If carlsberg did transfer threads.....This would be it!

[twilight]

is it not fairly likely that we have? reports have already said Nolan has actually been in for talks... they seem to have come to nothing. my guess is we simply cannot afford him (and Lenny is said that he's not quite what we're after).

Lennon said to Marc Iles that no talks have taken place with Nolan.

Nobby must have had a silent meeting when he was in the Director's Box last week then!

[Harry Genshaw]

Carlton Cole

Another from the list of players about whom we were saying "Never in a month of Sundays" not too long ago.

Wouldn't mind him now, would we?!

Carlton Cole is currently training with Celtic.

Agree with general lowering of expectations - I'd give mi left nad for Marlon Harewood right now

[Peter Thompson]

Can't get the criticism of him for the two full-backs (I don't know which one is which). The Spanish LB is a direct replacement for Ream, who we got actual money for, so can hardly be criticised as blowing his wad. Ream going left us with only the up-to-now universally derided Moxey. That Moxey has been turned into soemthing approaching a footballer seems an odd stick to beat Lennon with.

The Italian right-back too was needed given all we have there is a guy who was released by Charlton (and who looks the wobbliest of the current back 4).

So I don't blame him for the full backs.

I remain unconvinced that Dobbie and Heskey were the best use of that cash though.

We need a striker big time. Difference between mid-table oblivion and actual oblivion.

I'm not sure who's having a go at NL over Moxey, because Moxey has been a revelation this season, but Wilson is poor IMO and we need to give Pisano a go asap to see if he's any better.

But as I said we need some leaders / winners on the pitch who will not shrink when the going gets tough...a few nasty bastards, almost every team we play appear to be more physical than us.

[twilight]

Anybody seen this Pisano play, for his old club? Just wondering if this guy is physical or a leader, could be an answer there?

[Prufrock]

He's been getting stick for blowing money on "full-backs we don't need" but the only reason the left-back isn't needed is because Moxey looks less shit. If Moxey was still wank the new lad wouldn't be a full-back we don't need. Seems harsh for NL to be getting stick on that basis. I heard very few voices in July saying we should be banking on Moxey as first choice LB.

We need a striker. So much it hurts. The rest would look a lot better if we looked remotely like scoring.

[BWFC_Insane]

Can't get the criticism of him for the two full-backs (I don't know which one is which). The Spanish LB is a direct replacement for Ream, who we got actual money for, so can hardly be criticised as blowing his wad. Ream going left us with only the up-to-now universally derided Moxey. That Moxey has been turned into soemthing approaching a footballer seems an odd stick to beat Lennon with.

The Italian right-back too was needed given all we have there is a guy who was released by Charlton (and who looks the wobbliest of the current back 4).

So I don't blame him for the full backs.

I remain unconvinced that Dobbie and Heskey were the best use of that cash though.

We need a striker big time. Difference between mid-table oblivion and actual oblivion.

We needed a striker more than full backs when they were signed. Moxey had made a good start, Wilson was decent enough. I don't think we're in a position to have cover for every position. And in the premiership we got away with playing Pedersen at left back. I just felt we spent our few resources on players to bulk out the squad rather than to get the quality up front that would make a real difference.

As it is now with injuries, we need more than one forward and of course that isn't happening.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

How much are Cole and Nolan earning per week right now?

How much is Chris Eagles earning? And he's still in his twenties.

Not that I'm saying we should sign him rather than a striker, just pointing out that footballers won't always just turn out for whoever offers anything.

[LeverEnd]

One new player up front won't improve anything IMO....We have a team who are soft on the pitch, we get bullied and outfought on regular basis - M Davies is a good player but not captain material, we need a captain who will organise and get the players up for it when things aren't going well.

It's yet another disappointing season already....I'd love to be proved wrong and hope I am, but IMO I can't see how it will be much different from the last one. I know Lennon's hands are tied with regards to finance, but I personally thought that he would have made more of a difference than he has so far - I thought that we would by now have had a team in the NL mould, who are tenacious, physical, work hard for 90 mins and are hard to beat but unfortunately we haven't.

I think the right target man would make a difference, but you're right that there's more wrong than that.
As for the rest of it, if Lennon doesn't reinstate Spearing on Saturday he's a stubborn idiot. He should also give him the armband, as Davies is no leader and soesn't have the stomach for the scrap. 2nd half on Saturday made it very clear that Danns should be captain if not Spearing. My other away game at MK Dons showed exactly the same thing.

[BWFC_Insane]

How much are Cole and Nolan earning per week right now?

How much is Chris Eagles earning? And he's still in his twenties.

Not that I'm saying we should sign him rather than a striker, just pointing out that footballers won't always just turn out for whoever offers anything.

Of course. And it probably wouldn't be close to happening with our budget. But I'd like us to try something like that. We keep relying on 90 day loans, probably with a young and unproven striker and its a gamble that long term we can never win with. We are where we are, but I'd prefer us to explore other options first.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I get your point, although it's a bit tricky talking about "long-term" plans when you're advocating thirtysomethings.

[BWFC_Insane]

One new player up front won't improve anything IMO....We have a team who are soft on the pitch, we get bullied and outfought on regular basis - M Davies is a good player but not captain material, we need a captain who will organise and get the players up for it when things aren't going well.

It's yet another disappointing season already....I'd love to be proved wrong and hope I am, but IMO I can't see how it will be much different from the last one. I know Lennon's hands are tied with regards to finance, but I personally thought that he would have made more of a difference than he has so far - I thought that we would by now have had a team in the NL mould, who are tenacious, physical, work hard for 90 mins and are hard to beat but unfortunately we haven't.

I think the right target man would make a difference, but you're right that there's more wrong than that.
As for the rest of it, if Lennon doesn't reinstate Spearing on Saturday he's a stubborn idiot. He should also give him the armband, as Davies is no leader and soesn't have the stomach for the scrap. 2nd half on Saturday made it very clear that Danns should be captain if not Spearing. My other away game at MK Dons showed exactly the same thing.

What midfield would you play? I agree re Spearing, but how would you setup? Davies behind the striker?

[officer_dibble]

If he rushes clayton back and he gets another injury he wants fecking sacking! We have very few saleable assetts and he is one of them!

[BWFC_Insane]

I get your point, although it's a bit tricky talking about "long-term" plans when you're advocating thirtysomethings.

I'd probably sign them till January. But at least we'd have a chance to keep them for the season if it worked out.

We patch things up for a few months then are back to square one. Long term right now is till the end of the season. Nothing is perfect in our position.

[LeverEnd]

One new player up front won't improve anything IMO....We have a team who are soft on the pitch, we get bullied and outfought on regular basis - M Davies is a good player but not captain material, we need a captain who will organise and get the players up for it when things aren't going well.

It's yet another disappointing season already....I'd love to be proved wrong and hope I am, but IMO I can't see how it will be much different from the last one. I know Lennon's hands are tied with regards to finance, but I personally thought that he would have made more of a difference than he has so far - I thought that we would by now have had a team in the NL mould, who are tenacious, physical, work hard for 90 mins and are hard to beat but unfortunately we haven't.

I think the right target man would make a difference, but you're right that there's more wrong than that.
As for the rest of it, if Lennon doesn't reinstate Spearing on Saturday he's a stubborn idiot. He should also give him the armband, as Davies is no leader and soesn't have the stomach for the scrap. 2nd half on Saturday made it very clear that Danns should be captain if not Spearing. My other away game at MK Dons showed exactly the same thing.

What midfield would you play? I agree re Spearing, but how would you setup? Davies behind the striker?

Put Spearing next to danns, allowing him to get up and down a bit when we break, Davies where Dobbie/Clough was in the middle of the 3 behind the striker. Not ideal but better I think. Lennon praised Spearing after the game he got sent off in, unjustly in my book.
Lennon's idea of midfield balance really concerns me.

[LeverEnd]

*The sending off was unjust not the praise!

[BWFC_Insane]

^I agree that would be a better shape. Push the wingers on more and give them licence to get close to the striker.

My only issue with that system is Mark Davies isn't a goal threat and whoever plays there really needs to be. But especially away from home we need more protection in front of the back four.

[Prufrock]

Aye, but none of them are a pissing goal threat, might as well play the ones who can play football!

[thebish]

How much are Cole and Nolan earning per week right now?

How much is Chris Eagles earning? And he's still in his twenties.

Not that I'm saying we should sign him rather than a striker, just pointing out that footballers won't always just turn out for whoever offers anything.

Of course. And it probably wouldn't be close to happening with our budget. But I'd like us to try something like that. We keep relying on 90 day loans, probably with a young and unproven striker and its a gamble that long term we can never win with. We are where we are, but I'd prefer us to explore other options first.

Not sure I get this... you'd like us to try something like something that you think probably isn't close to happening with our budget?

we are where we are! our only realistically possible chance of obtaining a striker who might score enough goals to make it worth it in the position we are now is in the loan market. surely?

[thebish]

One new player up front won't improve anything IMO....We have a team who are soft on the pitch, we get bullied and outfought on regular basis - M Davies is a good player but not captain material, we need a captain who will organise and get the players up for it when things aren't going well.

It's yet another disappointing season already....I'd love to be proved wrong and hope I am, but IMO I can't see how it will be much different from the last one. I know Lennon's hands are tied with regards to finance, but I personally thought that he would have made more of a difference than he has so far - I thought that we would by now have had a team in the NL mould, who are tenacious, physical, work hard for 90 mins and are hard to beat but unfortunately we haven't.

yes. I hoped that too. I don't often (hardly ever) get to games - so I have been looking in the reports of those that go to see if they are describing the performances like this - but, on the whole, they aren't...

early season - folk were (rightly) optimistic cos we were creating shedloads of chances and that's always a good sign... I'm hearing less of that now. Are we creating less too?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Not just the loan market, but the heavily-subsidised loan market. If a young player's any good, we'll have richer teams offering a bigger percentage of his wage, so we have to prove we're a better place to send him - in terms of playing minutes, playing style, good management etc.