whiteroseram

It feels like we've had a few youngsters go abroad, but aside from Elsnik (and he was already abroad) and Archie Brown I can't think who 

Sticking purely to a hypothetical championship season next year (so I'm only taking ages into account a small amount), we wouldn't want the squad to be turned over too massively yet again so those who could do a job on the pitch (starting or rotation or depth): 

Vickers

Nyambe

Ward

Wilson

Elder (when fit)

Sibs

Nelson

Cash

Smith

Tommo

NML

Barks

Collo

CBT

Gayle?

Could but won't:

Adams

Wildsmith

Bird

Want around regardless of playtime:

Fozzy

Loads for the future in the longer term. I still think that squad with a few quality additions could reach mid table, just means a few starters would become good back-ups 

Few random points, some of which I'm repeating what others have said 

Shape: hoping this puts to bed the idea that this formation always looks like 5 at the back. I'm sure if we play this formation against someone like Bolton it'll fall into a 5 but, when done well, this is how it can look against lesser teams 

Ward: brilliant. Which is great partly because I remember how good he was in pre season and partly it sends a message to every player who has to drop down to the U23s to find a bit of form 

Gayle: always nice to get you first goal 

CBT: could do with said 1st goal, if he scored next game I imagine he'll fly from there 

Sibley: I love an in form sibley

Adams: see above

Bench: even with a few injuries still, that's a strong and versatile looking bench 

Port Vale: good fixture to have after 2 defeats 

8 minutes ago, hintonsboots said:

After listening to the Pearce/ Dom Dietrich interview on Radio Derby, Pearce said that once the January window closed, that brought an end to all EFL restrictions, so why are they still involved in the free agent market ?

My understanding of that, which I could be wrong and happily be corrected, was that this was very sloppy wording and what he meant was this was the final transfer window with restrictions 

In theory as you'd only be doing deals in the window, that would be the end of that... Apart from we've signed a free agent after both windows this season 

6 hours ago, bristolram said:

Yes I work in the industry. The clubs can buy policies that cover wages for injury/illness. Depending on the type of injury, how it occurred and for the period will determine on the amount they would receive. Up to a maximum of either , a set limit or 100% of the players wages. This gives clubs so room for long term absences. Insurers will probably only cover injury/illness that go on for longer than 4 weeks. 

Thank you for this info, genuinely wondered about this for about 20 years (a 2001 video game had play insurance built in!) 

I remember the conversation a few years ago when Bryson was out for a few months and Hughes for the season that we had some insurance coming in 

8 hours ago, BathRam72 said:

Pretty much word for word.. Mind you, if he were managing Derby, he would have had a heart attack already.

He certainly would if he tried to do Warne's running 

I must admit I've not seen much of Stevenage, I kinda assume they're very physical because Evans is.... Whatever he is 

I wonder if we'd set up specifically for the fight, if we do I expect 3 at the back with SB coming in. Sibley is always up for a scrap too if Elder is out 

8 hours ago, angieram said:

Good comments generally but a couple of things.

We didn't get any beer - be grateful for what you had!

I see it as a positive that two more experienced players were coaching Kane Wilson out there.

Knowing Kane he probably asked for the help. He's young, at a new club where he's been played in several different roles and formations already without a steady run in any one of them. He's eager to learn and that is all to his credit. 

Oh yeah definitely not a criticism of KW, more a point of how difficult it is for a wing back to be put at full back. I think a lot of fans would assume it's an easy transition but look how much ward struggles at times 

I will admit to being very naughty and being sat in the Exeter end (free ticket is a free ticket, can't afford nice things), front row right by the pitch, with some Exeter supporting mates, so had a slightly different view. Some interesting points that jumped out 

KW is super talented with magic moments, but 1st half when he was on my side of the pitch he didn't seem to have any idea what his role was. CN and NML constantly telling him to move forwards or backwards. No ones fault really, but he's a wing-back playing RN's role really 

CN is such a leader, partly jumped out because I noticed him talking KW through a lot 

CE is looking better every game, finally some depth there

Everyone around commented on EA, nothing we don't already know, what a guy 

When I told Exeter mates that MB had left and loaned back they assumed he was off to a far bigger team than Bristol.. Just worth reminding ourselves how much he stands out to those seeing us for the 1st time 

The quality of subs, Exeter subs are league 2 quality, ours aren't a massive drop off and can offer slightly different roles

Chicken curry pie was excellent/ pint was poor 

Game management, most of ours biggest critisim recently, was excellent this time around 

Did I miss anything? 

22 minutes ago, kevinhectoring said:

According to another poster,  Wildsmith has indicated he wants to leave. That seems pretty plausible because imo there is no footballing reason to prefer V    

Which would also explain the unconfirmed reports that Ruddy was in the building on deadline day, maybe a move was on the cards 

Hope those who didn't want Bird back as he wouldn't be putting full effort in are watching 

Adams looks like what we've needed, allows Bird and CH to do more of what they're good at. And the wing backs tbf 

Just now, Wignall12 said:

Are you here all week ?

By popular demand...no I'm not

7 hours ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

Striker was Goodwin who's gone to Oxford.  Fee rather than wages. Twice this season they've gazumped us for attacking options. Don't know if he's any good to be honest.

So you're saying Goodwin but bad fee?

I was going to comment about not overspending again, but actually, I'm happy with this being my only contribution to the thread 

10 hours ago, S8TY said:

Already said this regarding efl but deals do get done over the weekend so assuming it’s something to do witi us spending a fee and checks blahdy blah 

But do our marketing team, photographers, social media ect work weekends aside from those sent to the match? Kinda sad but I always assume timing of announcements is more to do with this than anything 

20 hours ago, sage said:

The trouble is, he wasn't Championship standard as his contract was ending. He had one good loan spell and then 2 so so ones.

As with Ravas and Jakobsen how long do you wait? Maybe them leaving and playing regularly is the way for them to have the career they have now.

 

That's why what the massive clubs with brilliant with academies do so well is sell them with sell on clauses before contracts run out eg Lavia with Man City 

Not so easy to do at championship or league 1 level as these players often end up worth more money 2/3 moves later but still that's where more value can be extracted 

4 hours ago, On the Ram Page said:

With our fan base he ought to win it!

Especially with ours and Bolton's

12 hours ago, caymanram said:

 

11 hours ago, plymouthram said:

I think Vickers got the nod over Wildsmith for two reasons, Wildsmith took a knock against Peterboro and Vickers is going to start in the EFL trophy on Tuesday, so it made sense to get him used to the backline in front of him and he also won't be going into that game cold.

12 hours ago, caymanram said:

He did use the word ‘drop’ once and I think that’s what it was …:he did also mention how Vickers had trained well…

…. albeit with the added benefit that Vickers needed a competitive game…

I think he also used the word excuse once. I think he'd have liked to give JV a run of games and JW a rest so this knock gave him that chance. Especially given we know JV would have played Tuesday either way so that's 2 games and we'll see where he stands after that blockquote widget

3 minutes ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

Could be 3-4-2-1;

                Wildsmith

     Nyambe.  Nelson. Cashin

Wilson   Bird   Hourihane  Forsyth

            NML.  Barkhuizen

                   Collins

Or a 4-2-3-1 with the usual back 4, Bird and Hourihane in midfield with Wilson NML and Barkhuizen behind Collins. Or a 4-3-3 with Wilson playing in midfield. Or 4-4-2.

It’s a mystery! 

The good news is Wigan won't be sure how we're shaping up!

My 1st instinct I was picturing the 3-4-2-1 exactly how you outlined, but now you've said that I reckon we might start with the 4-2-3-1 and transition late if needed (or if winning) into the 3-4-2-1. The only thing I'm even close to certain about is that we'll probably change in-game 

Collins looks so much better with someone like Ward putting those balls in, you can see why we haven't always got the best out of him. Not saying I'd drop RN or anything, he's been brilliant, but can see why Collins hasn't looked like what he could 

9 hours ago, Srg said:

Completely disagree. If, by some miracle, we went up this year, we have most of a team out of contract and will be able to replace from a much better pool of players available to us.

You don’t refuse promotion over some notion you aren’t “ready”. You get up by any means necessary and stay there by the same methods. 

Twice before, with us in the playoffs, I've thought to myself we're not ready to go up and maybe 1 year later would be better 

Once we did go up, proceeded by the record low points total,the other we v narrowly didn't and haven't got as close again.

What do we conclude from this?... F&%k knows, maybe just that football hates us

Thought that said Adam Murray! I know we like to like a former player but that'd be a bit far

3 hours ago, TuffLuff said:

In fairness I think they did ok after! Also Mel wasn’t the chairman that season, just on the board. 

Are you saying he already had his boots on the ground? 

Few random, not joined up thoughts 

Nice to see Vickers out the obviously

Brown looked to be dropping too deep for his strengths, not sure if it was the role he was being asked to do (suited Weston more) or whether it's a learning curve for him. Will still benifit him

Weston looked interesting, he'll be a sub often enough now I reckon 

Confidence for Collo, talk about the level of opposition but that 3rd is beating anyone and the quality of the cross and header for the 2nd would score against league 1 sides, which brings me to... 

Kane Wilson going forward was doing what he and Ward were brought in to do in that RB slot,big part of how PW wanted to play and hasn't been able to. That's interesting because Ryan Nyambe has arguably been our most consistent player this season but plays it differently. If you're going to play Wilson /ward to get those crosses in you have to play Collo... Some interesting selection choices going forward

Minutes for Elder, I was excited by his signing so that's brilliant news

Sonny getting a horrible error out at the right time 

Good to get some more of the U21s playing along side senior lads, even if it's against another U21s 

Win is a win 

23 minutes ago, duncanjwitham said:

To answer my own question…

 

That doesn't sound good

On 07/09/2023 at 17:05, Curtains said:

What does this tell us 

Players out of contract next summer: Liam Thompson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Tom Barkhuizen, Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith, Martyn Waghorn, Louie Sibley, James Collins, Eiran Cashin, Max Bird, Craig Forsyth, Scott Loach

It tells us that 2 years ago were only allowed to offer 2 year contracts?