TF Ram

Oh right, sorry, I don't normally read poor old Ben's posts 😬

Steve Bloomer's watching, helping them fight, guiding the heroes in the black and the white and and timeless blue and the founders green and the victory blue and the centenary gold and the premier burgundy and the community pink...

Community Pink.

Does this mean to end to players going abroad on holiday? 

Does this mean to end to players going abroad on holiday? 

WARNING! This will be a long read.
Summary, for those who don't like to read:
I've assumed Knight and Bielik are sold, with no other first team departures.
We still need to fill the following positions: RCB, RWB, LWB, SS/AM, CF, CF. Suggestions for these roles are...
RCB: Matty Pennington (out of contract, from Shrewsbury)
RWB/LWB: Tom Hamer (Burton)
SS: Andy Moran (loan, from Brighton)
CF: George Hirst (Leicester)
CF: Conor Washington (Rotherham)


I would argue the main reason for our lack of success last season was down to quantity of chances created. We were heavily reliant on crosses from Hourihane and Mendez-Laing and set pieces from Hourihane. Whilst McGoldrick, Sibley, Bird, Knight and Barkhuizen chipped in with a few, we need to be looking at 40-50% more this season.
We have partially improved on that by signing two wing backs who love to get the ball in the box for attackers. Between our full backs last season, we were averaging roughly 2 key pass per game, only slightly better than what Hourihane was achieving by himself. Ward averaged 2.1 per 90 last season, whilst Elder averaged 1.7 in Hull's promotion season. That's almost twice the improvement on what we had last season in the wide areas. This is also before we add depth to these positions - either someone who covers both wing back positions, or with them also covering CB (such as Jaden Brown being a LWB covering CB, or Harding being a CB covering RWB).
Contrary to popular belief, our goal contributions from our midfielders are fine. Bird and Hourihane got a combined 25 in all competitions last season, whereas all of Plymouth's combined got 23 and Ipswich's got 28. With Smith and Thompson (or a new signing) chipping in with a couple as well, we're well set. You could argue we could do with someone else off the bench with more end product. Jensen Weir (Brighton) and Owen Moxon (Carlisle) would be high up my list.
It's no secret that we need more goals from our defenders, but Nelson isn't the answer. Cashin, Forsyth, Nelson and Rooney made a combined 5 goal contributions last season (11789 minutes played).
Plymouth's CBs had 14 contributions (14697 minutes) and Ipswich's also had 14 (13059 minutes). We definitely need to get an aerially dominant CB who is a threat from set pieces to make up some of the difference. Hopefully, Cashin can improve this part of his game too.
We're also desperate for at least 3 additions in the attacking positions. Plymouth got 109 goal contributions from playerss predominantly playing in the front 3 last season (15815 minutes) and Ipswich got 106 (14875 minutes).
Since we only have Collins, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and Sibley left, our remaining forwards got 52 goal contributions from 12394 minutes, although that includes 3 of those players also covering at full back. Remove those games and it's roughly 45 in 10500 minutes.
Whilst Collins and Barkhuizen's contributions per 90 were on the low side, they're perfectly suited for backup roles. Sibley's contribution was also relatively low, but with a consistent run in his best positions, and more creativity in the rest of the team, I would back him to  at least double his output next season if given the same amount of game time (12 goals and 4 assists). He could easily achieve over 20 goal contributions if we get the other additions in the forward area right.
Our two most important signings this summer will be in the attacking area. One CF and one SS/AM capable of getting close to 50 contributions between them. We'll also need a 2nd choice CF, capable of 15  contributions in 1500-2000 minutes (Cosgrove got 14 in 1692 minutes as 3rd choice CF for Plymouth).
The squad size will cater for giving some minutes to promising U21s: such as Moloney (LWB), DRobinson and Hawkins (CM), Davidson (SS) and Brown (CF)
Now back up to the top to see my actual suggestions for each positions needed.

This thread isn't about how our academy has been run and what players it has produced. 
 
It's about Paul Warne and why players don't want to play for him.
 
Let's get back on topic.
 
😀

Mods, is the username @BigTravIsGod free please?
Ta...

@Big Trav logging into the forum

Suuuuper, Super Big
Suuuuper, Super Big
Suuuuper, Super Big
Super Big Trav

Looks another good signing. Wand of a left foot?

Really, really like this signing. A very accomplished footballer, who has been excellent at this level and suits this system. He didn’t really drop in his performance levels when going up to the championship either, so I don’t see any regression, other than it’s a much more difficult league.
He’ll be much improved on the Haydon Roberts, Louie Sibley left back play of 22/23 and gives us a real high quality player at a key position. 

I'll be honest... Don't have a clue about him. All I know is when I was a kid, I was taught you should always respect his family (for some reason)
 

Well done @Big Trav. Jealousy is a terrible thing.

So what you’re essentially saying is, ignore McGoldrick, he’s lying. Believe me and my personal vendetta against Warne has no bearing on what I’m saying.
Give over.

I genuinely don't understand why I've just seen "League two is a bigger pull than Warne"
It's not league two. It's Notts County. It's his club. He wants to retire there. Fair play. Could have stayed here for more money. He's literally just said himself that no other club he would have gone for. 
Internally they would have known about this for ages. I would imagine that Mcgoldrick has said "Look if Notts go up there's a chance I could go back there and I'd want to"
I wish him nothing but the best. Was unbelievable for us last season and without him we'd have been nowhere.
But that was the season of his life and we cannot be relying on him to do that again. We need 3-4 strikers chipping in with 8-15 goals each. We need wide players chipping in with 5-10. 
It's not just about replacing Mcgoldricks goals with an individual it needs to be spread. 
Other than Hourihane and NML. Goals from other areas of the team were pitiful.
But fans using this as a stick to beat Warne or the club with are a joke.

Wanted him to stay but not too upset. 36 years old, wouldn’t want him playing as often anyway. He wanted a chance at the team he supports. Fair play to him. We will be fine. 

Read his comments, you claimed Didzy is a Forest fan, in his own words he’s followed his heart, take your I told you so elsewhere 

yeah  dont worry though lads its definitely not happening though is it
 
everything is rosey and okay for derby, things are looking bright right?
 
what an embarrassing day, its hit home how low we are in the food chain now

You say that with confidence, but if he has a Tuesday night appearance in late November at  Exeter, in freezing conditions, or a choice of one hour, close to home, playing keepyuppy with some fifteen year old boys, he might opt for the latter.

I think we should buy his brother and then we could all sing Frere Xhaka. Ok. I’ll get my coat. 

You can tell it's a fake report - B&Q is technically in Sinfin, not Allenton.....

Whilst I appreciate that you drink in Ben Osborn’s pub, what’s his connection to McGoldrick? Are they that close that McGoldrick is sharing the ins and outs of his contract with the man so he can discuss it with punters down his micro pub? 
It seems a bit odd.