Realistic/Negative Post

I think we will get relegated next season, unless we're really fortunate I can only see Rotherham and Burton finishing below us.

We need at least a few players with Championship pedigree but we only have two who have played there recently and Whitecwas unwanted by a struggling Rotherham. We have very little cover in defence so if one of our unproven first team players gets injured or can't hack it, then we're playing kids.

I cannot see the point of signing a 24 year old defender from a club who were almost relegated to the Conference South with an appalling defensive record. I can't see how he will make such a huge step up at this stage in his career.

I understand the enthusiasm following on from the second half of last season, but confidence and momentum only gets you so far if you don't have the ability. If we have a bad result at Ipswich or against Derby then it could be a very long season.

 

I am getting more and more worried with the fact we haven't signed any proven players at this level. Rotherham did when they went up so it's not about the finances like some would have you think. Like you said some things only get you so far. I have complete faith in what we are doing but me personally, I don't think we are strong enough depth wise in the squad except up front. My head is saying we may really struggle but I don't want to believe it so i'm going with my heart that says we will carry on with our momentum, our players will make the step up as they have a lot of talent and guts and we will make mid-table like Brentford did and keep on doing.

 

I think Mawson and Roberts would benefit from playing alongside a 30 year old centre half with 150 plus games at the level. I think we could also do with a striker in a similar vein with the know how to get a goal in a difficult situation when not much is coming off. It's good to have talented young players but a balance. We have too many novices and not enough mentors.

 

Weren't people saying similar things when we were struggling last season. Don't write em off before a ball has been kicked we have alot of talent in that squad and it's a far better one than the last time we were here. I would have liked to see kevin long or similar type player at oakwell as back up/ rotation for robo and mawson. But apart from that I can't wait for Ipswich.

 

I just hope it's not the same debacle as the last time we were in the Championship - we lost a lot of fans back then that have more or less stayed away since that time

 

I think it's a realistic opinion, not unduly negative. I enjoyed the Hull game and was very impressed with our attacking play. I think we have a zest and vibrancy about us and the choices on the wings are exciting. However, the point stands that we are in my opinion no stronger than we were at Wembley against Millwall. I'd argue that our two most potent weapons have also gone (Isgrove and Fletcher). So it isn't unreasonable to objectively suggest we will struggle.

I don't buy the notion that we need Championship experience though. We had all the Championship experience we could want last time we were at this level and it was to no positive end. I do think we need four or five more players, but their background is of less importance than the dynamic they would bring to the squad. Cessi would be a good start. Then a left back, Coker would fit in well. Then for me we need another striker, with pace, at least one centre half and another centre midfielder. Then we're good to go.

Re the Torquay lad you mentioned. I'm guessing he's yet another for the development squad. That's fine, but I do agree that we seem to be taking leaps of faith with regard to the likelyhood of players stepping up four levels. Still, if one or two break through, job's a good un. I'm staying positive and looking forward to a challenging season.

 

It wouldn't be the week before a new season without a thread of yours posted whilst wearing ****-tinted spectacles, James.

I do accept we might well struggle, though. But **** worrying.

 

Complete nonsense, Nudger.

We have more season ticket holders than we did then.

 

At 24 I think he's too old for a development squad - that should be for players aged 18-21, once a player is 21 he should be looking to establish himself at the level he is at.

 

I'm not worrying - nowt I can do abart it. I'm just making observations.

 

Angus?

Is he definitely signing then?

I look forward to seeing him laik before writing him off based on guesswork.

 

People seem to think so.

It might be guesswork but you'd have to admit it looks a decent guess.

 

Seems to me you're basing all this on how proven our players are on paper. The thing is nearly all our best players last season were not proven above League 2 when we signed them- Roberts, Mawson, Scowen, G.Williams, Hourihane, Winnall, Fletcher, Chapman.

As Hecky said, there is no point getting players who are over the hill and unwanted by bigger Championship clubs. By doing that you get stuck in the rut of just scraping by getting in journeyman after journeyman. It's like the difference between watching Leroy Lita or George Williams.

As LJ said, they aren't proven but they will be!

 

I don't think we'll get relegated, I think with the addition of a couple more players we'll be OK. There will be four or five teams at least that will finish below us.

 

Can we at least wait until next week before all this starts

 

Nyatanga

 

Do some folk hope we will struggle so that they can have something to moan about?

 

What did Alan Hansen say about Fergies team, You`ll win nothing with kids. Beckham Giggs Scholes the Nevilles proved him wrong. Give the team a chance before you start doom mongering, it`s the quickest way to start apathy trust the manager. COYR`s

 

Neil Thompson.

 

The club has a plan. That plan has worked so far (despite that patch we had last season), and they seem keen to stick to it. Let's at least give it the first 10 or so games of the season before we begin to question whether the plan is working or not.

Last time in this division, we had several 'championship experienced' players, who were expensive and largely ineffective.

Something has to be different this time; for me, we cannot rely on the likes of Michael Tonge, Jonathan Greening and Liam Lawrence this time. They're the sort of players who have seen their best days and are after nothing more than a final pay day. The lads we have now are hungry and willing to make the step up. I'm not saying that all of them will, but at least give them the chance first.

This is my realistic/optimistic view.

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