Bowyer signs two year contract

Whilst I hope you’re right, until he sorts out that midfield I’m still not 100% convinced. You would expect him to look to bring in 1-2 better midfielders. But then again, who expected him to offer deals to Devine, Colville and Anderson.

I just hope he doesn’t believe they are good enough and that we don’t need to strengthen here. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by most of the signings and there are still some that have room for improvement. But I just can’t see past that piss poor midfield

 

Sure.

The midfield is the real screwjob, since some of these players are virtually unshiftable.

The old problem from last season was the defence - that's effectively sorted, on paper, in terms of quality if not quantity. We were able to release some of the worst culprits, though A O'C remains... but our flexibility in letting NKP, McGowan, Woods and Chicksen go certainly helped.

The forwards were another big problem, but only because we didn't really have anyone other than Doyle, who for some reason was Rahic's super-mega signing. He failed, and we've quickly addressed the problem by replacing Clarke with Donaldson and Jones with Vaughan - undeniably far better.

The midfield, though, is overrun with disappointing players.

Akpan, Reeves, Scannell, McCartan, Gibson, Anderson, Colville, Devine...

The addition of Ismail doesn't really whet the appetite, but I guess this is where Bowyer has no choice but to coach the side. Wright walking the plank may have freed up a wage, but we have some poor midfielders on our books, no doubt, though I guess if Bowyer can't shift any of them, he's going to have to coach them. Hence the positive messages towards Reeves and Gibson, two of the most ineffective players in the history of BCAFC.

For me, Reeves won't be anything until January, meaning Akpan + McCartan is currently the natural midfield - which means Akpan simply has to go. Scannell on one wing, Ismail on the other looks likely, with Colville, Devine, and Anderson as back up.

 

I think looking at who's moved on and who's been brought in that bowyers spent the money we've had where it's needed most so far As crap as our midfield was, we had bigger issues in other areas as you said regarding the defence. I think we're only really short of a nasty bastard in the middle to effectively break up play and recycle the ball as all we have is ball playing creative options.I thought Akpan would be that guy as well as someone who can play given his size but he doesn't have the mentality for it. A first team standard winger for the left side would complete everything for me although if Bowyer can get Ismail firing I imagine he'd nail that spot down.

It's also really nice to finally have a manger who understands us and the club. Every time he speaks now I get that impression, more so after reading the new story in the T+A today. He doesn't say anything groundbreaking but its just more confirmation he's a good fit for us as manager.

 

I think Devine could do the job this season. I would rather him over Akpan.
If we can get Jimmy Ryan in and he is fit then that would be a great signing. Just look on Blackpool's forum to see why.
A midfielder on loan who can get forward and chip in with goals would be my preference now.
Get rid of Akpan.

 

Devine is useless, I'm no akpan fan but at least he showed glimpses of ability last season, whereas I still have no idea what devine actually does.

 

I would describe Burton away as one glimpse. Did he have any other decent games?

 

I trust Bowyer will strengthen us in midfield, he doesn't seem like the sort of bloke that makes a sandwich and forgets the filling.

 

Can't see anyone being willing to take on Akpan as he can't exactly be on a low wage given he was in the Championship not so long ago. If we can get someone like Jimmy Ryan on a free then fair enough, if not then maybe he is going to have to dip into the loan market towards the end of the window when other side's squads have settled down and managers start to know who is and isn't in their plans for the year?

 

Still one game more than Devine over the last couple of seasons

 

But he may be the sort that buys lots of cheap fillings and doesn’t provide any quality ingredients for the middle of the sandwich. Why else sign Devine, Colville and Anderson, when he already had Wright, Reeves and Akpan?

 

The first three are young and have potential and wont command the wages of the second three.

Devine- home grown quota
Colville, on buttons, decent prospect.
Anderson - your guess is as good as mine.

Wright - on a massive wage, doesnt want to be here, since left and he probably had it lined up for a while before the Edinburgh tragedy.
Reeves - not certain to play due to injury
Akpan - he will be on a decent wedge and suspect he wont stick around.

 

Hopefully Devine and Anderson are just the salad and pickle for the extra mature cheddar yet to be delivered.
Colville is the last bit of mayonnaise stuck in the bottom of the jar. We might still be able to find a use for it but then again, we might get fed up trying to coax it out with a spoon and just throw it away.
Wright was an expensive bit of salmon that got binned as it was well past it's sell by date.
Reeves is a ham that hasn't been fully cured yet and Akpan is the marmite.

 

Here's a thought, does Donaldson count as a homegrown player for us?

 

All good points but totally irrelevant.

The point was that he offered contracts to Devine, Colville and Anderson, despite knowing we still (at that time) had Reeves, Akpan and Wright on the books. If he knew he needed better quality, and would likely struggle to offload the high earners, we keep on players that won’t even make the bench?

Yes Devine and Colville are young, but let’s be honest, Devine has actually gone backwards with his development over the last couple of years. Looked decent when he first broke through; now looks a shadow of the same player. Colville is another Gibson; can do it on his day, but his day comes around as often as a total eclipse.

If some think we’re going to sign 2 quality central midfielders, are hey nay he disappointed. I simply can’t see Bowyer having 8 central midfielders on the books, which he would have if he brings in two more. I really don’t see that happening until one or more of Reeves, Akpan and McCartan move on.

 

Brilliant

 

My point was he probably knew one was gone, one was crocked and he wanted rid of the others. So rather than ending up with zero midfielders he offered the back up players a deal to ensure we at least had some bodies. I suspect he wants more cm's. You seem to be suggesting that signing bench fillers means we cant sign better players. You say that as if the higher paid players are/were immovable, but one of them has already left so its kind of proven not to be the case.

 

Do you consider McCarton a CM? I'd have thought he will either be deep striker or wider.

 

Have we considered that Bowyer believes the midfield is the least important part of a League Two side?

HOOF.

 

Nah, he wants to play good football, no hoofball shite thankfully.

 

That won't stop others hoofing - bypassing our midfield one way or another.