Walton

JRC, Nyambe, Lenihan, Grayson

     Travis, Dack, Johnson

  Brereton, Gallagher, Armstrong

3 hours ago, Atko's Engine said:

Well if the aim of friendlies is to build confidence by beating teams and build fitness by giving all players good game time, then it would appear to have been successful, albeit against inferior opposition (perhaps Rangers aside). 

If it is to put into practise a change in our style of play, then again it would appear to have been successful from what I've read from those who've attended.  We seem to be quite fluid & less reliant on a long ball up to DG to hold up/knock down.

If it's to finalise a first 11 to start the season with, then almost undoubtedly it's been less successful.  I'm not at all confident about the defence (as it stands) which I think we all agree seems no stronger than last season personnel wise, despite what TM said which is disappointing. That said, it's possible that with better midfield protection & ball retention we could become more game savvy & thus avoid 3 or 4 away drubbings (which in my view distorted our record massively last season) as well as avoid conceding late goals. TM though will lose (has lost?) face with many (me included) by not getting in at least one specialised & experienced CB.  I still think he will, but that's perhaps more blind hope than tangible confidence.

Going forward, I think we're well stocked with exciting options, so credit where it's due there. There's pace, power & trickery with any number of combinations in midfield & up front, and I think we'll give opponents much to think about in that sense.  BB especially should get huge confidence from his pre-season goal return, what an asset he could be.

I expect outgoings will be Smallwood, Nuttall, JRC & Grayson (probably all on loan), MacGloire too if 1 or 2 new CBs arrive. Buckley & Butterworth to stick around at least until January, see if they can have an impact as starters in league cup games and in Championship games off the bench. Johnson's promotion could have a huge impact there.

I'm giving the window 6 out of 10 so far. 2 more signings could make it 8 or 9; please Tony, Steve, Venkys, give us that chance to really push for it this season, it could be very exciting.

JRC and Grayson to stay also imo. Grayson as left back cover.

Norwich moved from 15th to 1st, don't see why we can't make the top 6. I have invested heavily on us at 12/1 for promotion. After all we have great young players that competed at an extremely high level last year. Wouldn't swap our attacking options for any teams. And I really like the midfield pairing of Travis and Johnson. Defence is our weakness, but we have plenty of options. Johnson's heading ability, and Gallagher and Walton's height should help us defend set pieces. 

Would like us to sign Mark Bunn and Martin Skirtyl (not sure how to spell his name, but my mate loved him at Liverpool).

I think today's line up will be interesting indeed. Would like to see a back four of JRC, Nyambe, Lenihan & Bell (as Hart is injured) 

For me we should move on Smallwood, Mulgrew. Evans reads the game well and Williams played well at CB at the end of the season so no problems with them staying. We do need a big experienced Centre back imo. I don't see any point in signing the City lad; plenty of young talent here.

Couldn't be more positive about the season ahead. ?

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Maybe the lad hasn't got it and isn't good enough - just like Brereton, IMO.

Given Wharton's been in and around the first team squad for 3 years or more now, I feel he should have been given more opportunity.  If it's felt he's not good enough, why the feck give him a new contract?  It should be simple enough even for the likes of Mowbray and Waggott who, IMO, demonstrate by the day/week/month they are not up to the job.  

Brereton is looking brilliant, perhaps you would be better served giving our young players some support.

He is our top striker this pre season. 

16 minutes ago, Mellor Rover said:

Bennett is fucking shit. Sorry. If there was a nuclear holocaust that wiped out 80% of the UK I’d still be disappointed if he found his way into our squad.

Bennett is an 100 percenter that would play anywhere; a fantastic squad player. He and Downing will be excellent substitutes for us. 

51 minutes ago, DE. said:

Unfortunately mate we've been here before. Under Bowyer we had Rhodes and Gestede firing in 20+ goals a season, supplied by the likes of Conway, Marshall and King. We even had Hanley and Duffy at CB which most would see as a decent enough Championship pairing. Unfortunately in Bowyer's case his blind spot was CM, where we had the likes of Evans, Lowe, Williamson, etc slowing us down, and RB where it was Lowe, Kane, Henley, and so on. Not to mention GK as if Robbo wasn't available we were playing the likes of Jake Kean and Simon Eastwood.

It seems like we always have a part of the team hugely unbalanced, undoing the good work done by the rest of the team. It's very frustrating. I agree that we really aren't that far away. I still think we need a LB alongside a CB, but it looks like we'll get neither and once again a lack of balance is likely to hinder our efforts in the coming season. 

I think a big part of Bowyer's problem was always sticking with Rhodes. Our best performances under Gary where in the cup when Gestede and King were partnered together. Rhodes is a fine finisher but doesn't have a great deal more to his game. And now we have a lot of fantastic young players coming through, and some very astute signings by Tony. Tony knows we need an experienced CB; hopefully we secure a good one very soon.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

These youngsters have impressed in a few pre season friendlies against lower league opposition, which is a massive difference from doing it week in week out in the Championship. JRC won't be getting a game at full back whilst Elliott Bennett is fit. In fact of these half a dozen youngsters I would be surprised if any of them get much regular first team football for us this season. Mid table at best this season for us.

This youngsters also performed amazingly well in the U23 at the top level. 

Tony has already spoke of Hart staying to fight for his place. JRC, Dan Butt, and Buckley should be in the shake up here too. And Tony has spoken of our exciting attacking options. Having a skilled fullback who can cross a ball is a big plus. ?

11 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Whilst we still have the same defence that shipped 69 goals last season then we are no better off.

We are way better off. Having half a dozen young players ready to play a part for us this year; 2 at least in defence. And a keeper that won't disappear under a load of bodies when the ball comes in the box.

Really disappointed about Hart's injury. He and JRC are big players for us at fullback this year and will be a big part of the expansive football Tony wishes to play.

Need a big experienced Centre back though. But haven't been this excited for a season to begin in a decade. ?

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

All speculation so far. We do have the youngest squad in the league to be fair. So I think that ties in with Johnsons strengths. 

Of those only Buckley and Butterworth could realistically breakthrough this year. I suppose the weigh up is keep them around and give them cameos or send them to league 1 to play 30 games plus. Need to make sure the loan move is the right one though. 

 

Hart and JRC should be our first choice fullbacks imo. 

Hopefully Tony will be a bit braver this year. 

Think plenty is in place for our promotion push. Just need an experienced Centre back imo, and maybe Mark Bunn as backup GK.

I see no need for any winger; we have a stack of young attacking players of our own.

Downing and Gallagher would be a great couple of subs to bring on in the last 20 mins if we need to change the game.

9 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Never ceases to amaze me. Sam Hart is nowhere near good enough for what we need. Makes me laugh when after ok performances against non league Barrow and 4th division Mansfield that he's now considered to be a realistic option at full back in the Championship. Some never learn. 

We're so determined to avoid investing in proven quality in defence that he is now seen as a contender for the team. Frightening.

I think if we had played some semi-decent opposition pre season he might have been exposed a bit more. 

He looked excellent in the games I saw him play for Southend, and is clearly our best Left back.

Walton is much bigger than Raya, and is fantastic technically, the way he pushes shots around the post so they don't go back into play. Maybe needs a bit of work on commanding the area. But he's a signing I'm happy with. Not so sure about the young Man City defender though. 

He's a big strong lad is all. Tony wouldn't play him if his fitness level was so bad. Gonna be great having a Midfielder who is strong in the air. ?

Indeed BB played well against Rangers when he came on. It's a big season for him. Hopefully he adds to the 2 pre season goals he scored in the next couple of friendlies.