Who'll be a key player next season?

[SnakepitCanary 0]

As the board is quietly calming down after last weeks news, Who do you think will make the biggest impact in our team next season, who hasn''t been as prominent last season?

For me, I think Howson will continue to become integral to the side. I also think that Tierney will get back to his best after injury.

[lake district canary 4,831]

Fox.  Not been as prominent this season.   Still could be a suprise choice next to Howson.  A better passer than Johnson,  reliable and efficient.  Unless we buy another midfielder he could be an ever present.   Howson and Fox worked well together in one  particular match (the only time they were together, I think) and was surprised when it didn''t happen again.   One of PL''s juggling acts I suppose.  Would like to see more of them in the same team.

[Jacko 0]

Howson for me. Really impressed when he played in a more withdrawn role. I think he could be the man to make us "tick" next season.

[Gingerpele 0]

Not sure I can pick just one...

Ruddy in goal again, with a potentially more solid and consistent defence in front of him, it could be an easier season for him, but another solid one I expect.

R.Martin and Tierney in defence for me, think both of them have a great balance between attack and defence, i''d be perfectly happy if R.Martin was turned into a full time CB though, buying two RBs. Tierney coming back could be great, was playing very well (was my POTS before he got injured), and although Drury also did very well, Tierney''s attacking threat just gives us something else.

Howson and Bennett in midfield. Howson is fantastic, all round midfidler. Hope he plays in CM, rather than AM. Think he''s wasted higher up the pitch, as he''s great at chasing down players and winning the ball, as well as distributing the ball (why Fox didn''t play as much in the last couple of months) and is also a threat going forward. In a standard 4-4-2 him and Johnson are a very good CM pairing, great balance between the two. And while I was tempted to say Pilkington, I just think Bennett keeps on improving. Pilks had an almost immediate impact, but Bennett putting in a shift every game, starting to run past players more, shooting more, great short range passer of the ball, and pretty decent crosser.

Vaughan. I''m really looking forward to him playing next season, I know we didn''t see much, but when fully fit and after a few games getting back into the swing of things, I think he''ll be a deadly striker. Maybe showing at least a glimpse of why he was being compared to Rooney at an early age. He hasn''t just lost that ability, he just hasn''t realised his potential, a injury free season in the Premiership, and i''m sure the goals will start flowing.

[gorlestongirl 0]

This may be controversial, but I''m going for a Howson/Morison pairing. I think Moro''s main problem has been the lack of good linking play between him and the mid field. We saw against Arsenal what can happen if this goes well, and I predict that the pair of them next season will be pivotal to our success. I think another key person will be the experienced central defender we haven''t got yet.

[Lets be aving you! 0]

Howson again. Our most complete midfielder, but with many years ahead of him to develop further.

 

 

[CanaryOne 0]

I would say the new striker/strikers , if Holt goes those 15 goals are going to be very hard to replace .

[HerefordCanary 0]

Agree about Howson, but if James Vaughan is fit all season he will be lethal.

[Kidderminster Canary 0]

understanding the way Hughton likes to play I think Pilks and Bennet could bomb down the flanks from midfield, it could be these two

[BroadstairsR 2,273]

Over the whole season?

 

Mr. Dependable:  Russell Martin (even though he may not always be a starter.).

                

      

               On the Ball Woy                                   

 

 

[Salopian 1]

I agree that Howson could be a big player next season - he was already impressive in the last part of last season. Others who were coming good at the same time were the two Eliotts. Pilkington has already demonstrated that he can be a match winner

 

As to otheres not yet known, Vaughan could avoid injury and be impressive. Otherwise new signings could enter the category. We could be attractive to foreigners who want to display their skills in the premiership before moving on. On this Chestr and Hughton have a good record at unearthing unlikely successes.

 

All in all, our strengths will be in Hooly and the midfield, and potentially at CB. Add two or returning good fullbacks, as well as Holt and/or a good striker, and we could be in for a good season again.

[Phillip J Fry 0]

Am I the only one desperate to see if a Surman/Howson midfield partnership could work? 

[Mahogany 0]

I''d second the Bennett/Pilkington partnership hopefully as part of a 433/3231

[canaryfairy 0]

[quote user="Gingerpele"]

R.Martin and Tierney in defence for me, think both of them have a great balance between attack and defence, i''d be perfectly happy if R.Martin was turned into a full time CB though, buying two RBs. Tierney coming back could be great, was playing very well (was my POTS before he got injured), and although Drury also did very well, Tierney''s attacking threat just gives us something else.

[/quote]

I agree with Tierney and Martin, but with Martin in the centre along with Bennett who should also do well. With Ayala + one new solid signing we should be covered in the CB position.

Tierney was excellent until his injury. Does anyone know the full story in relation to this? It seemed to start with a fairly innocuous injury which ended him being out for a whole season with very little news about it - I found this very strange as I thought he was one of our best players at the start of the season. Any news how he is now? Why didn''t he feature at the end of the season?

Also we will need a replacement for Naughton (if we cannot sign him).

[gorlestongirl 0]

[quote user="Gareth"]

Am I the only one desperate to see if a Surman/Howson midfield partnership could work? 

[/quote]

No, you are not Gareth. They are the 2 players we''ve signed in the past two seasons who looked class from the outset. Surman has his detractors but both he and Howson read the game really well.

[smooth 114]

Howson will be a massive player for us next season if we allow him to go forward and play in his strongest area of the pitch, secondly John Ruddy. If he has an injury and Rudd or Steer are called upon they will need to be ready. Def. cup games are for these two they need football at a higher level each year.Otherwise our new signings will be key, we know what our current crop can do and that is play well enough for premiership football but with genuine quality being brought in, it is how they lift our current players. Pilky, EB, Howson, Morison, Ayala, Naughton, Johnson and Bennett came in to improve our first 11 and lifted them, we need this group lifted once more.Naughton who knows but we could do with that level of quality.

[CanaryOne 0]

[quote user="smooth"]Howson will be a massive player for us next season if we allow him to go forward and play in his strongest area of the pitch, secondly John Ruddy. If he has an injury and Rudd or Steer are called upon they will need to be ready. Def. cup games are for these two they need football at a higher level each year.Otherwise our new signings will be key, we know what our current crop can do and that is play well enough for premiership football but with genuine quality being brought in, it is how they lift our current players. Pilky, EB, Howson, Morison, Ayala, Naughton, Johnson and Bennett came in to improve our first 11 and lifted them, we need this group lifted once more.Naughton who knows but we could do with that level of quality.[/quote]You don''t need me to tell you who''s linked with Naughton today , you can guess that in one .

[Nexus_Canary 1,206]

on what ive seen so far I think Steer is a bit better than Rudd ? One probably Rudd as hes older needs to go out to the Champ or league one, get a year as a teams #1 keeper.As for POS, thats easy... it will be Holty again

[65Vintage 7]

Hoolahan still changes games, but will he be able to fit into a Hughton style of play?I like the suggestion of getting two new right backs and playing Martin as a CB - makes me laugh when he plays CB and then goes on an awesome run at the oppositions defence, which they just don''t expect from a CB!  It doesn''t happen often, but when it does causes problems.Howson, and whoever else is our leading scorer next season though for me - not sure we have the leading scorer in our squad yet though!

[Mr Jenkins 0]

Bennett. He got off to a reasonable start then faded during the season, the goal against Spurs really lifted him and I think if his confidence continues to grow, with his pace and his shooting ability he could be a top player. 

[Yelloow Since 72 56]

This is a difficult one because there are so many to choose from. This was a bad year for injuries and in spite of that it has been a great season. What excites me is that City now have a lot of PL experience. Last year, Holt, Pilkington, Vaughan and Whitbread were all injured at the start of the season and missed many matches. Even so, the team played well from the off. Eliot Bennett took time to settle early on, but like Pilkington made the step up in style as the season went on. Older hands like Surman, Hoolahan, Fox and Crofts steadied the ship and Ruddy grew in confidence as the season went on. I don''t think it''ll be a single player this year, but the way the team pulls together and performs from week to week as new players find their feet.

[star_manic 0]

[quote user="Yelloow Since 72"]This is a difficult one because there are so many to choose from. This was a bad year for injuries and in spite of that it has been a great season. What excites me is that City now have a lot of PL experience. Last year, Holt, Pilkington, Vaughan and Whitbread were all injured at the start of the season and missed many matches. Even so, the team played well from the off. Eliot Bennett took time to settle early on, but like Pilkington made the step up in style as the season went on. Older hands like Surman, Hoolahan, Fox and Crofts steadied the ship and Ruddy grew in confidence as the season went on. I don''t think it''ll be a single player this year, but the way the team pulls together and performs from week to week as new players find their feet.[/quote]........agree that picking a single player is almost impossible. i don''t think there has ever been a city team in which i have had so many "favourite" players.

[Syteanric 1]

[quote user="star_manic"][quote user="Yelloow Since 72"]This is a difficult one because there are so many to choose from. This was a bad year for injuries and in spite of that it has been a great season. What excites me is that City now have a lot of PL experience. Last year, Holt, Pilkington, Vaughan and Whitbread were all injured at the start of the season and missed many matches. Even so, the team played well from the off. Eliot Bennett took time to settle early on, but like Pilkington made the step up in style as the season went on. Older hands like Surman, Hoolahan, Fox and Crofts steadied the ship and Ruddy grew in confidence as the season went on. I don''t think it''ll be a single player this year, but the way the team pulls together and performs from week to week as new players find their feet.[/quote]........agree that picking a single player is almost impossible. i don''t think there has ever been a city team in which i have had so many "favourite" players.[/quote]agreed. and thats a good thing! a team full of good players with quality coming off the bench, with a couple of exceptions i think this is the best squad we have ever had.