New Year 2021 Transfer Window

[Saint Cobbler]

People on here are moaning about a small squad when 22 players is the limit for all clubs. That's nobody's fault and makes it inevitable that there won't be a lot of cover in every position. I think KC has been brave in this window and has achieved much more than I expected. I personally was hoping Smith, Adams, Lines and Martin would all move on, but I didn't think KC would want to move players on that he'd signed and thus basically admitt he'd made mistakes (I was wrong) and even if he did I thought we wouldn't be able to get rid of all of them (I was wrong again).

Miller, Morris and Kioso in particular already look like improvements on those players who've gone. Obviously we'll see in the coming weeks how much of a difference the new signings make, but I think KC deserves some credit for what looks like some pretty astute business over the last month.

I've been critical of him over the last couple of months due to some very poor tactics and performances, but I like the fact he does (eventually) react and see when things aren't working and is willing to make changes. Other managers (Boothroyd, Page and JED spring to mind) just carried on and on the same way. KC will not often admitt he's made a mistake or criticise individual players, but he clearly sees when things aren't working and is willing to act on it, within whatever budget constraints he has. While I'm sure there will be some dour encounters between now and the end of the season, I'm certainly more optimistic about our chances of staying up and seeing a slightly better brand of football. Our possession stats have reached the dizzy heights of 40% in a couple of matches recently and that's got to be progress.

I agree with nearly all of this. I have been quite critical of KC but he has shown signs of flexibility recently and the new recruits look promising.

[everbrite]

Did we receive a fee for Missilou as the transfer was reported on teletext as undisclosed?.

  £100k ?  

[everbrite]

I agree with nearly all of this. I have been quite critical of KC but he has shown signs of flexibility recently and the new recruits look promising.

+

[Manwork04]

Dont panic guys, the boss has said he is looking at players that are unattached.

 

[Manwork04]

I agree with nearly all of this. I have been quite critical of KC but he has shown signs of flexibility recently and the new recruits look promising.

I think it’s got more to do with the massive rollicking Curle received from KT.

[Gen.Disorda]

I agree with nearly all of this. I have been quite critical of KC but he has shown signs of flexibility recently and the new recruits look promising.

Agreed. I think he has got rid of the right people and brought in seemingly better plays.

All with Manworks beloved house keeping award in tact  

[everbrite]

........
All with Manworks beloved house keeping award in tact  

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Did we receive a fee for Missilou as the transfer was reported on teletext as undisclosed?.

Sky Sports were showing it as a free?

[guest3355]

More players at poor quality or less players at better quality..

[Monkey]

I definitley feel that the January business has been good and there are upgrades across the board.

I think given a squad of 22, its safe to say that you want 2 senior players in every position, so if you look at the 3 formations we've played this year, you can see that there is a clear gap on the left side of defence, especially given Sheehan's injury record.
Some of the wide cover is questionable too with Korboa not really looking the part and Marshall clearly not in favour.
Of the youngsters (Chuck aside), it's only really Roberts and Pollock who could be considered close to the senior squad. Pollock could provide good cover at CM if he gets fit.
I think we'll struggle to find a good free-agent striker, so we'll have to hope the current lads start scoring. You'd like to think we could get a half decent left sided defender and another attacking midfielder to bolster the squad though. Other than that, I don't think we're looking too bad compared to other teams in and around us.

4-4-2
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
CB1: Bolger/Jones
CB2: Sheehan/Horsfall
LB: Mills/ ?
RB: Kioso/Harriman
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
LM: Miller/Korboa
RM: Hoskins/Marshall
ST1: Rose/Chuck
ST2: Edmunson/BAS

4-3-3 / 4-5-1
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
CB1: Bolger/Jones
CB2: Sheehan/Horsfall
LB: Mills/ ?
RB: Kioso/Harriman
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
AM: Hoskins/Miller
LW: Marshall/Rose
RW: Korboa/Chuck
ST: Edmunson/BAS

3-5-2
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
RCB: Harriman/Jones
CB: Bolger/Horsfall
LCB: Sheehan/ ?
LWB: Mills/Korboa
RWB: Kioso/Marshall
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
AM: Hoskins/Miller
ST1: Rose/Chuck
ST2: Edmunson/BAS

[Buster]

I think it’s wise to leave a few spaces available.  KC can get the measure of what he has at his disposal during proper games, not just on the practice ground, or watching VC.  If over the coming weeks he identifies positions where we need strengthening then there are plenty of unattached player at all levels available.  If he has to go beyond the current wage structure to get the right man he at least has capacity to do so with the reduced numbers we currently have.

[everbrite]

I definitley feel that the January business has been good and there are upgrades across the board.

I think given a squad of 22, its safe to say that you want 2 senior players in every position, so if you look at the 3 formations we've played this year, you can see that there is a clear gap on the left side of defence, especially given Sheehan's injury record.
Some of the wide cover is questionable too with Korboa not really looking the part and Marshall clearly not in favour.
Of the youngsters (Chuck aside), it's only really Roberts and Pollock who could be considered close to the senior squad. Pollock could provide good cover at CM if he gets fit.
I think we'll struggle to find a good free-agent striker, so we'll have to hope the current lads start scoring. You'd like to think we could get a half decent left sided defender and another attacking midfielder to bolster the squad though. Other than that, I don't think we're looking too bad compared to other teams in and around us.

4-4-2
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
CB1: Bolger/Jones
CB2: Sheehan/Horsfall
LB: Mills/ ?
RB: Kioso/Harriman
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
LM: Miller/Korboa
RM: Hoskins/Marshall
ST1: Rose/Chuck
ST2: Edmunson/BAS

4-3-3 / 4-5-1
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
CB1: Bolger/Jones
CB2: Sheehan/Horsfall
LB: Mills/ ?
RB: Kioso/Harriman
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
AM: Hoskins/Miller
LW: Marshall/Rose
RW: Korboa/Chuck
ST: Edmunson/BAS

3-5-2
GK: Arnold/Mitchell
RCB: Harriman/Jones
CB: Bolger/Horsfall
LCB: Sheehan/ ?
LWB: Mills/Korboa
RWB: Kioso/Marshall
CM1: McWilliams/Morris
CM2: Watson/Sowerby
AM: Hoskins/Miller
ST1: Rose/Chuck
ST2: Edmunson/BAS

Interesting assessment; my money is on selection 3? What do you think TP & OAP?

[Winslow Lee]

I can see the formation changing from game to game a bit.
With a fully fit squad I would tend to think 5-3-2:

Mitchell
Mills
Jones
Bolger
Sheehan
Kioso
McWilliams
Morris
Sowerby/Watson
Rose/Edmondson
Miller/Hoskins

[threeinabed]

More players at poor quality or less players at better quality..

i think the latter was the gamble CW took when we won the league - we got lucky with holmes and lack of injuries and he had energetic bit part players like hoskins and d'ath to fill the gaps when needed.

sadly, we have since used one of those bit part clowns as our teams undroppable playmaker - which is why we are shat in front of goal.

[OCoole]

Pointless to worry too much about possible potential problems. Curle has decided to move on a few players who are unlikely to have much game time on match days. Perhaps Teacher can do a more in-depth study of player alternating in various positions for instance Marshall, Hoskins and Rose? Some views appear to be optimistic for example Pollock who has played very little to justify a label of highly promising. Only an extended run of matches can we actually determine his true ability! To me he appears to be too injury prone to become an established League One player?

I notice that you have revised this post from what it said originally - that was a good call.

Was there any need for the patronising "Perhaps Teacher can do a more in-depth study of player" though? My post was perfectly clear and well-reasoned. The positions I identified are the problem areas in my opinion, the other areas of the pitch we have decent strength in depth.

Once again to clarify to others that seem to have misinterpreted my post, I agree with you all that our new signings are all seemingly good additions, and that the players who have left were the right players to get out the door.

However, the point that I am making is that we are one injury in either the CB, LWB, or CM positions from being a little bit stuffed. I am questioning why only 4 players came in. I am not questioning the ability of those 4.

[Winslow Lee]

However, the point that I am making is that we are one injury in either the CB, LWB, or CM positions from being a little bit stuffed. I am questioning why only 4 players came in. I am not questioning the ability of those 4.

Despite the players going out the only position you mentioned where I would say we could be a bit weak is LWB. Central midfield Missilou and Lines have gone out who weren’t in contention with Morris coming straight in and looking good, along with McWilliams, Sowerby & Watson we have 4 good options for 2/3 places. Central defence is similar with Racic and Martin leaving who were not in contention with Jones again coming straight in with Bolger and Sheehan. If we get injuries we have Horsfall & Harriman who were both already higher in the pecking order than the 2 that left. I guess at left wing back KC will just either use Harriman or one of the attacking players like Korboa.

[OCoole]

Despite the players going out the only position you mentioned where I would say we could be a bit weak is LWB. Central midfield Missilou and Lines have gone out who weren’t in contention with Morris coming straight in and looking good, along with McWilliams, Sowerby & Watson we have 4 good options for 2/3 places. Central defence is similar with Racic and Martin leaving who were not in contention with Jones again coming straight in with Bolger and Sheehan. If we get injuries we have Horsfall & Harriman who were both already higher in the pecking order than the 2 that left. I guess at left wing back KC will just either use Harriman or one of the attacking players like Korboa.

I'll accept your point regarding the centre back position, even though I think Harriman is a poor replacement.

Once again though, my post is being misconstrued. I'm not disputing that Missilou or Lines were in contention nor should have been. I've copied and pasted this from my original post:

Centre midfield: Sowerby, McWilliams, Morris, Watson - This area looks strong with three of these starting, but an injury to Sowerby means we have no replacement option from the bench now.

Yes Morris is great, yes the balance in midfield is good right now. But, if we get another injury, who plays then? We already don't have a midfield replacement on the bench now that Sowerby picked up an injury.

We need more depth than we have. We're going to have a few weeks in a row where the team will play 3 times in 7 days. There's no way that those players are going to play every game without picking up knocks. And when it happens, the team will be weakened, and we will most likely drop crucial points that could be decisive in the relegation battle.

Now I don't know if KC has free agent targets in mind or not. But after just looking at free agents now on Transfermarkt, there certainly aren't currently many available at all that would be realistic. That could change in the future, but it might not necessarily. It feels like we are sleepwalking into an issue here.

[everbrite]

I notice that you have revised this post from what it said originally - that was a good call.

Was there any need for the patronising "Perhaps Teacher can do a more in-depth study of player" though? My post was perfectly clear and well-reasoned. The positions I identified are the problem areas in my opinion, the other areas of the pitch we have decent strength in depth.

Once again to clarify to others that seem to have misinterpreted my post, I agree with you all that our new signings are all seemingly good additions, and that the players who have left were the right players to get out the door.

However, the point that I am making is that we are one injury in either the CB, LWB, or CM positions from being a little bit stuffed. I am questioning why only 4 players came in. I am not questioning the ability of those 4.

I hear what you say but saying we are one injury away(from disaster?) in three positions is a bit OTT when we have Harriman who is a defensive player.

[guest2995]

if we are playing 3 at the back , which appears is going to happen now that the wing back position has been strengthened - we need another centre half .
Sheehan is fine but is simply not available enough . That leaves Horsfall and Bolger playing every week with Jones .
One of those weaknesses you can cover up but both together are a liability every week .
We need a strong , commanding centre half that sees us through the season and helps scrape a few more clean sheets .
Another good keeper wouldn’t go amiss either .
Curle’s biggest failure this season is the complete mess he has made of replacing the 3 centre halves that cleared off .

[Manwork04]

if we are playing 3 at the back , which appears is going to happen now that the wing back position has been strengthened - we need another centre half .
Sheehan is fine but is simply not available enough . That leaves Horsfall and Bolger playing every week with Jones .
One of those weaknesses you can cover up but both together are a liability every week .
We need a strong , commanding centre half that sees us through the season and helps scrape a few more clean sheets .
Another good keeper wouldn’t go amiss either .
Curle’s biggest failure this season is the complete mess he has made of replacing the 3 centre halves that cleared off .

This is spot on, Horsfall is one of the worst defenders I’ve seen coupled with Bolger it’s a disaster waiting to happen, it’s really no surprise that we concede so many goals.
The keeper isn’t much better, his inability to hold the ball is worrying as his bizarre positioning for free kicks.
We need another Center half, Sheehan is the new McCormack, Curles utter BS about his fitness doesn’t help.