Lose tomorrow and the summer rebuild can officially start ?

[Soldier on 292]

Hope we win and put in a performance but if we don’t we really need to get to work early don’t we 

At this point not sure I would keep any of those out of contract even Onel (end product) and Dowell (injury prone)

[Satriales 997]

25 minutes ago, Soldier on said:

Hope we win and put in a performance but if we don’t we really need to get to work early don’t we 

At this point not sure I would keep any of those out of contract even Onel (end product) and Dowell (injury prone)

Each to their own and all that, but personally I'd be happy for Onel and Dowell to stay, they're good championship players.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,804]

Do you trust Webber to replace Pukki?

[Satriales 997]

Just now, cambridgeshire canary said:

Do you trust Webber to replace Pukki?

Pukki is one of the best strikers we've had in modern times, regardless of Webber, Pukki will be extremely tough to replace.

[Google Bot 3,936]

Live for today, tomorrow can wait.  All that matters is getting 3 points from each remaining game - that will have a far greater positive impact on this club than trying to second guess who wants to stay, who we get in, who may get injured and god knows how many other factors.

[JuanVelasco 27]

8 minutes ago, Satriales said:

Each to their own and all that, but personally I'd be happy for Onel and Dowell to stay, they're good championship players.

Same.

If they are on no more than decent Championship wages, to reflect their decent Championship standard, then I also want them both to stay.

Edited April 6, 2023 by JuanVelasco

[Robert N. LiM 6,303]

We need a restart, but not a total clear out, in my view.

There seems to be a malaise in the squad, presumably as a result of the two relegation seasons, and a lot of players seem to be playing below their potential.

But I don't think that means we ship everyone out. I think good signings down the spine of the team, CB, DM and up front, could give us the impetus we need, and could see a few existing players reborn. And by good signings I mean players with leadership qualities who can give the dressing room a lift, as well as being good players.

On the specific subject of Dowell and Onel, I too would be looking to keep them both. I think you could make a case for saying that they were our most effective players under Wagner.

[TheGunnShow 7,379]

I suspect Kamara's getting readied for a good look, which would be fair enough and more importantly, keep both Idah and Sargent away from being on a wing! Rowe's due back, Placheta likewise (I still think he's struggled mainly because Pukki's been our front man, and their games don't mesh well at all - Pukki, as we all know, prefers channel balls to run onto, and Placheta's not really a guy for hitting throughballs), Hernandez is around, not sure what's happened with Springett, Tzolis could come back into the middle somewhat...

We need a nasty piece of work somewhere who can gee a team right up. But I think we need to give the youngsters a run. And I don't want to see either of Idah or Sargent shunted out on a wing ever again, with the exception that the opposition have a tiny full-back and we're much more actively looking to exploit that aerial mismatch.

[Flying Dutchman 766]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Do you trust Webber to replace Pukki?

Didn't he bring in Pukki in the first place?

I feel that answers the question. People seem to forget so many things on here for convenience of argument.

[Google Bot 3,936]

49 minutes ago, Robert N. LiM said:

We need a restart, but not a total clear out, in my view.

I think it also depends on each player and how committed they are to the cause.  We had a few here this season who were deliberately priced out of moves and asked to give at least one more season to the club.

We can't be playing that game anymore, but then, there's a very fine line between want-away players and ambitious players.  Top of my head -  Gunn, Sarge, Sara could all fall under that bracket over summer if a bigger club come knocking.

[nutty nigel 7,902]

It's already started. Didn't Wagner say last weekend that he already knew which contracts were being renewed? 

This summer's work will have been happening for months based on the two scenarios which is kind of the point I was making about Webber and Attanasio's millions. 

[hogesar 10,773]

We need 4 or 5 fresh players into the starting eleven. The odd thing is they'll probably not be as good as the players we've already had in those positions this season.

Our fans have spoken about how badly the two relegations have impacted the mentality of our players but I think it's far more evident on fans themselves. No real love between the fans and players - you've got the likes of Aarons not even being respected by some of our fans now. 

So 4 or 5 new players to be given a bit of a chance by our fans to get behind and the atmosphere can change quite quickly.

Just to be clear, I don't think the above is what should have to happen, but it's clear it is...

[Robert N. LiM 6,303]

42 minutes ago, Google Bot said:

I think it also depends on each player and how committed they are to the cause.  We had a few here this season who were deliberately priced out of moves and asked to give at least one more season to the club.

We can't be playing that game anymore, but then, there's a very fine line between want-away players and ambitious players.  Top of my head -  Gunn, Sarge, Sara could all fall under that bracket over summer if a bigger club come knocking.

Good post. I'm out of reactions atm but agree entirely. It's the 'soft skills' DF was fond of taking about that seem so lacking at the moment.

[Capt. Pants 5,017]

If we lose and Millwall avoid defeat to Luton then it would seem game over. If Millwall win then it becomes a must win and we'll know our fate as Millwall is a lunchtime kickoff.

 

[NFN FC 1,142]

Shopping list:

LB 2xCB RB DM ST RW LW

[Branston Pickle 4,152]

It’s probably too late but tomorrow is now very much a key fixture - win (taking points off the side above us) and we go a point off 6th with 6 to play.  Lose and we are potentially 7pts adrift and too far off the pace…though we probably are already.

[Capt. Pants 5,017]

5 minutes ago, NFN FC said:

Shopping list:

LB 2xCB RB DM ST RW LW

Wouldn't disagree with that. They need to be oven ready as well. None of this might come good sometime never.

Oh, and preferably no injury history.

[Branston Pickle 4,152]

5 minutes ago, NFN FC said:

Shopping list:

LB 2xCB RB DM ST RW LW

Not sure we need LB - Dimi and San are good enough. We do also have Mumba, Rowe, Springett et al coming though, but we do need a bit of a refresh for sure.

[NFN FC 1,142]

4 minutes ago, Branston Pickle said:

Not sure we need LB - Dimi and San are good enough. We do also have Mumba, Rowe, Springett et al coming though, but we do need a bit of a refresh for sure.

They'd be good enough if we were playing wingbacks. They just don't defend very well. 

Yes, the young uns are coming through but have yet to prove themselves at this level. Hope we can get them gametime next season (Rowe this season). 

[NFN FC 1,142]

12 minutes ago, Capt. Pants said:

Wouldn't disagree with that. They need to be oven ready as well. None of this might come good sometime never.

Oh, and preferably no injury history.

No chance of getting oven-ready players on our budget. Unless we miraculously sell some players at a good price but I do not see that happening 

[Indy 3,477]

To be honest Dowell is never fit for any length of time, Byram too, no point paying wages on players sitting in the stands, I'd certainly only offer far lower contracts with performance related bonus including appearance if not accepted then bye bye.

Hernandez is a difficult one.....

[TheGunnShow 7,379]

7 minutes ago, Indy said:

To be honest Dowell is never fit for any length of time, Byram too, no point paying wages on players sitting in the stands, I'd certainly only offer far lower contracts with performance related bonus including appearance if not accepted then bye bye.

Hernandez is a difficult one.....

Nah, Hernandez is an easy one. Keep. The passion he clearly has for the club is priceless.

[NFN FC 1,142]

3 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

Nah, Hernandez is an easy one. Keep. The passion he clearly has for the club is priceless.

Indeed and he has come along leaps and bounds under Wagner

[TheGunnShow 7,379]

1 minute ago, NFN FC said:

Indeed and he has come along leaps and bounds under Wagner

A little, he's always been a bit streaky in that he has spells where it looks like it really clicks, then he has others where he can't get going. We do need pace though, and Onel provides that spark of chaos too when he gets going.

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

1 hour ago, NFN FC said:

Shopping list:

LB 2xCB RB DM ST RW LW

I'd have to agree with this.

[Google Bot 3,936]

1 hour ago, Robert N. LiM said:

It's the 'soft skills' DF was fond of taking about that seem so lacking at the moment.

You'd expect Wagner is the kind of guy players want to play for, which is why i'm hoping for a good, positive end to the season - whether we get top 6 or not.

[yellowrider120 920]

57 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

Nah, Hernandez is an easy one. Keep. The passion he clearly has for the club is priceless.

Yes but he has to be good enough. Unfortunately few goals and his 'head down' style are too often glossed over by the fans. Gives us genuine pace as an outlet which is a big 'plus' but does that really compensate for the lack of end product?  

[Ulfotto 800]

I mean it depends on other results right.

As for rebuild I am slightly nervous with the prospect of us releasing or letting good upper mid table championship players leave for nothing. Sinani is out of the door, Hernandez and Dowell could follow. Yes they are not world beaters but they are pretty solid championship performers who can put most lower championship sides to the sword.

I kinda fear that the plan next season will be a shed load of loan signing from the Premier League.

[Branston Pickle 4,152]

21 minutes ago, Ulfotto said:

I mean it depends on other results right.

As for rebuild I am slightly nervous with the prospect of us releasing or letting good upper mid table championship players leave for nothing. Sinani is out of the door, Hernandez and Dowell could follow. Yes they are not world beaters but they are pretty solid championship performers who can put most lower championship sides to the sword.

I kinda fear that the plan next season will be a shed load of loan signing from the Premier League.

Don’t knock decent loan signings - Skipp was crucial to us going up two seasons ago and not managing to replce him was costly.  Like it or not the successful sides in this division almost always have good loan players, not to try to benefit would be daft. 

[PockthorpePete 331]

5 hours ago, Soldier on said:

Hope we win and put in a performance but if we don’t we really need to get to work early don’t we 

At this point not sure I would keep any of those out of contract even Onel (end product) and Dowell (injury prone)

Ridiculous. We keep fighting until it is mathematically impossible to finish in the playoffs. Lose the semis and we still get a hefty amount over the two games, TV coverage. Lose the final and it's a couple of million. How can we 'get to work early' when we don't know who will be here next season and we have a mentality of "oh well, we might not achieve what we want so we might as well give up " Yep, 3 nil down and 15 mins left, so throw in the towel.