2024 Released Players & City transfer rumours

I'd still go Doyle, but I think Jones made Doyle look far better than he was at that stage of his career. Just trying to look for like-for-likes in both teams, but there aren't many.

Sometimes it's the partnership more than the player that makes someone really good. Again, it's not really a like for like as Smallwood isn't a great passer (still tries it far too often). But on the backward balls, another reason for that is PP never really had his midfielders pass in L2. McArdle played the most passes in our team by some distance. Whereas nowadays every team has a session of passing sideways for the sake of it. Especially under Hughes when we played 5 at the back. Our wide men weren't wing backs, it was a flat back 5. Along with Smallwood and Gilly sitting, we have 7 defensive roles out of 10 in the outfield under Hughes, it was woeful to watch. I think Smallwood played better in his first season, he was abysmal at times last season.

 

Yes, but he didn't break into the first team and play league games like this lad. The two are worlds apart.

 

I'd turn that on it's head and say it was Doyle who made Jones look better at that stage of his career.

 

So do most teams. Look at Mansfield, who came close a couple of times and then got their reward.

The difference being, they offloaded their weaker players and brought in real quality additions to build on. The likes of Pym, Keillor-Dunn, Swan, Carroll, Flint, Nichols, etc

 

You need a new pair of specs if you saw Sarcevic to the right of Cook. He was nowhere near as far forward as Kavanagh and I’d even argue that Pattison got forward more than Sarcevic

 

You’ve just won on the quote bingo

 

Don’t forget about ALL those that Peterborough spit out season on season? .We only hear about the million dollar deals but you never hear if those that they pick up for nothing on very cheap contracts then spit out back to non league every season . Barnsley do what Posh do ?

 

AND their share of loan players?

 

Looking at some of the pre season and social media pics I didn’t appreciate that he was so solid either - he’s built like a brick outhouse!

 

Doyle was an excellent passer. Way above average for L2.

 

Agreed. Obviously both the 10s dropped deeper when we weren’t in possession but they were definitely not playing alongside Cook

 

But that's football Kev, no team or manager has a track record where the majority of signings are successful. Take Tshimanga for instance or even Luke James who played for us. There ain't another lower league team that has their track record though of being a gateway for signings to go to a higher level though maybe only Exeter though. would be interesting to see how much profit they've made off signings after the failures have been taken into account.

 

Are we just building the best looking squad in the division?
Bromance is not dead and I'm thinking of being confused this season between 3pm and 5pm every Saturday.

 

You keep referring to Shepherd’s lack of game time, whilst completely ignoring the lack of games played by Byrne for Stockport…. Yet you consistently call him a promotion winner.

Make your mind up. Either a few games is a few games or it isn’t!!!!!

 

Some of which were loaned and then made permanent

 

88 games in League Two over the course of 3 seasons, 113 appearances in total.

Are you joking? Lack of game time, what?

Not really comparable to Shepherd in any way.

 

“Some” and “ Then”

 

Absolutely right , a lot of clubs do it , low risk and potential for high return ? Nahki Wells a typical , if lonely , example ?

 

Baldwin will be the right sided player he’s going to be a important player for us

 

I wasn’t talking about Byrne’s total appearances. I’m referring to the fact you consistently call him a L2 champion, despite only starting 10 times for them last season. Yet when you refer to Shepherd’s total of 14 starts in League1, you dismiss it as not many games.

But we both know you knew exactly what I meant..!!!