The Hotel End

The Hotel End => Cobblers Corner => Topic started by: guest3063 on June 23, 2022, 18:41:58 pm



Title: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: guest3063 on June 23, 2022, 18:41:58 pm
More to be added I know, but here is how we shape up : (19 full time professionals currently)

Goalkeepers - Jonny Maxted, Lee Burge

Defenders - Aaron McGowan, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Max Dyche, Ryan Nolan, Ryan Haynes

Midfielders - Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Shaun McWilliams, Peter Abimbola, Migual Ngwa, Liam Cross, Ben Fox

Forwards - Louis Appere, Jack Connor, Danny Hylton   


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on June 24, 2022, 18:35:31 pm
More to be added I know, but here is how we shape up : (19 full time professionals currently)

Goalkeepers - Jonny Maxted, Lee Burge

Defenders - Aaron McGowan, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Max Dyche, Ryan Nolan, Ryan Haynes

Midfielders - Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Shaun McWilliams, Peter Abimbola, Migual Ngwa, Liam Cross, Ben Fox

Forwards - Louis Appere, Jack Connor, Danny Hylton   
Here’s a realistic view of the team.
Goalkeepers- Lee Burge, Johnny Maxted

Defenders - Aaron McGowan, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Ryan Haynes

Midfielders - Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Shaun McWilliams, Ben Fox

Forwards - Danny Hylton, Louis Appere.


Fûck me we need at least another 5-6 players. The others are bench warmers at best.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: guest3086 on June 24, 2022, 19:13:02 pm
There are loads more players to come in but unfortunately cos Daniel is, shall we say, hefty on the payroll, they are more Matalan than Oscar de la Renta.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on June 27, 2022, 09:44:49 am
There are loads more players to come in but unfortunately cos Daniel is, shall we say, hefty on the payroll, they are more Matalan than Oscar de la Renta.

Some on here do not think we have paid more in fees/salary when compared with last seasons signings. If you are privy to Dan’s    Fees etc please share!


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Madrid Cobbler on June 28, 2022, 08:24:01 am
Here’s a realistic view of the team.
Goalkeepers- Lee Burge, Johnny Maxted

Defenders - Aaron McGowan, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Ryan Haynes

Midfielders - Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Shaun McWilliams, Ben Fox

Forwards - Danny Hylton, Louis Appere.


Fûck me we need at least another 5-6 players. The others are bench warmers at best.

I've obviously missed the new rule that allows us to play 13 players, including 2 goalkeepers  ;)


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on June 28, 2022, 08:33:39 am
I've obviously missed the new rule that allows us to play 13 players, including 2 goalkeepers  ;)

 8) Brave man - expect a visit from the Inquisition ;D


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on June 28, 2022, 12:54:38 pm
I've obviously missed the new rule that allows us to play 13 players, including 2 goalkeepers  ;)
Give it time, the idiots in FIFA are probably preparing something along these line as we speak.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Peter Frost on June 28, 2022, 13:00:32 pm
Give it time, the idiots in FIFA are probably preparing something along these line as we speak.

….whilst awarding the next World Cup to Andorra and agreeing ticket prices to start at a round €1000 - total w@nkers the lot of them.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on June 28, 2022, 19:12:42 pm
….whilst awarding the next World Cup to Andorra and agreeing ticket prices to start at a round €1000 - total w@nkers the lot of them.
This is what happens when you put foreigners in charge of the beautiful game.
Sep Blatters house just outside Zurich was unbelievable, now I wonder how he afforded that.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Peter Frost on June 30, 2022, 07:25:26 am
This is what happens when you put foreigners in charge of the beautiful game.
Sep Blatters house just outside Zurich was unbelievable, now I wonder how he afforded that.

What you will also then know then he has bought local support by spending some of his wealth on community sports facilities so the locals think he is some sort of benevolent godfather. Don’t get me on his French counterpart - I used to see him strutting arrogantly around Nyon close to where I worked - he still professes his innocence but the authorities (probably equally involved ) never did do a forensic financial analysis of his wealth.

Horrible people and a horrible self serving organisation that does no service to the football we all love.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Irchy cob on June 30, 2022, 13:03:28 pm
Appere looks like he’s bulked up in the training pictures.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Terryfenwickatemyhamster on June 30, 2022, 14:13:09 pm
This is what happens when you put foreigners in charge of the beautiful game.
Sep Blatters house just outside Zurich was unbelievable, now I wonder how he afforded that.

I’m not sure about the relevance of the “foreigners” comment. There’s sufficient evidence that the English/British are capable of plenty of transgressions over the years.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on June 30, 2022, 14:39:05 pm
I’m not sure about the relevance of the “foreigners” comment. There’s sufficient evidence that the English/British are capable of plenty of transgressions over the years.
When you have the biggest Empire the world has ever seen, a few eggs may get broken in creating the metaphorical omelette.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on June 30, 2022, 14:50:25 pm
When you have the biggest Empire the world has ever seen, a few eggs may get broken in creating the metaphorical omelette.
That was due to our navy. The largest land empire was Mongolia. And that was due to their ponies.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Terryfenwickatemyhamster on June 30, 2022, 15:08:43 pm
When you have the biggest Empire the world has ever seen, a few eggs may get broken in creating the metaphorical omelette.

Ooops.. out he pops 😀😀 I was talking in terms of football.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on June 30, 2022, 16:56:27 pm
That was due to our navy. The largest land empire was Mongolia. And that was due to their ponies.

Alexanders the Great Empire from Greece to the Balkans from Thrace to Asia Minor, from Asia to Central Asia, to Afghanistan to North West India plus Eygpt and part of North African coast. All the Greek Islands


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on June 30, 2022, 17:56:43 pm
Ooops.. out he pops 😀😀 I was talking in terms of football.
Fcuk football I’m talking about the might of the British Empire, in 1900 25% of the world’s population were British. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: guest3063 on June 30, 2022, 18:31:35 pm
Back on topic, looks like a few changes to the squad numbers for next season : (taken from training kits during pre-season training - yes I am sad  :-[) 

1. Lee Burge
3. Aaron McGowan
4. Jack Sowerby
5. Jon Guthrie
7. Sam Hoskins
8. Ben Fox
9. Louis Appere
10.Danny Hylton
11.Mitch Pinnock
14.Ali Koiki
17.Shaun McWilliams
23.Jonny Maxted
24.Ryan Haynes
27.Peter Abimbola
28.Miguel Ngwa
30.Jack Connor
34.Liam Cross
35.Max Dyche
?   Ryan Nolan


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on June 30, 2022, 18:39:31 pm
Fcuk football I’m talking about the might of the British Empire, in 1900 25% of the world’s population were British. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
And one in every two hundred men alive today, carry Genghis Khans DNA. Dirty old bugger!  ;D

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/mar/02/science.research


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 12:11:08 pm
And one in every two hundred men alive today, carry Genghis Khans DNA. Dirty old bugger!  ;D

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/mar/02/science.research

Cue for Y-chromosomal haplogroup search in Hotel End members!

Mainly found in South East Asia, no trace in India and what was Burma, none in Japan! Very little evidence in Western Europe.  Hotel enders you are more likely to have traces of Anglo-Saxon, Norman or Viking DNA.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Winslow Lee on July 01, 2022, 12:58:12 pm
Fcuk football I’m talking about the might of the British Empire, in 1900 25% of the world’s population were British. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

The British empire was a disgusting stain on history and up there with nazi Germany in terms of its atrocities.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: 606 Parklands_Cobbler on July 01, 2022, 13:03:03 pm
The British empire was a disgusting stain on history and up there with nazi Germany in terms of its atrocities.

He calls himself a patriot though.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 13:08:55 pm
The British empire was a disgusting stain on history and up there with nazi Germany in terms of its atrocities.

Attention Seeker ;D

Terrible judgement to use this argument on this particular thread! Be off with you!


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on July 01, 2022, 13:46:03 pm

 none in Japan!
Land locked countries, rarely have an effective navy. And their ponies could not swim that far.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on July 01, 2022, 13:54:51 pm
The British empire was a disgusting stain on history and up there with nazi Germany in terms of its atrocities.
So, you would abolish the monarchy, and the British Empire disgusts you. You must be great fun in the pub. Super glued your hand to the road, or toppled any statues lately?  ;D


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 16:16:23 pm
Land locked countries, rarely have an effective navy. And their ponies could not swim that far.

Historically, the Mongolian Navy was one of the largest in the world, during the time of Kublai Khan (Grandson of GK). However, most of the fleet sank in a Typhoon during the Mongol invasions of Japan. Which may explain your theory on the inability of ponies to swim 8). Austria had a Med Fleet 1st WW. In fact interestingly Azerbaijan operates a Fleet on the Caspian Sea,


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on July 01, 2022, 16:43:00 pm
Historically, the Mongolian Navy was one of the largest in the world, during the time of Kublai Khan (Grandson of GK). However, most of the fleet sank in a Typhoon during the Mongol invasions of Japan. Which may explain your theory on the inability of ponies to swim 8). Austria had a Med Fleet 1st WW. In fact interestingly Azerbaijan operates a Fleet on the Caspian Sea,
Good knowledge Evers old chum.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on July 01, 2022, 16:45:02 pm
So, you would abolish the monarchy, and the British Empire disgusts you. You must be great fun in the pub. Super glued your hand to the road, or toppled any statues lately?  ;D
I think he’d go down a storm in the Louden Tavern.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: the grumpy old man on July 01, 2022, 16:45:55 pm
When was the Mongolian navy part of our squad ?


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on July 01, 2022, 17:37:58 pm
Historically, the Mongolian Navy was one of the largest in the world, during the time of Kublai Khan (Grandson of GK). However, most of the fleet sank in a Typhoon during the Mongol invasions of Japan. Which may explain your theory on the inability of ponies to swim 8). Austria had a Med Fleet 1st WW. In fact interestingly Azerbaijan operates a Fleet on the Caspian Sea,
Word for word, taken from Wikipedia. Not quite what I expected from you. And Azerbaijan is not land locked. And no further comment from me on the matter.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: bungle on July 01, 2022, 18:00:52 pm
The recruitment has been very promising so far. Given the pivotal arrival of Hylton, I think Brady
might be tempted more of a 4-3-3 than the 4-2-3-1 we played for the majority of the first half of last season. I can see it looking a bit like this: 

                                             Burge

            New RB (Macgowan when fit) Guthrie   New CB   Koiki

                           McWilliams     Fox       Sowerby

                             Hoskins/Appere   Hylton      Pinnock


 The big remaining questions for me are:

1. What does the arrival of Hylton mean for Appere? Will he play alongside him in a two, will he compete with him for the no.9 role or will he battle Hoskins and Pinnock for a role as a wide forward?
Appere was starting to look like a very creative and dangerous L2 centre forward at the end-of-last season and I definitely think he should continue to play a major role in our attack. We were very static and predictable when we played 4-4-2 last season and I can't see any of McWilliams, Sowerby or Fox being here to sit on the bench so I think 4-3-3 is more likely. (Hoskins and Pinnock aren't really orthodox wingers anyway.)

2. Will Fox provide the creativity from central areas which was lacking last season (and arguably proved our biggest weakness)? Will he better Lewis' tally of two assists? Or, will Brady sign another creative midfielder who will finally give us that elusive 'playmaker' no.10 option (even if just off the bench)?

3. Will Brady sign another wide forward with pace (Eppiah or similar) to provide competition for Hoskins and Pinnock and to give us some crucial pace as a game-changing bench option? Our bench last season was extremely weak (Rose, Seal etc) and was arguably another major factor in our lack of goals.

4. The most pressing priority is obviously to replace Horsfall and Macgowan (temporarily) and to also sign some decent centre back cover (possibly on loan).




                   
                                             


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Manwork04 on July 01, 2022, 18:24:30 pm
The recruitment has been very promising so far. Given the pivotal arrival of Hylton, I think Brady
might be tempted more of a 4-3-3 than the 4-2-3-1 we played for the majority of the first half of last season. I can see it looking a bit like this: 

                                             Burge

            New RB (Macgowan when fit) Guthrie   New CB   Koiki

                           McWilliams     Fox       Sowerby

                             Hoskins/Appere   Hylton      Pinnock


 The big remaining questions for me are:

1. What does the arrival of Hylton mean for Appere? Will he play alongside him in a two, will he compete with him for the no.9 role or will he battle Hoskins and Pinnock for a role as a wide forward?
Appere was starting to look like a very creative and dangerous L2 centre forward at the end-of-last season and I definitely think he should continue to play a major role in our attack. We were very static and predictable when we played 4-4-2 last season and I can't see any of McWilliams, Sowerby or Fox being here to sit on the bench so I think 4-3-3 is more likely. (Hoskins and Pinnock aren't really orthodox wingers anyway.)

2. Will Fox provide the creativity from central areas which was lacking last season (and arguably proved our biggest weakness)? Will he better Lewis' tally of two assists? Or, will Brady sign another creative midfielder who will finally give us that elusive 'playmaker' no.10 option (even if just off the bench)?

3. Will Brady sign another wide forward with pace (Eppiah or similar) to provide competition for Hoskins and Pinnock and to give us some crucial pace as a game-changing bench option? Our bench last season was extremely weak (Rose, Seal etc) and was arguably another major factor in our lack of goals.

4. The most pressing priority is obviously to replace Horsfall and Macgowan (temporarily) and to also sign some decent centre back cover (possibly on loan).




                   
                                             
Great post as usual, the main observations I make looking at the team is the lack of a target man, someone to hold the ball up and bring others into play and pace, we desperately need some pace, look at the difference Eppiah made towards the end of the season.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 18:48:10 pm
Good knowledge Evers old chum.

Google !!! although I knew ow Austria had a small navy in the Med  1914-18


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 19:08:26 pm
Word for word, taken from Wikipedia. Not quite what I expected from you. And Azerbaijan is not land locked. And no further comment from me on the matter.

Of course it was - have no previous knowledge of the Mongolian Navy ! Not many do!
As for Azerbaijan it is Geographically land locked and the Caspian Sea or Lake has no tides! That is what I learnt at school! Things have changed so you maybe right ;)


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: everbrite on July 01, 2022, 19:16:46 pm
Great post as usual, the main observations I make looking at the team is the lack of a target man, someone to hold the ball up and bring others into play and pace, we desperately need some pace, look at the difference Eppiah made towards the end of the season.

I thought that Jack Diamond (retained by Sunderland) looked useful and is a right winger! Definitely need a replacement for Horsfall. Also bring in Eppiah if we can. Would have kept Harriman on !


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Irchy cob on July 09, 2022, 16:56:59 pm
If we go with 3 centre backs (presumably Odimayo, Sherring and Guthrie) with Kioki at left wing back, who plays right wing back - do we shoehorn Hoskins in there or is it AN Other? Also who plays in midfield if we go with a front 2 of Appere and Hylton?


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Youarenicetome on July 09, 2022, 20:36:16 pm
First post....

I think we'll interchange between a back 4 and back 5 depending upon the opposition, as Brady did last year. I see Appere playing just off Hilton. Sowerby, fox and McWilliams all competing for 2 central midfield positions with pinnock and hoskins first choice wide players. Loan signings will come in to provide competition.
It's easy to forget about suspensions/ injuries/ illness when struggling to choose the starting 11 before the season starts.
Generally very impressed with the signings to date. Seem to be a definite step up in quality from this time last year.
All the released players and incomings seem logical and well thought through- can't argue with any decisions Brady has made recruitment wise... Looking forward to another season of progression.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Tabasco Kid on July 09, 2022, 21:07:56 pm
First post....

I think we'll interchange between a back 4 and back 5 depending upon the opposition, as Brady did last year. I see Appere playing just off Hilton. Sowerby, fox and McWilliams all competing for 2 central midfield positions with pinnock and hoskins first choice wide players. Loan signings will come in to provide competition.
It's easy to forget about suspensions/ injuries/ illness when struggling to choose the starting 11 before the season starts.
Generally very impressed with the signings to date. Seem to be a definite step up in quality from this time last year.
All the released players and incomings seem logical and well thought through- can't argue with any decisions Brady has made recruitment wise... Looking forward to another season of progression.
Welcome aboard.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: Coolcat on July 10, 2022, 16:59:19 pm
The recruitment has been very promising so far. Given the pivotal arrival of Hylton, I think Brady
might be tempted more of a 4-3-3 than the 4-2-3-1 we played for the majority of the first half of last season. I can see it looking a bit like this: 

                                             Burge

            New RB (Macgowan when fit) Guthrie   New CB   Koiki

                           McWilliams     Fox       Sowerby

                             Hoskins/Appere   Hylton      Pinnock


 The big remaining questions for me are:

1. What does the arrival of Hylton mean for Appere? Will he play alongside him in a two, will he compete with him for the no.9 role or will he battle Hoskins and Pinnock for a role as a wide forward?
Appere was starting to look like a very creative and dangerous L2 centre forward at the end-of-last season and I definitely think he should continue to play a major role in our attack. We were very static and predictable when we played 4-4-2 last season and I can't see any of McWilliams, Sowerby or Fox being here to sit on the bench so I think 4-3-3 is more likely. (Hoskins and Pinnock aren't really orthodox wingers anyway.)

2. Will Fox provide the creativity from central areas which was lacking last season (and arguably proved our biggest weakness)? Will he better Lewis' tally of two assists? Or, will Brady sign another creative midfielder who will finally give us that elusive 'playmaker' no.10 option (even if just off the bench)?

3. Will Brady sign another wide forward with pace (Eppiah or similar) to provide competition for Hoskins and Pinnock and to give us some crucial pace as a game-changing bench option? Our bench last season was extremely weak (Rose, Seal etc) and was arguably another major factor in our lack of goals.

4. The most pressing priority is obviously to replace Horsfall and Macgowan (temporarily) and to also sign some decent centre back cover (possibly on loan).




                   
                                             
Not entirely sure what points 1 & 3 have to do with the Mongolian Navy, nor Azerbaijan for that matter.
May have missed something though.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: bungle on July 26, 2022, 12:35:33 pm
I have a few concerns, despite the recruitment looking excellent on paper. On one hand, I completely understand why Brady is drawn to a switch to 3-5-2/3-4-1-2. Both these formations would allow us to play two strikers in Hylton and Appere together up front which would appear to be a sensible move for a team whose main weakness was scoring goals from open play in one-striker systems last year. However, these are my questions:

1. Our back four had one of the best defensive records in the country last season. A big part of me thinks ‘if it ain’t broke why fix it’. You need a lot of squad depth at centre back to play 3 at the back - will we have enough? Will we will we be as solid as last year or will teams exploit the space behind the wing backs?

2. Can Koiki be converted into a wing back or is he best as an attacking full back? On paper he has all the attributes (pace, control, strength) to be a superb wing back but I’d say his best performances came at full back. Also, for all his excellent forward rampages he didn’t get that many assists it goals last year. Will the wing-backs match Hoskins’ impressive total of assists and goals from last year (assuming he is the one to make way for this new formation? He divides the fan base but the fact is that Sammy had a very productive season last year.

3. Can Pinnock thrive as a number 10 or us he more effective out wide? Pinnock was by far and away our best attacking player last year. However, most of his best performances came as an inverted winged in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 where he could get out wide and put crosses in.

4. No idea if the rumours are true, but we simply must keep Guthrie. His value to us transcends a crude measure of his raw ability as a centre back because he gives us a crucial sense of continuity with the successful back line of last season. The understanding he has with Koiki, McWilliams, Sowerby and Macgowan and Pinnock (at set pieces) would take ages for a replacement to replicate.

5. I am very wary of the implication that Brady wants to ‘play out from the back’. I’m very sceptical about the capacity of l2 teams to do this on a consistent basis due to the technical limitations if the defenders and have seen it undone very quickly by opposition who press high up the pitch. I’d like to see us play a bit more football through the thirds but also think we should mix it up a bit and avoid sacrificing pragmatism for idealism.

The big questions for me boil down to this: can we create more chances this season whilst preserving our defensive solidity? The answer I think is ‘yes but it will take a lot of coaching and we will probably need to be patient in the first 10 games while the teething problems are ironed out’. In the long run, if sustainable L1 football is the aim then a switch to a more progressive possession based style is probably the correct strategy.

We still need a pacy forward as an option off the bench along with at least one other centre back.


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: threeinabed on July 26, 2022, 13:26:02 pm
still missing a target man option and some creativity and some pace - other than that we are good to go!

until someone leaves


Title: Re: Squad - 2022-23 Season
Post by: bungle on July 28, 2022, 15:42:15 pm
I have a few concerns, despite the recruitment looking excellent on paper. On one hand, I completely understand why Brady is drawn to a switch to 3-5-2/3-4-1-2. Both these formations would allow us to play two strikers in Hylton and Appere together up front which would appear to be a sensible move for a team whose main weakness was scoring goals from open play in one-striker systems last year. However, these are my questions:

1. Our back four had one of the best defensive records in the country last season. A big part of me thinks ‘if it ain’t broke why fix it’. You need a lot of squad depth at centre back to play 3 at the back - will we have enough? Will we will we be as solid as last year or will teams exploit the space behind the wing backs?

2. Can Koiki be converted into a wing back or is he best as an attacking full back? On paper he has all the attributes (pace, control, strength) to be a superb wing back but I’d say his best performances came at full back. Also, for all his excellent forward rampages he didn’t get that many assists it goals last year. Will the wing-backs match Hoskins’ impressive total of assists and goals from last year (assuming he is the one to make way for this new formation? He divides the fan base but the fact is that Sammy had a very productive season last year.

3. Can Pinnock thrive as a number 10 or us he more effective out wide? Pinnock was by far and away our best attacking player last year. However, most of his best performances came as an inverted winged in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 where he could get out wide and put crosses in.

4. No idea if the rumours are true, but we simply must keep Guthrie. His value to us transcends a crude measure of his raw ability as a centre back because he gives us a crucial sense of continuity with the successful back line of last season. The understanding he has with Koiki, McWilliams, Sowerby and Macgowan and Pinnock (at set pieces) would take ages for a replacement to replicate.

5. I am very wary of the implication that Brady wants to ‘play out from the back’. I’m very sceptical about the capacity of l2 teams to do this on a consistent basis due to the technical limitations if the defenders and have seen it undone very quickly by opposition who press high up the pitch. I’d like to see us play a bit more football through the thirds but also think we should mix it up a bit and avoid sacrificing pragmatism for idealism.

The big questions for me boil down to this: can we create more chances this season whilst preserving our defensive solidity? The answer I think is ‘yes but it will take a lot of coaching and we will probably need to be patient in the first 10 games while the teething problems are ironed out’. In the long run, if sustainable L1 football is the aim then a switch to a more progressive possession based style is probably the correct strategy.

We still need a pacy forward as an option off the bench along with at least one other centre back.


The signing of Magloire pretty much confirms that we’ll be playing 3 at the back and also goes a long way to answering the strength in depth question. Magloire has a lot of pace and should compliment Guthrie’s strength. I think Shearing will be the one to bring the ball out into midfield.

Time will tell whether we get the game-changing bench options we need and whether the wing back system delivers in terms of increased chance creation and goals.