Season 2012/2013 - Shit or Bust?

[Brown Nose]

Much like last season's league campaign at about this point, we're now fading into mid table disappointment.

So what next? Finances and expectations require something to happen soon or we face the prospect of fans discontent, our better players wanting out and wobbly owners leading us towards more turmoil and potentially disaster.

For next season, we'll need to put together a squad that will contain some continuity but more quality. We'll require some serious pedigree with genuine consistency. We'll need to average two points a game and be able to handle things much better than the last couple of years.

I assume most believe NP will be here and will set us up to play 4-4-2.

So if we're putting together a first team squad of around 20 for next season, who from the current lot survives and who needs ditching? How many new players do we need?

I'd expect those out of contract to be allowed to leave so that means bye bye to: Weale, Logan, Vassell, Howard, Oakley, Johnson (loan) & Tunchev - should we attempt to keep any of these?

GK - Schmeichel, Smith - good enough?

RB - Peltier, Pantsil - are either good enough?

LB - Konchesky, Kennedy - probably enough?

CB - Bamba, St.Ledger, Morgan, Mills - Mills to go? - retain the others - is that good enough?

CM - King, Wellens, Drinkwater, Danns, Moussa - Moussa out - retain the rest - good enough?

RM - Marshall, Gallagher - either good enough?

LM - Dyer - good enough for back up only?

CF - Waghorn, Schlupp, Beckford, Nugent - is Beckford reliable enough? one short?

I predict that NP will sell Mills (doesn't like or rate), Bamba and Beckford (too individualistic) in the summer. I'd also expect Pantsil & Moussa to go and none of those out of contract to stay. That leaves us short of a defender (or two)?, a left midfielder and a striker.

Is this really going to be enough? Interested in others views on where you think we are and what needs changing?

 

[step]

How can you say Dyer aint good enough, That is pure crap

 

[M17TT C]

Personally I think we need as little change as possible this summer as that has been our downfall of the previous 2 seasons imo.

Keep Kasper and don't bother wasting money signing a back-up seeing as we don't even have a reserve on the bench. If Kasper gets injured we can always dip into the loan market for cover.

One of the 4 centre backs has to go really otherwise it will cause even further unrest. Maybe let Pansil go as he must be an extremely high wage per minute for us and has shown little to no sign of breaking into the team. The rest should be more than good enough for what we want to achieve next sesaon.

I think we need to sign a lefty for midfield, Dyer is good but not consistant enough and would be a brilliant player to be able to bring off the bench. Keep the centre 4 of DD, Danns, Wellens & King though maybe look to add a bit more creativity in there but those 4 as well as Marshall & Gally again, should be more than good enough. Moussa can stay if he wants but should probably leave for the good of his career as he always looked a decent player, but perhaps not the level we are aiming for.

4 strikers of Nugent, Beckford, Waghorn & Schlupp again should be up to the task, anyone else (Howard!!) can go.

We really don't need to change much as our inconsistancy on the pitch coinsides quite a bit with our inconsistancy in the squad and the core is there to do well in this league with the ability to dip into the loan market for a couple of extras if/when needed.

 

[FryattFox]

We'll get into the play-offs next year, and then it's just a lottery.

Apologies if I've ruined it for anyone.

 

[Matt_B]

Why are the owners 'wobbly' again?

 

[Matt_B]

How can you say Dyer aint good enough, That is pure crap

No, your grammar is. Dyer isn't good enough for a promotion contending team really, we need quality on both wings and that involves using both feet.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Agree, Matt. Dyer is a decent, but very inconsistent player at this level, much like the vast majority of our squad. If we want to be challenging for auto promotion I think we need better than him as a starter. He'd still be a good impact player/second choice for a side who wants to be challenging for the top 2 though.

I think the right-back is our weakest area with the current squad looking at the OP and the one that needs strengthening the most, we've conceded far too many goals from opposition players getting down that wing this season and I don't think anyone who's played there has looked particularly good enough. Pantsil will probably be sold in the summer anyway and while Peltier would still be decent back-up but there are always going to be huge question marks over his positional ability.

 

[The Old Fox]

Personally I think we need as little change as possible this summer as that has been our downfall of the previous 2 seasons imo.

Silly question, I know but; What makes you think that the squad that couldn't get within a country mile of the play-offs this season will gain promotion next?

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Silly question, I know but; What makes you think that the squad that couldn't get within a country mile of the play-offs this season will gain promotion next?

I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with you, The Old Fox.

We definitely need to bring in a few more players who will perform on a much more consistent basis if we're going to go up. We're probably going to have to sell a few to buy though, so I can see some of the bigger earners being shipped out in the summer, hopefully not some of the better ones, but it may be the case if a decent offer comes in for one of them.

 

[Mawsley]

Why are the owners 'wobbly' again?

They aren't, he meant rubbery.

 

[Biffa Bacon]

Wibble

 

[FryattFox]

I know it's the same for many teams, but we really do need that extra bit of quality as opposed to solid Championship players. If anyone is mad enough to come, I'd splash a few million on a quality central midfielder, or alternatively see if we can get the equivalent on loan from one of the big boys.

As above, a RB and our defence is easily good enough for this division (on paper anyway...), and it will be interesting to see what happens up front.

 

[H T B]

Konch and Wellens don't train all week now. Next year, a year older, what will they be able to manage?

Dyer is inconsistent, like the rest of the team, but his is one position that I think there is no real competition for places.

 

[Leesoh]

Can't we finish this season off before thinking about next? I haven't had my birthday yet, and that's a very important day in anyone's calendar.

 

[FOX Franks]

Konch and Wellens don't train all week now. Next year, a year older, what will they be able to manage?

Dyer is inconsistent, like the rest of the team, but his is one position that I think there is no real competition for places.

I'd argue we have ready-made replacements for Konch and Wellens, Kennedy has been ok if not spectacular when he has played and Drinkwater looks like a potential new "wellens", if not better. The places I would want to strengthen if I were NP would be left wing, where Dyer could do with some competition, and Right wing too, for marshall.
I am still not too sure where Gallagher is actually best, he is such an enigma. Either way I don't think midfield needs too much work in the middle, and as previous posters have mentioned a genuine contender to Peltier would be much appreciated- Nigel strikes me as wanting a player who will hang back rather than bomb forward, and seems less fluid in positioning than Sven.

Nevertheless big squad changes will help no-one as it is consistency that has done us this season.

 

[Leesoh]

Can we stop talking about next season?

It's nearly my birthday!!

 

[Biffa Bacon]

I'd argue we have ready-made replacements for Konch and Wellens, Kennedy has been ok if not spectacular when he has played and Drinkwater looks like a potential new "wellens", if not better. The places I would want to strengthen if I were NP would be left wing, where Dyer could do with some competition, and Right wing too, for marshall.
I am still not too sure where Gallagher is actually best, he is such an enigma. Either way I don't think midfield needs too much work in the middle, and as previous posters have mentioned a genuine contender to Peltier would be much appreciated- Nigel strikes me as wanting a player who will hang back rather than bomb forward, and seems less fluid in positioning than Sven.

Nevertheless big squad changes will help no-one as it is consistency that has done us this season.

Gally is 90% shit and 10% gold, if Drinkwater isn't better than Wellens we're screwed. Konchesky will play several more seasons with decent fitness management.

 

[Leesoh]

I despair.

 

[homer]

Is the answer :

c) Potassium ?

 

[spionfox]

I despair.

You need a good birthday party to ease the pain!