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Post by hookycrooky on Jun 26, 2024 19:14:00 GMT
Arbury boy makes an excellent point. Had we released SK, JB, and EK we’d have been left with Digby, an, imo, unwanted Cousins, long term injured Thomas and the 3 transfer listed players in the wide and middle areas of the pitch. (Hoddle and McConnell prob not seen as starters just yet) the budget will only stretch so far. We desperately need that creative midfielder and at least 2 strikers. Those 3 players alone will take up a fair chunk of the budget. Also now need a GK, which is as crucial as the other positions mentioned. The 3 that have re signed can all do a job, they’ve proven that, could we do better? Possibly, but we could also do a lot worse. Think it was imp who said- better the devil you know. Monk has chosen that route, right now I can understand and agree with why he’s done it. GK Watts Creative CM Striker That’s the spine of the team, getting those signings right will determine what sort of season we have, not whether retaining or releasing the 3 mentioned was right or wrong. I expect some loan players the keeper is one if the rumours are correct the club that wants it's players to get experience then we are unlikely to be paying much for them to be with us.
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Post by cuoutside on Jun 26, 2024 20:34:38 GMT
Bar Mannion, Monk has managed to keep the players he trusted when he came in, so from that point of view it’s a good start to the core of the squad. The key now is to bring in the missing pieces that will be starters in midfield and up front.
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Post by blockcboy on Jun 27, 2024 7:19:07 GMT
Oh dear, Cousins. Seems we are trying to re-sign a lot of last seasons failures. (I say failures in the larger context of failing to secure our future in Lge 1 before the last game of season) Couldn't we have found a way to get rid of ball watcher Digby ? Hope we can freshen up with a few more signings next week.
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Post by El Goodo on Jun 27, 2024 7:26:28 GMT
Couldn't we have found a way to get rid of ball watcher Digby ? Hope we can freshen up with a few more signings next week. Yes, we could have transfer-listed him like we did with Simper, Okedina & Lankester. But we didn't because Monk wants to keep him.
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cambsno
Youth team star
Posts: 1,185
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Post by cambsno on Jun 27, 2024 8:07:29 GMT
Very underwhelmed - as people have said, we have survived on last day of season twice in a row (although last season IIRC there were only 2 results out of 25 odd that would have seen us drop so were pretty safe) - but some of these players were very average last season (EK, SK) and some have been very average for more than that (JB).
Granted, didn't Leicester have pretty much the same team when they won the league as they had the previous year? But I do think that having much the same team will see a similar set of performances to last year but in a tougher league. We need a proper creative CM, a top CAM and at least 2 strikers, possibly 3. And if we persist with Brophy we need to be getting a 20 or 25 goal a season striker - if we have a 10-15 one we need other players like wingers to weigh in with goals and that will not happen with him!
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joe77
On trial
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Post by joe77 on Jun 27, 2024 8:17:04 GMT
Very underwhelmed - as people have said, we have survived on last day of season twice in a row (although last season IIRC there were only 2 results out of 25 odd that would have seen us drop so were pretty safe) - but some of these players were very average last season (EK, SK) and some have been very average for more than that (JB). Granted, didn't Leicester have pretty much the same team when they won the league as they had the previous year? But I do think that having much the same team will see a similar set of performances to last year but in a tougher league. We need a proper creative CM, a top CAM and at least 2 strikers, possibly 3. And if we persist with Brophy we need to be getting a 20 or 25 goal a season striker - if we have a 10-15 one we need other players like wingers to weigh in with goals and that will not happen with him! Agreed. I don't see us signing two more midfielders, though. Definitely need more creativity in there, so would like to think we'd get one, but can't see us getting two more, bearing in mind the players we have given new contracts to and that there's no guarantees that the transfer listed players will find new clubs.
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danboyb
Youth team regular
Posts: 708
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Post by danboyb on Jun 27, 2024 8:21:27 GMT
If we’re still in this position in a months time then I’ll be a little concerned. People moaning about the 3 that have re signed (+ Digby not being transfer listed) saying it’s the same team that struggled etc, yet they’re probably the same ones delighted at the signing of Gibbons.
Let’s just have a bit of trust and belief that Monk knows what he’s doing and we will start the season stronger than we finished last season in terms of personnel.
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pgtips (lurid)
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Scattered thoughts, but thoughts nonetheless
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Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: 2-0 Vs Pish 22/23
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Post by pgtips (lurid) on Jun 27, 2024 8:32:44 GMT
I'm glad we aren't disrupting the squad too much. You can't change everyone, nor did we need to. I'm pretty pleased at retaining Kachunga and Kaikai as they contributed pretty well, as the record shows.
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Post by Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage on Jun 27, 2024 8:37:44 GMT
Of all the criticisms of Digby I'm surprised you'd go for ball watcher.
I'm enjoying the shift from, we have a good team we just need the manager not be negative, to we will be fine with a new manager, to we need to throw the whole squad in the bin and improve every position.
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joe77
On trial
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Post by joe77 on Jun 27, 2024 8:46:17 GMT
Always admire the eternal optimism and smile at the effort that the eternal optimists will go to in attempting to shut down any criticism of the club whatsoever.
But after narrowly avoiding relegation for the last two seasons, I don't think the points others are raising about squad building are unfounded.
All about opinions and if everybody agreed all the time, the discussions would be pretty dull.
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Post by El Goodo on Jun 27, 2024 8:55:41 GMT
Always admire the eternal optimism and smile at the effort that the eternal optimists will go to in attempting to shut down any criticism of the club whatsoever. But after narrowly avoiding relegation for the last two seasons, I don't think the points others are raising about squad building are unfounded. All about opinions and if everybody agreed all the time, the discussions would be pretty dull. ... is Dan responding to your post with his opinions not part of how discussions work rather than "attempting to shut down any criticism of the club whatsoever"?
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Post by Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage on Jun 27, 2024 9:08:13 GMT
Joe has been here 5 minutes and already shutting the debate down. Welcome.
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imp566
Cult hero
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Post by imp566 on Jun 27, 2024 9:41:55 GMT
Couple of things I picked up there, genuine feel good spirit around the players we saw, including welcoming new boy when he walked in, always help to settle people down and join in the banter. Preview of squad numbers for next season maybe? Kachunga seems a really likeable and liked character. Good to see Thomas there, like others have mentioned, with his injury, the thought was he would have a lonely few months recuperating.
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danboyb
Youth team regular
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Post by danboyb on Jun 27, 2024 10:11:12 GMT
Always admire the eternal optimism and smile at the effort that the eternal optimists will go to in attempting to shut down any criticism of the club whatsoever. But after narrowly avoiding relegation for the last two seasons, I don't think the points others are raising about squad building are unfounded. All about opinions and if everybody agreed all the time, the discussions would be pretty dull. I’m not trying to shut anyone down. Just not agreeing with the sense of gloom that seems to be building amongst some. I’m more worried about the fact we haven’t signed one or two more, makes me think that we’ve likely missed out on a few potential signings. But I’m “optimistic” that things will look a lot different in a few weeks. The signings we need to make haven’t changed cos of 3 players signing on again. It just means we have a little extra to spend on holes that need filling. Holes left by the departures of Bonne and Taylor should be easier to fill (in terms of upgrades) than one’s left by KaiKai, Kachunga and Brophy. Whether we can suitably fill the gap that Ahadme has left is the main concern.
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Andrewlang
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Post by Andrewlang on Jun 27, 2024 10:28:36 GMT
I'm not seeing too much doom tbh. 'Underwhelmed' is quite a middle of the road reflection to an as yet unfinished project i'd say. It'd be crazy to be too negative about a side that's several signings away from being finished and probably just as loco to get too excited about it until the squad is in place.
There's just way too many unknowns to form any kind of a strong opinion, right? We don't even know what formation we're going to play...as much as I loved everything about Bonnner and feel grateful to him for stabilising us in this league for 2.5 years I must admit I quite like heading into the unknown under Monk.
Andrew
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