Have We Done The Right Thing?

Keeping our hands in our pockets? I tend to think we have.

Our recruitment policy since relegation has been mixed, to say the least. On Saturday's showing, Pope would have offered nothing - certainly much less than George Waring on a season-long loan. Scowen's cameo appearance offered some hope that we might now finally have that scruffy, tenacious defensive midfielder that could allow the others to flourish. That depends on him replicating that type of performance over 90 minutes, and on him staying fit.

I liked the idea of playing all our centre backs at once. Although it was hairy at times, we basically dealt with what Vale threw at us with one exception. With the younger full backs on the bench, and Mason Holgate ready to slot in should any of the four be injured/suspended, we might finally be able to mend at least some of the leaks. I also think that we can now say that Waring and a newly-fit Sam are our best option up top by a country mile.

Let's be realistic - we aren't going to threaten the top six in a million years, but I think we finally have the makings of stability in lower mid-table. So:

Turnbull

Cranie Ramage Big Jean Nyatanga [Insert Holgate if any of those four are unfit/suspended]

Lalkovich Scowen Hourihane Jennings [he'll get there]

Big George Sam

Subs: Davies, Holgate, Smith, Digby, Williams, Berry, Kiwomya

With that lineup the dream of another year of League One football can be ours!

 

I don't think it's a case of keeping our hands in our pockets. I just think Danny's not been able to bring in his targets. I don't think we're in dire need of anyone. We seem to have a bit of depth to the squad now and if we can keep a balanced team then we should be fine for a mid table finish. Nothing is impossible, a win tonight takes us closer to the top 6 than the bottom 4, which just goes to show how tight this league is.

 

Agree with that but surely the remit for next season has to be better than lower or mid table in League 1 ?

Maybe it's just me expecting too much but there has to be ambition

 

The starting line up looks sound. Waiting to see what this Phenix lad can do so he needs some involvement to make a fair assessment.

 

Tactics formation & philosophy are the problems not personnel, and if Wilson continues the way he is in not changing things and trying different approaches he'll be out of a job before long, and we'll have a new man in who will want to bring one or two loanees in, so yes I think the right thing as been done, the players are good enough to be a lot higher in this league, it's the game plan and negativeness in formation and tactics that the problem along with the tempo of our play and fitness of key players

 

Personally I don't get this rebuilding plan. We are asked to buy into what the club are doing but I'm still a little confused. Surely we would have been aiming to strengthen the full time squad right now and build competition, strength in depth and momentum while relying less on loanees. If we sign more youth we have more time to get them to adjust and develop before next season. If we sign experience we get support and solidify areas to help the young team grow. Doing nothing shows a lack of progress, foresight and building. Maybe Danny trusts this squad but to do what? So far it looks a little lightweight and have moved some under performing players on. I think we have some areas covered well but I still think we have some positions weak in terms of depth and experience and to me one or two more injuries and we will look like we did a few months ago, reliant on youth team players and players playing out of position. For me we didn't need to do a lot, perhaps Left Back and a Striker. I think Smith needs nurturing carefully to become a good player and not sure 4 centre halves works week in week out. Looks like this rebuilding might be more than the 2 seasons I expected and I worry how attendances will react to a team in transition if we see no progress next 12 months. On a positive we kept Winnall, Hourihane, Holgate and Crainie. Seem ok with loanees but far too reliant on them for my liking.

 

You're aware we've won our last 3 home matches in a row right? (I know losing away isn't exactly ideal).

 

I'd have to go back a long way in my time watching BFC to think of three poorer sides than Orient, Yeovil and Vale. And laced between these wins were (reportedly) abject performances against Donny and MK, and the pathetic surrender against Boro. So I'm not getting the bunting out just yet, Jam Drop.

 

Totally agree beyond this season, DZ. But up to now, mere survival has looked far from assured, so let's take what positives we can eh?

Assuming survival, we need to have a long hard think about where we're going as a club before the summer.

 

Undefeated at home since 29th November. One defeat at home since October. You can only play what's in front of you can't you?

Mason Holgate will be straight back in the side when fit I suspect.

 

Yes you can, and I have seen us capitulate to some poor sides this season too. We are inconsistent, don't grind enough out away, but it's true we should take some hope on the recent home results. Hopefully another tonight will improve the confidence in the young players and us moaning fans.

 

Inconsistencies the thing though isn't it? I'd be surprised if we won tonight. Shame we couldn't attract a couple of experienced faces in the transfer window left back and someone to really challenge Jennings but we have what we have.

 

I am indeed, and having watched said games, I feel we won them despite woeful tactics and team formation and selection due to the poorness of the opposition rather then adopting the right game plan, attitude, formation, tactics, some of the football we've played as been absolute dross the approach to the games is always negative and the entertainment value is non existent. But it's a result business and at home we are getting the right results, unfortunately if we do not improve the results will once again turn bad as we come up against better teams

 

In fairness injuries to key players are blighting our season too a settled back four for a month or so wouldn't go a miss, so we have a solid foundation on which to build.

 

We have a budget to work within for both transfer fees and (more importantly) wages. If Wilson feels the current crop are good enough to comfortably stay up (I would agree with him) and with a bit of luck and a good run of results can have a look at the top 6 then why go out and spend on players for the sake of it? Teams that invest last minute in January are either in a desperate bid to stay up or looking for that extra something to get into europe/playoffs. We are neither of those things. There will be a lot more players available in the summer and at a much better price as other teams have time and money to replace them. Waiting also gives the current players that are on the fence at the moment a chance to fall either side.

Personally I think we have done exactly the right thing. Tried to bring in the right players (O'sullivan, Pope etc) and not panicked when they didn't come off. Stagte 1 of the re-build is done. Stage 2 in the summer is about finely tuning what has been built so far.

 

Yet if Port Vale had beaten us they'd only be 1 point outside the play-offs. It's hard to make sense of this season.

 

Agree Wholeheartedly

 

I think Danny had a last minute panic start of season and I'm not sure we have fully recovered, only just freeing up spaces in the squad now. However I think its been obvious for a while where a couple of our weaknesses are and as such should have been in the planning to fix. If stage 1 of rebuilding is done, then I'm a little worried right now. I agree at not signing players that don't fit, but I haven't really seen any positive progress along the season so far in terms of results and performances. However time will tell if the window activity has been positive or not and hopefully we will start to improve now we have players back to fitness.

 

The recruitment in the summer was definitely more rushed than Danny will have wanted, but that was due to things out of his control. Considering it was rushed recruitment I am happy with what we have been left with and even more glad that the duds have been moved on early. I know it is hard to clearly see the plan coming together as the team performances have at times left a lot to be desired, but the playing staff we have are better than we are showing at the moment. In the summer we will be in the best position the club has been in for years to recruit and fill in the gaps left from this season as we wont have our hands tied by needing to move players on or waiting for the scraps at the end of the window. That situation has been manipulated by the work we have done up to now.

Guess its glass half full/empty stuff, but when our key players are fit, younger players have some experience behind them and we add a few quality additions in the summer I think we will have a real go next season.

 

That is very true and credit to the Reds for grinding out victories against these poorer sides.

It's easier said than done.

Tonight should be a better test of where we are at the moment.

Oldham are one of the better teams and sadly their form has improved somewhat since the postponement of the original fixture.