Blades 2012-13 Your Current Thoughts (Part 2)

[Patrick Suffaux]

We should be aiming to get more goals from midfield. McDonald and Quinn should be good enough at this level to aim for 8-10 each in my opinion.

 

[alcoblade]

I've voted second. I'm pleased with how the squad is coming together, and agree that we have adequately covered the losses and added some depth defensively and the youth prospects fill out central midfield positions.

We surely haven't adequately covered the 35 goals from Evans yet?

UTB

 

[Revolution]

Our talent level will be closer to what we saw in the playoffs than the regular season, ie a team that doesn't score a fat lot of goals.

We have removed our most forward looking defender from the squad. Our best forward has gone. Our highest scoring midfielder has gone. None of their replacements are as good.

I assume Quinn or Maguire will go too, losing us our midfielder with most assists or another quality defender.

We still have some good players and the division is a poor one but I find it hard to accept that we are one of the best two sides. We weten't last year and we are worse now.

Best hope = playoffs = no promotion.

 

[alcoblade]

Our talent level will be closer to what we saw in the playoffs than the regular season, ie a team that doesn't score a fat lot of goals.

We have removed our most forward looking defender from the squad. Our best forward has gone. Our highest scoring midfielder has gone. None of their replacements are as good.

I assume Quinn or Maguire will go too, losing us our midfielder with most assists or another quality defender.

We still have some good players and the division is a poor one but I find it hard to accept that we are one of the best two sides. We weten't last year and we are worse now.

Best hope = playoffs = no promotion.

With Evans we were one of the best 2 teams last season, so you're double counting, though I agree with the gist.



UTB

 

[Kenilworth]

I am just looking forward to my traditional trip of misery, anguish, fleecing and dispair at the theatre of shattered dreams again next May.

 

[ListerBlade]

We surely haven't adequately covered the 35 goals from Evans yet?

UTB

I have over looked Evans, but discounted it as we didn't have him for the last few matches. But I think we have more potential for goals collectively in the current strike force than last season. Without Evans, we didn't really score many, the additions of Cofie and Miller should provide us with more goals from the strikers-potentially. Preferably we can bring in a proven striker as we are taking chances on potential with Cofie and Miller

 

[alcoblade]

I have over looked Evans, but discounted it as we didn't have him for the last few matches. But I think we have more potential for goals collectively in the current strike force than last season. Without Evans, we didn't really score many, the additions of Cofie and Miller should provide us with more goals from the strikers-potentially. Preferably we can bring in a proven striker as we are taking chances on potential with Cofie and Miller

But we've lost Lowton, Williamson and Evans - all goal threats from different positions, one prolific. We've bought potential, but there's a statistically stronger case that Miller wont cut it than he will. We clearly hope for the former. Cofie is 19 - he scored a cracker tonight but looked, as you'd imagine, to have an awful lot to learn.

My head defintiely says play-off's is the best we can hope for without acquiring someone like Beavon. My heart obviously hopes I'm wrong.

UTB

 

[diplomat]

I put champions but really I think we will be anywhere in the top 4 and I think it will be closer than last year as I can't see 3 teams being so much better than the others. If we can keep key players fit and maybe see a couple of kids step up to the plate we'll be okay and I'll be pleased to support us.

Champions might be a push too far as it's not the utd way but it's got to happen some time!

 

[ListerBlade]

I am piling a lot of my hopes on the fulfillment of potential form the players we've brought in. Westlake COULD attack like Lowton, McMahon COULD do the same, Cofie and Miller COULD get 30odd goals between them this season.

I see your point and agree with completely. But as the season is still to kick off, I'm going with hope, like a lot of us I suppose.

Play-off's is definitely a reasonable expectation from us. Right now though, compared to a few weeks ago up until the time after we sold Lowton, I was not very hopefully of much.

 

[ListerBlade]

*hopefull. Not hopefully. My bad

 

[stannyblade]

I am piling a lot of my hopes on the fulfillment of potential form the players we've brought in. Westlake COULD attack like Lowton, McMahon COULD do the same, Cofie and Miller COULD get 30odd goals between them this season.

I see your point and agree with completely. But as the season is still to kick off, I'm going with hope, like a lot of us I suppose.

Play-off's is definitely a reasonable expectation from us. Right now though, compared to a few weeks ago up until the time after we sold Lowton, I was not very hopefully of much.

I think if we arent in the promotion mix up come May then we may well be looking for a new manager. Hope not though

 

[ListerBlade]

I agree with you, KmC won't want us here another year, draining his money, looking less and less attractive to potential investors. I highly doubt another season here would be tolerated.

It would be a shame, as DW has done a great job with us and I am really glad we have him now after all the animosity of the appointment. But you would have to say, compare our resources with other clubs at this level, and it would be a failure to not have us promoted after two attempts.

 

[metalblade]

I think if we arent in the promotion mix up come May then we may well be looking for a new manager. Hope not though

Could be looking for one come January by which time our promotion hopes could well be over. Like you I hope not but the present squad is relying on too many youngsters coming good and filling in for players who between them last season contributed over 50 goals.

 

[Kenilworth]

I'm going with hope, like a lot of us I suppose.

The England women's team manager?
Sounds like she should be in the cycling instead

 

[Guesty]

The England women's team manager?
Sounds like she should be in the cycling instead

No, he means Hope Solo, the US Ladies 'Keeper. A replacement for Simmo?

 

[Kenilworth]

No, he means Hope Solo, the US Ladies 'Keeper. A replacement for Simmo?

What's she like on ball retention?

 

[ListerBlade]

I wonder how many would 'score'....

 

[alcoblade]

I agree with you, KmC won't want us here another year, draining his money, looking less and less attractive to potential investors. I highly doubt another season here would be tolerated..

You'd hope that McCabe's track record of managerial appointments coupled with Wilson having to cope with a financial mess created before his time, would make McCabe think twice.

UTB

 

[dublin 10 blade]

About 6 weeks ago, i asked you based on the then current squad, what you though the league position would be.

The vast majority thought we'd finish in the top half, over a 1/3 thought we'd be prmoted automatically.

Since then we've had a number of signings, and some good news from KMAc, so i ask you again, based on the CURRENT squad (ie: no williamson), where do you think we will finish?

Are you more/less optimistic now than you were 6 weeks ago?

please be gentle with me first timer but confident bout this season 1 more up front keep mags and as for willo the last few games and final he was struggling to cross the road been a blade since lane was only 3 sided and first away game was forest away lost 6-1 think lad from boro could be difference and think flynn will have a better 2nd season alright meath blade hope hotel was alright think your missus and my lad are jinxed.

 

[Come from away]

please be gentle with me first timer but confident bout this season 1 more up front keep mags and as for willo the last few games and final he was struggling to cross the road been a blade since lane was only 3 sided and first away game was forest away lost 6-1 think lad from boro could be difference and think flynn will have a better 2nd season alright meath blade hope hotel was alright think your missus and my lad are jinxed.

Welcome aboard, happy to have a few sane elders around.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Just look at it statistically guys.

Evans, Williamson, Lowton- 54 goals.
Evans, Quinn - 25 assists.

Take them 4 Championship standard players out of a League 1 team (granted Quinn isn't gone yet, but it seems to be that he will leave) and you'll certainly see the difference.

Not one of them has been replaced like-for-like.

Having a 25+ goal a season striker is worth so many points to a team and we now don't have one. Add to that that the strikers this season (who aren't as good as Ched) are going to be relying on Flynn and Tonne (League 2/Conference players at best) to provide them with their firepower then, to be honest, teams aren't going to have an awful lot to worry about with us.

So my opinion is, keep Quinn and sign a decent replacement for Williamson, we have half a shot through the play-offs. Lose Quinn and don't replace Williamson, we'll be nowhere, as we won't have the goals.

And that's just at one end of the pitch. Looking at the other end, our goalkeeper situation looks desperate. Howard doesn't fill me with any confidence and I think he might actually be a downgrade on Simonsen. Our alarming lack of cover at centre half remains a concern. And some of the players Wilson brought in on two year deals- Hill and Williams, why?!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Various League-one-club-supporting bloggers have given their opinions to the guardian on their teams hopes for the new season

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2012/aug/10/league-one-2012-13-season-preview

Absolutely none of them are saying their team will get a top two spot.

Just goes to show that natural pessimism is endemic at this level.

Oh, and the league is there for the taking

 

[Creepy]

Wouldn't rule out Creepy doing something similar to what Stevenage did last year

I hope not - it looked quite painful