Where to add the Quality?

[Professor]

Nigel Adkins has said that the team does not need wholesale changes for next season but that the club will bring in some quality. This does suggest one or two players who will be first choice selections, rather than squad players. Assuming two, for the moment, which positions should Adkins be looking at? CMF and CB, maybe?

[Son of Bob]

IMO we certainly need a quality striker with Championship/Premiership experience. Whilst Connolly has faired well towards the end of the season and covered admirably for Barnie, it's time he went. It's sad as I think he still has the potential get another season or 2 of quality football under his belt but he's too fragile and too expensive to risk another season of injury.

[derry]

Norwich added about half a dozen. We will have to do the same if we don't want to tread water. A dominant leader on the pitch is No 1 for me.

[TheCholulaKid]

Norwich added about half a dozen. We will have to do the same if we don't want to tread water. A dominant leader on the pitch is No 1 for me.

 

Few and far between unfortunately - certainly players who can boss midfield too (which is what we really need -along with every other club) are at a premium. Can't remember the last time we had a 'midfield general' actually (Jimmy Case?)

[NickG]

Norwich added about half a dozen. We will have to do the same if we don't want to tread water. A dominant leader on the pitch is No 1 for me.

 

what I like about Norwich from what I have seen, is they used a lot of last season's team, added fair few players - but not "names" or expensive signings, quite a few lower league players, and built a promotion squad.

[Junction 9]

I would say one quality signing in each area of CD, CM and CF would be about right. I worry Jaidi is getting on a bit for a full season in the NPC. Martin could step up but we still need another body in there.

A good combative Marsden type player would be good also. A proven NPC level striker to add to the mix is also reqd.

[CWD]

David Norris

Greg Halford

Liam Lawrence

Craig Mickail-Smith

 

That'll do me. Not to mention it would seriously **** off the skates!

[Saint_clark]

Not too sure about Norris and Halford...the other two, HELL yes.

[georgeweahscousin]

1 x Central Defender

1 x Central Midfielder

1 x Striker

 

If Peterborough don't go up, we would be silly not to go for CMS.

[mattyd]

If we are to make a charge for the Prem we will need a CB, striker, wide player and if we can get one a midfield general. I don't think Gobern will cut it and we have had to select him this season. I think that we only need quality otherwise we are able to run with what we have already. Prehaps the 'out of contract' market in the summer may attract an ex prem player or two?

[Turkish]

I've just got Wycombe Wanders promoted to the championship on FM10, second consecutive promotion after winning the L2 play offs last season. I've added Barry Bannan after he was released from Villa, Craig Mackaill Smith, some Serbian striker and a Tunisian international left back whose names i cant remember but my marquee signing was Corry Evans from Man united reserves, a talented defender/defensive midfielder who had no less than 7 clubs chasing him and had offers from Nottingham Forest and QPR and according to my scouts would make a good premier league player but was delighted to sign for Wycombe and is desperate to prove himself to his manager. They were all on frees and only had a £50k transfer budget which i have adjusted for better wages and crowds of 8k. The greatest achievement IMO was promotion meant that Nathan Porritt and Tristan Plummer, Wycombes Lallana and Lambert who both wanted to move to bigger clubs during the season both signed new contracts on promotion. Make of that what you will.

Edited 7 May, 2011 by Turkish

[RobM]

Pacey, strong, creative winger - To take the pressure off of Lallana

Experienced CCC+ striker

Midfield Boss - Strong, leader, makes things happen.

 

The only other position I'd consider strengthening is CB, bringing in somebody like Jaidi, but younger. I'm hesitant though, since Jaidi has been so impressive lately.

[VectisSaint]

Two obvious positions that need quality added, striker and central defender, assuming we hang on to what we have (including Stephens).

 

We absolutely must hang on to DC, even if Barney is available, and who knows at the moment about that. DC is exactly what we need in the NPC, experienced and skilful, and he seems to have got over his injury issues. Those who think we should get rid now are out of their minds. That said even if we have Lambert, Connolly and Barnard available (and Guly) it is not enough up front for a season in the NPC.

 

Central defence we need a replacement for Jaidi, and although Seaborne and Martin will be adequate backup in the NPC they are not good enough for first choice alongside Fonte, in my opinion. I'm sure Jaidi will still have a part to play, but we need a replacement sooner rather than later.

 

The only other position I think we could do with additional quality is wide midfield/winger. We don't have enough options when AOC is not available, and the jury has to be out with Holmes, very good player but lacks the pace to be totall effective even if he can keep injury-free.

 

I still have doubts about Kelvin and Hammond, but they both proved me wrong in the second half of the season.

[Deppo]

I've just got Wycombe Wanders promoted to the championship on FM10, second consecutive promotion after winning the L2 play offs last season. I've added Barry Bannan after he was released from Villa, Craig Mackaill Smith, some Serbian striker and a Tunisian international left back whose names i cant remember but my marquee signing was Corry Evans from Man united reserves, a talented defender/defensive midfielder who had no less than 7 clubs chasing him and had offers from Nottingham Forest and QPR and according to my scouts would make a good premier league player but was delighted to sign for Wycombe and is desperate to prove himself to his manager. They were all on frees and only had a £50k transfer budget which i have adjusted for better wages and crowds of 8k. The greatest achievement IMO was promotion meant that Nathan Porritt and Tristan Plummer, Wycombes Lallana and Lambert who both wanted to move to bigger clubs during the season both signed new contracts on promotion. Make of that what you will.

 

Is it okay if I make absolutely nothing at all of your computer-game management experiences?

[RobM]

Is it okay if I make absolutely nothing at all of your computer-game management experiences?

 

You would be standing alongside 99% of the rest of the forum, possibly the world, so it's fine by me.

[Cestrian Saint]

Ashley Williams from Swansea... Assuming they don't get promoted!

 

Marlon King would be a great addition at this level but I'm not sure if he's on loan at Coventry or if he signed a permanent deal there?

Edited 7 May, 2011 by Cestrian Saint

[Chin Strain]

IMO we certainly need a quality striker with Championship/Premiership experience. Whilst Connolly has faired well towards the end of the season and covered admirably for Barnie, it's time he went. It's sad as I think he still has the potential get another season or 2 of quality football under his belt but he's too fragile and too expensive to risk another season of injury.

 

Out of interest, how do you know he's too expensive?

[stu0x]

Norwich added about half a dozen. We will have to do the same if we don't want to tread water. A dominant leader on the pitch is No 1 for me.

I don't think fans of other teams realise how many players change in promoted sides. I think people make the assumption that minimal changes are made. One of my colleagues is a Leeds fan and he said the first team that played for Leeds this year looks nothing like the one from 12 months ago. They made about 6 changes, all of whom are first choice players.

 

That doesn't mean you need to rip the guts out of the team, but I think we need to get away from this mentality of buying squad/backup players (look at the collection of dross we ended up with in the Premiership years as a result). We should be looking to make about 5 changes, and all of them should be to improve the position they are bought for. If we realistically want to achieve top half/playoffs, we want to be bringing in players that we think will be top 5 in their position in the NPC next season. We want players that other teams will look at and say 'I'd have them in our team'.

 

imo the players currently in our team that the majority of other teams in the division will covet next season are Fonte, Lallana, Lambert, and maybe Chamberlain. In addition Harding, Davis and Schneiderlin would be worthy members of a good championship team. I'd add Jaidi to the list but I think father time might catch up with him.

 

The rest of the positions are the 'weakest', not because the players are necessarily *bad* per se, but they are the most obvious areas for improvement. And if we are looking at promotion in two years, then we need to improve considerably.

 

(As an aside, this is why I can't quite work out the CMS obsession. Does anyone actually believe he will be one of the top three strikers in the division next season? If not, then he isn't good enough. That's not to say he isn't better than what we have at the moment, but it's not *enough* better to be worth us buying.)

 

So realistically, I think we're looking at new first choice:

- centre back

- right back

- centre midfield

- striker

 

Plus probably one or two to challenge in other areas.

 

And we want to be bringing in players who you can realistically see as being in that NPC team of the season this time next year.

[VectisSaint]

I don't think fans of other teams realise how many players change in promoted sides. I think people make the assumption that minimal changes are made. One of my colleagues is a Leeds fan and he said the first team that played for Leeds this year looks nothing like the one from 12 months ago. They made about 6 changes, all of whom are first choice players.

Leeds are probably a poor example. Leeds very nearly blew promotion to the Championship. Their early season form and in the end the reason they held on just was down to Beckford. Once he left to join Everton in January they were a pale shadown of their former selves. It was clear that some of the players in the first team when they eventually won promotion were simply not good enough, hence a bigger than usual turnaround. Better comparisons would be with Norwich, possibly Millwall although I haven't got the time (or inclination) to compare their current first teams with the ones that earned promotion last season. The difference with Norwich and Millwall were that they were in-form when they gained promotion, unlike Leeds whose promotion was based on their early season form.

[Deppo]

I signed a player called Peul Once on Super Kick Off a few years back. He was a great midfielder. What do people make of that?

[stu0x]

He's no Raan Goggs, that's for sure.

[lethallee]

Rightback

Central Defender

Striker - to cover Lambert

Central Midfielder

 

plus keep hold of Ox and Morgan

[Deppo]

H.H. Day was an excellent captain for my Kick Off 2 side. Perhaps the perfect partner for Fonte at the back?

[Deppo]

Fat Pat was a quality striker for the Eastenders XI on Sensible Soccer too. Worth a punt?

[Saint Fan CaM]

You are all barking. Make of that what you will.

[Chez]

what I like about Norwich from what I have seen, is they used a lot of last season's team, added fair few players - but not "names" or expensive signings, quite a few lower league players, and built a promotion squad.

they got rid of loads of players that helped them go up:

Kelly, Stephens, Doherty, McVeigh, Theokolotis, Whaley, Stefanovic, Spillane, Renton, Lathrope, Wiggins, Cureton and Russell

 

and then they brought in quite a lot: Jackson, Surman, Lansbrey, Ruddy, Crofts, Fox, Smith and Ward

and then added Wilbraham, Tierney, Barnet and Edwards. Vokes and Pacheto came in the winter.

 

That's 27 changes to the squad and the players coming in were of great quality and have been first teamers. The skate game line up shows this:

Ruddy

Ward, Whitbread, Tierney, Martin,

Crofts, Surman, Fox, Hoolahan,

Jackson, Holt

[Chez]

and Millwall released Omar Beckles, Adam Bolder, Gary Alexander, Danny Fitzsimons, Dan ****tu and Ali Fuseini

 

and they brought in Tamika Mkandawire, Shaun Batt, Liam Trotter, James Henry, Danny Schofield, Josh McQuoid, Theo Robinson, Darren Purse and Hameur Bouazza. Plus loans Craig Eastmond, Andros Townsend and Kevin Lisbie

 

and quite a few of them are first teamers as the line up against Preston shows:

Forde

Purse, Mkandawire, Barron, Ward,

Dunne , Trotter McQuoid Henry

Townsend, Marqui

[stknowle]

Fat Pat was a quality striker for the Eastenders XI on Sensible Soccer too. Worth a punt?

 

There was a player called Bobo in the Cameroon squad in some late 90'a SNES game that I can't remember the name of. Never saw him play and might well have retired by now, but could be worth checking out.

[tttdcs]

You are all barking. Make of that what you will.

 

and I suppose you've been told we are spending nowt

[Deppo]

Anyone out of the all-conquering Sensible XI side would fit straight into our squad, if they are willing to drop down a division.

[toofarnorth]

Rightback

Central Defender

Striker - to cover Lambert

Central Midfielder

 

plus keep hold of Ox and Morgan

 

Agreed. One very very good centre mid would be where i'd splash the cash.

[david in sweden]

Nigel Adkins has said that the team does not need wholesale changes for next season but that the club will bring in some quality. This does suggest one or two players who will be first choice selections, rather than squad players. Assuming two, for the moment, which positions should Adkins be looking at? CMF and CB, maybe?

 

I'd be looking at a big striker. NOTHING WRONG with Ricky, but he's been fortunate with few injuries , a VG scoring record and good form..BUT if anything were to happen (God forbid) ...we'd have no big man up front.

 

I still think that Jaidi has some shelf life, but I'd hate to be suddenly forced to look for a big centre back ...in February 2012.

We need a 6'4" centre back (alongside Fonte), preferably with some pace and a good head and built to the dimensions of a brick outhouse .

Martin and Seabourne will (hopefully) improve in the future, but one lacks real skill and the other League experience at a higher level.

 

Odd hint. Although we seem to be "overloaded" with goalies and several juniors, too...I'd still be looking for a potential long-term replacement for KD. I'm sure NA has this is mind (being a former goalie himself) but somehow I don't see Bart as the "real thing " - especially if we get back to the Prem. in the next two seasons. Many Prem.sides have ONE (if not TWO ) goalies with international experience).

Edited 8 May, 2011 by david in sweden

[Minsk]

As most others have said:

 

CB - to replace Jaidi (but keep Jaidi as back-up)

CM - to replace Hammond (but keep Hammond as back-up)

CF - champ/prem experienced to give another option; though most likely (and usually) to play alongside Ricky - I think Ricky has improved vastly in becoming a provider, as well as, scorer this season

 

i.e. the spine of the team.

 

I can see our team on the opening day of next season looking something like:

 

-----------------------Kelvin-------------------------

 

Richardson------Fonte-------New CB---------Harding/Dickson

 

AOC---------Morgan----------New CM---------Lallana

 

--------------Rickie----------New CF----------------

 

I have no idea as to who the new CB could be, but someone like Bowyer from Birmingham (I think he is out of contract at the end of this season and would be released should they stay up) would be an excellent midfield general in the CC and someone like Sam Vokes (again, I believe a realistic target) at CF.

[Thedelldays]

would be nice to sign players again that we know of

[Dazza82]

I would give Connolly another year on pay as you play, Give Jaidi another year aswell.

 

I think we would also need a new centre back, winger, centre midfielder, and a striker

 

Cb- Matt Mills if Reading dont go up

 

Winger- Scott Sinclair if Swansea dont go up

[niceandfriendly]

Firstly I think we must keep hold of David Connolly. He's different class, and providing he stays injury free he'll do just fine in the Championship.

 

The current side we've got would hold it's own in the Championship, I've no doubt about that, but maybe 3 new first team signings would be enough to push us towards the playoffs IMO. And I'll echo what others have said in that we'll probably aim for a CB, CMF and ST.

[benjii]

IMO we certainly need a quality striker with Championship/Premiership experience. Whilst Connolly has faired well towards the end of the season and covered admirably for Barnie, it's time he went. It's sad as I think he still has the potential get another season or 2 of quality football under his belt but he's too fragile and too expensive to risk another season of injury.

 

Ridiculous opinion IMO.

 

Who cares how much he costs; he is quality and we won't sign anyone better. It's not as though we're short of cash.

[Lighthouse]

Firstly I think we must keep hold of David Connolly. He's different class, and providing he stays injury free he'll do just fine in the Championship.

 

The current side we've got would hold it's own in the Championship, I've no doubt about that, but maybe 3 new first team signings would be enough to push us towards the playoffs IMO. And I'll echo what others have said in that we'll probably aim for a CB, CMF and ST.

 

Yes, and providing I win the lottery, I'll buy a penthouse in Mayfair, a Ferrari and a quick go on Scarlett Johansson.

 

Connolly isn't fit. It's all well and good saying he's a class act, but the fact is he has spent 2/3 of the season in the physio's room. People are making the same mistakes as 4 years ago when they were saying Lundekvam and Powell had bags of CCC experience and provided they stayed fit the defence was sorted. 3 helpless defeats into the season and we were panic buying a wayne Thomas for over £1m.

[benjii]

Yes, and providing I win the lottery, I'll buy a penthouse in Mayfair, a Ferrari and a quick go on Scarlett Johansson.

 

Connolly isn't fit. It's all well and good saying he's a class act, but the fact is he has spent 2/3 of the season in the physio's room. People are making the same mistakes as 4 years ago when they were saying Lundekvam and Powell had bags of CCC experience and provided they stayed fit the defence was sorted. 3 helpless defeats into the season and we were panic buying a wayne Thomas for over £1m.

 

That's fine but I don't think many people are saying "keep Connolly and don't sign anyone else". I think we should be looking to sign a pacy forward with a good goal scoring record. I also think it would be retarded to let Connolly leave.

[Thedelldays]

I can see connolly leaving..as with jaidi to be honest

[niceandfriendly]

Connolly isn't fit.

 

Is he not? He says he is. Adkins (ex physio) says he is. 3 goals in 5 games says he might just be fit, no? Another pay as you play deal will be perfect IMO.

 

It's all well and good saying he's a class act

 

Yes, it is. Because he is.

Edited 8 May, 2011 by niceandfriendly
smiley face added for friendliness

[positivepete]

Jack Cork would be a good signing, just the sort of player NA would like, a good passer of the ball, and a "proper" footballer

[Turkish]

Is it okay if I make absolutely nothing at all of your computer-game management experiences?

 

I think you'll find a lot of people on here pay a great deal of attention to the championship manager game. My success and signings proves that you can be successful without spending millions and only a £5.5k per player wage cap. Barry Bannan is proving himself to be an excellent signing, i think we should look at him for certain.

Edited 8 May, 2011 by Turkish

[Lighthouse]

That's fine but I don't think many people are saying "keep Connolly and don't sign anyone else". I think we should be looking to sign a pacy forward with a good goal scoring record. I also think it would be retarded to let Connolly leave.

 

Which leaves us with 6 strikers on the books if you include Guly and Doble, which is 1 too many. We want to be financially self sufficient at some point and we're not going to do that if we go back to the Prem delegation days of having 40 players in the squad.

 

Is he not? He says he is. Adkins (ex physio) says he is. 3 goals in 5 games says he might just be fit, no? Another pay as you play deal will be perfect IMO.

 

 

 

Yes, it is. Because he is.

 

 

Yes, he's fit NOW, but was he fit a few months ago when we needed a goal against Tranmere or Walsall? Unfortunately people seem to be taking the last month as the yardstick to our whole season. Had Connolly's 3 goals in 5 games (or whatever the stat is) come in the first 5 games of the season not the last, everyone would be saying "oh he's finished, he's always injured, get rid etc. etc.

 

Connolly has, I believe, 4 goals in League 1 this season. Please explain to me how that is going to translate into any kind of decent return in the NpC next season.

[RobM]

Connolly has, I believe, 4 goals in League 1 this season. Please explain to me how that is going to translate into any kind of decent return in the NpC next season.

 

In how many starts and appearances from the bench?

[david in sweden]

In how many starts and appearances from the bench?

 

he played 4 games from season start (in Lamberts absence) before being injured himself.

after several weeks he returned and came off the bench 3 times scoring once.

 

He then sustained a more serious injury and was out for several months.

When he returned he made 3 (very short sub apps,) and scored once,

and finally came into the side after Barnard was injured....played 4 games from the start and scored twice, and was unfortunate not to score another, (as was seen) when he beat the (Plymouth ?) goalie all ends up... but hit the bar from a long way out.

 

Some argue he is injury-prone and (at 33) he certainly has had his share, but he is in another class to all others in the squad.

 

For me, like Pahars, I'd keep him as long as he could still run, because IF he stayed fit... I'd consider 15-20 goals in the CCC

to be quite possible, aside from his obvious influence on the pitch as a role model for younger players.

 

In total for season: started 8 games, came on as sub,(very short apps.) 6 times = 4 goals. Not Bad, eh?

Edited 8 May, 2011 by david in sweden

[Ponty]

I've just got Wycombe Wanders promoted to the championship on FM10, second consecutive promotion after winning the L2 play offs last season. I've added Barry Bannan after he was released from Villa, Craig Mackaill Smith, some Serbian striker and a Tunisian international left back whose names i cant remember but my marquee signing was Corry Evans from Man united reserves, a talented defender/defensive midfielder who had no less than 7 clubs chasing him and had offers from Nottingham Forest and QPR and according to my scouts would make a good premier league player but was delighted to sign for Wycombe and is desperate to prove himself to his manager. They were all on frees and only had a £50k transfer budget which i have adjusted for better wages and crowds of 8k. The greatest achievement IMO was promotion meant that Nathan Porritt and Tristan Plummer, Wycombes Lallana and Lambert who both wanted to move to bigger clubs during the season both signed new contracts on promotion. Make of that what you will.

I'm going to make some sort of word soup.

[70's Mike]

Lots mentioning League 1 players, prefer if we go for Premiership not quite good enoughs with something to prove,Nigel Reo Coker

[Ashby Saint]

Lots mentioning League 1 players' date=' prefer if we go for Premiership not quite good enoughs with something to prove,Nigel Reo Coker[/quote']

 

God no! Bentley boys and foreign mercenaries? No thanks.

[eurosaint]

The late Bob Paisley made fitness history and thorough medical reports a top priority before signing anybody !

His rationale was that 'you might be the best player in the world but you're no good to me lying on the treatment table' !

He actually tried to calculate how many games someone would manage in advance (which tbf was guesswork at best) !

I'm sure that Connolly and Holmes would not have gotten a look in under this principle so (putting compassion aside!) I think that the best they should hope for is a 'pay as you play' type contract and utilised as back up to similar/better quality replacements !

All IMHO of course !