Caesium137
Well-known member
Them three and sign Giles would be a great window.Stewart, Barlaser and Iqbal would solve the key gaps for me, without overloading ourselves with loanees
Them three and sign Giles would be a great window.Stewart, Barlaser and Iqbal would solve the key gaps for me, without overloading ourselves with loanees
I think this is right on. If you figure that our usual starters are picked from:It's a weird feeling but I'm struggling to see where we need to improve the starting 11.
I can see McNair and Muniz leaving, but they've both been squad players (if you can even call them that) under Carrick anyway.
Howson is one of the first names on the team sheet for me, but he's not getting any younger so we could potentially sign a long term replacement there.
Maybe a winger who can play both sides, as cover for Jones and also a wider option on the left. I've liked McGree in that position but see him as a more central midfielder.
It's not that our first 11 are worldbeaters but replacing any of them with someone better won't be cheap and if you assume we have limited money it's hard to see us spending £5-10m on individual players for a possibly marginal gain.
I disagree Ash , there are 10 teams trying for 4 play off spots , we need to ensure we have the strongest group to win it , and at the moment we would struggle IMO , and MC seems to agree as he has said some players will leave to make way for 3/4 1st team starters .I agree - the only issue we have is if we get 1-2 specific injuries, our bench is light.
If we lost Fry or Lenihan for a couple of weeks, we've got adequate cover in Clarke and McNair/Dijksteel in my opinion.
Smith - Dijksteel, Giles - Bola, Howson/Hackney - Mowatt/McNair, Jones - Crooks, Forss - Watmore/Hoppe...
Howeverrr... If we lost McGree to injury, Watmore is the only positional replacement and he can't play 180 minutes every week, so it means someone would need to play out of position, either Giles (with Bola in at LB), or Forss (with Akpom up front and Crooks in Akpoms role). So we need cover there.
Another one would be Akpom, I can't see us keeping Muniz and Watmore is too similar to Forss to play the Akpom-role. Possibly why we've looked at Stewart.
Good problem to have though - I can't remember the last time we went into a transfer window without thinking we "NEED" a player.
Have you got a link to that? Latest I can find is him saying we're looking for "1, 2 or 3" but only if they're a good fit.I disagree Ash , there are 10 teams trying for 4 play off spots , we need to ensure we have the strongest group to win it , and at the moment we would struggle IMO , and MC seems to agree as he has said some players will leave to make way for 3/4 1st team starters .
McNair , Dijksteel, ( injured ? ) Bola , Luongo , Muniz are the obvious ones who are not being played , so may be moved on to make space for the new lads . Hoppe and CB Munce May also go out on loan . We will soon know .
Sorry festa , I don’t have a link , but I am sure I read they are after 3 , with a possibility of 4 .Have you got a link to that? Latest I can find is him saying we're looking for "1, 2 or 3" but only if they're a good fit.
Which is a bit different from looking for 3/4 first team starters but appreciate things do change. I would be surprised if we were determined to change a third of our starting 11 at this point mind.
no worries.Sorry festa , I don’t have a link , but I am sure I read they are after 3 , with a possibility of 4 .
Might have been the Scott interview?
He also said permanent signings as against loans . A permanent signing will want assurances he will get game time .
I disagree Ash , there are 10 teams trying for 4 play off spots , we need to ensure we have the strongest group to win it , and at the moment we would struggle IMO , and MC seems to agree as he has said some players will leave to make way for 3/4 1st team starters .
McNair , Dijksteel, ( injured ? ) Bola , Luongo , Muniz are the obvious ones who are not being played , so may be moved on to make space for the new lads . Hoppe and CB Munce May also go out on loan . We will soon know .
With jones it’s more about genuine cover on the right rather than competitionWe could do with a winger who can play both flanks to be honest. Not sure why people think Jones needs competition but McGree doesn't! Both have had their good and bad games this season.
Centre mid is the obvious one. Although if Mowatt continues improving perhaps not quite as desperate as it once was, but that's still the priority for me, it's so important to how Carrick wants to play. As well as cover would give us the option of rotating a bit particularly if Howson or Hackney pick up any niggles etc.
I really like the Forss Akpom partnership, I think it's still developing and wouldn't want to disrupt that. If Muniz goes we don't have much cover though. Bringing Coburn back would be the obvious move in that scenario, but it's better for his development playing games, whereas he'd be a benchwarmer here so it's a tricky one.
Agree we don't need to be going daft. I wouldn't lose too much sleep if we signed no-one. Good position to be in, if the right player is available then absolutely we sign them. But we don't need to rolling the dice or making panic buys.
McNair will probably go or dijksteelMcNair is the obvious one. Good rep (a rep enhanced by Warnock, cheers Neil) full international, good age, will expect to be a starter and we'd probably quite like to get him off the wage bill, he'll be one of our biggest earners.
could still have a part to play this year, but he's relying on injuries or suspension really. And probably not in midfield regardless.
Yeah, played a fair bit for N. Ireland there hasn't he? Good delivery too.McNair will probably go or dijksteel
I think if smith got injured McNair would or could demonstrate right back is his best position in this formation
Getting forwards and he has an eye for goal too
Yup….festa. I genuinely think Carrick believes a certain number of on field leaders are a necessity and Smith is much more of a leader than McNair is which is why he is in there. Playing ok or well enough but leadership/motivation is also really important !Yeah, played a fair bit for N. Ireland there hasn't he? Good delivery too.
Right footerWith jones it’s more about genuine cover on the right rather than competition
Agree with your post though 100%
Is pharrell W a right or left footer ? I can’t remember but he’s clearly in Carricks thoughts….