Loan Signing This Week ?

[Kenilworth]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

CB = 1
RB = 1
CF = 2
Total 4

What the hell am I missing Swizzers?


a) frontal lobotomy
b) rose tinted spectacles
c) a tickling stick
d) an abacus
e) some balls

 

[SwissBlade]

CB = 1
RB = 1
CF = 2
Total 4

What the hell am I missing Swizzers?


a) frontal lobotomy
b) rose tinted spectacles
c) a tickling stick
d) an abacus
e) some balls

I certainly didn't mention 2 CF's. I simply stated what I think we need as a priority.

 

[Kenilworth]

I certainly didn't mention 2 CF's. I simply stated what I think we need as a priority.

No, I did. That's why I took your 2-3 and added my 2 - as stated earlier - IMO we still need strikers - we are not going to score unless this is addressed and I don't include Vas in this tally - he won't be effective for a while, even if he is re-signed.

 

[Grappler]

I wonder whether Basham should be partnering Collins instead of McGahay? I thought he was terrible at Burton pre-season, but looked good in the friendly against Fenerbahce. That was the last time he looked good and does not seem suited to the attacking midfielder role. I think he has had one attempt at goal, a header straight into the keepers hands. Murphy seems out of sorts compared to last season and Flynn has started to look lively again. When all are fit, we should never start a game without Baxter, JCR and Davies (best player so far this season), Higdon, not sure what to make of him, I am sure he has some goals in him but for whatever reason, it is just not happening.

As for loan players, if Wallace is not fit then someone to partner Doyle and attack from the middle of the park is needed, someone pacey. A striker is only needed if we are going to play 4-4-2 (to partner Higdon or McNulty), if we are playing the loan striker and five in midfield then just stick with what we have got. The last two games show that we can score, but also leak goals. Stopping the leak is the first priority (for me), Howard has been good for a long spell so I can only assume that the back four are letting him down. As Clough senior said in his autobiography, the first thing to do with any football team is build a solid defence, that more than anything is the first thing you do, with a solid defence, not letting anything through, the worst that can happen is a 0-0 draw.

 

[SwissBlade]

No, I did. That's why I took your 2-3 and added my 2 - as stated earlier - IMO we still need strikers - we are not going to score unless this is addressed and I don't include Vas in this tally - he won't be effective for a while, even if he is re-signed.

Fair enough but your post read like you were asking for my concurrence on your 4-5 loans. I don't by the way. I'd go with one possibly two at the back for now as there are clear gaps

As for strikers, we have difficulty playing the ones we have and My personally thinking is that I'd we get the midfield settled we have the creativity to feed McNulty and Ched. Plus Higdon has had few games to settle in.

 

[sitwell]

It doesn't matter who Clough goes for he will be slagged off ,I notice that other useless wanker we were linked with Connor Salmon scored the winner for Ipswich at Wigan last night. I mentioned this about John McGovern last week and plenty agreed but still we love to slag off any rumoured targets.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I wonder whether Basham should be partnering Collins instead of McGahay? I thought he was terrible at Burton pre-season, but looked good in the friendly against Fenerbahce. That was the last time he looked good and does not seem suited to the attacking midfielder role. I think he has had one attempt at goal, a header straight into the keepers hands. Murphy seems out of sorts compared to last season and Flynn has started to look lively again. When all are fit, we should never start a game without Baxter, JCR and Davies (best player so far this season), Higdon, not sure what to make of him, I am sure he has some goals in him but for whatever reason, it is just not happening.

As for loan players, if Wallace is not fit then someone to partner Doyle and attack from the middle of the park is needed, someone pacey. A striker is only needed if we are going to play 4-4-2 (to partner Higdon or McNulty), if we are playing the loan striker and five in midfield then just stick with what we have got. The last two games show that we can score, but also leak goals. Stopping the leak is the first priority (for me), Howard has been good for a long spell so I can only assume that the back four are letting him down. As Clough senior said in his autobiography, the first thing to do with any football team is build a solid defence, that more than anything is the first thing you do, with a solid defence, not letting anything through, the worst that can happen is a 0-0 draw.

Basham has got into the box and had plenty of efforts most games, but hasn't been able to convert them. If that stays the same, we could try Davies in that role. He won't get into the box as often, and will not be an aerial presence, but his finishing would be a lot better. This would free up the right midfield position, and give us the chance to play two out and out wingers, i.e. two from JCR, Murphy and Flynn. The team could posibly look like this:

Howard
Alcock McGahey Collins McEveley
Wallace
Davies - - - - Scougall
JCR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Murphy
Higdon​

 

[wizadry]

Basham has got into the box and had plenty of efforts most games, but hasn't been able to convert them. If that stays the same, we could try Davies in that role. He won't get into the box as often, and will not be an aerial presence, but his finishing would be a lot better. This would free up the right midfield position, and give us the chance to play two out and out wingers, i.e. two from JCR, Murphy and Flynn. The team could posibly look like this:

Howard
Alcock McGahey Collins McEveley
Wallace
Davies - - - - Scougall
JCR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Murphy
Higdon​

Where's Baxter fit in to all this,because if it wasn't for him we would be in the relegation zone.

 

[Kenilworth]

Fair enough but your post read like you were asking for my concurrence on your 4-5 loans. I don't by the way. I'd go with one possibly two at the back for now as there are clear gaps. As for strikers, we have difficulty playing the ones we have and My personally thinking is that I'd we get the midfield settled we have the creativity to feed McNulty and Ched. Plus Higdon has had few games to settle in.

That 4-5 loans was based on NC wanting to get 3 players in prior to the TW closing and his further realisation that several of the current squad are not of a high enough quality to warrant a start. It comprised 2 defenders, possibly one midfielder (something has to give on the Basham / Wallace position as one is not doing the business and one is clearly struggling to get over a series of career threatening injuries) and two strikers.

You can't be serious about the strikers Swiss, can you? I cannot see McNuts having enough time to adjust and bang in 15-20 goals this season - I like what I have seen of him, bar a yard of pace, but it would be unfair to place that burden on him. Of the others, consensus is that Porter's time is finished, Higdon looks as though he has reached a brick wall and can't break through it and we cannot, surely, conceivably, at any stage of a fantasy believe that Ched is the saviour? If that's the case we may as well pack it in now as we won't manage more than 50 goals throughout the season if that part of the equation is already settled.

On the chances part - I have seen JCR consistently get into some great positions and put in crosses to decent areas of the pitch, Flynn too more recently, and Davies with his delivery as well - only for the strikers to be ball watching and not make any effort to get on the end of them. We are creating opportunities - we just don't have the players in the last third to capitalise. When you factor in that the current CAM is totally ineffective in exploiting any of these either you are into a situation where no matter how many good spells you might have in a game you rarely convert them into goals to seize the initiative and then you invariably get caught out at the back and end up chasing the game, again.

Goals change games and the simple truth is that we ain't got enough in us.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Where's Baxter fit in to all this,because if it wasn't for him we would be in the relegation zone.

Probably up front when he gets fit, although he too could play in Davies' position, and remember Clough also played him in the holding role a couple of games ago.

 

[Grappler]

As I have said before, Baxter, JCR and Davies have to be in the starting line up for me. I would pick Flynn over Murphy at present, Doyle looks like he is not going to get replaced anytime soon, so Wallace alongside him

 

[Kenilworth]

As I have said before, Baxter, JCR and Davies have to be in the starting line up for me. I would pick Flynn over Murphy at present, Doyle looks like he is not going to get replaced anytime soon, so Wallace alongside him

Agree - but what about loans?

 

[Grappler]

Agree - but what about loans?

Well I assume that Clough will want the three player positions that we supposedly were trying to get on transfer deadline day, so a Defender (for McGahey?) a midfielder (for Basham?) and a striker (for Higdon?) Just me guessing of course.

 

[Kenilworth]

Well I assume that Clough will want the three player positions that we supposedly were trying to get on transfer deadline day, so a Defender (for McGahey?) a midfielder (for Basham?) and a striker (for Higdon?) Just me guessing of course.

I would concur with that as a minimum - as NC has also stated he wants cover at right back - so that's at least 4 required

It's a bit concerning we are that reliant on so many loans again at this early stage of the season given that we have had a whole close season and pre season to get something sorted. A big gamble that they all gel together into a cohesive unit before it's too late.

 

[Lane Ender]

Well I assume that Clough will want the three player positions that we supposedly were trying to get on transfer deadline day, so a Defender (for McGahey?) a midfielder (for Basham?) and a striker (for Higdon?) Just me guessing of course.

Or he could kiss and make up with Butler and recall him from Wallsall even make him captain.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I recall Cough mentioning that whoever he brought in on loan was with a view to signing them permanently in January.

I know that Brayford and, after a slow start, Coady were exceptions to the rule, but loans are not the answer if we're looking to build a team. Let's hope that Clough's strategy of loans developing into permanent signings is the way forward.

 

[Grappler]

Or he could kiss and make up with Butler and recall him from Wallsall even make him captain.

Not seen enough of Butler to make my mind up about him to be honest. He had a shocker at Burton, but then most did!

 

[Kenilworth]

Not seen enough of Butler to make my mind up about him to be honest. He had a shocker at Burton, but then most did!

When I have seen him he looks dangerous in both boxes

 

[Darthblade]

I would concur with that as a minimum - as NC has also stated he wants cover at right back - so that's at least 4 required

It's a bit concerning we are that reliant on so many loans again at this early stage of the season given that we have had a whole close season and pre season to get something sorted. A big gamble that they all gel together into a cohesive unit before it's too late.

It seems to me that we need at least 3 in before Saturday based on the poor performances away at Swindon & Colchester and the two poor home performances vs Rochdale & Crawley.
I would suggest we need:
a) a dominant centre half with some pace, able to tackle and pass the ball to one of our lot
b) a powerful tough tackling centre midfield player with some pace and the ability to pass the ball to our lot
c) a powerful centre forward with blistering pace and the PROVEN ability to actually score goals for us in this Division
and if Santa is listening, a chap with a beard, plays right fullback and puts a smile on our faces ......... PLEASE !!
UTB & FTP