Incoming? Jake Forster-Caskey

[FriethBlade]

Agreed, central midfield is now our weakest area.

We've sorted the back 4 even if Macfadzean doesn't sign and the front line as it stands is more than good enough (assuming Adams stays) even though a target man would be nice.

Out wide we've a number of options but central midfield has been a problem for years. I think Fleck had been signed to play there but we need a mobile, hard tackling, box to box man to play alongside. If we find one we are sorted for the season.

 

[Slim Man]

I do think Basham will be a good partner for Fleck but he needs to be more aggressive. He's got it in him to be everything Fleck needs from a partner, he has potential for goals in him but he just lacks that little bit of confidence you need to take a punt or arrive in the box in fear of missing I feel.

IF, big IF, we could get James Wallace fit he'd be ideal. But, it seems like that's never going to happen.

 

[RedandWhite]

I do think Basham will be a good partner for Fleck but he needs to be more aggressive. He's got it in him to be everything Fleck needs from a partner, he has potential for goals in him but he just lacks that little bit of confidence you need to take a punt or arrive in the box in fear of missing I feel.

IF, big IF, we could get James Wallace fit he'd be ideal. But, it seems like that's never going to happen.

Whats the big deal around James Wallace, genuine question, I've seen a lot of posts mention him as a key player if fit but I've never seen anything good come from him?

 

[Slim Man]

Whats the big deal around James Wallace, genuine question, I've seen a lot of posts mention him as a key player if fit but I've never seen anything good come from him?

Clearly not watched him that often then. Class player when fit.

 

[BushBlade]

Clearly not watched him that often then. Class player when fit.

How many games has he played for us?

 

[Slim Man]

How many games has he played for us?

14. Does how many games he's played change his talent when he's on the field?

 

[spongebobblade]

Clearly not watched him that often then. Class player when fit.

A real shame. He has undoubted ability but as said so many times on here, is made of glass.
He really is in the last chance saloon

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Clearly not watched him that often then. Class player when fit.

None of us have watched him that often!!!

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

14. Does how many games he's played change his talent when he's on the field?

Quite possibly, being injured as much as him will no doubt have an affect on how he plays.

 

[Slim Man]

None of us have watched him that often!!!

Watched him often enough to garner an opinion on how good he is I'm sure.
We only saw Cahill for 16 games but we could all see after 1 he was far too good for the championship. Don't understand what difference it makes.

He's clearly a cut above, if it wasn't for his injuries he'd not be with us.

 

[BushBlade]

14. Does how many games he's played change his talent when he's on the field?

No, I'm just saying if he's only played 14 times in two years it's not surprising people haven't seen that much of him.

 

[mickerz-blade]

Agreed, central midfield is now our weakest area.

We've sorted the back 4 even if Macfadzean doesn't sign and the front line as it stands is more than good enough (assuming Adams stays) even though a target man would be nice.

Out wide we've a number of options but central midfield has been a problem for years. I think Fleck had been signed to play there but we need a mobile, hard tackling, box to box man to play alongside. If we find one we are sorted for the season.

We actually have more players in central midfield than any other position right now. We have 7 that I can think: Basham, Fleck, Scougall, Coutts, J Wallace, Reed, Whiteman. In terms of quality then yes it may be the weaker area we have. But if we want to think about getting any better quality central midfield players then I think we'd have to offload a couple there?

You also mention we've a number of options out wide, but I can only think of one in being Duffy. I don't know who else you're thinking of? As I would then think we have around 5 options for our front line in Sharp, McNulty, Done, Adams and DCL.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Watched him often enough to garner an opinion on how good he is I'm sure.
We only saw Cahill for 16 games but we could all see after 1 he was far too good for the championship. Don't understand what difference it makes.

He's clearly a cut above, if it wasn't for his injuries he'd not be with us.

I would guess Cahill played 16 consecutive games though.

Wallace has played limited minutes in fits and starts.

Yes he's shown glimpses of talent, but he hasn't shown he is capable of this for a sustained period. We cant take players like this forward with us.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

We actually have more players in central midfield than any other position right now. We have 7 that I can think: Basham, Fleck, Scougall, Coutts, J Wallace, Reed, Whiteman. In terms of quality then yes it may be the weaker area we have. But if we want to think about getting any better quality central midfield players then I think we'd have to offload a couple there?

You also mention we've a number of options out wide, but I can only think of one in being Duffy. I don't know who else you're thinking of? As I would then think we have around 5 options for our front line in Sharp, McNulty, Done, Adams and DCL.

We have to base it on quality, and like said it is definitely the weakest area. Coutts/Wallace could be moved on, Reed for me would do well having a loan spell elsewhere. Whiteman too.

As for wide players, it depends on what system CW will play - if its 4-2-3-1 then I think we are just about ok with the likes of Duffy, Adams, Done, however this could do with supplementing in an ideal world.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Just read that Forster-Caskey's move to Rotherham is about to fall through - however, unfortunately for us, this is because he doesn't want to move north.

 

[bertieblade]

Rotherham is further north than Sheffield, he will surely sign

 

[Chali 2na]

Rotherham is further north than Sheffield, he will surely sign

Post of the month

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He's clearly a cut above, if it wasn't for his injuries he'd not be with us.

If it wasn't for the idiocy of Clough/Brannigan in handing him a three-year deal he would be currently looking for a new club.

If he had been signed by us this summer – a player with a dismal injury record the last few years, who while clearly talented can't apply that talent in more than a handful of games a season – even if it had been just a one-year deal, we'd have been rightly calling that deal a complete waste of resources.

 

[Slim Man]

If it wasn't for the idiocy of Clough/Brannigan in handing him a three-year deal he would be currently looking for a new club.

If he had been signed by us this summer – a player with a dismal injury record the last few years, who while clearly talented can't apply that talent in more than a handful of games a season – even if it had been just a one-year deal, we'd have been rightly calling that deal a complete waste of resources.

Can't go back in time and change his contract length unfortunately.

 

[mattbianco1]

Whats the big deal around James Wallace, genuine question, I've seen a lot of posts mention him as a key player if fit but I've never seen anything good come from him?

When he plays he is a cut above. I remember when Barnsley beat us at the Lane not last season, the one before, he was the only bright spark in the game.

Unfortunately, we haven't seen enough of him. I think when fit, he is the box-to-box 'Conor Coady type' player. I also think Clough chased him instead of Coady as he was the more realistic target.

 

[FriethBlade]

Agreed Clough gets stick for signing injury prone players but at the time that was the budget he had to play with so had to take risks. It's remarkable that people seem to think the likes of Higdon and Wallace were first choice signings !

 

[Billyblade]

Just read that Forster-Caskey's move to Rotherham is about to fall through - however, unfortunately for us, this is because he doesn't want to move north.

Fuck him then, soft Southern shandy drinking bastard

 

[Mouth of the South]

I'm also a fan of James Wallace and have seen on several occasions (inc. Crewe away, Barnsley home (as mentioned above) and even in the last 20 mins at P'boro away last season) when he looked a class above. A real shame for both him and the club that he's not been able to remain fit for any length of time.

When fit, he is certainly a CW type player - big, strong, physical, mobile and able to defend & attack and may well be a better CM partner for Fleck than Basham. However, given his injury record any games he's fit enough to be considered for will have to be treated as a bonus rather than an expectation.

 

[Blade56]

Just read that Forster-Caskey's move to Rotherham is about to fall through - however, unfortunately for us, this is because he doesn't want to move north.

Ooooo, it's int north, they keep ferrets, live on benefits and want to leave Europe I'd never survive outside the big smoke where everyone is so nice and the pavements are paved in gold (literally along the cross rail route).

Soft southern bastard, no backbone.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

Agreed Clough gets stick for signing injury prone players but at the time that was the budget he had to play with so had to take risks. It's remarkable that people seem to think the likes of Higdon and Wallace were first choice signings !

If he hadn't signed so much crap on large wages, then i'm sure he could have looked at non-injury prone players.
Think it was more a case of him squandering the budget rather than being hampered by it.

 

[Ricky]

How the hell would some of these players cope if they were actually playing in a big country where the difference between north and south is more than three hours?

 

[Chali 2na]

Agreed Clough gets stick for signing injury prone players but at the time that was the budget he had to play with so had to take risks. It's remarkable that people seem to think the likes of Higdon and Wallace were first choice signings !

Higdon shouldn't have been his 2nd, 3rd or 4th choice either though.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I hear Kennedy Bakircioglu can still put a shift in.

He's no Cherno Samba.

Has Tonton Zola Moukoko realised his potential yet?

 

[Barney Rubble]

They said I'd got to go to Rovrum, I said No, No, No

 

[Booker4]

They said I'd got to go to Rovrum, I said No, No, No

Great song, largely for the last line! ;-). I never thought there was anything in this rumour to be honest, as Wilder had never mentioned gojng for two centre mids or even an attacking mid. A winger seems more likely. Plus a target man and hopefully Kyle!