Players who could seriously help us not a promotion challenge?

Just out of interest who do you think is going to tell him that? And what do you think his response will be?

 

Don’t really understand the negativity. The squad isn’t that bad IMO.

The back 4 and Lewis have done a solid job all season, our defence hasn’t been a major issue. Sure we could do with another LB but other than that I don’t see the need for a major overhaul of the back 5.

Smallwood is a good CM at this level if you put legs around him. I think we need to sort out his midfield partner(s) as I don’t think you can have him and Clayton in the same team. I’d keep Gillead as he’s had a good season and assume Osadebe will still be here (jury still out on him) but again, 1 or 2 more central midfielders is all we need.

The forward line is our biggest issue, wingers, striker and another CAM to compete with the underwhelming Walker. If we assume Cook goes, then that means we probably need 2 strikers and 3 wingers (assuming Chapman is the only surviving winger from this season).

A bit more pace and mobility in the forward line and I think we’ll compete. There is a solid enough spine in the current squad to build on.

 

This is the crux of the matter. A few weeks ago I felt Gilliead should probably be offered a new deal as a squad player due to his versatility of being able to cover a few areas. Now I'm not so sure that's a good idea because Hughes clearly rates him and if he does get a new deal, I think it will be because Hughes sees him as one of the first names on the team sheet. Smallwood is still going to be here so not a lot we can do about that, but the other two in Gilliead and Clayton have to be on their way for there to be any chance of improvement in CM. If the retained list comes out and those two names are on there under players offered new deals, we might as well forget about promotion next season before a ball is kicked in anger.

 

I think it depends on the system, I have a feeling we might now go with a 3/5 wing back type system. He seemed to bring defenders on and switch to that system fairly often towards the end of the season.

Looking at who is under contract for next season, we have 4 CBs, all Hughes signings in Platt, Odusina, Kelly & Stubbs. If we continue with a back 4 and he wants the partnership to be Platt & Stubbs, we cant play with as high a line as we do. As every team with a quick forward will just do what Crewe did and pop it over the top as Platt and Stubbs have very little mobility. My gut feeling is we sign a quicker CB, and play 3 at the back with wing backs. As we have tried Young, Eisa, Nevers, Chapman, Pereira, Costelloe, Walker, Banks & Wright all out wide this season, baring Wright and Banks in periods, all found it difficult to make impacts out wide in any Hughes system with any consistency.

I wonder if after trying all these options, Hughes is thinking that tier 4 wingers just don't have the consistency to help out a 1 man strike force? And just goes with wing backs and either goes two up front with a 10 behind in Walker or Chapman, or a more Tottenham wing back system with 1 up front and 2 roaming attackers just playing in behind who drift wide or centrally depending on where the wing back is. As Leyton Orient and Northampton have gone up playing the 3/5 at the back with loan striker tactics, and Carlisle may as well, I wonder if he just copies what seems to work?

 

Is Halliday good enough to play wing back?

 

We'll be fine once Oliver has a full pre season under his belt .

 

On Oliver, was it ever disclosed what surgery he was having on his knee? I know at the time it was just "knee surgery", but never said what kind of injury he was carrying. Assuming if it was a major injury they'd have given a timescale?

 

Smallwood needs to move. He has been a major disappointment, given he is a top earner. Giiliead and Clayton should not be offered new contracts. We need pacy, athletic, box to box CMs that can score goals.

Our CMs last season were appalling. No drive, energy and most importantly no goals!

 

I agree with this. Smallwood has been really disappointing to say the least. Although some fans have suggested he needs pacy players round him. It is one way of playing him, but he has not been value for money that is for sure.

 

Well, he's probably a better wing back than he is full back, in my opinion of course

 

Looking at free agents in CM there are several options.

Alex Pattison from Harrogate. 9 goals and 5 assists in 36 games. Started at Boro so no doubt Gent will be aware of him.

Albie Morgan released by Charlton. 3 goals and 7 assists in 35 games.

Obviously plenty more and there’s a few in NL who could easily make the step up like Joe Sbarra for a fee.

 

Pattison is a good shout actually. I seem to recall him being quite decent playing against us this season?

 

No. Hes not good enough going forward. Far from a bad player, but I don't rate him like others do.

 

Pattison has 18 goals in 77 L2 games. A yes from me.

 

but he's not very good in defence either!

 

He was shite in the play offs and towards the end of the season (Orient aside). He needs upgrading for me - decent enough squad member but we need better. That said other positions to focus on first...

 

Like yourself I never got the hype. He started off very rusty but did improve and did have one or two very good games, but he seems to have peaked and been in decline for a few weeks now. He's OK for league 2. I'd like better but think we have higher priorities.

 

Harrogate manager seems to think he will turn down their new contract offer and look to play in league 1. Be worth having a go for him in my opinion, presume he has crossed paths with Gent at Middlesbrough so will be well aware of him

 

I am not sure. He's strong when facing up to an opponent who has the ball. He's clever and knows where to position himself, how to block, win the ball, tackle - all those things are good and he's our best right back for at least 4 seasons.

I'm not sure he's a great header of the ball.

His crossing is very hit and miss. His good ones are really good but a good proportion are pretty poor and sometimes he'll go a whole match without a good one.

As a wing back he'd need to get up and down more and there would be less occasions when he's defending in front of himself so while he'd do a job I don't think wing back plays to his defensive strengths.