January needs

[robbiez666]

Not wants but needs. Things that need to be sorted this month. We have no money and I don't expect us to spend anything other than cursory amounts. I'm also not one of those people who thinks it's likely we'll get into the play-offs. If everyone stays fit then we will be there or thereabouts but that seems unlikely in the current situation. I think we need a few windows to get rid of a lot of the squad and bring a few in or through from the youth set-up.

January needs:

1. A CB. It's vital we get someone in who can cover Egan and Bash. I don't think bringing two in is realistic. Both have had poor seasons but I think this is Bash's last one where he'll be a starter for us. If we could bring a young player in who can learn and also play some minutes, that would be ideal. We need someone permanent here.
2. We need to sort out the keeper situation. What is happening with Olsen? Wes is not the long-term solution, I have no idea what is happening Verrips and Eastwood seems to just be really unlucky. If we can send Olsen back and save half the money, great. I presume we can't though.
3. We need to get some players out the door. We have far too many not contributing and taking up wages. Even if we're part subsidising wages for loans it saves us money.
4. If Gibbs-White isn't coming back then we need to bring a creative player in on loan.

 

[Harry's Game]

Unfortunately our biggest need is money… we don’t have any.

 

[Panini]

Bash has had a poor season?! I've not been watching what you have.

He won't go on forever but he's said this week he wants to finish here. To be honest he deserves for the choice to be his. We do need CB cover and PH has said it's priority #1, but replacing Basham isn't an urgent need at all.

The keeper situation is a bit weird now, I agree. The shirt is Wes' to lose, and I'm ok with that. Whatever Olsen's qualities are, he hasn't shown them and doesn't come across as focussed or committed. I think if we can pull the plug we should. But that's only half the problem, and we're back to square one.

I disagree on point 3 and I think fans can get a bit bogged down by the wages squad players are on. There are a small pool of players in the shit or get off the pot group...Freeman, Burke, Mousset etc...but they're still on the bench most weeks and getting minutes every now and then. Either contributing or in the shop window. I can only think of Slater who is over 21 and not involved at all, and he won't be on much.

MGW is a black and white issue for me. Wolves can recall him as he's their player. If they do it in the next 7 days, that gives us time to arrange a replacement. If they leave it late, it burns a bridge which they may or may not be bothered about but ultimately this is the risk of taking anyone on loan. It seems Wolves have given some assurances that he's better off here until May. Either way I guarantee we won't look for a replacement while he has a Blades squad number.

 

[Rodley]

Unfortunately our biggest need is money… we don’t have any.

Close thread.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Close thread.

Some strange comments In this thread.!

 

[robbiez666]

Bash has had a poor season?! I've not been watching what you have.

He won't go on forever but he's said this week he wants to finish here. To be honest he deserves for the choice to be his. We do need CB cover and PH has said it's priority #1, but replacing Basham isn't an urgent need at all.

The keeper situation is a bit weird now, I agree. The shirt is Wes' to lose, and I'm ok with that. Whatever Olsen's qualities are, he hasn't shown them and doesn't come across as focussed or committed. I think if we can pull the plug we should. But that's only half the problem, and we're back to square one.

I disagree on point 3 and I think fans can get a bit bogged down by the wages squad players are on. There are a small pool of players in the shit or get off the pot group...Freeman, Burke, Mousset etc...but they're still on the bench most weeks and getting minutes every now and then. Either contributing or in the shop window. I can only think of Slater who is over 21 and not involved at all, and he won't be on much.

MGW is a black and white issue for me. Wolves can recall him as he's their player. If they do it in the next 7 days, that gives us time to arrange a replacement. If they leave it late, it burns a bridge which they may or may not be bothered about but ultimately this is the risk of taking anyone on loan. It seems Wolves have given some assurances that he's better off here until May. Either way I guarantee we won't look for a replacement while he has a Blades squad number.

In terms of CB, what I mean is we need someone who is able to cover and start, if needed this season, but who will go on to take over from Bash. I think Bash has been hot and cold this season. Having more bad games, for me. I doubt he'll be a regular started by the end of next season. We're not going to be able to afford to buy an automatic substitute so bringing in someone and developing them seems like a better idea.

Freeman, Burke, Mousset, Slater have contributed next to nothing this season. Sure, they've appeared a few times in the league but I'm pretty sure an U-23 could have been as useful without taking up £1 million in wages.

MGW is back at Wolves now due to the injury. How bad it is and whether he'll come back is another matter.

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

In terms of CB, what I mean is we need someone who is able to cover and start, if needed this season, but who will go on to take over from Bash. I think Bash has been hot and cold this season. Having more bad games, for me. I doubt he'll be a regular started by the end of next season. We're not going to be able to afford to buy an automatic substitute so bringing in someone and developing them seems like a better idea.

Freeman, Burke, Mousset, Slater have contributed next to nothing this season. Sure, they've appeared a few times in the league but I'm pretty sure an U-23 could have been as useful without taking up £1 million in wages.

MGW is back at Wolves now due to the injury. How bad it is and whether he'll come back is another matter.

Bash has had more bad games than good, what planet are you on? as for players taking wages, you can only sell when someone wants to buy, the alternative is paying up contracts and allowing players to leave for nothing, and then draft in someone from the U23s as cover, and sit on the bench, which means they are no longer part of the U23s and fully integrated into the first team squad, Mousset, McB, Freeman,Burke paid up and released, is that enough or fo you sell or pay up Baldock, Osborn or any other player that doesn't make the starting 11 ?

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Hecko said Gibbs White is coming back in 2-3 weeks. Wes has made one mistake, they’re trying to sign a centre back, we’ve lost to a good team let’s calm down.

 

[robbiez666]

Bash has had more bad games than good, what planet are you on? as for players taking wages, you can only sell when someone wants to buy, the alternative is paying up contracts and allowing players to leave for nothing, and then draft in someone from the U23s as cover, and sit on the bench, which means they are no longer part of the U23s and fully integrated into the first team squad, Mousset, McB, Freeman,Burke paid up and released, is that enough or fo you sell or pay up Baldock, Osborn or any other player that doesn't make the starting 11 ?

1, I never said more bad games than good. More bad games than usual.
2. I've not said anywhere about paying anyone up

 

[SwissBlade]

I think we need to forget about playing Olsen, Osborn, Robinson, Burke and Freeman again.

We have too many of the “busy” types of players like Osborn and Freeman and it just doesn’t work when we play them. They work hard, have a few tidy touches but i don’t see a football brain in them.

We need to free up some cash so I can see us moving the likes of McBurnie and Mousse on.

Then we just need to rebuild a little

 

[Bladesman]

In terms of CB, what I mean is we need someone who is able to cover and start, if needed this season, but who will go on to take over from Bash. I think Bash has been hot and cold this season. Having more bad games, for me. I doubt he'll be a regular started by the end of next season. We're not going to be able to afford to buy an automatic substitute so bringing in someone and developing them seems like a better idea.

Freeman, Burke, Mousset, Slater have contributed next to nothing this season. Sure, they've appeared a few times in the league but I'm pretty sure an U-23 could have been as useful without taking up £1 million in wages.

MGW is back at Wolves now due to the injury. How bad it is and whether he'll come back is another matter.

Bash has had more bad games? He barely played under SJ.

Has Followfield logged into the wrong account?

 

[Weston blade]

In terms of CB, what I mean is we need someone who is able to cover and start, if needed this season, but who will go on to take over from Bash. I think Bash has been hot and cold this season. Having more bad games, for me. I doubt he'll be a regular started by the end of next season. We're not going to be able to afford to buy an automatic substitute so bringing in someone and developing them seems like a better idea.

Freeman, Burke, Mousset, Slater have contributed next to nothing this season. Sure, they've appeared a few times in the league but I'm pretty sure an U-23 could have been as useful without taking up £1 million in wages.

MGW is back at Wolves now due to the injury. How bad it is and whether he'll come back is another matter.

Basham as been fantastic since he came back in the team. 1st name on the team sheet can I have a line you been snorting or a pint you have been drinking please

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

1, I never said more bad games than good. More bad games than usual.
2. I've not said anywhere about paying anyone up

How do you get players off the books and free up wages if no one wants to buy them? There are limited options, loan them out and pay their wages, only possible when the player agrees, pay them up in full, transfer list them and hope a club comes in and the player accepts the move and drop in wages

 

[Houston_Blade]

I think we need to forget about playing Olsen, Osborn, Robinson, Burke and Freeman again.

This is my ideal scenario, with McBurnie added to the list. Either not good enough or not bothered enough about playing for us. Unfortunately no one with any sense will want a lot of them and Roma are rubbing their hands that they’ve got Olsen off the wage bill for a season.

 

[robbiez666]

Bash has had more bad games? He barely played under SJ.

Has Followfield logged into the wrong account?

Only Egan has played more minutes this season out of our defence.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Post game PH, Verrips may be going to a Dutch club on loan with a view to permanent. That's the only thing worth talking about.

 

[SwissBlade]

This is my ideal scenario, with McBurnie added to the list. Either not good enough or not bothered enough about playing for us. Unfortunately no one with any sense will want a lot of them and Roma are rubbing their hands that they’ve got Olsen off the wage bill for a season.

McBurnie, like mousse plays so infrequently that it’s it’s other reasons that I’d get rid of them too. Mostly because we can perhaps hold on and make some money back… not what we paid, but they both get goals occasionally…

The group I mentioned initially just simply aren’t good enough/ don’t fit the mentality/ won’t improve

 

[Berkshire Blade]

A billionaire blade who is dying and wants to leave every asset on earth to the club to be run by a fans trust.

 

[Weston blade]

Only Egan has played more minutes this season out of our defence.

Robbiez666 you are so wrong on your opinion on Basham, I respect your thoughts but come on he is a colossus at the back . If Basham knocked on my door and said I'm going to sleep with your partner tonight not only would I tuck him in, I would take his breakfast order

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Only Egan has played more minutes this season out of our defence.

What difference does that make? He rarely started the first couple of months and has been one of the most consistently good players since he's been starting again.

 

[Panini]

In terms of CB, what I mean is we need someone who is able to cover and start, if needed this season, but who will go on to take over from Bash. I think Bash has been hot and cold this season. Having more bad games, for me. I doubt he'll be a regular started by the end of next season. We're not going to be able to afford to buy an automatic substitute so bringing in someone and developing them seems like a better idea.

Freeman, Burke, Mousset, Slater have contributed next to nothing this season. Sure, they've appeared a few times in the league but I'm pretty sure an U-23 could have been as useful without taking up £1 million in wages.

MGW is back at Wolves now due to the injury. How bad it is and whether he'll come back is another matter.

LCB is priority, which might be sorted by bringing in someone who can play in the middle and pushing Egan to the left. With Lopata and Gordon knocking on the door of the first team, we're not going to buy someone to act as cover to solve a situation which might resolve itself in the next 6 months.

I don't really disagree re Freeman and the others, but every club has half a dozen players in this situation. Those players, or their wages, won't be the difference between a successful season and a bad one. It's frustrating, but we don't have the resources or a strong enough starting XI to give too much thought to this issue right now.

Re MGW, going back to a parent club for treatment is totally standard. Even if he was fit today he wouldn't have been involved so after Boro was postponed there was a 2 week window which was ideal for him to go back for assessment. Wolves have said he's coming back, and we've no reason not to believe them. I'm hoping the window closes and he's still with us, but I'm not on edge about what might happen between now and then. He's their player and we'll deal with a different situation when it happens.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Robbiez666 you are so wrong on your opinion on Basham, I respect your thoughts but come on he is a colossus at the back . If Basham knocked on my door and said I'm going to sleep with your partner tonight not only would I tuck him in, I would take his breakfast order

I’d cup his balls while he was on the job if he wanted me to.

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

Robbiez666 you are so wrong on your opinion on Basham, I respect your thoughts but come on he is a colossus at the back . If Basham knocked on my door and said I'm going to sleep with your partner tonight not only would I tuck him in, I would take his breakfast order

Hardly likely to happen is it? By the way Porridge with Almond milk, toast no butter and black coffee

 

[Maurice Maurice]

We need Robinson off the books. Whilever he's there, the temptation is to play him when we have players out. He's not good enough, even as a back up, get a youngster blooded and sign a big lump who can do the basics. The league we're in isn't pretty, get players in to do a job, not piss poor squad fillers.

Freeman, Burke and Mousset need to go. None of them adds anything other than a drain on wages. I like McBurnie and Brewster but they're both quaffing ale in he last chance saloon. Brewster, I think, will come good, Mcb on the other hand needs a kick up the arse, it's ok living the footballers life but at some stage you have to start acting like one on the pitch.

I don't buy all the crap that we're skint, the owners have managed us pretty well so far, the cash was there but the signings we're shite, can't say I blame them for being careful now.

 

[Micky Narker]

A bucketload of players need fucking off for good. At the bare minimum for incomings need a cb and a midfielder who will get stuck in. Will we get that? Probs not.

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

We need Robinson off the books. Whilever he's there, the temptation is to play him when we have players out. He's not good enough, even as a back up, get a youngster blooded and sign a big lump who can do the basics. The league we're in isn't pretty, get players in to do a job, not piss poor squad fillers.

Freeman, Burke and Mousset need to go. None of them adds anything other than a drain on wages. I like McBurnie and Brewster but they're both quaffing ale in he last chance saloon. Brewster, I think, will come good, Mcb on the other hand needs a kick up the arse, it's ok living the footballers life but at some stage you have to start acting like one on the pitch.

I don't buy all the crap that we're skint, the owners have managed us pretty well so far, the cash was there but the signings we're shite, can't say I blame them for being careful now.

Have you got a contract of employment?

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Not wants but needs. Things that need to be sorted this month. We have no money and I don't expect us to spend anything other than cursory amounts. I'm also not one of those people who thinks it's likely we'll get into the play-offs. If everyone stays fit then we will be there or thereabouts but that seems unlikely in the current situation. I think we need a few windows to get rid of a lot of the squad and bring a few in or through from the youth set-up.

January needs:

1. A CB. It's vital we get someone in who can cover Egan and Bash. I don't think bringing two in is realistic. Both have had poor seasons but I think this is Bash's last one where he'll be a starter for us. If we could bring a young player in who can learn and also play some minutes, that would be ideal. We need someone permanent here.
2. We need to sort out the keeper situation. What is happening with Olsen? Wes is not the long-term solution, I have no idea what is happening Verrips and Eastwood seems to just be really unlucky. If we can send Olsen back and save half the money, great. I presume we can't though.
3. We need to get some players out the door. We have far too many not contributing and taking up wages. Even if we're part subsidising wages for loans it saves us money.
4. If Gibbs-White isn't coming back then we need to bring a creative player in on loan.

We do need a centre half as priority in January, not as cover or to replace Bash or Egan, we want the big dominant centre half leader, he comes straight in at LCB for Davies/Robinson. Bash and Egan are bob on the money again since Heckingbottom took over, the one area where the defence is lacking is the JOC / Morgan / Maguire type.

We put in a great defensive display at Fulham, who are more of a footballing team than owt. My concern with the current back-line is when teams start launching route one into the heart of our defence, I don't think they'll stand up to it consistently until we get the big leader at the back.

 

[Weston blade]

Hardly likely to happen is it? By the way Porridge with Almond milk, toast no butter and black coffee

Last time you ordered it was a full English with black pudding you gone vegan on me Hagansbootlaces

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

Last time you ordered it was a full English with black pudding you gone vegan on me Hagansbootlaces

I meant that was the menu for Bash

 

[Stu_Blade]

Watching the U23s the other night it's clear we have some potentials for the first team in the squad, personally I think we are a season or 2 before they can be on a comfortable starter. I would like Grant to progress hopefully sooner rather than later