How Far Away Are We?

[JohnDenver]

Just a quick comparison between the players of 2011/12 who earned 90pts and today's squad.

Simonsen vs Long. Long on current form.
Lowton vs Brayford. Pretty even.
LJF vs McEv. LJF edges it for attacking contribution and pace (I'll pretend Marcus Williams never happened)
Maguire vs Edgar. Maguire.
Collins vs Collins. Collins circa 2016 is even older and slower...
Williamson vs Coutts. Willo by a distance.
Quinn vs Woolford. Quinn by a street.
McDonald vs Hammond. McDonald.
Doyle vs Basham. Not too much in it, but I'd take Basham.
Cresswell vs Sammon. Cresswell.
Sharp vs Evans. Evans.

You could argue Done and Adams should be in there, but it doesn't make the world of difference. I think we're looking at huge upgrades to at least four of our current first team players just to stand a chance of automatic. Ideally six players of real Division 1 quality just to return to where we were 4 years ago.

The last time we did business of that nature in a single summer was when McCabe pushed the boat out and Warnock duly got us promoted. Adkins really has a job on his hands here.

 

[Stretch]

Wouldn't argue with much of that mate. Half of the starting 11 will need replacing with better quality at some point and we will still need another 5 or 6 decent signings to give us a competitive match day squad. The young uns can be dipped in and out to make up the shortfall. At least 15 players need to leave to make this happen. Who constitutes those 15 will vary depending on opinion.

 

[Roygbiv]

We need at least 5 players better than the ones we have in our first team right now to have a chance at automatic next season. What worries me is the signings Adkins has brought in so far and the seeming lack of interest at board room level. I'll be delighted to see the back of all 15 players out of contract next season but I worry some will be kept on because they will maybe accept a pay cut and it will be cheaper for us as a club to keep a few rather than buy a few

 

[s35blade]

Much prefer Lowton to Brayford, but yeah that's pretty spot on.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

The last time we did business of that nature in a single summer was when McCabe pushed the boat out and Warnock duly got us promoted. Adkins really has a job on his hands here.

What about the summer of Captain Marvel?
How much was he given?

Beattie
Naysmith
etc

 

[sheffielder]

If adkins is going to play with Hammond and Basham infront of that back 4, then 3 of the 4 positions (2 wide 2 upfront) need to be a goal threat. The only goal threats we have in our squad are baxter, Sharp, Done and Adams. 3 of these players need to be playing every week.

example

Baxter Sharp up top with either Done or Adams wide
Sharp Done with Adams wide

 

[Grappler]

If adkins is going to play with Hammond and Basham infront of that back 4, then 3 of the 4 positions (2 wide 2 upfront) need to be a goal threat. The only goal threats we have in our squad are baxter, Sharp, Done and Adams. 3 of these players need to be playing every week.

example

Baxter Sharp up top with either Done or Adams wide
Sharp Done with Adams wide

This is the issue, only really Billy scoring, no goals in Coutts, Hammond, Basham or Woolford.

 

[Woodwardfan]

On the basis that all bar Sharp and Long can play a lot better, a lot,lot better, I reckon we need a box to box midfielder who can play in the final third and a pacey mobile striker. Young players with pedigree on loan.

Send Salmon and Howard back for me. Release Woolford too. Considering our big squad they have added too little for too much expense - ridiculous really.

Essentially we need mobility and pace. Not even Sir Billy has those.

Poor recruitment does us in yet again, that plus 442 without the players to play it. Recent team selection has been suitable for taking on Real Madrid rather than Swindon Town and Blackpool. Even then a nine man defence is a tad negative.

 

[GB10]

If adkins is going to play with Hammond and Basham infront of that back 4, then 3 of the 4 positions (2 wide 2 upfront) need to be a goal threat. The only goal threats we have in our squad are baxter, Sharp, Done and Adams. 3 of these players need to be playing every week.

example

Baxter Sharp up top with either Done or Adams wide
Sharp Done with Adams wide

Couldn't agree more and said as much myself
If you look through what looks like our current normal starting 11 we have nowhere near enough goals in our team.
From the ones likely to play in midfield or attack I would say you would get a return as follows theoretically if each player played every game of the season ( appreciate not possible)
Hammond -2
Basham 5
Coutts 1
Woolford 1
Flynn 2
Baxter ( if sharp taking pen) 5
Adams 10
Sammon 6
Done 10
Sharp 20 ( inc pens)

You can pick out odd recent games where we have scored 2 or 3 or whatever but apply this shot /goal shy approach over a season and it will not be enough from midfield and possibly up front as due to unsettled side it's unlikely the second striker will be in form and hit the above numbers

For me in any team at least one of the central midfielders if not 2 depending on what formation you play should be getting 8/9/10 goals a season .
Yet another one of SUFC "s 3 year old problems and yet another reason why we are where we are ( and still will be until we address)

 

[JohnDenver]

What about the summer of Captain Marvel?
How much was he given?

Beattie
Naysmith
etc

My therapist made me promise not to talk about that anymore...

 

[boo radley]

I'm far away in Portsmouth at the moment but not looking for any lollipop sucking striker!

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Sharp over Cresswell

 

[Esablade]

 

[Woodwardfan]

Couldn't agree more and said as much myself
If you look through what looks like our current normal starting 11 we have nowhere near enough goals in our team.
From the ones likely to play in midfield or attack I would say you would get a return as follows theoretically if each player played every game of the season ( appreciate not possible)
Hammond -2
Basham 5
Coutts 1
Woolford 1
Flynn 2
Baxter ( if sharp taking pen) 5
Adams 10
Sammon 6
Done 10
Sharp 20 ( inc pens)

You can pick out odd recent games where we have scored 2 or 3 or whatever but apply this shot /goal shy approach over a season and it will not be enough from midfield and possibly up front as due to unsettled side it's unlikely the second striker will be in form and hit the above numbers

For me in any team at least one of the central midfielders if not 2 depending on what formation you play should be getting 8/9/10 goals a season .
Yet another one of SUFC "s 3 year old problems and yet another reason why we are where we are ( and still will be until we address)

It's even worse than that when you study 'assists' from open play

2 of our midfield just do not get into the final third more than a couple of times a game. Basham arrives there occasionally and so does Woolford, nether of them with any real idea or purpose.

Not many managers would play Coutts, Hammond, Basham and Woolford as a midfield 4. After last night let's hope Adkins has got it out of his system. We played Baxter and Ryce and still kept a clean sheet.