Tooling up: The summer 2024 transfer thread

[BWFC_Insane]

If we are to make this system work we need two players with real pace in those ‘number 10’ roles and ability to run at defences. I think that’s pretty clear - obviously dembele would have been one such so we were looking but now it’s imperative we find these players in the next couple of weeks.

[TANGODANCER]

If we are to make this system work we need two players with real pace in those ‘number 10’ roles and ability to run at defences. I think that’s pretty clear - obviously dembele would have been one such so we were looking but now it’s imperative we find these players in the next couple of weeks.

"It's goals that count! That was the name of a weekly comic story way back in 1950 or so. Nothing has changed since the noble game was invented. It's still Rule Number One.

We need to forget about any regular "system" and be more flexible. Opposition can study regular traits and counter them. We need a game less predictable. I'll wager Charlton's boss is already studying videos of our games so far and knows how to handle us. I'll also bet that "The Alamo" and "Zulu" are on the video shelves of most Division One managers under "Defence" Our problem is as clear as Blackpool illuminations in the fact that not scoring is our Achilles heel. The rest is of secondary importance whether we play like Man City or Mount Street Tavern. A "Clean Sheets Trophy" is nought but a dust gatherer that nobody will even mention unless its alongside a League trophy winners pot. A "Shoot on sight", might be a useful starter occasionally. Think Richard Sneekes and Ivan Klasnic.

Amen.

[The_Gun]

If we are to make this system work we need two players with real pace in those ‘number 10’ roles and ability to run at defences. I think that’s pretty clear - obviously dembele would have been one such so we were looking but now it’s imperative we find these players in the next couple of weeks.

CMG and Lolos would be two of our better options for those positions, no? Obviously they’re presently injured, but we’re still paying them and they’ll be back in a few months, so I can’t see us bringing in another two.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we are to make this system work we need two players with real pace in those ‘number 10’ roles and ability to run at defences. I think that’s pretty clear - obviously dembele would have been one such so we were looking but now it’s imperative we find these players in the next couple of weeks.

CMG and Lolos would be two of our better options for those positions, no? Obviously they’re presently injured, but we’re still paying them and they’ll be back in a few months, so I can’t see us bringing in another two.

CMG is potentially but he’s out for half the season at least. Lolos is a different type.

We need people who want to run at teams. You watch yesterday and to me our issue is a lack of outlet. We have wing backs who offer width but they aren’t going to consistently run at teams and hit the byline.

There is no consistent way to beat a team like Wrexham who setup like that without some real genuine outlets who run at them and make stuff happen in the wide areas. OR have great delivery into the box from a wing back. But none of our wing backs can cross a ball so it’s the former we need. Our season will become massively frustrating if the only option is through the middle, out to a wing back, back into the middle/poor delivery. And that was our only pattern of play yesterday and it won’t break well structured teams down imho.

We need a player or two who take the ball, look at their full back or whatever and can run past them. Get behind teams. That completely changes the dynamic because suddenly Wrexham have to worry about doubling up or defending their box.

[Bertie Wooster]

We need a player or two who take the ball, look at their full back or whatever and can run past them. Get behind teams. That completely changes the dynamic because suddenly Wrexham have to worry about doubling up or defending their box.

This 100% - as with many games last season, it was all a bit robotic & predictable and relatively easy to defend against. We need creativity and someone to take a man on with pace & skill, is Lolos that type of player ?

I also think yesterday that the players hardly got out of 2nd gear apart from the 1st 15-20 mins. We were the best team and I suspect that it was two points dropped instead of one gained.

I'll go back to Evatt's Barrowcelona quotes and articles 4 years ago that got many excited - fittest team in the league, constant pressing, taking advantage when the opposition tire in the last 20 mins etc. we are nowhere near the fittest team in the league and IMO we don't press as well as some other teams - their is a general lack of real intensity.

Also yet again our set pieces where very poor, corners & free kicks.

Charlton will provide another decent test.

[The_Gun]

Isn’t Mendes Gomes due back this year? I thought that’s what Evatt had said in preseason.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We had the best pressing figures in the division last year, per Opta. I accept that facts aren't opinions, but also vice versa.
https://theanalyst.com/2023/08/league-o ... 23-24-opta

I would hope that having a better squad would mean we return to the habit of two, three and four seasons ago of winning some games with our "finishers", ie subs. But we shouldn't have to rely on it.

Opinion not fact, undisprovable: Had we scored in the first half, we'd quite possibly have won around 3-0. Wrexham, who hadn't failed to score in a dozen games, rarely looked very likely to, and us scoring first would have forced them to come out rather than making the defensive substitutions they did in the second half.

Opinion formed from several Evatt seasons: If we score first, we're alright. Task: Make sure we score first.

[Bertie Wooster]

We had the best pressing figures in the division last year, per Opta. I accept that facts aren't opinions, but also vice versa.
https://theanalyst.com/2023/08/league-o ... 23-24-opta

I would hope that having a better squad would mean we return to the habit of two, three and four seasons ago of winning some games with our "finishers", ie subs. But we shouldn't have to rely on it.

Opinion not fact, undisprovable: Had we scored in the first half, we'd quite possibly have won around 3-0. Wrexham, who hadn't failed to score in a dozen games, rarely looked very likely to, and us scoring first would have forced them to come out rather than making the defensive substitutions they did in the second half.

Opinion formed from several Evatt seasons: If we score first, we're alright. Task: Make sure we score first.

DSB yes absolutely if we had scored in the 1st half then I agree that we would have likely won 2 or 3-0 - but we didn't score !

[Bertie Wooster]

Another comment from yesterday is that we probably need a big target man i.e. a better version of JDB to give us some variety when we need to change tactics when Plan A isn't working, as Evatt's Plan A 2.0 is identical to his plan A.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If you could tap into Parky's mind and request what he really wanted us to do against his teams, it would probably say "bring on a target man".

What we didn't do is ask them enough *other* questions.

[irie Cee Bee]

We need a player or two who take the ball, look at their full back or whatever and can run past them. Get behind teams. That completely changes the dynamic because suddenly Wrexham have to worry about doubling up or defending their box.

We all want such a player. All L1 teams want such players, but these types of players play in higher divisions. We have been after such a player all summer from reports.. McCowan etc.. but they want to play higher up. Our best bet is to find such a premiership young player whose club wants him to get experience in the lower leagues eg. Maghoma and hope they are not a Shoretire to come play for us in that #10 position.

[BWFC_Insane]

We need a player or two who take the ball, look at their full back or whatever and can run past them. Get behind teams. That completely changes the dynamic because suddenly Wrexham have to worry about doubling up or defending their box.

We all want such a player. All L1 teams want such players, but these types of players play in higher divisions. We have been after such a player all summer from reports.. McCowan etc.. but they want to play higher up. Our best bet is to find such a premiership young player whose club wants him to get experience in the lower leagues eg. Maghoma and hope they are not a Shoretire to come play for us in that #10 position.

I mean there are plenty but finding a good one at this level is as you say not easy. But it’s not a Maghoma we need. It’s someone who plays out wide, well two really, who we can work out patterns to shift them the ball and isolate them against their defender. Then it’s down to them to beat them or cut inside and shoot or deliver quality. You have Fossey in our side yesterday and it’s a different game. Wrexham would be reliant on stopping him and he would get behind them enough times to make things happen or they have to double up and leave people free. We are trying to play our way through the middle against set sides - it’s not going to work. There was one moment when Mcatee got Charles in behind, but in 90 minutes I think that’s the only meaningful time we turned them round. Should be doing it all the time in those games.

[The_Gun]

Southwood, Desmond, Forino, Morley, Matete and Dempsey all playing for the Bs today. There’s a notable name missing there…

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Southwood, Desmond, Forino, Morley, Matete and Dempsey all playing for the Bs today. There’s a notable name missing there…

You're Gun-ner have to give us a clue. Iredale? Williams? Arfield? Dan?

[The_Gun]

Well Dan stands out to me, unless he’s injured.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Well Dan stands out to me, unless he’s injured.

Fair, but he had a full pre-season so may not need the "minutes". By which rationale, the name that stands out to me from that list is Morley, who was also injury-free in pre-season, unlike Southwood, Forino and Dempsey (with Tutu and Matete presumably in as recent signings, rope-learning).

All outfielders came off at HT, by the way. Demps scored.

[jmjhb]

Never been the biggest fan (or indeed at all), but where is Dan? Is he injured?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Just remembered Morley didn't get *any* minutes v Wrexham, or Orient, and only 63 vs Mansfield so he might just be topping up the legs.

However, Dan didn't get any minutes in any of the three games - wasn't even in the squad for the last two - so with no injury news as I've seen, something must be afoot. Not entirely surprised he doesn't make the 18, but you'd expect him to have played today.

[BWFC_Insane]

Must just be saving the next Ivan Toney’s legs for his premiership move and record breaking 30 top flight goals.

[TANGODANCER]

5-0. Sounds like a scoring for fun game. Nowt wrong with that. I did, by the way, a while ago, suggest Dempsey up front as an alternative.