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Post by Andrewlang on Jul 31, 2024 15:38:52 GMT
Looks like wingbacks this year so yeah, a central defender is needed if we're still looking to move on Jubril. Though in terms of numbers we have four and the option of Andrew or Digby who can play there so I'm happy enough with that if we've changed our mind on Okedina.
Not sure I'm entirely happy with our LWB options tbh so I might fancy making a move there. Dandrew and Brophy are both excellent players but I feel like they're better suited in different roles.
I don't really know what our attacking set up is at the moment so I'm not sure if we need a striker, a wide player or even cover for Richards as an attacking midfielder the most...though I've seen McConnell play various positions across midfield and in wide areas so I think I'm quite happy leaving those positions to be covered by him.
Give me three more players and I'm happy.
Andrew
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lesj
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,717
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Post by lesj on Jul 31, 2024 18:52:25 GMT
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imp566
Cult hero
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Post by imp566 on Jul 31, 2024 20:14:24 GMT
'Budget limitations' - probably tells you how much we had to shell out to bring in Gardner and Smith. Seems like we will be looking for young loanees to make up the squad.
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Post by martinjohn on Aug 4, 2024 9:48:34 GMT
Done some number crunching:
We are now a smaller club, relative to the other teams in the division, than our previous 3 seasons in League One. On paper, this will be our hardest season.
2021/22: finished 14th, 16th largest attendance 2022/23: finished 20th, 17th largest attendance 2023/24: finished 18th, 17th largest attendance
This season, I expect us to have the 20th largest attendance (with Crawley, Burton, Stevenage and Wycombe beneath us).
I think Shrewsbury may get bigger average crowds than us this season as we've limited away tickets. Great idea, which I back, but unless our home gates grow considerably, I think we're going to notice a clear dip in average attendances.
The only other teams in our 'mini league' are Exeter and Northampton, who averaged between 120-170 larger crowds than us last season.
Football can be unpredictable - look at Wycombe a few seasons ago and Stevenage last season. But I think this season's going to be a very bumpy ride. If we can survive this season it'll be the biggest achievement yet since getting back to League One.
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Post by Andrewlang on Aug 4, 2024 10:45:22 GMT
Crowd size is as good a measure for what we face in this league as anything, added to that is that in Wycombe and Burtons we have two sides with larger budgets than us so....yeah, bumpy ride I should imagine.
In Crawley (lost almost the entire eleven from Wembley), Shrewsbury (budget cuts, poor window, lost their best player), Northampton (have stood still a little too much as we did in our second season and I see them having a similar season), Mansfield (not really strengthened the league 2 side significantly), Burtons (feels like a really random window with a stupid amount of players signed of varying quality), Exeter (fairly uninspiring side and manager), Stevenage (no Evans and they'll probably drop off considerably this year), Orient (lost some good players). Brovers (depends how quickly they fire Matt Taylor) and Reading (Good side but they're still in a mess) we have plenty of teams within our mini-league to make it interesting....4 from 11 is probably generous but those are the teams I'd target.
I'd maybe throw Wrexham into our mini-league too...though I suspect they'll be one of the Schroedinger clubs that don't belong in the top 8-10 or the bottom 8-10. It's an odd thing to say about a manager who has back to back promotions but I don't really rate Parkinson and think he'll get found out in a more level playing field.
Andrew
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Post by flouncingarburyboy on Aug 4, 2024 13:06:04 GMT
Crowd size is as good a measure for what we face in this league as anything, added to that is that in Wycombe and Burtons we have two sides with larger budgets than us so....yeah, bumpy ride I should imagine. In Crawley (lost almost the entire eleven from Wembley), Shrewsbury (budget cuts, poor window, lost their best player), Northampton (have stood still a little too much as we did in our second season and I see them having a similar season), Mansfield (not really strengthened the league 2 side significantly), Burtons (feels like a really random window with a stupid amount of players signed of varying quality), Exeter (fairly uninspiring side and manager), Stevenage (no Evans and they'll probably drop off considerably this year), Orient (lost some good players). Brovers (depends how quickly they fire Matt Taylor) and Reading (Good side but they're still in a mess) we have plenty of teams within our mini-league to make it interesting....4 from 11 is probably generous but those are the teams I'd target. I'd maybe throw Wrexham into our mini-league too...though I suspect they'll be one of the Schroedinger clubs that don't belong in the top 8-10 or the bottom 8-10. It's an odd thing to say about a manager who has back to back promotions but I don't really rate Parkinson and think he'll get found out in a more level playing field. Andrew I enjoyed that analysis Andrew - it's added to my excitement as we build up to Saturday. I think you could be right about Wrexham and I also wonder how Stockport will fare. According to some of their forum posters they're currently carrying 11 (!) squad injuries although judging by their summer recruitment and use of Premier League/Championship loans, I thought they'd done some good business in preparation for life in League One. I guess we'll soon see. Can't wait for the season to begin - I really don't want to spend another Saturday feigning interest in pommel horses.
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malotru
Youth team star
Posts: 1,685
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Post by malotru on Aug 5, 2024 6:50:21 GMT
NTT20 podcast has us to go down in 21st along with Crawley, Shrewsbury and Stevenage.
We’re doomed. DOOMED!!!
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Post by joeaustin on Aug 5, 2024 9:00:27 GMT
Where’s the season prediction thread?! I haven’t seen anyone who thinks we will stay up yet, come on happy clappers make us believe!!
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Brophypants
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What are you doing with my badge? :(
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Post by Brophypants on Aug 5, 2024 10:15:38 GMT
Where’s the season prediction thread?! I haven’t seen anyone who thinks we will stay up yet, come on happy clappers make us believe!! We'll finish 16th. Some of the big boys won't be as strong as they think. Some of last year's surprise packages will come back down to Earth. Some of the usual mid-table makeweights will find themselves looking over their shoulder at the relegation fight. This is almost definitely a harder division. But we've got a good manager, some promising players, more backing than we've ever had. The difference between 16th and 22nd will be minimal. With just a little good luck (or a little less bad luck), we could be top of that little mini-league.
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Post by El Goodo on Aug 5, 2024 10:22:22 GMT
I think it's going to be very tight in the middle of the league this season, with not very many points separating 10-24. Would be surprised if there was a big cutting adrift beyond 23rd and 24th, and even that I don't think is certain.
If we can be consistent then we should be OK, but I think we'll get off to slow start this season – amid fitness issues, an incomplete squad as yet, and style change bedding in – which will bring no small amount of anxiety, handwringing and pressure.
I'm expecting the first messageboard meltdown in mid-Sep when we're sitting 23rd on 4 points from 7 games.
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Post by martinjohn on Aug 5, 2024 10:28:58 GMT
Where’s the season prediction thread?! I haven’t seen anyone who thinks we will stay up yet, come on happy clappers make us believe!! oh go on... I'll do it.
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Post by flouncingarburyboy on Aug 6, 2024 12:46:02 GMT
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Post by El Goodo on Aug 6, 2024 12:51:26 GMT
Such an informed and in-depth write-up from Brewin there that he's credited Monk with the signing of Morrison.
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Post by flouncingarburyboy on Aug 6, 2024 12:52:07 GMT
He he: you beat me to it!
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Post by El Goodo on Aug 6, 2024 12:54:34 GMT
Not that I think Fisher's much better, but he is more knowledgeable than Brewin.
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