. we’re not all fooled

 

[Champagneblade]

To look at at from another angle, if we have aspirations to challenge at the top then how many do we see potentially operating above this level? Removing loans:

Keepers - none
Defenders - O’Connell + Baldock/Freeman rotating
Midfield - Fleck, Coutts
Attack - none

You’d hope for more if going to challenge at the right end this season.