Champagneblade
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- Jan 24, 2010
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I don't see that we've quite had one of these.
Yes we've had a little bit of how to get out of this mess but let's be honest we are edging towards pragmatism now. We have to think with a clear head. I mean Norwich faced up to this from before MD1 and they are well placed now to return with their house in order.
So rather than be foolhardy, like a gambler doubling up on black in the hope he can win back his stake we have to entertain with seriousness that this season ends in relegation and in a sense allows us time to prepare for a bounce back.
First of all, we have to get back into the habit of going after teams. Yes, the mentality to stay up where not losing can be more important than going for the win, can differ from that of chasing promotion, where 3 points are regularly required.
So, we need to enter the Championship with a combination that will give us confidence goals will be scored.
To that ends it makes sense to try to build some combos that will help us next season. I'd like to see us play Brewster and McBurnie as a pair and rotate with Mousset to see if there is a combination there to build on. We know Billy will be useful but building on a 34 year old is optimistic but he will remain a useful squad player. Same with McGoldrick. In many ways we have decent options up front for that level.
It's the midfield I think needs the most attention.
1. Offload Lunny in January. This is the Championship we're heading to and even small money can be useful. Even if we offload him for as little as say 1.5m, then that's 2m in the kitty including wages and a player out who doesn't want to be here. Yes, teams can take him for nowt in June but January is a desperate month and a bargain Lunny can still be a piece to trade with.
2. Start making moves for Ben Pearson ideally Jan, if not summer. He's out of contract in the summer. Exactly the sort of dirty git this unaggressive bunch is missing. He could be a roughhouse version of Courts if you like.
3. See if you can sell Berge. I'm not sure on him. Maybe he looks good in a team that regularly wins but I've not seen enough to suggest I wouldn't rather just have my money back. I wouldn't take a loss but money back would be a reasonable shake hands outcome.
4. Make a decision on Fleck and Norwood. Could they still unite as a pair behind a Duffy type? Or are they just trying to recapture form they'll never get back? If the answer is no, then circulate their names. Still a possibility Rangers might fancy Fleck, they like 'Rangers Men' there. Norwood would probably still have suitors. Plenty of recent clips from last season to entice. Replacement would be needed. Hopefully they can still contribute.
5. Find a replacement for Duffy. Lunny's unexpected breakthrough last season obscured things a bit. In the Championship the flat 3 was rubbish when we needed front foot football. I hope Chris and Alan remember this. Someone like Jed Wallace would appeal to me. Decent age, scores goals and probably ready to play for more of a contender. Bring back Freeman. Can he audition as another option for this role? Concerned by his injury record though.
Look at systems. We've invested a lot of time in the overlapping centre backs. No need to dismiss entirely but I'd be having 3-4-1-2 back and we need a proper Plan B. For me I like either 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 as we can fall into this system with limited changes and this is where Burke would be a good impact sub - Center half off, Burke on, 4-3-3 or just Basham into midfield for 4-3-1-2 and no sub needed.
Make a decision on the keepers. We have a lot. Unless Bournemouth come in with a money back offer on Ramsdale then for me, something like Ramsdale, Verrips, Amissah at the Lane. Moore and Foderingham moved on. Dewhurst and Eastwood out on loan.
Start offloading who we don't need. The like of Moore, Foderingham, Rodwell have limited places here and Robinson and Bryan too to be honest. If JOC left, I'd keep Robinson as back up. There's then the thorny question of left back. There's every chance RND gets in there. Is that competing with Enda, Lowe or Osborn? 1 of those can go, if only on loan and if Osborn competed in midfield.
Ideally though, bring in another left centre back like Davies from Preston or Cooper from Millwall who could cover Egan as well so we are not caught again. We may still have to manage Jack's games carefully.
It might leave me something like this, comparing with the team that came up:
G: Ramsdale, Verrips, Amissah
(Henderson, Moore, Eastwood)
RWB: Baldock, Bogle
(Baldock, Freeman)
LWB: RND, Stevens
(Stevens, Johnson)
CB: Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Davies/Cooper, + 1 back up RCB/Jagielka
(Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Bryan, Stearman, Cranie)
CM: Pearson, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn
(Coutts, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram)
AM: Wallace, Freeman
(Duffy, Dowell)
CF: McBurnie, Brewster, Mousset, Sharp, McGoldrick, Burke
(Madine, Hogan, Washington, Sharp, McGoldrick, Woodburn)
I'd say striking options better than last promotion. Midfield comparable overall. Defence better depth. Keeper not quite as good.
3 key signings at good ages, financed by selling Berge and selling/removing wages of Foderingham, Moore, Robinson, Bryan, Lowe, Rodwell. Still room for the odd loan during the season. In fact Pearson would cost no fee and Davies neither in the summer. But Wallace and Cooper as cash deals should be well within the Berge fee.
Yes we've had a little bit of how to get out of this mess but let's be honest we are edging towards pragmatism now. We have to think with a clear head. I mean Norwich faced up to this from before MD1 and they are well placed now to return with their house in order.
So rather than be foolhardy, like a gambler doubling up on black in the hope he can win back his stake we have to entertain with seriousness that this season ends in relegation and in a sense allows us time to prepare for a bounce back.
First of all, we have to get back into the habit of going after teams. Yes, the mentality to stay up where not losing can be more important than going for the win, can differ from that of chasing promotion, where 3 points are regularly required.
So, we need to enter the Championship with a combination that will give us confidence goals will be scored.
To that ends it makes sense to try to build some combos that will help us next season. I'd like to see us play Brewster and McBurnie as a pair and rotate with Mousset to see if there is a combination there to build on. We know Billy will be useful but building on a 34 year old is optimistic but he will remain a useful squad player. Same with McGoldrick. In many ways we have decent options up front for that level.
It's the midfield I think needs the most attention.
1. Offload Lunny in January. This is the Championship we're heading to and even small money can be useful. Even if we offload him for as little as say 1.5m, then that's 2m in the kitty including wages and a player out who doesn't want to be here. Yes, teams can take him for nowt in June but January is a desperate month and a bargain Lunny can still be a piece to trade with.
2. Start making moves for Ben Pearson ideally Jan, if not summer. He's out of contract in the summer. Exactly the sort of dirty git this unaggressive bunch is missing. He could be a roughhouse version of Courts if you like.
3. See if you can sell Berge. I'm not sure on him. Maybe he looks good in a team that regularly wins but I've not seen enough to suggest I wouldn't rather just have my money back. I wouldn't take a loss but money back would be a reasonable shake hands outcome.
4. Make a decision on Fleck and Norwood. Could they still unite as a pair behind a Duffy type? Or are they just trying to recapture form they'll never get back? If the answer is no, then circulate their names. Still a possibility Rangers might fancy Fleck, they like 'Rangers Men' there. Norwood would probably still have suitors. Plenty of recent clips from last season to entice. Replacement would be needed. Hopefully they can still contribute.
5. Find a replacement for Duffy. Lunny's unexpected breakthrough last season obscured things a bit. In the Championship the flat 3 was rubbish when we needed front foot football. I hope Chris and Alan remember this. Someone like Jed Wallace would appeal to me. Decent age, scores goals and probably ready to play for more of a contender. Bring back Freeman. Can he audition as another option for this role? Concerned by his injury record though.
Look at systems. We've invested a lot of time in the overlapping centre backs. No need to dismiss entirely but I'd be having 3-4-1-2 back and we need a proper Plan B. For me I like either 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 as we can fall into this system with limited changes and this is where Burke would be a good impact sub - Center half off, Burke on, 4-3-3 or just Basham into midfield for 4-3-1-2 and no sub needed.
Make a decision on the keepers. We have a lot. Unless Bournemouth come in with a money back offer on Ramsdale then for me, something like Ramsdale, Verrips, Amissah at the Lane. Moore and Foderingham moved on. Dewhurst and Eastwood out on loan.
Start offloading who we don't need. The like of Moore, Foderingham, Rodwell have limited places here and Robinson and Bryan too to be honest. If JOC left, I'd keep Robinson as back up. There's then the thorny question of left back. There's every chance RND gets in there. Is that competing with Enda, Lowe or Osborn? 1 of those can go, if only on loan and if Osborn competed in midfield.
Ideally though, bring in another left centre back like Davies from Preston or Cooper from Millwall who could cover Egan as well so we are not caught again. We may still have to manage Jack's games carefully.
It might leave me something like this, comparing with the team that came up:
G: Ramsdale, Verrips, Amissah
(Henderson, Moore, Eastwood)
RWB: Baldock, Bogle
(Baldock, Freeman)
LWB: RND, Stevens
(Stevens, Johnson)
CB: Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Davies/Cooper, + 1 back up RCB/Jagielka
(Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Bryan, Stearman, Cranie)
CM: Pearson, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn
(Coutts, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram)
AM: Wallace, Freeman
(Duffy, Dowell)
CF: McBurnie, Brewster, Mousset, Sharp, McGoldrick, Burke
(Madine, Hogan, Washington, Sharp, McGoldrick, Woodburn)
I'd say striking options better than last promotion. Midfield comparable overall. Defence better depth. Keeper not quite as good.
3 key signings at good ages, financed by selling Berge and selling/removing wages of Foderingham, Moore, Robinson, Bryan, Lowe, Rodwell. Still room for the odd loan during the season. In fact Pearson would cost no fee and Davies neither in the summer. But Wallace and Cooper as cash deals should be well within the Berge fee.
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