Shak Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 One positive is that after tonight we currently only have two more midweek games this season scheduled. So I don't think we'll need to rotate the team that much. Everton away on Tuesday April 25th. West Ham away not set yet. Obviously if we make the final of the cup the Brighton game will have to be moved too but that's about it. Fifth round of FA Cup will be played midweek, won't affect us. Weekend of sixth round we play Forrest, who are out already. Only other potential move is the weekend of the semi final we are scheduled to play Spurs. If they're still in the cup that game will be moved but it's the weekend of April 22nd so even if that does get moved it means a break before the aforementioned Everton away game. Anyway, the point is that we'll have a full week break before the majority of our games for the rest of the season. 12 of our last 18 Premier League games even if we make the final. Should be able to make a good fist of it. The issue if course is injuries. If we get a couple of long term injuries in CM it'll be very tough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCormick Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 20 minutes ago, LV said: I think this is exactly the view the club is taking. Slow and steady and considered. The slower we go the more ground we have to make up. I’m sure FFP hinders us somewhat though, so it may be the only route we can take unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Overall a very solid window, obviously another CM would have been nice but offloading the likes of Wood and Shelvey who were on big wages is a bonus in itself. It does leave us a player light in midfield though, with Gordon coming in it means Joe can be moved back into CM which lessens the blow of being a CM short but there’s also the factor that Joe can’t cover 6.. it’s Bruno or Longstaff there only. I get the feeling the answer to a potential CM selection crisis will be to change to a 4-2-3-1 rather than play someone out of position, it’s nice that we can flexible between that and 4-3-3 with Isak able to play behind Wilson as the #10 (he’s more of a SS). Short term I think Joe will get minutes on the left until Gordon is up to speed then will be moved back into CM, all in all it’s not a disaster not to replace Shelvey. The biggest negative impact to our form is injuries to our back line or Bruno, the current success is all built off our rock solid defensive form. One or two key injuries here could really interrupt us. Ive loved seeing how we’ve gone about our business so far, they have a rigid structure in place for each window ahead of time and where we are in the league won’t change that. They won’t go for broke and make more signings than planned to try and cement a top 4 spot and rightly so as that comes with its own big risks. The squad is going through a long transitional slow build, each target for each in window is meticulously picked out and you can see the trend developing (young, English, physically able to play in an intense pressing side with potential to fulfill). Even if we do qualify for CL I doubt the plans change much again for the summer, in fact I’d expect they would remain exactly the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushimonster85 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 2 minutes ago, McCormick said: The slower we go the more ground we have to make up. I’m sure FFP hinders us somewhat though, so it may be the only route we can take unfortunately. Have to remember though, in terms of ground to make up, we're already ahead of schedule. Even if we 'only' get Europa League. So long as Eddie and his team keep have us performing a few levels above where these players really should be, then it buys the recruitment/commercial sides time to work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 If we could pull off a Gallagher/Franca (8/10) or Maddison (10/10) in the final hours then this would be an epic window. Imagine the buzz tonight with another big signing through the door. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, Dokko said: If we could pull off a Gallagher/Franca (8/10) or Maddison (10/10) in the final hours then this would be an epic window. Imagine the buzz tonight with another big signing through the door. Where you at now? 6? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamPS Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 4 minutes ago, sushimonster85 said: Have to remember though, in terms of ground to make up, we're already ahead of schedule. Even if we 'only' get Europa League. So long as Eddie and his team keep have us performing a few levels above where these players really should be, then it buys the recruitment/commercial sides time to work. Haven’t achieved anything yet - no prizes given out in january Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 A young midfield talent would've made this a very positive window indeed, for me. As it stands, 6/10 (including Kuol in ths business ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasper Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 It's all about the risk vs reward in regards to FFP. If we wait a while we might be a CL team with a lot better quality of players available to us. If we spend it now we won't have that room in FFP in the future. That's super simplified of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, Rich said: Where you at now? 6? A harsh 5. For me @The Butcher nailed it earlier. Just don't think we've done enough coming in. Certainly not to fight for a CL place and if that's where they want to go, then this is an open goal for them and we seem to be passing up on it. They might not get a chance like this for another 3-4 seasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, Dokko said: A harsh 5. For me @The Butcher nailed it earlier. Just don't think we've done enough coming in. Certainly not to fight for a CL place and if that's where they want to go, then this is an open goal for them and we seem to be passing up on it. They might not get a chance like this for another 3-4 seasons. Between a 5 and 6 for me, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Feels like a lifetime ago that we loaned Wood out, that in itself was a huge bit of business Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manorpark Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, SUPERTOON said: Disagree, if we pick our strongest 11, Gordon and Ashby don’t start. Not for me anyway, fair enough if they do for you. Who mentioned Ashby ?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 5 out of 10 for a window where we’ve shipped out two passengers and brought in 2 really promising young players seems incredibly harsh to me, have to say Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 minute ago, manorpark said: Who mentioned Ashby ?? Me, I said in my initial post you replied to that the signings we have made don’t improve our starting 11. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 3 minutes ago, Dokko said: A harsh 5. For me @The Butcher nailed it earlier. Just don't think we've done enough coming in. Certainly not to fight for a CL place and if that's where they want to go, then this is an open goal for them and we seem to be passing up on it. They might not get a chance like this for another 3-4 seasons. I can understand why fans might think we haven't done in terms of incoming. Champions League qualification is far from an open goal though, even with further reinforcements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Whatever you think of them as players I don't think you can consider Shelvey or Wood passengers. You can definitely argue that Wood has been replaced, but Shelvey hasn't and we were looking for a midfielder before we let him go. As things stand we're a midfield injury away from a huge drop off it quality. With Shelvey back fit the drop of was manageable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 (edited) Bruno getting injured is a disaster no matter who we sign. No matter if we have Shelvey or we don’t. What I’m focused on is steps in the right direction, making good moves and getting the average players out. Which they clearly are doing as fast as they’re able. Edited January 31, 2023 by AyeDubbleYoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 minute ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: 5 out of 10 for a window where we’ve shipped out two passengers and brought in 2 really promising young players seems incredibly harsh to me, have to say Just a touch. Our league position is distorting perception in my opinion. At the start of the season, if we'd have known a right back and a versatile forward were coming in six months later, we'd have been reasonably satisfied. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, AyeDubbleYoo said: Bruno getting injured is a disaster no matter who we sign. No matter if we have Shelvey or we don’t. Agree, however it’s more of a disaster without an extra player being bought in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, AyeDubbleYoo said: Bruno getting injured is a disaster no matter who we sign. No matter if we have Shelvey or we don’t. Nowhere near as much of a disaster as it is without Shelvey. Last year the midfield thrived to the extent that we were wondering when Bruno was going to get a look in. Without Shelvey we literally have no replacement at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomson Mouse Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 (edited) Merson saying on SSN that Shelvey will keep Forest up and they’ll score loads more goals Edited January 31, 2023 by Thomson Mouse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Just now, SUPERTOON said: Agree, however it’s more of a disaster without an extra player being bought in. Yeah of course, it’s always better to have more players than less. But I mean, that’s just a truism you can say in any situation. It just feels like everything is in great hands. Giving out scores like 5/10 seems a bit silly to me. Makes for good debate though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomson Mouse Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said: Nowhere near as much of a disaster as it is without Shelvey. Last year the midfield thrived to the extent that we were wondering when Bruno was going to get a look in. Without Shelvey we literally have no replacement at all. Shelvey offers us nothing the way we play now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzza Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I think the business done is great. 7.5/10 Gordon can play across the front three and ashby can provide cover for tripps as well as manquillo. Jonjo would only have been a late sub at best. If we get a cm or maddisson it would be a 10/10 window Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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