Winter Improvement Thread (aka Winter Squad Weakening Thread and TWF Suicide Watch)

[North West Wanderer]

We really won't miss Edwards, his influence on games is negligible to the point you can forget he's on the pitch a lot of the time. I don't think his aimless running about helps us in an attacking or defensive sense. We'll need to find someone else to miss gilt edged chances from 8 yards or less out though and still retain the reputation of a goalscorer (I'm sure someone can replicate his 0 goals in 14 games form).

We really will miss Edwards IMO. More from a defensive aspect funnily enough. Should have scored that header.

 

[Tredman]

We really will miss Edwards IMO. More from a defensive aspect funnily enough. Should have scored that header.

That's says a lot about him & KJ - we will miss our number 10 defensively...

Shite state of affairs.

 

[North West Wanderer]

That's says a lot about him & KJ - we will miss our number 10 defensively...

Shite state of affairs.

He's not played ten as much and I think he's shown himself to be better deeper.

 

[Tredman]

Better perhaps, but not good enough. Price would be infinitely better.

I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes trying to watch only Dave in the first half on Saturday. He did a lot of running and trying to close down players, but he never actually got close enough to do that.

Neither did he show for a pass from defence, break forward with the ball or pass on the wings.

He genuinely did nothing useful. It's not a slate on him, yes he runs around, but outside of that in CM he does very little useful.

 

[darlowolf64]

:icon_lol:

It's like a pantomime, this window. And a very bad one at that!

Oh no it isn't!

 

[Sniffer]

Better perhaps, but not good enough. Price would be infinitely better.

I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes trying to watch only Dave in the first half on Saturday. He did a lot of running and trying to close down players, but he never actually got close enough to do that.

Neither did he show for a pass from defence, break forward with the ball or pass on the wings.

He genuinely did nothing useful. It's not a slate on him, yes he runs around, but outside of that in CM he does very little useful.

VLP aside the whole team did very little in the first half.

I agree that I'd sooner see Price in the team ahead of Edwards, however if fit, I'd pick Edwards ahead of Coady

 

[Langers]

Serious suicide watch alert... FL92Tranfer on Twitter says "Free agent Stefan Maierhofer linked to Wolves and Blackburn."

I actually hope we sign him just to laugh at Twitter. In a sort of surreal 'this has got to be a pisstake' type thing.

 

[Tredman]

VLP aside the whole team did very little in the first half.

I agree that I'd sooner see Price in the team ahead of Edwards, however if fit, I'd pick Edwards ahead of Coady

I really liked the look of Coady at the start of the season, if we had that Coady I'd pick him everytime. A midfield 3 of in form Coady, Price & Wallace would be good to see. Clearly not 'powerful' enough though.

 

[Revenga]

I agree Coady was much better in the deeper role, just his temperament was a little bit on the edge. Saying that it was nice to see a bit of bite in the midfield. Would McDonald be suitable in a more advanced role with Coady and Price just behind, is something I've always pondered.

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[Lycan]

I agree Coady was much better in the deeper role, just his temperament was a little bit on the edge. Saying that it was nice to see a bit of bite in the midfield. Would McDonald be suitable in a more advanced role with Coady and Price just behind, is something I've always pondered.

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Had this discussion with Aikiwolf after the first game of the season. I think you could definitely have a midfield 3 of McDonald, Price & Coady, I can't see KJ ever going for it though.

I also feel that as good as Jack Price is, he's completely wasted in a team with Batth, EEL & Doherty behind him. None of them are comfortable passing the ball short to him so his good qualities are completely negated.

 

[machin05]

KJ has already stated that he wouldn't play Price and Coady together. This was during his Fan's Parliament appearance where he actually said he was shoehorning Edwards in the tream each week.

 

[WsWolf]

Had this discussion with Aikiwolf after the first game of the season. I think you could definitely have a midfield 3 of McDonald, Price & Coady, I can't see KJ ever going for it though.

I also feel that as good as Jack Price is, he's completely wasted in a team with Batth, EEL & Doherty behind him. None of them are comfortable passing the ball short to him so his good qualities are completely negated.

The problem with all 3 of those is you get absolutely zero in attacking threat, at least with Edwards he does occasionally get on the end of things. We cant even get away with any as a pair as none of them complement each others shortcomings.

 

[lemonjelly]

E&S states today we're definitely interested in agbonlahor. Good god I hope not.
We played villa u21's this week. I'd have been making some enquiries regarding getting grealish in on loan if practical.

 

[NoodleWolf]

The problem with all 3 of those is you get absolutely zero in attacking threat, at least with Edwards he does occasionally get on the end of things. We cant even get away with any as a pair as none of them complement each others shortcomings.

McDonald wouldn't bring attacking threat in the same way Edwards would (as in getting his head on a cross occasionally and scoring once every 10 games), but he would be much, much better in possession and a far more creative / comfortable-on-the-ball option further up the field, which would bring its own benefits.

I can't imagine KJ going with those 3 set up like that at all these days, but it is an interesting one to ponder.

 

[YoungWolf]

Middlesbrough considering bidding for van la Parra according to Pete O'Rourke, Huddersfield making a second bid

 

[Sniffer]

E&S states today we're definitely interested in agbonlahor. Good god I hope not.
We played villa u21's this week. I'd have been making some enquiries regarding getting grealish in on loan if practical.

Grealish? Jackett would have one look at him at training and then enquire whether or not it is within league rules to sub-loan him out to Millwall or Notts County.

A big no regarding Agbonlahor. I'd sooner KJ played Bright every week.

 

[Sniffer]

Middlesbrough considering bidding for van la Parra according to Pete O'Rourke, Huddersfield making a second bid

Let him go. Anything over a million and I'd consider that to be good business.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The big worry for me about playing McDonald more advanced is mobility, can he get about well enough to find pockets of space where he can get on the ball and influence the game, it's a lot easier for him to do that in a deeper role as opponents are more willing to let you have that sort of time in your own half.

I suspect he'd end up looking like a very ineffective Kevin Nolan tribute act, dawdling around behind a forward but hardly ever managing to stick anything away like Nolan did.

 

[YoungWolf]

Let him go. Anything over a million and I'd consider that to be good business.

I'm not sure we can afford to let anyway leave at the moment.

The big worry for me about playing McDonald more advanced is mobility, can he get about well enough to find pockets of space where he can get on the ball and influence the game, it's a lot easier for him to do that in a deeper role as opponents are more willing to let you have that sort of time in your own half.

I suspect he'd end up looking like a very ineffective Kevin Nolan tribute act, dawdling around behind a forward but hardly ever managing to stick anything away like Nolan did.

Yeah I don't think it would work with McDonald as the 'ten'. I think it should be Price behind him and another (I would personally say Wallace but for now let's say Saville). However, no way Ken is going to go with that nor would it would if we are bypassing them anyway.

 

[Papper]

The big worry for me about playing McDonald more advanced is mobility, can he get about well enough to find pockets of space where he can get on the ball and influence the game, it's a lot easier for him to do that in a deeper role as opponents are more willing to let you have that sort of time in your own half.

I suspect he'd end up looking like a very ineffective Kevin Nolan tribute act, dawdling around behind a forward but hardly ever managing to stick anything away like Nolan did.

Purely in terms of results the 4-1-4-1 has been seen to be a success. I cannot see KJ having any hope of replicating that without dangerous being available but as far as I am concerned we are now cruising to an inevitable end this season so why not experiment a little. Our frailty down the left is concerning and that for me is his main concern. You can't blunt what positivity Henry brings by having him shield Doherty.