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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 28, 2017 9:41:48 GMT
As we line up for next season we could, or should have a totally new midfield. Part of this will depend on the league that we find ourselves in, but in my opinion:
Vincelot (31) - Hasn't pulled up many trees in midfield. He is maybe "combative" but his passing is quite hit and miss and he seems to make a hash of clearances. He also seems liable to lose his head. At his age he can't be considered part of our long term future and if we were to be promoted, I can't see him being particularly useful in that league. I wouldn't retain him as a CB only, as he is not one.
Law (29) - Neat and tidy but quite ineffectual in my opinion. Yes he can skip around from one side of the field to the other but he seems unable to drive forward. If he could apply his ability to shrug off challenges when running from one side of the pitch to the other but crucially, in the direction of the opposing goal; then he would provide much more value for us. His technique is excellent but he doesn't seem to use it in the best way. He should have scored more goals for us but seems to panic when he does get a chance to shoot.
Cullen (21) - Excellent player who can't shoot. Should also make more forward runs but seems to naturally play as protection for the back 4. He's one I hope does stay but can't really see any reason why he would, unless we go up.
Marshall (29) - Best winger we have had in years, but I fear we may lose him in the summer. It would be madness not to offer him a very good contract, but if the player wants to leave to play down south etc. then there won't be much we can do.
Dieng (25) - Not convinced Dieng is any better than the likes of Gary Liddle. He's not a bad league 1 player, but not great either. In the championship he would go from not bad to not good enough, even though age is on his side.
Devine (19) - Can't really remember much about him now. I would like to reserve judgement on him, but given that he's not been given many chances apart from the first few weeks of the season - it would seem that he's not as close to the first team as some would hope. With his experience, I would highly doubt he would be involved in the first team if we went up.
All in all then, I hope that we see some big signings across the middle of the park for next season. We might manage if we stay in League 1 with the same players but in the championship we'd be exposed badly. As it stands, Vince, Cullen and Dieng seem to be most comfortable as defensive midfielders so wherever we end up, we need more attack minded midfielders who are prepared to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 28, 2017 9:54:29 GMT
Its obvious to say, but so much depends on what division we're in. If we're in the Championship, I can see us signing Cullen. I'd have him as the deeper lying midfield player and look to sign a genuinely attacking midfield player who can get goals from central midfield - we need one of those anyway to be fair. I'd keep Vincelot for his experience and for what he brings to the side in terms of leadership and his ability to play in a couple of positions. I'd let Law and Dieng go and send Devine on loan. So we'd need a couple of extra midfielders too. Marshall might stay if we go up, and I'd take Gillead anyway. But if we go up, we'll need another quality winger too.
If we're in League One, we'll need to replace Cullen, which is going to be tough. I'd actually keep Law, and i'd keep Devine around too. He gets stick but I'd probably keep Dieng too as a squaddie. In short, and hoping we have a few extra quid to play around with, bringing in a cullen replacement and the best attacking midfielder we can find will be key. Marshall would be off and I'd bring in Lloyd Isgrove to replace him. As well as Gillead. and possibly another youngster on loan for cover on both wings. Or a striker who can play wide - maybe Hiwula.
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Post by Attentive Onlooker on Apr 28, 2017 9:59:18 GMT
I wouldn't like to see Hiwula here next season. He's just not good enough and sooooo frustrating to watch. He'd be OK in a mid to lower league 1 club.
We should be either in the Championship or top end L1 next season. Either way we need better than Hiwula.
I'd also look to improve on Dieng. Too often a passenger watching the game pass him by. Vincelot is one for L1 and not the Championship. Can't argue with anything else.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 28, 2017 10:32:57 GMT
I wouldn't like to see Hiwula here next season. He's just not good enough and sooooo frustrating to watch. He'd be OK in a mid to lower league 1 club. We should be either in the Championship or top end L1 next season. Either way we need better than Hiwula. I'd also look to improve on Dieng. Too often a passenger watching the game pass him by. Vincelot is one for L1 and not the Championship. Can't argue with anything else. Fair shouts. The thing for me is that this season we haven't been fair off the top 2 and if we'd had Wyke and Jones from the start I think we'd have gotten it. That said, next season will probably be tougher, looking at the sides coming down from the Championship and coming up from L2. I expect Charlton and Oxford to be stronger too. And we'd almost certainly have to replace Marshall and Cullen if we're still League 1. Key players. Probably Meredith too. If we assume we do that, 2-3 quality additions on top should do it. A centre back, midfielder and striker. Keep Gillead. But even all that is a tough ask. We've got goalscorers now which is a big plus, and replacing Meredith doesn't worry me a huge amount. But replacing Cullen and Marshall will be very tough.
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God
Sparks is a cunt Bantam
Posts: 172
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Post by God on Apr 28, 2017 11:26:06 GMT
I think we'll sign Cullen permanently in the summer.
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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 28, 2017 11:26:51 GMT
I wouldn't like to see Hiwula here next season. He's just not good enough and sooooo frustrating to watch. He'd be OK in a mid to lower league 1 club. We should be either in the Championship or top end L1 next season. Either way we need better than Hiwula. I'd also look to improve on Dieng. Too often a passenger watching the game pass him by. Vincelot is one for L1 and not the Championship. Can't argue with anything else. Yes Hiwula is not the answer. If players like Jones can be picked up for 50k or whatever it was, then I would be looking to go down a similar route rather than loan a player like Hiwula next season. I would say that Hiwula was a panic signing, but then I recall reading something like McCall had been tracking his progress for years (WTF?!) Dieng is at best a squad player in an ambitious league 1 side (as he is now), in the championship he becomes a no hoper.
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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 28, 2017 11:31:26 GMT
I think we'll sign Cullen permanently in the summer. Let's hope so. They should make him captain if he does stay. Even though he is just a young lad he is marshalling the players around him. He's done that from day 1.
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God
Sparks is a cunt Bantam
Posts: 172
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Post by God on Apr 28, 2017 11:34:11 GMT
I think we'll sign Cullen permanently in the summer. Let's hope so. They should make him captain if he does stay. Even though he is just a young lad he is marshalling the players around him. He's done that from day 1. If you watch him after a game he looks like he really likes being here and loves the club and fans. If we had a bid accepted by the hammers I'm sure he'd want to move.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 28, 2017 11:40:12 GMT
Let's hope so. They should make him captain if he does stay. Even though he is just a young lad he is marshalling the players around him. He's done that from day 1. If you watch him after a game he looks like he really likes being here and loves the club and fans. If we had a bid accepted by the hammers I'm sure he'd want to move. One of only two players I can remember acknowledging the fans at Sheff U. Pushed through the crowd to applaud the fans. As 147 says his best position is defensive midfield, sat around the centre circle. It's attacking midfielders we need.
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Post by Ricc on Apr 28, 2017 11:42:07 GMT
I think we'll sign Cullen permanently in the summer. Let's hope so. They should make him captain if he does stay. Even though he is just a young lad he is marshalling the players around him. He's done that from day 1. I agree. I'm as big a Cullen fan as you're likely to find on those terraces. I'd be desperate to get him, but if we stay in League 1 we would struggle I think. he's destined for bigger things. if we go up its a possibility. I think we can move Dieng on - he's not pulled up any trees all season. Vincelot can stay, good for the dressing room and could do a job when called upon, but wouldn't start every week in my Championship first team. need some experience with all the young lads. him and Killa can provide this. I like Law, but needs to be a little more dynamic. more like he was at Rangers, ideally. sign Gillead, I like him, big upside.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2017 9:07:17 GMT
Let's hope so. They should make him captain if he does stay. Even though he is just a young lad he is marshalling the players around him. He's done that from day 1. I agree. I'm as big a Cullen fan as you're likely to find on those terraces. I'd be desperate to get him, but if we stay in League 1 we would struggle I think. he's destined for bigger things. if we go up its a possibility. I think we can move Dieng on - he's not pulled up any trees all season. Vincelot can stay, good for the dressing room and could do a job when called upon, but wouldn't start every week in my Championship first team. need some experience with all the young lads. him and Killa can provide this. I like Law, but needs to be a little more dynamic. more like he was at Rangers, ideally. sign Gillead, I like him, big upside. Apart from Marshall there is a lack of pace in the midfield. In Cullen, Dieng and Vince we have three similar type players, although Josh is the better of the three. I quite like Dieng, i think he offers more of a goal threat than any of the other central players. I think Gillead will sign as will Toner for defensive cover. Interesting to see how we replace Cullen and Marshall if they go, easily our two best players this year.
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Post by Hobhead on Apr 29, 2017 9:30:24 GMT
The thing that strikes me as odd about Cullen is the way he seems to be less attack-minded under McCall than he did under Parkinson.
I'm coming round to the idea that he needs a good attacking centre mid next to him to get the best out of him.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2017 9:40:07 GMT
The thing that strikes me as odd about Cullen is the way he seems to be less attack-minded under McCall than he did under Parkinson. I'm coming round to the idea that he needs a good attacking centre mid next to him to get the best out of him. I thought he looked better with Lee Evans at the side of him, both complemented each other. Cullen is not an attacking midfielder, i prefer to see him in the centre of the pitch where he can dictate play. Left side is definitely a problem, you can't ask Mezza to play a wing back role because he has no end ball at all. Shame we can't have two Mark Marshalls. Funny thing with Marshall, he rightly won the most awards at the POTY do and i've backed him all season, yet there were some fuck nuggets on C & B who, when picking their line ups, did not include him. Truly bewildering.
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Post by Hoochy on Apr 29, 2017 10:54:35 GMT
Where is Evans now?
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2017 10:55:23 GMT
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Post by Nice boy on Apr 29, 2017 11:00:19 GMT
I was impressed with Evans. If we are still in league 1 and Cullen leaves we should try to sign him. He had a decent set piece on him too.
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Post by Hoochy on Apr 29, 2017 12:41:34 GMT
Does he get game for them?
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2017 12:44:28 GMT
Does he get game for them? Got more as the season has gone on.
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Post by Lofty on Apr 29, 2017 12:51:43 GMT
Evans was out injured for a while mid season but he's back in now.
I always rated him above Cullen because, although not as comfortable on the ball, he had a goal threat and a bit of a swagger about him. I'd love to have them both on permanent deals.
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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 29, 2017 14:58:55 GMT
The thing that strikes me as odd about Cullen is the way he seems to be less attack-minded under McCall than he did under Parkinson. I'm coming round to the idea that he needs a good attacking centre mid next to him to get the best out of him. I thought he looked better with Lee Evans at the side of him, both complemented each other. Cullen is not an attacking midfielder, i prefer to see him in the centre of the pitch where he can dictate play. Left side is definitely a problem, you can't ask Mezza to play a wing back role because he has no end ball at all. Shame we can't have two Mark Marshalls. Funny thing with Marshall, he rightly won the most awards at the POTY do and i've backed him all season, yet there were some fuck nuggets on C & B who, when picking their line ups, did not include him. Truly bewildering. There are gompers who sit behind me who think Marshall "shirks his responsibilities" (defensively I presume). Gompers.
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