Do we really need any loans ?

[SandyMcBlade]

And do you think that the Swindon result was typical of our defense, or just a one off ?

 

[Kenilworth]

I don't think we are too clever in defence against a team that passes and has pace.
We tried to press Swindon further up the field and got caught out because they exploited the gaps created as we did not manage to press, as a team, together with sufficient pace and intensity.

The way we are set up at the moment is not to concede. Especially away from home we are sitting deep and inviting teams onto us and looking to counter. To do that in the most effective way possible - you need a pacey player or two that have some quality about them to hold the ball up, beat a man and get a shot on target.
Luton Shelton could never fit that description.

At home when we are pushing the tempo we need pace to exploit the space we create to get around the back of the packed defences or drive through the middle as we pass it through them.

Nice to see SwissBlade come back on and agree with me about strikers on loan

We need more than Higgy and McNuts in there - and as I keep stressing McNuts is good but it's a development season for him.
Baxter is quality, when fit, but not a striker - lacks consistency and will not contribute more than a dozen a season (even though most of his goals are Worldies)
Porter is a hard worker but never prolific - can't bet on him firing us to the top
Then who else?
DeG? Coming back to fitness after an ACL injury - not going to happen
Any other academy lad - that might be a very welcome bonus but is certainly not a plan and not one to build a season around - our 4th in this league

If we don't get another striker in (someone with pace and guile and ability - not a Dominic Poleon or similar) and start banging the goals in we will not be successful this season - and you can all quote me on that.

 

[Blade56]

Get our loans from Wonga, they'll give us our money back

 

[SwissBlade]

Nice to see SwissBlade come back on and agree with me about strikers on loan

We need more than Higgy and McNuts in there - and as I keep stressing McNuts is good but it's a development season for him.
Baxter is quality, when fit, but not a striker - lacks consistency and will not contribute more than a dozen a season (even though most of his goals are Worldies)
Porter is a hard worker but never prolific - can't bet on him firing us to the top
Then who else?
DeG? Coming back to fitness after an ACL injury - not going to happen
Any other academy lad - that might be a very welcome bonus but is certainly not a plan and not one to build a season around - our 4th in this league

If we don't get another striker in (someone with pace and guile and ability - not a Dominic Poleon or similar) and start banging the goals in we will not be successful this season - and you can all quote me on that.

Whilst I know that you like to get my concurrence on all footballing matters Ken, its not entirely an agreement with your point.
My point the other day was priority. Defence is the priority. Centre Half, possibly a right back as well.
What I have expanded on since is that it would do us no harm to have another fit striker in place with a large run of games coming up, potentially coming in on loan as an option of Quality rather than a solution.
Baxter to my mind now, is a midfielder, though he proved that he can play the role very well as striker, he is more valuable as a midfielder and whilst we have Higdon and McNulty, we don’t need him up front.
Diego, could potentially be a very good Striker, but after Christmas and Clough is clearly wrapping him in Cotton wool until he is 110%.
Regarding Loanees, If we don’t get another striker, it won’t be the end of the world. Nor will it be if we don’t get another defender, but they will be welcomed additions

 

[Kenilworth]

Whilst I know that you like to get my concurrence on all footballing matters Ken, its not entirely an agreement with your point.
My point the other day was priority. Defence is the priority. Centre Half, possibly a right back as well.
What I have expanded on since is that it would do us no harm to have another fit striker in place with a large run of games coming up, potentially coming in on loan as an option of Quality rather than a solution.
Baxter to my mind now, is a midfielder, though he proved that he can play the role very well as striker, he is more valuable as a midfielder and whilst we have Higdon and McNulty, we don’t need him up front.
Diego, could potentially be a very good Striker, but after Christmas and Clough is clearly wrapping him in Cotton wool until he is 110%.
Regarding Loanees, If we don’t get another striker, it won’t be the end of the world. Nor will it be if we don’t get another defender, but they will be welcomed additions

Wow that's a long winded way of telling me I was right all along there, Swizzler


As for concurrence, sure I do - your'e my hero

 

[Going up]

Competition for every spot on the team is essential. Not just back up, but genuine competition. I believe our strength in mid field is pushing Davies and JCR on this year. Davies has always pushed himself in training, but the depth can't help but be an additional spur.
LIkewise, Baxter scoring, McNulty playing well and even Diego with his flying return will mean that Higs is no shoe-in, he has to perform, which he is now starting to do.
Our latest signing is a perfect example, we now have three fighting for the manager's nod for the two spots.

 

[dingledog]

So we are well past this 'magical' 93 day point and what has happened? We've loaned a defender, admittedly he probably didn't have the best debut, but things will improve.

So where are the CB and striker we desperately need? Surely the powers that be have seen what happens if you sign someone at the last minute?

Got to say, beginning to feel very cynical about our beloved team and this game changing investment.

 

[finlaytheblade]

So we are well past this 'magical' 93 day point and what has happened? We've loaned a defender, admittedly he probably didn't have the best debut, but things will improve.

So where are the CB and striker we desperately need? Surely the powers that be have seen what happens if you sign someone at the last minute?

Got to say, beginning to feel very cynical about our beloved team and this game changing investment.

what happened to mccarthy can happen to any defender and most would own up tto having done it at some point
in their career.it was just unfortunate to happen on his debut and be the killer 2nd goal if he had made a habit of making mistakes like that he would not have had the career at the level he has.
we move on lets put it behind us. come on you blades

 

[Lane Ender]

I am with this. Our squad is already bigger than our Nige said he wanted. We need to get McGinn, Porter, Butler off the books and some youngsters out on loan before we bring anyone in.

Not that bothered about McGinn or Porter but Clough should sort it out with Butler and recall him pronto.