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Trafford

Trafford

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The main problem today was definitely our finishing but the defending for their goal was also very poor - 4 men challenged 1 striker and the ball fell to his unmarked partner. We need a centre half who screams for the ball, they are all very quiet.
 



SteveBlade said:
Our squad just needs steadily upgrading. We have players who are very average in every area of our squad.
Click to expand...
I sort of agree. But I reckon 3-4 quality signings can help current players improve. Take Fleck for instance, I don't think he'd look out of place in a prem midfield.
 
Rodley said:
Hopefully a Fleck, O’Connoll and Baldock will be in incoming then.
Click to expand...

Two of those were good signings. Jury still out on the third.....

....but let’s higher our sights now hey?
 
Rodley said:
Baldock has been one of our top performers. How can the jury still be out for him?

It’s not about MUNNEH, but getting the right players.
Click to expand...

I think his final ball and crossing for a wing back is very poor. He may be more suited to a full back role. Defensively he is better than Freeman but I think we have missed Freeman’s quality’s at the top end of the pitch.
 
We concede a shit goal in really shit conditions.

We missed a number of chances and also faced a very good keeper.

That first one on one for Clayton ran away from him a bit because of the wet, however it’s not an excuse. We missed a lot yesterday!
 
Ye we find ourselves comparatively better off compared to our rivals.
 



First goal conceded in 4 games. That isn’t the problem.

Finishing is and as well as Sharp and Clarke have done at times this season it’s easy to see why good forwards cost so much in this division.

We need to be on the look out now for a young striker to get in on loan next season as I can’t see us being able to afford the big money to get in what is needed. Someone like Rhian Brewster could fit the bill.
 
SteveBlade said:
Our squad just needs steadily upgrading. We have players who are very average in every area of our squad.
Click to expand...

At the start of the season, I was worried that we might not be good enough to compete. The players have shown that they are a match for most teams (call it ‘average’, if you want). We have a couple of standout players but none look out of depth. I’d have definitely taken that, and that’s not being unambitious. As you say, steady improvement is what we’re aiming for. The key with that, though, is to hold onto the good ones and maintain their quality whilst adding in and amongst them.
 
Iceybabey said:
I sort of agree. But I reckon 3-4 quality signings can help current players improve. Take Fleck for instance, I don't think he'd look out of place in a prem midfield.
Click to expand...

I agree, it's only 3-4 players off being a real top force in the Championship. Most of those signings need to be attack-minded though another top quality central defender would not hurt in the slightest.

For me, we need two forwards - one to replace Duffy as he drops off or is injured (Brooks is not the answer to that) and another who can replace/transition from Sharp. For me, Clarke and Sharp have done an admirable job this season but neither is going to create something out of nothing. Add in Brooks staying and blossoming and that would be a decent forward line.

I don't see that we need midfielders as (a) we have enough and (b) some of them will be (even) better for having better forwards up ahead. We need to get Coutts back fit and firing, give the likes of Leonard and Lundstram time to settle and improve further. Maybe the midfield comes under more scrutiny down the line but I'd leave it for now.

Bring in a top quality central defender and keep Blackman (loan or permanent) and that would improve us at the back.

I'd also be looking at left wing-back for the final signing. Lafferty's days look numbered so we're looking for somebody to compete (ideally improve and replace) Stevens. I think Freeman and Baldock will battle each other for the right side so Stevens needs a push from somebody - either Enda improves to stay in the team or he gets replaced by somebody better.

So - Blackman + Brooks staying + CB + LWB + AM + ST = promotion challenge!
 
Wombwell_Blade said:
I agree, it's only 3-4 players off being a real top force in the Championship. Most of those signings need to be attack-minded though another top quality central defender would not hurt in the slightest.

For me, we need two forwards - one to replace Duffy as he drops off or is injured (Brooks is not the answer to that) and another who can replace/transition from Sharp. For me, Clarke and Sharp have done an admirable job this season but neither is going to create something out of nothing. Add in Brooks staying and blossoming and that would be a decent forward line.

I don't see that we need midfielders as (a) we have enough and (b) some of them will be (even) better for having better forwards up ahead. We need to get Coutts back fit and firing, give the likes of Leonard and Lundstram time to settle and improve further. Maybe the midfield comes under more scrutiny down the line but I'd leave it for now.

Bring in a top quality central defender and keep Blackman (loan or permanent) and that would improve us at the back.

I'd also be looking at left wing-back for the final signing. Lafferty's days look numbered so we're looking for somebody to compete (ideally improve and replace) Stevens. I think Freeman and Baldock will battle each other for the right side so Stevens needs a push from somebody - either Enda improves to stay in the team or he gets replaced by somebody better.

So - Blackman + Brooks staying + CB + LWB + AM + ST = promotion challenge!
Click to expand...
Agree. But I would definitely look to add another CM because we just don't know how Coutts will come back. All depends on if bids come in for Fleck as well and if one gets accepted.
 
sitwell said:
Funny how we’ve just conceded 1 goal in 4 games with a mute defence. The problem is not putting chances away
Click to expand...

The problem when we don’t concede is that the defenders are too busy defending to score at the other end. Wankers.
 
Trafford said:
The main problem today was definitely our finishing but the defending for their goal was also very poor - 4 men challenged 1 striker and the ball fell to his unmarked partner. We need a centre half who screams for the ball, they are all very quiet.
Click to expand...
Since posting this we’ve allowed Cardiff to snatch an undeserved equaliser after beating us to the ball in 3 consecutive challenges and conceded 3 to Barnsley, 1 where their man was completely unmarked (even school teams post a man on the edge of the box) and 2 where their men got in front of ours. None of that would have mattered of course if we’d been more clinical up front (and that’s not just the forwards, the best chances have often fallen to non-strikers) but it’s not happening for them at the moment, so we have to protect what we’ve got. To be fair we did that against Cardiff until the final minute but poor defending has lost us 7 points in the last 3 games and what a difference they would have made!
 
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