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Post by SouthStandShrew on Jul 27, 2011 12:16:55 GMT 1
At this stage last season was you more optimistic or less than at this stage of this season?
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Post by albionshrew on Jul 27, 2011 12:19:54 GMT 1
More last year. Less this. Why? Probably the weather.
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Post by venceremos on Jul 27, 2011 12:26:49 GMT 1
Less optimistic last season. There were so many new players that I had no idea how competitive we'd be a year ago. This season's squad still has a familiar look to it and is being built around a group that almost won promotion, so I don't see why we shouldn't be at least as competitive again.
I don't see any logic in the argument that the league will be stronger this season. That seems to be said every summer and then people start to say the league is poor (which usually means we're doing quite well).
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Post by ambergambler on Jul 27, 2011 12:28:44 GMT 1
More a more settled Taylor/Bradders good signings and we look full of goals .
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Post by albionshrew on Jul 27, 2011 12:31:38 GMT 1
True - a settled squad is a massive plus. The sun's coming out now - feeling more optimistic already...
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Post by Rusholme Ruffian on Jul 27, 2011 12:54:42 GMT 1
too much of an eternal pessimist really. Think last year i was much more concerned with the players coming in, this year i'm more keen for the ones we have to stick around and gel together. So i think that would make me more optimistic this year
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Post by mightyshrew on Jul 27, 2011 13:14:28 GMT 1
I'm less optimistic, key areas still need to be addressed, but I'm sure GT is trying as he says so I'm sure I'm become more optimistic once we address centre midfield and right back. Plus I do think it'll be a stronger league this year. Can't imagine us getting 11 away wins again. I preferred away games to home last year.
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Jul 27, 2011 13:19:41 GMT 1
This time last year whilst we had the returning GT feelgood factor but I'm not sure how many were particularly confident of an automatic promotion challenge. Because we came so close last year, expectations will be higher this time and whether we can live up to them remains to be seen. But I think I am a little more confident this time round, because we know what most of this squad is capable of.
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 13:42:53 GMT 1
This season I believe that the league is considerably stronger than last, therefore the Town have to improve to stand still. Currently the squad is weaker than last seasons and with minimal cover in several positions. I am sure that GT is trying to strengthen the squad but until he does I feel we will struggle to finish in the top half.
Lot less optimistic than this time last year.
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Post by mattmw on Jul 27, 2011 13:54:40 GMT 1
Slightly more optimistic. As others have said the squad is more settled and we know on their day players like Sharps, Wright, Taylor and Collins can be match winners at this level. Added to that the signings made are experienced at this level and so should fit into the team quite smoothly
As it stands I'd be massively disappointed if we don't finish in the top ten, and with a couple of good full or loan signings the play-offs or even an automatic spot are not out of the question.
That said a bit of luck in getting the right players in and avoiding injuries will be key to success and I expect a few iffy performances throughout the season too
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Post by stfcfan87 on Jul 27, 2011 14:05:18 GMT 1
Not sure how to answer this question
I'm more optimistic that we'll get promotion this season than i was last season due to our excellent form last season, how close we got, and the fact that there was a lot of good young players in last seasons team that will still be here and if anything they will improve - e.g. if we'd have had a full season of Taylor, or even a month more then perhaps that would have been enough.
But I'm also slightly less optimistic this season than i was last season about the club in general. Not that anything's changed for the worse, but last season i had a lot to look forward to i.e. a new era after the massive disappointment and appalling football and decision making of the simpson era!
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Post by mightyshrew on Jul 27, 2011 14:22:29 GMT 1
A month more of Taylor would have just made up for his poor last month of the season
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Post by ssshrew on Jul 27, 2011 15:59:21 GMT 1
I'm not altogether sure about this. I suspect that I was more optimistic last season. This season I still have at the back of my mind that it won't matter how good we are a couple (or one) really bad decisions by officials could make all the difference! I know it's time to move on from that but it just won't go away from me.
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Post by WorcesterShrew on Jul 27, 2011 16:24:38 GMT 1
Until last night I would have said more optimistic, but we were generally poor, having said that it I can't judge on one match and it would appear that the players we've brought in from the little I've seen appear to be of better quality than those they replaced. With Morgan, Gornell, Collins it looks like we have a dangerous strike force that'll score goals and if Bradshaw can continue to develop then we should be fine in that department. Lionel looked very sharp last night I thought, topped off a good performance with a great finish and if Taylor and Wright can continue to score and create the goals they did at points last season then going forward we should be strong however I still think we're lacking an attacking midfielder who will drive attacks and dominate midfield, would've liked to have seen this Matt Richards trialist last night but he wasn't even in the squad. That and a right back - not Peter Bore from what I've seen - and I think we have a squad who will be up there come May.
And for the critics Leslie did okay last night, looked reasonably comfortable in midfield but I don't believe he's the answer to our problems there.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 16:26:21 GMT 1
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Jul 27, 2011 16:39:41 GMT 1
Good find! Though to be fair, he is less optimistic, he's gone from midtable to bottom half!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 17:00:12 GMT 1
Good find! Though to be fair, he is less optimistic, he's gone from midtable to bottom half! True but he said a lot less so relegation beckons me thinks
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Post by Hatfieldshrew on Jul 27, 2011 17:48:06 GMT 1
I think a lot of people were more optimistic last season because of GT's return. Also because he wasn't here for over a month we signed players later on than we did this season. So if I take the GT factor out then I think we have a better chance this season.
Why is this season going to be harder? The teams that came down are big names for this league ? They came down for a reason, just remember most teams that go up seam to do well in the next league up, so teams that come down are just at this level. Also 1 team is splashing the cash.
Swindon has signed a lot of Italians which could backfire on them as the game here is so different from Italy also we play in the winter in the cold.
Plymouth Have they got a squad yet ?
Crawley are trying to buy the way up the league, but also have painted a big target on their backs. One team that every one will want to beat/kick off the pitch.
I say let them worry about us. Teams know that our front line struggled last year, but we still got to 4th place and almost 3rd, and we've improved that area. So we need a creative midfielder, we've needed one for years, so do most other teams in this league.
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 17:54:33 GMT 1
Good find! Though to be fair, he is less optimistic, he's gone from midtable to bottom half! True but he said a lot less so relegation beckons me thinks Funny you should reference that maybe if you read my response to Heavenly (your not him in diguise are you) you'll see that in my opinion we still have the same problems. "Yes we played nice football but were far too slow at progressing into an attacking position, which will in league games give defences time to protect their goals. We still need someone in midfield who will score 7+ goals and assist 10+ in addition we need a consistent striker, who will get 15+ goals. Get those and maybe we might be looking at a top 7 finish. " To add to that we still do not have an experienced right back, thus worse than last season.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 18:00:01 GMT 1
In boxing terms you are on the ropes Ed............. if your postings mainly consist of incoherent contradictions then you must expect to be found out now and again.
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Post by venceremos on Jul 27, 2011 18:07:06 GMT 1
Come off it Ed, that doesn't help your argument at all.
Did we get a 10+ assist midfielder? Did we get a 15+ goal striker? You said we might get a top 7 finish with them but it seems to me we somehow finished 4th without them.
How on earth has our squad weakened so much that we'll struggle to make the top half? We've lost no-one we wanted to keep and replaced/expect to replace those we released.
And why should the league be "considerably stronger" this season? I fully expect the usual mix of under-achievers, over-achievers and just as expecteds.
Perhaps you'll be right this time but I just don't see half a league's worth of stronger squads than ours.
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 18:13:55 GMT 1
Paul, if you are happy without an experienced right back, and a central midfield that is likely to be over run in at least half the games so be it you are entitled to your views. Personally I do not think we have a single central midfielder who is likely to be above average for this division.
Interestingly Asa Hall is targetting 10 goals this season.
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Post by venceremos on Jul 27, 2011 18:24:03 GMT 1
Interestingly Asa Hall is targetting 10 goals this season. Why is that interesting? Have we signed him?
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 18:35:48 GMT 1
Come off it Ed, that doesn't help your argument at all. Did we get a 10+ assist midfielder? Did we get a 15+ goal striker? You said we might get a top 7 finish with them but it seems to me we somehow finished 4th without them. How on earth has our squad weakened so much that we'll struggle to make the top half? We've lost no-one we wanted to keep and replaced/expect to replace those we released. And why should the league be "considerably stronger" this season? I fully expect the usual mix of under-achievers, over-achievers and just as expecteds. Perhaps you'll be right this time but I just don't see half a league's worth of stronger squads than ours. Thought Turner and the fans wanted to keep Sadler and Davis who incidentally hasn't been replaced yet. I'm sure Turner also expected to be easily able to replace Raven. The comment about Hall, is because I feel that he together with Labadie are the type of players we need in central midfield. In terms of strength of the division I think if you look at the managers currently in the fourth division it is the strongest it has been for many seasons.
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Post by markglasgow on Jul 27, 2011 18:45:32 GMT 1
Paul, if you are happy without an experienced right back, and a central midfield that is likely to be over run in at least half the games so be it you are entitled to your views. Personally I do not think we have a single central midfielder who is likely to be above average for this division. Interestingly Asa Hall is targetting 10 goals this season. Do you really think that we'll start the season without addressing the RB and centre mid issues? Turner has spoke of little else. Indeed we have 4 players currently at the club jostling for these two positions. It's all about opinions Ed but have to disagree that Wroe is a below average L2 midfielder. Matt Richards is still in the frame, This guy was an ever present in League One last season and has championship experience. Hoping we can do a deal although I'm sure you don't think he's good enough. We've also still to see the best of Sean McAllister. Another player who's made most of his appearances in a higher division. Got a feeling that you might just be one of these 'glass is always half empty' type of guys Ed. Can I recommend a trip to your GP? Perhaps he can help.
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Post by venceremos on Jul 27, 2011 18:51:32 GMT 1
Come off it Ed, that doesn't help your argument at all. Did we get a 10+ assist midfielder? Did we get a 15+ goal striker? You said we might get a top 7 finish with them but it seems to me we somehow finished 4th without them. How on earth has our squad weakened so much that we'll struggle to make the top half? We've lost no-one we wanted to keep and replaced/expect to replace those we released. And why should the league be "considerably stronger" this season? I fully expect the usual mix of under-achievers, over-achievers and just as expecteds. Perhaps you'll be right this time but I just don't see half a league's worth of stronger squads than ours. Thought Turner and the fans wanted to keep Sadler and Davis who incidentally hasn't been replaced yet. I'm sure Turner also expected to be easily able to replace Raven. The comment about Hall, is because I feel that he together with Labadie are the type of players we need in central midfield. In terms of strength of the division I think if you look at the managers currently in the fourth division it is the strongest it has been for many seasons. Sadler and Davis weren't ours to keep. I'm well aware Davis and Raven haven't been replaced and confident they will be shortly - I wouldn't be unhappy if Regan and Richards were to join but maybe there are alternatives we've yet to see. The point is, we know it'll happen. Hall and Labadie weren't ours either (and I thought you didn't like loanees). Whether they could ever have been isn't the point - they weren't ours then and they're not now. I'm not bothered about the perceived strength of the managers. Who are you thinking of - Adams? Johnson? Evans? Reid? Jackson? Scott? Like almost every manager, they've generally had a failure for every success. And if they haven't yet (Buckle? di Canio? Wilder?), you know they will do sooner or later. I see nothing in the other squads to make me think we're inferior and can't compete.
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 19:13:39 GMT 1
Mark, GT has been talking about two midfielders and a right back since May it is now nearly August and we are no further forward we must be down to Turner's nth choice midfielder. I have not commented on Richards but call me a cynical old sod but if he was still in the frame he would have played last night he needs to up his fitness GT's comment.
Just as easily we can have seen the best of Sean McAllister.
Last season in my opinion far too often we lost the midfield battle. If believing that the current squad will struggle to get into the top half makes me a half empty guy so be it. Better to be realistic than to get all upset again because everything goes pear shaped.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 20:15:16 GMT 1
Interestingly Asa Hall is targetting 10 goals this season. Why is that interesting? Have we signed him? It's completely random and irrelevant but I do find this little diversion of Ed's quite interesting as now apparently we have to judge a player by the number of goals he is "targetting" . I am sure in due course he will divulge Wroe's target for this year, a player who scored 2 more goals than the prolific Hall last season
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Post by Shrewed on Jul 27, 2011 20:28:16 GMT 1
Why is that interesting? Have we signed him? It's completely random and irrelevant but I do find this little diversion of Ed's quite interesting as now apparently we have to judge a player by the number of goals he is "targetting" . I am sure in due course he will divulge Wroe's target for this year, a player who scored 2 more goals than the prolific Hall last season Paul you give the impression that GT can't improve the squad. if thats not the case please tell us who you think is the weakest link.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 21:19:09 GMT 1
It's completely random and irrelevant but I do find this little diversion of Ed's quite interesting as now apparently we have to judge a player by the number of goals he is "targetting" . I am sure in due course he will divulge Wroe's target for this year, a player who scored 2 more goals than the prolific Hall last season Paul you give the impression that GT can't improve the squad. if thats not the case please tell us who you think is the weakest link. No I don't The right back is obviously the weak link because we havent got one .................... yet. The centre of midfield needs depth to cope with the usual injuries and fluctuations in form that a season brings........ at this moment there is certainly no reason to replace Wroe and Macallister. I know you don't deal in the positive but I would go as far as saying that Wroe will be one of our players of the season. These are the last 2 things GT has to sort out before the transfer deadline ends......... I am certain he will, judging by his other transactions this Summer.
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