Pre-season 2025

[BWFC_Insane]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

You’re right. Schumacher went on to say, Conway has got talent and he’s one where it’s worth putting the time in with him.
I’m thinking Taylor will probably start at LB and Max will be understudy. I can’t see another LB coming in now.

Taylor looks a decent player but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB. I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be.

[Prufrock]

Agree, strongly disagree, agree (though he's as much a winger as he is a full back) - in that order

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree, strongly disagree, agree (though he's as much a winger as he is a full back) - in that order

Ok so on Tutu maybe I’m wrong - maybe he can be a full back. I guess I’m questioning his defensive ability a bit but perhaps that’s unfair as we’ve not seen him tested enough there and maybe as per Conway we can work on that. I guess he was last season the only player we had who could reliably beat his man but that doesn’t look the case now so perhaps on reflection I was a bit hasty in that view.

[TonyDomingos]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

Sorry. 20 years working for the Department of Education turned me into a bore.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

Sorry. 20 years working for the Department of Education turned me into a bore.

We love you, Tony.

FWIW, I agree with BWFCi's drift re Conway's chances, and that Inwood is doing himself a power of good. I still think we might see a more experienced player come in for the crunch opening games - either the semi-mythical Leader Currently In Exile or 'just' a Johnno/Toal, Forino/Toal type of partnership. But young Sam is doing well and staking a strong claim.

[Frank Drebin]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

You’re right. Schumacher went on to say, Conway has got talent and he’s one where it’s worth putting the time in with him.
I’m thinking Taylor will probably start at LB and Max will be understudy. I can’t see another LB coming in now.

Taylor looks a decent player but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB. I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be.

It was something Schumacher said re Taylor. Rich Taylor is working hard and developing as a LB for us. Maybe it’s because funds need diverting to number nine(s) and it’s a case of needs must.

[The_Gun]

I agree that it sounds as though Schuey is leaning towards a rotation of Taylor and Conway at left back. On the basis of what I have seen thus far in pre-season, I am not against this at all.

On Inwood, I would still be of the mind to send him out on loan unless Forrester is going to depart. I had previously suggested National League would be realistic, but evidence is now pointing towards him being ready to start at League Two level. Regardless, he needs to be given a new contract, otherwise whatever he does this season could end up being irrelevant for us in the long term.

[truewhite15]

It's noteworthy that in both pre-season games thus far, Schumacher has played with one right footer and one left footer at CB, with a dedicated RB/LB and inverted wingers. Clearly a system at work. And with only two left footed centre backs available to us (three if you count Taylor) then it's clear that we'd want a small amount of recruitment back there if people are going to go. If Inwood goes on loan, for example, Taylor becomes one of the two CB options for that position, which means we need another LB.

[Frank Drebin]

I agree that it sounds as though Schuey is leaning towards a rotation of Taylor and Conway at left back. On the basis of what I have seen thus far in pre-season, I am not against this at all.

On Inwood, I would still be of the mind to send him out on loan unless Forrester is going to depart. I had previously suggested National League would be realistic, but evidence is now pointing towards him being ready to start at League Two level. Regardless, he needs to be given a new contract, otherwise whatever he does this season could end up being irrelevant for us in the long term.

Yep, the loan of Conway to Crewe seems to have worked out well for him and us. Sending Inwood out at this stage on loan seems sensible.

[BWFC_Insane]

I agree that it sounds as though Schuey is leaning towards a rotation of Taylor and Conway at left back. On the basis of what I have seen thus far in pre-season, I am not against this at all.

On Inwood, I would still be of the mind to send him out on loan unless Forrester is going to depart. I had previously suggested National League would be realistic, but evidence is now pointing towards him being ready to start at League Two level. Regardless, he needs to be given a new contract, otherwise whatever he does this season could end up being irrelevant for us in the long term.

All depends on money available doesn’t it? If we have the ability to get the strikers we need and another left sided centre half better than Inwood then sure. But I don’t know if realistically we do.

We also have to factor in needing a midfield player if Thomason goes and we would need one - he would be a starter for me in this system based off last night

The system is much better and it’s also pretty clear how Schumacher sees players fitting in. Big gaps up top obviously but also potentially in midfield in terms of ability to cover the pitch and offer protection to the back four.

[The_Gun]

I would assume that Johnston would still be the starter at left centre back, but there's a chance that Inwood is impressing so much that he will be given a chance.

What I wouldn't want to see is Sam being a back-up and only playing regularly in the cups - I think his development would be served much better through being a starter a level down.

[Worthy4England]

Agree, strongly disagree, agree (though he's as much a winger as he is a full back) - in that order

Fcuk me, I'm confused.

Is it

"Taylor looks a decent player" - Agree
"but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB." - Strongly disagree
"I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be." - Agree

Or is it

"Taylor looks a decent player but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB." - which case I agree with your agree else I think I disagree with your strongly disagree, because I agree.

"I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three" - Is this strongly disagree bit? In which case, I think I disagree with your strongly disagree.

"and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be." - I think no one is going to bet on disagree here - so I think we all agree, unless you disagree?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I would assume that Johnston would still be the starter at left centre back, but there's a chance that Inwood is impressing so much that he will be given a chance.

What I wouldn't want to see is Sam being a back-up and only playing regularly in the cups - I think his development would be served much better through being a starter a level down.

I can see a world where he's not first choice but plays regularly – maybe not in the top-six games, but every cup game and lower-table opponent. While it's harder to 'rotate' centre-backs than other positions, I suspect Schuey would be delighted to judiciously blood him. But then again, what 'judiciously' means can depend on events.

If you think back to early last season, Johnston was supposed to be re-introduced gradually after his year off - but with Forrester's freak-fall toe injury, Toal's thigh, Gethin's knee and Iredale's sale – not to mention Johnno's indomitable attitude - he only missed one game before Christmas week. (That game was Bolton 0-4 Huddersfield.) And of course as Evatt's world collapsed he was less likely to take risks. It's not impossible this time that if we don't have a brilliant August, the gaffer might 'play it safe' rather than expose the youngsters.

Note that while Schuey clearly has a plan (as per TW15's description - right-foot/left-foot CB partnership; FBs, inc Tutu, push on past inverted wingers) he's also happy to tweak the personnel within it - giving Conway chance to shine and things to learn; playing Taylor at LB when we were clearly targeting others; therefore giving Inwood more chances at LCB.

It's to Schuey's credit that he's giving Conway and Inwood the chance to step in/up, and to their credit that they're taking it. How that shapes up when the real bullets start flying, we can't yet know - but right now it definitely feels like the only big must-fill hole is at No.9, and all efforts/cash should be focused there.

[jmjhb]

Absolutely fine with Inwood getting games but we don't need the quantity of centre-backs we currently have in that case.

[truewhite15]

Another observation. In neither of the two (streamed) pre-season games thus far has McAtee played as the lone striker we appear to be setting up for. He's come on as the #10, behind first Daeshon Lawrence and then Charlie Warren. Admittedly, he did play a short amount of time alongside Lawrence vs the Pirates, but eventually dropped deeper.

Abundantly obvious that we need at least 1 more out-and-out striker, and Schumacher is making that clear as day to the board.

I forget - how far away is Dempsey? I know that Forrester and Dalby were left behind as the squad jetted off to Marbella, but I don't remember Dempsey being mentioned as unincluded...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Absolutely fine with Inwood getting games but we don't need the quantity of centre-backs we currently have in that case.

I suspect a bid for Forrester would be eagerly entertained, even from a promotion rival. Barring possibly Taylor, I'd guess they're all available at the right price, but perhaps Forrester more than most.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

how far away is Dempsey? I know that Forrester and Dalby were left behind as the squad jetted off to Marbella, but I don't remember Dempsey being mentioned as unincluded...

Lumped into "long-term" with Adeboyejo. Months rather than weeks.

[Prufrock]

Agree, strongly disagree, agree (though he's as much a winger as he is a full back) - in that order

Fcuk me, I'm confused.

Is it

"Taylor looks a decent player" - Agree
"but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB." - Strongly disagree
"I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be." - Agree

Or is it

"Taylor looks a decent player but I’m a bit concerned if we see him as first choice LB." - which case I agree with your agree else I think I disagree with your strongly disagree, because I agree.

"I’m also concerned that Tutu is being played at RB when I think he’s far better in the front three" - Is this strongly disagree bit? In which case, I think I disagree with your strongly disagree.

"and Schon is being played as a winger that he very very clearly never is or never will be." - I think no one is going to bet on disagree here - so I think we all agree, unless you disagree?

Yes.





(It's the latter one. JOT is a full back in a 433. He did "ok" on the wing last year because he can run, and he's not Schon, and we had no-one else. But he's a full back (albeit an attacking one)).

[Worthy4England]

Yeah - agree with that bit.

The other bit about Taylor being LB, I could certainly see that, but then I'd want someone in CB who knows how central defending works (unless they coach differently to what we saw last season)....First couple of games I'm a little more hopeful we're seeing some structure and impressing that winning the ball is a good thing....

[BWFC_Insane]

Yeah - agree with that bit.

The other bit about Taylor being LB, I could certainly see that, but then I'd want someone in CB who knows how central defending works (unless they coach differently to what we saw last season)....First couple of games I'm a little more hopeful we're seeing some structure and impressing that winning the ball is a good thing....

Structure and secondly you aren’t sitting there thinking - how do we get up the pitch quickly. There are options.

I don’t know if this team or squad or whatever one we end up with will be good enough to go up. I really don’t. There are big question marks. But at least the template I feel is right. We can add quality in but if you are trying to do so with a flawed plan it’s always problematic.

This feels much more like ‘ok we might be a striker short but if we get one….’ Than ‘well we need a hell of a striker as we are going to ship a lot the other way too’.