So we used a different Centre Half at rightback yesterday then !

Exactly. But Johnson didn't sign Stewart expecting him to be bad. The point is wing was more of a priority than right back. If you could go back in time 8 weeks I bet right back would be well down the pecking order of positions that most felt needed filling. It was mine.

The argument of this thread seems to be Johnson should have signed a right back because he said he didn't want to play centre backs out there.

It's a complete nonsense argument because it fails to take account of the limited flexibility that LJ had, and that other areas were priorities at the time.

I don't mind people criticising the club/players. Sometimes I don't agree. But when arguments are put forward without any real considerations of the tradeoffs the manager faced it just comes across as negative and unconstructive.

 

Not particularly criticising anyone. Wilson's signings in desperation last season were even worse but again you can forgive him given the desperate straits we were in. Recruiting at that stage of the season is very difficult. You are left with the dregs as we have found out. Sometimes if you are not really in any danger of going up or down and you have a young squad it's best not to bother and give your own young players more games to build for next season. In Cranie we have an excellent right back and Smith though raw is a decent defender if a little lacking offensively. For my part I can't see much urgency to cover either position. The wings the thing as you said but it's fair to say Stewart was never going to be in the class if JOS or Williams. Having seen him at Hull I was pretty sure what he would be like and he has lived up to my expectations.

 

Fair enough. Completely agree with you. My main disappointment was that we got out of the January transfer window without filling more of the gaps that we obviously had. We needed a striker, a winger, a centre mid and a left back. We probably only managed 1.5 out of 4 in my view.

 

Well none of the three he brought in have been an improvement have they ?

 

That's not the point. The point is that there were areas of the team that were more of a priority. He went to fill them first. Ok, you might argue those players haven't been good enough... But he didn't sign them thinking they were going to be bad.

Also, your argument relies on the assumption there was a better right back out there for loan. Given the difficulty in finding a winger and a left back how do you know that's true?

Anyway I'd debate your point. Under Johnson I'd say that JOS and Iberhe have very clearly been better than what we had. I'd say the verdict is still out on Stewart and John hasn't been as good as first hoped.

 

Given the fact that O`Sullivan was chased all year by Wilson, I dont think he is anything to do with LJ at all, Ibhere is no better than Waring and the other 2 are just crap, but given that they were signed as a winger and a left back and they have been played in the centre behind the striker and John on the left wing, besides those positions,that tells me they are not quite what he thought they were.
Also my point before about lacking tactical nous refers to things like getting outwitted by Clough against Blunts. No tactical changes with the subs just like for like when those tactics were clearly not working. Playing Winnall out wide where he is poor etc. He came in and took over a side that had started winning, didnt make any changes and they carried on winning, he started to fiddle and they have gone to pieces again. Now it may be coincidence but it does not seem that way to me, but then again I am not the one getting well paid to pick the team.i am sure there is some kind of logic in what he does but I am failing to see much of it, just like with Wilson.
I am aware that this thread makes me look like I am anti Johnson, not true, I just cant figure him out !

 

Cranie started as a Right Back for Southampton, and made his debut for Portsmouth at right back

 

I thinkhe a far better right back than in the middle, but he was brought here as a centre half and has played there mostly.
Personally I think he is a waste of a big wage, better players out there for less money.
He is out of position so often fora player of his undoubted skill, there is a reason why he has been involved in so many relegation fights !

 

You make some good points there. I think we need to sign a good right back, move Holgate to centre half, and unless Cranie takes a cut in wages let him go.

 

Totally agree mate been saying it for a while now! Should be able to get a top top league 1 striker for his wage. Decent footballer but not strong defensively and could got a lot better for the money. Part of a losing mentality also.

 

absolutely spot on Liam

If we do not go up next term I would not be overly concerned, as long as we see improvement and progress. Its possible this term to squeeze the play-offs ...but we need a helluva a lot of lady luck with the other results. Next season I would truly hope that we are in the Play-offs minimum....and if we do not go up then the season after I would hope we would gain promotion. I know that no team has a devine right to any of this... but I really think we are well set to be one of the favourites for it over the next season or the one after.