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Post by lukeryan on Aug 15, 2024 3:25:32 GMT
A few thoughts as the transfer window is nearing its close. Its widely accepted that the League will be tougher this year so getting our ducks in a row in terms of squad depth is hopefully only a couple of additions away. RW has said over recent interviews that he wants one more central midfielder, another forward option and a left footed right winger. I would also add another left back.
Against Bolton we had four first team players not in the 18 - being Graham, Simpson, Theo (all injured), Moncur (and Pegrum). After that it's the youth team. A few more injuries and suspensions and our bench will be very light indeed. Perkins is the only backup to Agyei and Kelman and we only have three specialised full backs. Sweeney divides opinion with some suggesting he should be playing national league - I personally like him a lot, but he needs some cover and competition.
Midfield works if Brown and Galbraith are always there, but we have Zech the very young, Pratley the very old, Warrington the untested and George Moncur. Would love GM to just get his head down and stop being injured and play but maybe it's in both parties best interests to divorce and more room for us wages wise. Happy if he stays though.
Centre backs are fine and GK we just have to live with and remedy in January if needed.
Who can we get? frees and loans
Up top need an extra body - Mo Eisa is still a free agent. Plenty of experience and pedigree and offers something a bit different to what we already have. Still mobile still tricky would fit in well. Presume we could afford and no real risk if we get him on a years contract with extension option.
Stephen Humphrys - Wigans best player against us last year but still out of contract. Not sure we could afford but can play across the front line and a definite improvement to what he have.
Shaq Forde - Came on leaps and bounds left us polished. If he aint getting near watfords bench, then it's a win win for all on loan. Think wages would be an issue but solves that left footed right sided forward wish.
Divin Mubama - released by West Ham played in prem last year only 19. No idea if that means he's destined for Ebbsfleet or Hoffenheim next...Orient the middle ground.
Anthony Scully - came through at West Ham, shone at Lincoln after a couple of dud seasons needs to get his career back on track. Portsmouth recently said he's surplus and can leave.
Midfield - not a priority unless GM leaves in which case Marcus Browne is on a free. Danny Mandriou is still free but failed a medical at Blackpool recently. Freddie Potts did great at Wycombe last year on loan but maybe too close to the WH first team now.
Left back needs cover and if Harvey Vale of Chelsea is any way available for a 6 month holiday he could bulk up a couple of areas for us. He aint getting a game for Chelsea anytime soon. Left footed forward likes to play off the right but at Bristol rovers last season played left back for them to great effect.
Owen Dodgson impressed me at Brisbane road for Barnsley last season. He's not getting near the first team for Burnley so probably a player they'd look to offload. Had three loans out already.
Harry Boyes (Sheff Utd) and Owen Beck (Liverpool) both highly rated both had successful loan spells last year, both wont get near their first teams.
So for me, Mo Eisa on a free and Harvey Vale on a 6 month loan would see us covered a lot better than we are now, and wont break the bank too much.
(Sorry for the long read but i cant discuss these important matters with my 6 year old just yet)
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Post by kbola on Aug 15, 2024 5:08:07 GMT
All of the above yes just add Mbappe
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Post by dohnut on Aug 15, 2024 6:06:16 GMT
Good post Lukeryan. Our squad is very good in parts but competing over a whole season it’s thin. But it’s what we have. We hope for good fortune regarding injuries and suspensions but already we are players missing and the cards kicking in. 4 Saturday.
There is a chasm between what RW says he wants and what he gets. With 2 weeks to go we may get a player or two. Or not. My expectations are low, would love to be pleasantly surprised.
We are all hoping RW can perform another miracle and produce a good season like last year despite problems stacking up. It’s possible.
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Post by Fisch on Aug 15, 2024 6:34:11 GMT
Great post Luke, you clearly have your ear to the ground regarding possible candidates.
Keep training the six year old, someone has to take up the mantle in the future 😁
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Post by Ramrod on Aug 15, 2024 6:34:23 GMT
Of the players mentioned:
Humphrys appears so highly rated as to be well beyond our means.
Mubama refused a new contract at West Ham so I doubt will opt for us.
Potts did well with Wycombe so any new loan would likely be the Championship.
Failing a medical at Blackpool is not a recommendation although we've certainly gone down that route before.
I imagine the Shaq Forde avenue has been thoroughly explored.
Discussions about Sweeney put me in mind of earlier bitter arguments about Ling, Caprice and other fullbacks.
Expect at least one arrival very soon, especially if we lose at Charlton ...
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Post by Thor on Aug 15, 2024 6:40:16 GMT
Good post lukeryan.
I think Forde is the most realistic name you mention and I think he will be the next person through the door.
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Post by redintheface on Aug 15, 2024 7:05:34 GMT
Very comprehensive list of “ possibles” although I must admit some of whom I’d never heard of! Like you I think LB is a weak spot and needs to be strengthened so the loan option of Boyes or Dodgson seems viable. Forde did well last season but not sure he is the player best suited to meet our requirements just now. I concur with Ramrod that the Stephen Humphreys option - whilst a good one - is probably beyond our reach given the restrictions on budget that are in place.
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Post by ramblingman on Aug 15, 2024 7:26:11 GMT
We need another couple, including that DM
But Lingy was fairly clear a couple of years ago that we would have to adopt a 'small squad' strategy to pay the wages we wanted/ needed to pay to our top players.
The trouble with too many loan players was evident at the end of last season when some of them may have been thinking too much about returning to their parent clubs. Forde and Brynn's performances noticeably tailed off - although Richie put Forde down to fatigue and he would know- and even El Miz wasn't his usual self.
It's hard to judge but are we bringing enough players through? Obeiro is going to be a first team regular in time but he's the first graduate to make a proper mark for some years. Before Zech, Hector made his first team debut in 2019, Sweeney in 2018, Happe and Sotiriou in 2017. That doesn't seem like a great recent record. (Fair enough there have been other academy grads who never played much for us - Alzate, Dalby, Adeboyejo).
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Post by dohnut on Aug 15, 2024 7:32:22 GMT
We need another couple, including that DM But Lingy was fairly clear a couple of years ago that we would have to adopt a 'small squad' strategy to pay the wages we wanted/ needed to pay to our top players. The trouble with too many loan players was evident at the end of last season when some of them may have been thinking too much about returning to their parent clubs. Forde and Brynn's performances noticeably tailed off - although Richie put Forde down to fatigue and he would know- and even El Miz wasn't his usual self. It's hard to judge but are we bringing enough players through? Obeiro is going to be a first team regular in time but he's the first graduate to make a proper mark for some years. Before Zech, Hector made his first team debut in 2019, Sweeney in 2018, Happe and Sotiriou in 2017. That doesn't seem like a great recent record. (Fair enough there have been other academy grads who never played much for us - Alzate, Dalby, Adeboyejo). If our squad is a result of our budget, fair enough. The owners already doing a fantastic job financially and we can have no complaints. If it’s money, RW will be aware. That being the case why would he constantly talk about more players knowing we cannot afford them? That doesn’t stack up. If we can’t afford them, stop talking about them. |
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Post by redintheface on Aug 15, 2024 8:13:46 GMT
I think it’s fair to say that a team’s squad is heavily influenced by the budget available used to assemble them isn’t it? RW knows he needs 2 or 3 more in to give a competitive edge so has every right to say so I would have thought. It’s up to the owners ultimately to decide if they want to stick or twist in terms of the financials and if they do decide to twist, what extent they will go to.
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Post by dohnut on Aug 15, 2024 8:29:27 GMT
I think it’s fair to say that a team’s squad is heavily influenced by the budget available used to assemble them isn’t it? RW knows he needs 2 or 3 more in to give a competitive edge so has every right to say so I would have thought. It’s up to the owners ultimately to decide if they want to stick or twist in terms of the financials and if they do decide to twist, what extent they will go to. Understand that but to me it seems to be divisive. If budgets allow of course talk of potential incoming. If budgets don’t, then stop going on about new players. We all understand just how much the owners contribute and I doubt any of us would complain if we have maxed out. But such discussions between RW, ML and the board should be sorted privately. The public statements reflect a united view. |
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Post by buffalobill on Aug 15, 2024 8:38:02 GMT
I’m sure we’ll get another couple of bodies in, whether they are loans or not depends upon the budget of course.
As Richie has said they have to be the right players, not just someone for the sake of it.
Still a lot of decent players out there I’m sure.
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Post by Ramrod on Aug 15, 2024 8:41:15 GMT
We need another couple, including that DM But Lingy was fairly clear a couple of years ago that we would have to adopt a 'small squad' strategy to pay the wages we wanted/ needed to pay to our top players. The trouble with too many loan players was evident at the end of last season when some of them may have been thinking too much about returning to their parent clubs. Forde and Brynn's performances noticeably tailed off - although Richie put Forde down to fatigue and he would know- and even El Miz wasn't his usual self. It's hard to judge but are we bringing enough players through? Obeiro is going to be a first team regular in time but he's the first graduate to make a proper mark for some years. Before Zech, Hector made his first team debut in 2019, Sweeney in 2018, Happe and Sotiriou in 2017. That doesn't seem like a great recent record. (Fair enough there have been other academy grads who never played much for us - Alzate, Dalby, Adeboyejo). I get the feeling - without a shred of evidence whatsoever - that a number of O's youngsters could again be in line for a breakthrough, we do have three or four in the squad already. Admittedly though this is pretty much par for the course, and the breakthrough doesn't take place from one day to another.
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Post by dennisrofe on Aug 15, 2024 8:52:15 GMT
I think it’s fair to say that a team’s squad is heavily influenced by the budget available used to assemble them isn’t it? RW knows he needs 2 or 3 more in to give a competitive edge so has every right to say so I would have thought. It’s up to the owners ultimately to decide if they want to stick or twist in terms of the financials and if they do decide to twist, what extent they will go to. Understand that but to me it seems to be divisive. If budgets allow of course talk of potential incoming. If budgets don’t, then stop going on about new players. We all understand just how much the owners contribute and I doubt any of us would complain if we have maxed out. But such discussions between RW, ML and the board should be sorted privately. The public statements reflect a united view. Forde back on a years loan would be good. My main worry is same as most on here, just hope the goalkeeping situation sorts itself out quickly, more than ever, we need someone between the sticks who can be relied upon to be a good shot stopper and deal well with crosses coming into the box etc. |
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Post by eca on Aug 15, 2024 9:08:35 GMT
Both our goalies are under a lot of pressure
I hope they both cope and remain goods work mates
I hope whoever plays against Charlton has a game that reflects their true ability and it all calms down
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Post by mrb on Aug 15, 2024 9:12:49 GMT
Both our goalies are under a lot of pressure I hope they both cope and remain goods work mates I hope whoever plays against Charlton has a game that reflects their true ability and it all calms down 🤞🏾 |
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Post by redintheface on Aug 15, 2024 10:48:01 GMT
I think it’s fair to say that a team’s squad is heavily influenced by the budget available used to assemble them isn’t it? RW knows he needs 2 or 3 more in to give a competitive edge so has every right to say so I would have thought. It’s up to the owners ultimately to decide if they want to stick or twist in terms of the financials and if they do decide to twist, what extent they will go to. Understand that but to me it seems to be divisive. If budgets allow of course talk of potential incoming. If budgets don’t, then stop going on about new players. We all understand just how much the owners contribute and I doubt any of us would complain if we have maxed out. But such discussions between RW, ML and the board should be sorted privately. The public statements reflect a united view. Get your point doh and can only assume that the budget allows for 2/3 players to come in -hence Wellens bangs on about it - but is maybe not sufficient to stretch to the likes of Humphreys for example that have the sort of reputation and track record that fans like ourselves hope for. If the owners had stated clearly at the outset of the close season that the club had “ maxed out” as you put it then Wellens would be in the wrong to go on about players but they didn’t say that ( publicly at least) did they? |
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Post by redintheface on Aug 15, 2024 10:51:00 GMT
I hope whoever plays against Charlton has a game that reflects their true ability and it all calms down I’m hoping that whoever plays in goal against Charlton has a blinder rather than having a game “ that reflects their true ability”! 😆😆( only joking!) |
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Post by Thor on Aug 15, 2024 10:55:02 GMT
We must have room in the budget otherwise RW would have been told to keep quiet on such matters. We have room, and how much dough is maybe the issue as everyone penny has to be invested wisely.
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Post by lukeryan on Aug 15, 2024 12:06:59 GMT
Very comprehensive list of “ possibles” although I must admit some of whom I’d never heard of! Like you I think LB is a weak spot and needs to be strengthened so the loan option of Boyes or Dodgson seems viable. Forde did well last season but not sure he is the player best suited to meet our requirements just now. I concur with Ramrod that the Stephen Humphreys option - whilst a good one - is probably beyond our reach given the restrictions on budget that are in place. We are shopping at the lower end of the market to improve on what we already have, evident through who our trialists were during pre season. We trialled Djavan Anderson and Matt Penney who were released in the summer of 2023 and hadn't found a club since. Sam Hutchinson is 34 and had a solid but unspectacular injury ridden career |
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