DutchRover

I did this at the end of the season to take stock of our option going into the year, and note the positions in need of strengthening, and now with two weeks of window to go and a disastrous start to the season I figured we should take stock again. I said then that we needed depth at GK if Pears went, that defence was fine assuming we let no-one go (oops), midfield needed depth behind Trav/Tron, and that we were desperately short in attack/wing after Cantwell/Ohashi/Gueye. Since then, we have disassembled our defence and replaced them with cheaper options, ditto with midfield and done next to nothing to strengthen the attack; a very exciting Gestede summer indeed. Wages down, little re-investment and general weakening across the board. I would also note that I said Derby would outspend us threefold, which they have done pretty much just on the American striker, even before stealing all our players. With that said, lets recap: Goalkeeper: Toth (2027) Michalski (2030) Pears (2027) I am happy enough with Toth as the starter, as I said back in May. Pears we are still trying to offload, and Michalski had a shocking first game. That said, I believe in Michalski and he does deserves more chances, I just hope we get an older English keeper to have on bench if Pears goes. Right Back: Miller (2028) Alebiosu (2028) All change as I feared, losing Brittain is a blow, JRC not so much. I like the look of both the new guys, especially Miller who has a great attitude and lethal long-throw. Worry if he is seen more as a CB because then Montgomery is the third choice and I do not rate him at all. Left Back: Ribeiro (2027) Pickering (2027) Solid if unspectacular, happy enough with the pairing. Centre Back: Hyam (2026) Carter (2027) Wharton (2027) McLoughlan (2027) We are okay at CB for now, but that changes completely if we sell Hyam. Carter is injury prone, Wharton I like but coming off a serious injury. McLoughlan looks a decent Championship player but what is the point on a two-year deal. We need one more here, otherwise Miller ends up playing and that weakens RB, so I guess that's what we'll do... Centre Mid: Tavares (2028) Tronstad (2026) Henriksson (2029) Montgomery (2026) Forshaw (2026) Travis (2026) Buckley (2027) Garrett (2027) I said in May Trav and Tron were a great Championship pairing, so naturally we are trying to get rid of both. Trav will go; Tron less sure but we will not renew at any rate. Forshaw was a complete waste of a panic signing, already injured. Garrett injured and won't make it I think. Buckley we want shot of too, so basically an entirely new midfield. Tavares looks a class player, but I think he needs energy next to him given his more languid style. Henriksson I like the attitude but needs some time to settle in English football. Montgomery as the 3rd/4th choice is terrifying, he is nowhere near good enough, and should be playing a L2 loan at best. We need another CM desperately, preferably a workhorse in the Travis mold. Attacking Mid: Cantwell (2027) Tyjon (2026) Already needed strengthening, and Tyjon not signing makes his place in 1st team pointless until he does. We need a proper back-up to Cantwell who has looked better so far this season. Arguably Henriksson but then we need another CM even more desperately. Right Wing: Hedges (2026) Was already our weakest position, and Dolan/Markanday going just leaves Hedges, who most of us have a fair idea as to his talent. He is a back-up bench guy in my opinion, and we desperately need a Right-Winger to come in and start, as I do not think Henriksson belongs there, and again see issue with depth at CM/AM. Left Wing: Kargbo (2027) De Neve (2028) Kargbo scares defenders but only seems able to play 30 minutes a game, and De Neve I have seen nothing so far to suggest he can start as a winger in Championship. I would say strengthen here but there are already too many other holes to bother. Striker: Ohashi (2027) Gueye (2027) Leonard (2027) Ohashi I like but he needs more support if he's up top alone. Gueye also has useful attributes but forum opinion seems to be turning against him and Ismael is not biggest fan per accounts. Leonard I don't see making it. Need another option here, ideally one to challenge Ohashi as starter, so naturally we will sign someone from the Turkish C tier... Summary: We have not strengthened the squad at all this summer, despite a 7th place finish. Instead we have gutted the spine of the team and filled the self-inflicted holes with cheaper unknown guys in the name of "transition". We have not strengthened the positions we entered the summer needing to, namely RW/LW/ST/AM We desperately need a RW, and I think also a CB, CM, AM, ST, GK and maybe a LW. So at least 5 guys, preferably of starting quality, which seems an impossibility for us. I make 19 registered guys, assuming Michalski, Montgomery and Tyjon are youth, and we sell/unregister those whom I suspect we will (Pears, Trav, Buckley, Garrett). So we have space for 6 new guys, despite Chaddy's protestations, and I think we should use all of that, sadly Gestede is talking of just one in and Pasha would prefer none I suspect.

I think it is the reality for most academy guys at all clubs, very rarely you get an Adam Wharton type who is too good to ignore, but more often the first team has holes (from injury or sales) and the manager chooses a guy who has impressed him in training, not u21s. Whether they sink or swim is up to the player and their ability. Not saying manager won't have been told by academy coaches or watched games himself, but there is a great degree of personal preference and luck involved.

Mulgrew and Downing were quite a pair in that regard

Aside from all the doom and gloom, and the inevitable sale of Trav to Derby, have there been any links with new signings? Any ITKs have a scoop? Departures too for that matter, we won't sign anyone new while Pears, Buckley etc are taking up Pasha's precious wage budget

Sickening that Birmingham, who were in L1 last year, have a strike pairing worth more than our entire squad value.

Tbh its pretty funny that Suhails plan to quell fan unrest at Trav/Tron/Hyam no deals is that we might try re-up Hedges 😄 Or wait, is it a threat 🤔

100% and I don't for a second believe we offered anyone a fair renewal deal

Sad but true, and a small paper like the LT can't afford to lose the minimal access they have, half of Elliots stories are passed on by the club media account anyway, so it's pure propaganda

Henriksson self-describes as an 8, so might see him and Tavares as the midfield duo once Trav and Tronstad are shipped off. God help us with Forshaw and Montgomery as the only other options.

I wonder if when we get relegated Pasha might finally be pushed out, especially with Glen saying its already close. I don't believe Venkys want a relegation, it makes no financial sense due to the lost revenue. Last two times it seems Pasha had this much control were during our relegation from Prem with Jerome, and the Coyle relegation made up of a team of cheap nobodies from across Europe; wait that sounds familiar... Mowbray was able to strong-arm Pasha to side for a bit at least because of the relegation and get Venkys to give him money, so another relegation might provide the same opportunity (not for Gestede urgh) Ultimately, that's scraping barrel for positivity, Venkys need to sell, they just don't care.

No way Cantwell is captain material, and Wharton isn't a guaranteed starter off injury and up against McLoughlan. Tronstad or Hyam are the options, neither of whom are particularly inspiring or vocal leaders.

I miss the days we at least used loans to get guys like Elliot, Van Hecke or Adarabioya

One interesting thing about our squad construction is the contrast between the athletic profiles with no football brain and the football brains who have to try make it work. Cantwell is obviously a talented player but easily frustrated by those around him who can't play on same wavelength and make right run, or who screw up after he's made a play. Off Bradford game Tavares has that as well (yeah I know one game against L2/1 opp), and I think Ohashi too. We need a few more of that profile of player to make it work properly. Tyjon might be that in future; Henriksson maybe once he adapts, but adding Miyoshi would be a big addition I think to help link play, and still have Miller/Alebiosu bombing outside with athleticism. Shame the left side is a workman in Yuri/Pick and a Hedges like De Neve or Kargbo's pace without product.

Dont get the hype for Baradji, he's maybe injured until Jan, nobody seems to actually know, and all people seem to base it on is a youtube compilatipn from Swiss relegation battle. Miyoshi would be a far better signing with Championship and Bundeslifa pedigree, wait that's why it'll be Baradji...

Hopefully, might mean we could get Miyoshi in finally, I can't bear watching Hedges on wing again. Though knowing us, we'll have just told him to bugger off like we did to Siggy; regardless of player it's a scummy way to operate, especially for a younger guy like Mafoumbi who seemed so excited to join last summer.

I've wanted Youan for a while since we were linked to him. I also wanted us to go back for Guebbels if we are poking around Swiss league.

Tronstad is nowhere near as athletic as Travis

Wishful thinking, he is actually a championship quality player so would demand a wage at least what Trav was on, so no savings for Pasha, so ignore and move on to someone cheaper.

Whatever financial shenanigans they are up to, I don't think it would make sense with less revenue/turnover to tinker with. And cutting the budget into oblivion as we drop down divisions would destroy however they are exploiting the asset. Unless they finally wanted to asset strip properly and destroy us completely, rather than just run us on a shoestring and keep revenue ticking over.

Maybe Glen can drop them a message lol

"We made a great offer to Trav" well you clearly didn't and you also pissed off the club captain so much he is desperate to leave. This season is shaping up to be a disaster; thanks for the excitement Rudy... Only slight hope is that the owners finally sell when it goes to sh*t. They won't want relegation again; it creates too big a drop in revenue that they would never make up in cost-cutting. The cuts only work on a championship revenue, but at rate Pasha/Rudy are destroying the squad we won't maintain that.

Oh Pasha will be fumbling for something to distract the "support the lads" types

Pasha says spending doesn't guarantee success, but not spending does guarantee failure. The wage stagnation versus rest of league is what hurts us more than the low transfer fees I think, because we can't keep Championship level players, or even use free transfers.

I said before the game we needed to play 1st team and make a statement, instead we played the kids who weren't ready and now we face Brum off back to back dismal losses.

Pathetic performance for most part, utterly dispiriting for season. Miller and Tavares look good buys but squad is just so barren that I don't think it makes much difference. We will be bottom 3 by Christmas guaranteed