With only a month to go, who is looking forward to the new season? I'm hoping we can re-create what we did the last time, but better!
We're nearly at the end of a World Cup that proves just how unpredictable football really is. Germany out at group stage, Italy, Holland not even there and a bunch of English kids finishing 4th or even 3rd. I was hugely underwhelmed by Gareth Southgate's appointment, at the time, but he has sure proved (most of) his doubters wrong. So... Will Stendel be Morais the Second and be a gamble that goes wrong, or be our own Southgate and be a gamble that works? We could be fighting relegation, or be runaway league leaders. We could have another season of two halves, just like our last season in this division. All far too unpredictable. But the season is nearly upon us and surely this England team have reignited our appetite for the game that was slipping away as last season drew to a close. Bring on the season! YOU REDS!!!
When you look at that team vs Millwall. man for man no-one in our current team would get in there. A bit of work to do then.
Apart from Isgrove and Davies who are already there. Also wasn’t convinced with Williams at left back, I think Fryers will be better!
There is still a gulf. I'm not saying it can't be done, but we do need a bit more quality in the team.
There was a gulf last time we were in beer league 1 until the Blunts game. We kicked on from there. We were lucky last time, we had several players all coming of age together at the same time. Time will tell if we can replicate it. I think we need a leader in midfield.
The team vs Millwall was the end product of the 2 seasons. Been a lot of discussions in the past, but at various stages people thought Hourihane, Roberts, Watkins and Mawson weren’t league 1 standard. So I’m willing to see how these boys do, under the new manager. Hopefully we’ll be there or there abouts by January, and if we need a couple of additions they can get us over the line.
I agree, with 3/4 additions (and some more going out to make room), we should have a strong enough squad, if we can get the system right. Midfield is the key. Need a quality holding midfielder.
Luke Steele still hasn’t signed up with anyone I don’t think. Would be superb in L1 and Davies/Walton could learn a lot from him. Think Fryers and Pinillos will be fine in L1. Hopefully both do better than last year.
The worrying thing for me is I saw nothing from either of them to suggest they'd be any good in any league and I think people will be surprised that the gulf between the two leagues isn't huge.
Fair enough, I had high hopes for Fryers and so far he has dissapointed somewhat. I’m willing to wait and see how all the players do. Certainly not judging anyone who came in under Morais. That was just bonkers. None of the players knew what he was asking them to do or what he expected. And the amount of chopping and changing meant getting any kind of understanding was never likely to happen. The gulf in class is interesting. Callum Elder. Utterly hopeless at Championship level. Highly rated at Wigan and Peterborough in League 1. Kieffer Moore, Ivan Toney, Stefan Payne, Craig Davies and Devante Cole all in top scorer charts. Bradshaw in two previous years hit 20 goals. Will Grigg 5 in 33 at championship level. 96 in 260 at L1. McCarthy and Moncur both been players of the year for their teams in League 1. Found championship far harder. I think with the right coaching and tactics our players are easily capable of being towards top of League 1.
A lot of folk forget that about that team, at that time of the season they were the shittest team I've seen in 30 years of watching them.
We look to me at present a strong mobile fast team that will definitely be in the top 3. A team that's been together for a full year playing at a much higher level, the gulf to the championship is massive. We have a large squad of young hungry talented players and a young driven management team, I can't wait and see no point in signing new players unless we move some of our current squad on. This will be a great season. We will have the vest defence, midfield and forward line in the league, Mcgheehan Potts Moncur will stand out this year no defensive mid needed in this league and with how this coach will play.