We had a player last season who was a 10 and a 9 in one, two genuine talents on loan and a fit MgGree which makes us a little judgmental of players in these areas of the pitch.
This season we have a lad who was playing the equivalent of L2 last season in Silvera, Rogers who was average in a poor team at Blackpool and Greenwood who hasn't had a consistent position or long spell at a club in some time. The same can be said of the left back position and in central midfield in all honesty.
They're all going to have aspects to their game which led to us signing them and when they shine we feel they're great business, when they don't then they just don't compare to what we have had available last season.
If we'd spent 25m on Archer and Ramsey in the summer we would have had expectations of being in and around that top two, if they'd have shown the levels of consistency that Rogers and Lath are showing we'd be giving them pelters in those performances and then singing their praises the next time they turned it on.
The hope is clearly that after a full season at a higher level, with better players, against better players, that enough of these lads improve and/or showcase themselves enough to make for better long-term financial investments for the club.
I think we've been chronically unlucky not to have Smith, Lenihan, O'Brien, McGree and Forss fit as with those lads added to the first team squad we might have seen the other lads develop a little more consistency.
-------------Dieng --------------
Smith -- Rav -- Lenihan -- Engel
-----O'Brien --- Hackney -------
Jones --- Greenwood ---- Mcgree
------------Latte Lath-------------
Now you could prefer Bangura in at full back for pure pace, Fry for experience or McNair for composure at centre half, Dijk at fullback for those little triangles we create down the right.
You could prefer Howson in for O'Brien or even for Greenwood and push Hackney further forward. Barlaser is struggling to get in there yet stats seem to show his importance in starting moves for us.
You might be a big fan of Crooksy and his knack of getting the best out of Jones and being in the right place at the right time.
Perhaps you think Rogers is better in the hole for turning teams or Forss is better in the first half before Jones scares a tired fullback to death in the last half hour.
Big Josh could be a better bet than Lath if we want to bully some centre halves, Lath could even drop into a deeper role if we're feeling confident.
However, we haven't been afforded these options and the new lads have been under immediate pressure to perform at a level they haven't previously in their careers and maybe never will. Hopefully it has done them some good and we see some start to flourish so that our team in the second half of the season or next has the consistency to do what Ipswich are doing at the moment.
I foresee a midfielder and a centre forward as priorities in January and/or the summer if the deal is right. Don't be surprised to see us look at the prem for two loans if we can't get a permanent solution to improve the squad over the line.
Fullback (both sides) is definitely to be looked at unless we start seeing more consistency and centre half as well dependent on McNair's situation.
Greenwood is signed if Leeds don't go up, otherwise he's back to Leeds and someone else will take a chance at that price with a higher wage.
Buzzing for tomorrow, proper knock out game and I'm bricking it!
UTFB!
