Salopian

Quantity covers the possibility of injury, but quality makes match-winners, whether in dfence, midfeld or attack. We are possibly two good players short of a very good team, CM and CD. With these would have have the strong spine that everyone was talking about. At the moment we are also short in quantity, - a very thin squad, especially if we have the sort of injuries we had last season, we could have Academy players turning out! We are better covered at right back than we were but the midfield coverage is a cause for concern. Purchase or loan players of some qaulity for CM and CD would solve both problems.

In a sense this is academic. IF the midfield were good enough, and they could rely on a good defence, then we could play 4-3-3, as several of the premiership teams do. To the objection "Yes, but they have better midfields than we have", it must be pointed out that they are facing better attackers than we are. The only way to accommodate Hux is to play him in the front three. The quandry is that he is not an out and out striker, and we really need Ashton plus one other. We have been risking being overrun every time we layed 4-3-3, and the solution is to find quality in midfield and defence. This is why sveral of us have been calling for another CM, to replace Francis, and another CD, to replace slow and aged players. We seem to have an effective RB in Colin, and Drury can generally cope at our present level. We have Shackle, but we need another CD. The main problem is the midfield - they do not play as a unit, with effective passing, they do not collectively impose themselves on the game, and sometimes they seem absent. Finally we have tended to regard the wide right player as an old fashioned right winger. Clearly this is a luxury, and he must be defensive as well. Otherwise our midfield is effectively two-man, and we are playing 4-2-4.

I have thought for some time that Worthy has generally done well in the transfer market, - his "cheap" and sometimes poor purchases are probably due to budget contraints. He has also been brave in getting rid of deadwood. Against this I am concerned on a number of issues - basic skills - mainly an inability to make even short passes to our own players, to bring the ball under control quickly, to run into spaces to receive the ball, maintaining shape and position. Energy levels are not enough on their own. - motivation and effort - granted that some players are still short of fitness because of pre-season factors, but we still take our foot off the gas. We do not seem to be able to play consistently throughout a match or between matches. The most difficult to motivate has gone to Wigan, so things ought to improve, but on the basis of the past.... - team selection, which defies understanding at times, and tactics - we regularly see other teams who have countered what they see as our strengths by evident thought and preparation. When do we show the same imagination? The best managers, because of their reputation, often have the better players, but their reputation was gained through producing skillful players, motivating them to play for 90 minutes and showing an intelligent and imaginative approach to team selection and tactics which can often overcome indiviudal deficiencies in their players.

Agreed - look at the contribution already made to Cardiff by Koumas - a great goal. The rest of the team may not be much good, but if he can produce this sort of contribution on a regular basis, they could well finish above us! Keeping a cash pile until January may seem sensible, but if we are too low then to attract anyone with ambition, what''s the point? Come on Worthy. We have a good squad (even if it is small and risky), but there are weaknesses in the midfield, especially if we have just one injury there. Make the team a very good one, with real promotion prospects. Buy a good midfielder, and not another cheap one!

It''s probably too late! I can''t see Reading selling is Sidwell, and look at how much we had to pay for Hughes! Cardiff will not part with Koumas, who could be their passport to better things! He has already turned things on once for them and scored a great goal! I agree completely that we need someone much better in the central midfield. I would go further and usggest that it''s mid-table obscurity unless we can find someone. We missed one or two deals which were done earlier between seasons, and concentrated on cheap or free deals. All indications are that the Club are holding (-Francis and other) money back for the January window. But this will probably be too late, and what player of ability will want to come to us then if we are well down. We shall be going for the likes of Stuart(Stewart?)! If we can survive, with massive good luck over injuries, to the play-offs, and if we could produce a minor miracle and be promoted, then the cash pile will enable more Premiership quality players to bought in, but this outcome seems very unlikely unless we can produce something from the midfield. So far, and on reputations, a play-off place is far from certain.

Hux being attack-minded is not the problem - a lot of teams, such as Manure, play a 4-3-3 formation. We can count Hux as one of the three front men. But it means that the three man midfield must realise that they have to keep their shape and position. If one of them does a Francis and spends a lot of time well forward, the other two must cover. Obviously this is all predicated on three good players in the midfield, and means that Marney is a midfielder who has to track back, when he is fully match fit. It means also that we need someone who can tackle and then pass accurately. This is where we seem to be failing at the moment. JJ may have similarities to Francis, but Marney and the other midfielder (presumably Safri)must link defence and attack fluently, and cover for JJ when he goes forward. This seems to be something that Safri is well able to do. Otherwise we shall have the spectacle of a panicking defense hoofing the ball over the midfield.

Flem had a good season, 2003-04, although how far this was because of the presence of Malky, we don''t know. What is sure is that he had a poor season in the Premiership, - not the only one to be out of his depth. What most critics are expressing is that so far his "nightmare" seems to be continuing - lack of pace, poor positioning and mis-timed (or absent) tackles. If things continue as they are for a few more games then we must consider someone else with Shackle.

The postings reveal not only the class of the two players, but also the difference in ability compared with their immediate colleagues. The two must play, but what if one or both is missing through injury, or whatever? We would struggle even against lower teams. I really cannot undertsand the evident satisfaction of the manager and club with the quality and quantity of the squad. In some positions it may have improved, but in some positions there is a lack of quality, and even more of quantity. Last year we had a small squad. This year it is even smaller.

On the basis of the last four or five games we are likely to concede at least one goal, - we''re leaking them! So far. except the Inter game, we have managed to score. The prsopect of a goalless draw is remote, but can we socre more than we give away? All I will venture is that the tough game will be decided by one goal, not necessarily a single goal If the palarse defence is as weak as it seems, I think that we shall score. Whether we can keep out the balletic Mr. Johnson and friends, I have my doubts.

I think that this has been a problem for some time. The running of Francis made some compensation, but it is some time since we had a midfielder with vision and touch. I don''t think that Worthy will get his passing game unless and until we find a player who can be available, receive the ball and then use it. Mulryne offered promise at this when he arrived, but eventually he was reduced to short passes, usually across the pitch and to players already marked. What we need is not someone who can pass accurately to a colleague, but someone with vision to pass into a space into which a colleague can run, and who thus is not immediately tackled.

I would like to say a word for Charlie, if we don''t dip into the transfer market. His position is left back, as all would concede, but he had many games in the centre for his former club in the Premiership. What he has over Flem and Doherty is positional sense, an ability to read the game and secure tackling. What he lacks in height, and even in pace, he more than compensates for in other ways. That statistics seem to show that our defence was more frugal when he played. I would still like to see us buy a younger taller centre half, quicker than Flem and Doherty (- not difficult) and with better positional play. There must be several around. But if the club are unwilling to spend more (now), then I would like to see Charlie play. The only central defenders I would consider in the present squad are Shackle, Charlie and Colin(?).

I wasn''t able to watch the match, or even listen to the commentary, but the picture which emerges from the mailings seems to suggest: - a three man midfield containing Marney, who is there to provide crosses for Ashton, is likely to be missing when other teams attack, and will not supply enough support going forward. It seems that Hughes did make some telling tackles, and Charlton was not bad, but... - a defence, too old or too slow, needs cover, and Hughes was playing deep. apparently. There was largely a great gap between the defence and the strikers, which required long balls from defence. But the defence panics, and hoofs it. With all due respect to Worthy, if he is unable or unwilling to play his best central defender (Shackle) for some reason, then we do need cover in that department, and quickly. And again his satisfaction that he has abundant strength in the central midfield, rings a little hollow if Jarrett and Safri are both missing. The three of them in management have abundant experience with professional football, but nearly 25,000 have watched a game or two. While they may differ as to whether Fleming played better than Doherty, or vice versa, there seems almost complete agreement that as a partnership they are not up to it. They will need a deep playing midfielder in front of them, but in a three man midfield, or four with the non-defensive Huckerby, the midfield will look empty if one has to play deep. If Worthy will not or cannot play Shackell, then there is a crying need to obtain at least one central defender, better two, or prospects do not look good. Or what about Colin? Now that Francis has gone, there is an obvious need to supply someone in addition to Jarrett to fill the hole in the midfield. So far, although we have bought some replacements for relatively little money, we do look vulnerable. The squad is too thin, and we have some weak links!

Do we know that Shackle is fully fit and in form? In the "friendlies" he was O.K., but I did not read any rave reviews! There was some question about how late he would be getting into training after his mumps. Is it possible that he is not fully fit, or has slowed? If he is as fit and able as he was last season, then it would be a crass slection to play two donkeys instead. He was part of the "spine" last year, why would he not be this?

Unless he''s making some sort of smoke screen to cover further activities, Worthy seems to have settled for the present squad. Most people will feel that in terms of quality the squad is better than it was two years ago. But there must be some concern about numbers. Leaving aside the academy players, the squad is smaller than last year, with more games in prospect. There seems to be a calculated risk that we could make up any long term injuries or loss of form by loans, or by buying in the January window. Perhaps there is also the hope to hold on to any money (e.g. from the Fancis sale) for essential team re-inforcement if we gain promotion. It is a risk, nevertheless, with only one wide right player, apart from Henderson or a converted full back, two centre backs about whom many have doubts and central midfielders who seem injury-prone, (- and one of whom will be missing for weeks in Africa and perhaps less fit during a religious period.) When one central midfielder is out, then there will be no choice, unless a player from some other position is considered. Surely we would not play 4-3-3, where the central three are two wide men and two wide players. The squad is wafer thin - we said that before, and injuries like last year would mean places for a few of the academy players! Are we mounting a serious challenge in the face of normal injury incidence?

I agree with Robert, totally. On paper we have a team which should be good enough for the top 2, but the squad is so thin that with only a few injuries and we could struggle. If Shackle loses form, or is injured, we could start leaking goals. If Deano is injured or struggles for some reason, then we might struggle to score enough. If we have two injuries in the same position, striker, central defender, right back, etc, then we would have the familiar situation or people playing out of position, or replaced by academy players. If we assume an injury level somewhere between the last two seasons, then Robert is probably about right, so long as the injuries are "run of the mill" rather than some of the longer ones we had last year. The prospect could be improved by one or two further good signings.

Mixed bag really. Colin looks like an excellent buy at the price, and Jarrett even more. For the rest time will tell. Marney has played so few games, and how he will fare on a continuous basis remains to be sen. Thorne will probably be able to do a back-up job. L.J is slightly worrying. Hughes is a puzzle. What is his purpose, apart from cutting a few off at the legs? But the list does seem to be an improvemen,compared with those who have left, so we have to be optimistic. If the rather disruptive influence of Francis ends and he is replaced with someone of equal stature, then we would have to say, "By and large a good summer''s work by the Management!"

It''s possible to imagine disastrous consequences if a leading player is injured, but we are thin all round - we have only two senior right backs, four centre backs, etc. It would be academy players drafted in, or players way out of poisition.If we had something like last year, - how many injuries at one time?, - we could struggle to pick any sort of team without a few academy players.Perhaps Worthy and the Club are waiting to see what happens, and then gambling on a buy or two in the winter window if there is a problem. But it is a gamble, and could be too late to pull back into the play-offs.To be really pessimistic, if we miss out on promotion by a big margin, who could rely on Ashton, Green, Shackle, Colin, etc., stopping?At the moment our squad is smaller than last season. It''s a big ganble to go into a long hard season with so few. Come on Worthy! All power to your elbow!

I agree that the central defence needs strengthening. We conceded four goals in pre-season to teams from lower divisions, following the abject record last year. Loyalty to long serving players is one thing, but we have to ask whether Flem still has it and whether the slimmer Doherty ever really had it, in terms of pace and positioning. I have a feeling that after a few games of leaking goals, we might see Colin or Charlton tried there. Most of us are agreed that Shackle should be there, after his performances last season, but so far has he, even, been outstanding? Perhaps the mumps took more out of him than we realised. He has been steady, but would you call it brilliant? The presence of two central back with height and pace is the ideal. At the moment we have no more than one, and if he is injured.... Apart from the acquisition of Colin, we have done nothing to remedy what was the major problem last season. There are quick players in the Championship, and those who claim that Fleming did a good job "last time" have to realise that he is older now, and with no Malky to support him.

Agreed! If Francis goes, then it''s imperative that he signs a midfielder with skill. We really are weak there.

If you accept Dicky''s evaluations, and I do almost entirely, and then count up the number of "good enough" players - you find eight only. Each game, without injuries, we shall be compelled to play three players who are only "squad" players. If there are any injuries, then we could have half the team who are only squad level. It does not fill you with confidence. Come on Worthy, find some quality!

Is anyone concerned about the quality of the midfield? Jarrett, when he plays is a passable Championship player who will add a little "bite" to the midfield. Hughes is committed but.. Safri is injury-prone and in any case will be missing for several weeks during the coming season. Francis will be off, in the reserves or strolling around. Marney, if he comes, may provide pace and another route to goal. Already we are playing a full back (Charlton) or academy players, or a striker on the wing (Henderson). We need a midfield with commitment and energy, but also one which provides a first line of defence in front of a leaky back four as well as supporting the attack. At the moment quality and numbers are lacking! There are injuries, and we have not yet seen the best team perhaps, but the ease with which two (good) teams from a lower division have cut open the defence is a concern. Given the attitude of Francis, and the likelihood of his departure, we need someone of stature and ability in the midfield, not another runner!

We should cut our losses, and sell him. A few more games with him strolling around will mean no-one wants him, and the nearer we get to the end of his contract the lower his transfer price. We might get £1m plus now, but how much would we get if he plays in the reserves or if it becomes clear he has no heart and is unprofessional - shades of Koumas? He wouldn''t be the first player of talent to fade away, and he woudn''t be the first player whose contract the club had to buy out (if things go from bad to worse.) It looks as if Francis and his agent have an inflated view of his capabilities, and with an "attitude" he becomes even lower in value. Take the money, Worthy, and buy someone who wants to play!

On paper we look fairly strong, but much will depend on tactics and team selection, which have been discussed ad nauseam, and on confidence. At times last year we looked shell-shocked, the back four played too deep and the midfield looked absent at times. If we can play as we did when Hucks arrived,and get a good start and build confidence, then I can see us high in the division. We need to play the whole of the game how we often played in the second half. Above all we have to banish fear and too much respect for other teams.

I think that those who are concerned with Green''s attitude have logic on their side. He has been a good goalkeeper, but he has also made some boobs, and although he had a poor defence in front of him last season, and had more shots to deal with than any other keeper in the Premiership, he is by no means the finished article yet, and he still has areas of weakness. How many more years has he on his contract. Nearer the time, perhaps, we shall find out how much he is vlued. His attitude does not help -"I''ll play for you, so long as nothing better comes along", even though Ray Clements has assured him that he will not lose his place through relegation alone. It would have been better if he had adopted the Ashton line, until the club was compelled(!) to sell him. As it is there is something of a sour taste in the mouth, and you have to wonder how the supporters will react!

Deano is the penalty king - 100% record? But I have yet to see him blast or curl one from 25 yards. Perhaps one of the newcomers has the ability, - it''s something to find out quickly, and practise. Mullers lost it some time ago and is gone anyhow. How many reasonable efforts did we have on goal from free-kicks last season, or even the promotion season. I seem to remember that Beckham used to stay behind on his own for quite a while to practise his free-kicks, and this may have influenced Mullers to do the same. Most practitioners seem to have been midfielders, perhaps because they have to learn more tricks in their passing. How about Hughes or Jarrett, or Marney if he comes? Perhaps we need a curving ball specialist where appropriate, and a powerful "thumper" otherwise. Safri did the latter once, but does he do it from a deadball situation? I think that a lack of a good free-kick taker hampered us last year, especially when I think of some great goals scored from distance against us!