Using the January signings

[Ricky]

For the wages we'll be paying, they obviously can't just be subs, given 5 minutes like Johnson and Washington and then written off. There's additional pressure to start them and their ability dictates that they should get proper time on the pitch.

There's not many games left though so to get the most out of the signings and the squad Wilder might have to take something of a horses for courses approach to selection, often change winning teams and almost pre-empt the attacking players' dips in form, as well as making some decisive earlier substitutions.

Automatic promotion is possible but we'll have to squeeze every point we possibly can. That means really making the most out of what we've got. Getting in the right quality players is one thing, maximising them is another, especially over a short period. It's a big challenge for Wilder and might involve a fair few gambles, but it could be the difference.

Then this is the bit where I say it should be interesting anyway, to wrap up the post.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Then this is the bit where I say it should be interesting anyway, to wrap up the post.

Therein lies your mistake. You have to wrap up with ‘UTB!!’

 

[Ricky]

Therein lies your mistake. You have to wrap up with ‘UTB!!’

In Wilder I Trust.

 

[SUFC Guy]

UTMB!!!

 

[Sithblade]

Only problem with all three is that they haven't played much first team football this season and we're nearly in February. All are improvements on the squad just hope they get up to speed quick enough.

 

[TJB.]

For the wages we'll be paying, they obviously can't just be subs, given 5 minutes like Johnson and Washington and then written off. There's additional pressure to start them and their ability dictates that they should get proper time on the pitch.

There's not many games left though so to get the most out of the signings and the squad Wilder might have to take something of a horses for courses approach to selection, often change winning teams and almost pre-empt the attacking players' dips in form, as well as making some decisive earlier substitutions.

Automatic promotion is possible but we'll have to squeeze every point we possibly can. That means really making the most out of what we've got. Getting in the right quality players is one thing, maximising them is another, especially over a short period. It's a big challenge for Wilder and might involve a fair few gambles, but it could be the difference.

Then this is the bit where I say it should be interesting anyway, to wrap up the post.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Wilder won't care a jot what players are earning. You have to earn a place in the side and nobody gets a free spot just because they're on big bucks.

We'll see rotation to save legs or to change things up against certain opponents. This will be entirely tactical. I really can't see their pay packets coming into the equation.

Liverpool were allegedly charging us for not playing Woodburn. We still didn't play him for the sake of it. Merit over money in a Wilder side and rightly so.

 

[Ricky]

Only problem with all three is that they haven't played much first team football this season and we're nearly in February. All are improvements on the squad just hope they get up to speed quick enough.

And two of them are strikers, and we've had two strikers in form pretty much all season. So it's not obvious how they're going to get significant time on the pitch.

 

[Ricky]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Wilder won't care a jot what players are earning. You have to earn a place in the side and nobody gets a free spot just because they're on big bucks.

We'll see rotation to save legs or to change things up against certain opponents. This will be entirely tactical. I really can't see their pay packets coming into the equation.

Liverpool were allegedly charging us for not playing Woodburn. We still didn't play him for the sake of it. Merit over money in a Wilder side and rightly so.

Obviously merit over money, but when we're paying wages well beyond what we've paid before there's no way it isn't an additional factor in Wilder's mind. And part of the reason we're paying those wages is because they're considerably more proven than Woodburn. I'll be very surprised if more than one fails to be involved regularly.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

All new signings will also keep incumbents “on their toes “ and fresh when rotation needed.

 

[knowsnowt]

I'd I were Wilder I'd get them in then worry about what game time they get or not, for "insurance" purposes. If anyone can right royally fuck it up its us. Just look back at when Ched got sent down.
I don't think Wilder would give a fuck if they were pounding on his office door daily anyway, asking why they arent getting minutes. They will when needed.

 

[Toronto Blade]

The signings haven't played much first team football without a doubt.
This could work out to be an advantage.
While other team's players tire towards the end of the season these three will have come into shape and still be full of energy.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I'd I were Wilder I'd get them in then worry about what game time they get or not, for "insurance" purposes. If anyone can right royally fuck it up its us. Just look back at when Ched got sent down.
I don't think Wilder would give a fuck if they were pounding on his office door daily anyway, asking why they arent getting minutes. They will when needed.

Spot. Fucking. On.

It’s about time we prepared for all eventualities, the vagaries of the footballing gods, BS dry patch & a McG injury.

Unless something bad happens and we sell BS in the JTW, it appears we’re finally learning from previous debacles.

UTFB & IWWFT.

 

[davidblade]

Can’t say I’m impressed from what I’ve seen.
Dowell a slightly better Woodburn but no world beater far from it.
Madine think he’s ok as a player but he’s still a cunt and always will be, but Wilder want him so I’ll give him time.
Hogan it’s a long time since he’s performed anytime like what we need and on the wages he’s reportedly getting, a big gamble.

 

[Chali 2na]

Can’t say I’m impressed from what I’ve seen.
Dowell a slightly better Woodburn but no world beater far from it.
Madine think he’s ok as a player but he’s still a cunt and always will be, but Wilder want him so I’ll give him time.
Hogan it’s a long time since he’s performed anytime like what we need and on the wages he’s reportedly getting, a big gamble.

Who would have impressed you?

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Can’t say I’m impressed from what I’ve seen.
Dowell a slightly better Woodburn but no world beater far from it.
Madine think he’s ok as a player but he’s still a cunt and always will be, but Wilder want him so I’ll give him time.
Hogan it’s a long time since he’s performed anytime like what we need and on the wages he’s reportedly getting, a big gamble.

Well to my mind it’s better than the time we sold good Beattie and brought in shit Beattie on loan for the final run in, or the time we brought in an injured Will Hoskins to replace Ched for the final run in or any of the other times we’ve been woefully under prepared or done something jaw dropping stupid in the last 6 months of a season when we were there or there abouts. When you compare the squad that finished last season, to the one that will potentially finish this, I’m delighted. And that’s a rarity, as pessimism is my default position & I hate Madine.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'd I were Wilder I'd get them in then worry about what game time they get or not, for "insurance" purposes. If anyone can right royally fuck it up its us. Just look back at when Ched got sent down.
I don't think Wilder would give a fuck if they were pounding on his office door daily anyway, asking why they arent getting minutes. They will when needed.

Knowssumat

 

[FriethBlade]

None of them come as first 11 guarantees. However Madine is the physical option, Hogan is the Sharp cover and a significant upgrade on Washington and in Dowell we have as near to a Duffy backstop as we could expect.

If we don't sell one of our first 11 it's a very good window

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I agree, Wilder needs to manage the players and use his squad wisely, a new approach but it just might work

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Consider it squad depth, the first 11 are playing on the same wavelength and are in form. Those coming here know there's no guarantees of starting unless they earn it. It's the most depth we've had in many years and it's a good problem to have.

 

[ChemEngBlade]

Obviously merit over money, but when we're paying wages well beyond what we've paid before there's no way it isn't an additional factor in Wilder's mind. And part of the reason we're paying those wages is because they're considerably more proven than Woodburn. I'll be very surprised if more than one fails to be involved regularly.

You say that about wages but a friend of mine is a professional footballer at Man City and previously of Everton. When Everton initially signed him he was playing for their under 23's earning over £20k per week

 

[ChemEngBlade]

The new recruits I imagine will all be/have been told that they need to get up to speed quickly to have an effect in the remaining 17 games. I also imagine Wilder's choice of player was influenced by how fast he thinks they'll be able to slot in nicely

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Has anyone asked the question that if our existing pre JTW "A" team performs then we might not actually need these signings very much.

The back 8 picks itself - the front 3 of McG, Billy and Duffy may end up starting a lot of the games regardless of the signings, especially at home. For CW it's all about producing the goods.

I can see the front 3 changing for away games, against some very good clubs. similar to what we did v Norwich.

For sure we have many different options now but can see McG, Billy and Duffy start against a poor Bolton side on Saturday.

UTB

 

[Stretch]

As others have said I don't see a winning formula getting torn up to incorporate anyone in the starting 11 unless they earn it. I fully expect Sharp, McG and Duffy all to start on Saturday.

What is great though is that we have 3 potential game changers on the bench in Dowell, Madine and Hogan, each of which have very different attributes and can facilitate a change of system.

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

Has anyone asked the question that if our existing pre JTW "A" team performs then we might not actually need these signings very much.

The back 8 picks itself - the front 3 of McG, Billy and Duffy may end up starting a lot of the games regardless of the signings, especially at home. For CW it's all about producing the goods.

I can see the front 3 changing for away games, against some very good clubs. similar to what we did v Norwich.

For sure we have many different options now but can see McG, Billy and Duffy start against a poor Bolton side on Saturday.

UTB

Totally agree. Wilder is very aware that he would take tons of flack if Billy or McG got crocked and he only had an out of form Leon as back up. Even though they are only loans, Hogan and Madine will cost a decent chunk of wages so credit to the management for a bit of forward thinking. Hopefully I will feel just the same tomorrow when Fleck is still here. UTB

 

[SittingontheBall]

I understand people saying “they are costing, so CW will be under pressure to play them” but I see it differently.
The hard bit about what is being paid - that was getting the board to commit to it - CW has cleared that hurdle. The cost is no longer relevant, for the time being at least.
CW can now focus on getting the best blend for each game as it comes up taking into account how players (whoever they are or what they are costing) are performing in training, games, etc. or what he perceives needs to meet the challenges that the opposition pose.
Simples!

UTB

 

[Boxer Blade]

I can see this squad now ensuring our top six place which would be fantastic, top two? Anybodies guess but we have a chance, our squad compared to the squad this time last year is far better and that squad was in turn better so the future looks good, finishing in the top six is still a great achievement, already looking forward to next January's window !

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Has anyone asked the question that if our existing pre JTW "A" team performs then we might not actually need these signings very much.

The back 8 picks itself - the front 3 of McG, Billy and Duffy may end up starting a lot of the games regardless of the signings, especially at home. For CW it's all about producing the goods.

I can see the front 3 changing for away games, against some very good clubs. similar to what we did v Norwich.

For sure we have many different options now but can see McG, Billy and Duffy start against a poor Bolton side on Saturday.

UTB

Our 'A' team is just falling short of Tufty's ideas of a top 2 team, we know that based on the points we've dropped through not taking chances etc. He's gradually improving the squad and instead of having Clarke/Washington/Johnson on the bench and possible starters we potentially have Dowell/Hogan/Madine, that's the difference.

 

[Ricky]

There will be times when the strikers go through dry spells, and when Duffy's off the boil. We can't afford to keep them in the team for 3 or 4 games when this happens. Identifying these periods in advance could get us extra points. The statistical data could help with that. I think Duffy and Dowell will be rotated 50/50 anyway, it'll be more difficult with the strikers. Sharp and McGoldrick will have to be at the top of their game, but at their age I'd expect some rotation to happen anyway, certainly with Madine and Hogan to call on.

I wonder if there could be one more coming in as well, because if Norwood or especially Fleck got injured our hopes would nosedive. Or Stevens, or O'Connell. But I guess on our budget you can't adequately cover every player, especially ones of such quality. It'd be nice if we could though.

 

[snootyfenooty]

They'll get their minutes because Wilder sees them as the future instead of clinging on to the likes of Wright, Clarke and Freeman (and soon to be Duffy) as many on here are constantly bleating and pleading about. Its all a bit commonsensical really.

 

[Smirth]

I understand the need for depth, but I’m struggling to see the purpose of the Hogan signing. We already have Madine as a plan B. And now we are taking on Hogan at I assume quite a cost.

Should we not be looking to get in another midfielder to compete with Fleck instead?