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Re: Graham Potter
Posted: 16 Feb 2025, 10:28
by southbankbornnbred
southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑16 Feb 2025, 10:14
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑16 Feb 2025, 09:44
Good summary Nutsin. Potter reverted to a back 4 and got central midfield wrong relying on the slowest double pivot central midfield in the Premiership. A back 3 seems a better fit but also when Paqueta dropped deeper we had 3 in the central mid and stopped Brentford having so much space to run into when they countered. As u say, Paqueta has to play deeper with the game ahead of him.
Not writing Potter off yet but he has to learn we cannot play a 2 person central midfield of Alvarez and Soucek and that Mavro in a 4 man back 4 us going to be risky. Hopefully wont see either mistakes repeated? Main other thing we need is Ferguson and Todibo to get and stay fit
Yeah, interesting summaries, Alf and Nutsin.
I also think it’s far too early to judge Potter. These are not his players and there’s just no way he’d have signed most of them. I’m not saying he’ll rip it up at West Ham (who knows), but his teams don’t generally look like us right now.
This old, slow and tired squad has a LOT of problems. But by far the biggest problem I can see is in central defence.
Nutsin summed it up nicely: “Mavrapanos still getting in the side as a starter makes you wonder just how good he must show at practice all week because on match day he is always one of the worse players on the field.”
Its not that Mavrapanos is any good - he’s fucking terrible. A mistake waiting to happen. It’s just that we don’t have any depth, and the other centre halves are also woeful - or injury prone.
We’ve spent (or agreed to spend) a small fortune on some absolute dross. Kilman is the worst £40m footballer I’ve ever seen. He has the turning circle of an oil tanker and regularly gets destroyed for pace over ten yards - let alone 20+. It means we can’t really play, or get, high up the pitch quickly enough. So he forces us to play a way that Potter probably doesn’t want. Absolute waste of that huge outlay. Slow, off the pace mentally, and too easily exposed because of it. His saving grace is that he doesn’t really make “mistakes” like Mavrapanos - and he is a battler. It’s just that his physical attributes are poor for the modern Premier League, where opponents are often athletes more than footballers.
Mavrapanos was in excess of £20m. We've agreed to spend £34m on Todibo, who is a good player but injury prone - and clearly nursing his way through the season. And we spent £30m on Aguerd who started well, deteriorated under Moyes and then got loaned out by a hopeless manager who had no idea what he was doing.
Thats £125m worth of “talent” and we’re catastrophically poor at the back.
Fixing that will take some doing. Who, for example, will want to sign Kilman at his fee/wages - unless it’s a move like a return to Wolves for half the money?
Moyes and Lopetegui royally lumped us in it.
I also have to say that Sullivan - and the departed (and largely over-rated) Steidten should hang his head in shame over the Kilman deal. How a chairman and technical director could let a new manager sign somebody so obviously limited for £40m and then put him on astronomical wages and a seven-year contract, is beyond me.
Club chairman rightly and wrongly get blamed for a lot of things - some within their control, some not. But that Kilman deal was akin to falling asleep at the wheel.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 08 May 2025, 07:33
by Mad Ferret
Have been told that we're activating the buy-back clause for Flynn Downes.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 07 May 2025, 11:04
by ,
Next season looks similar the this except that we will commence 25/26 with even worse end of season form to carry over.
Over the last couple of seasons our league form has demonstrated a gradual and inexorable deterioration.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 07 May 2025, 10:03
by Lee Trundle
If we resign Antonio, and Cresswell, then it's obvious that the goal of next season is to tread water.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 07 May 2025, 09:51
by dealcanvey
We can let more go than what we need to replace in some areas especially with no european football.
Soucek, Prowse, Paqueta, Alvarez, Soler, Rodriquez and Irving. We could see up to 5 of them going with only a couple coming in plus maybe Potts being given the nod in the 1st team.
Every other position, if someone leaves then we need a replacement.
I can see Fabianski, Coufal, Mavrapanos, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler, Rodriguez, Irving, Kudus, Ings and Cornet all leaving.
Will someone come in for Paqueta with this betting issue still hanging over him?
Think Antonio will get his year extension although I dont think it will be the right decision to do so.
If Potter is here come the Summer I hope we change our approach and focus more on young HG players. Will give us more pace, effort as well perhaps some identity back.
Massive task ahead to try and turn this slow/ageing squad around.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 18:12
by El Scorchio
Yup, Forest have just hit on a magic formula almost accidentally like Leicester did. You'd have called them the model of how not to do it before this season. I'd expect them to lose a few players in the summer and finish bottom half next season. They aren't a well run club at the core like Brighton or Brentford. It's not sustainable what they've done.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 17:04
by nychammer
honky cat" wrote: ↑06 May 2025, 16:39
Forest have brought in around 30 players the past two seasons. Last season 17th, this year they're likely to get Europe. So a full rebuild is not impossible, or perhaps they are a one season wonder?
I'm not sure our fans will have the patience for it and is Potter the right man?
I think forest is a happy accident of a group of players and a manager gelling together at the right time. I mean Chris Wood was hardly a signing you’d have been happy with last summer in retrospect.
it could easily come falling down next season. We’ve seen this before many times.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 16:54
by nychammer
Bowen is at the sharp end of his career. He probably got one big move in him in an attempt to win another major trophy cos he ain’t gonna win fuck all here. Letting him go and not replacing him properly will absolutely see us relegated.
Soucek for his lack of midfield presence we will miss. The reason he is included is his presence in either box. He crops up with critical goals and without replacing that source of goals we will struggle.
AWB, Todibo, Summerville, JWP and the youth can stick around and the rest need to be replaced.
Ultimately we need a board with a vision beyond raking in TV money, corporate and tourist dollars and hanging on in there as the model for success. A rebuild is going to take time and money. Every signing has to be well considered and not a panic buy dud. For that we need the right manager and for that we need a chairman with a vision and the will to make that appointment, back him and mot interfere. We’re fucked because we have none of these at our club.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 16:43
by Lee Trundle
honky cat" wrote: ↑06 May 2025, 16:39
Forest have brought in around 30 players the past two seasons. Last season 17th, this year they're likely to get Europe. So a full rebuild is not impossible, or perhaps they are a one season wonder?
I'm not sure our fans will have the patience for it and is Potter the right man?
Forest are the exception, not the rule.
Everton finished 17th the season before, Leeds the season before that (relegated the season after), Burnley the season before that (relegated the following season).
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 16:39
by honky cat
Forest have brought in around 30 players the past two seasons. Last season 17th, this year they're likely to get Europe. So a full rebuild is not impossible, or perhaps they are a one season wonder?
I'm not sure our fans will have the patience for it and is Potter the right man?
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 14:33
by Gank
We've got the home grown player quota to bear in mind.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 13:27
by El Scorchio
Agree it simply cannot be done in one summer. But let's face it, we know almost all of the midfield will go.
Soler and Guido are as good as out the door. Kudus and Paqueta both want out and will need to be sold to actually fund any incomings. Soucek actually has value so it's wise to sell. Similar to Alvarez, although the difference is Soucek is a great team guy who despite him limitations will try his very best whereas Alvarez seems like a disruption who we just need to move on.
At the most I could see us keeping JWP and Soucek. But I think it would be foolish to not just take what we ca get for Soucek, unless one or both Paqueta and Kudus go for mental money.
Midfield is the absolute priority. Full backs we probably just have to hang in there with what we've got for another season. We have a greater need for a striker, keeper and a couple of centre backs. They all need to go aside from Todibo, but if he's reportedly unhappy and acting the cսnt as well then we need to sack him off also.
What a fucking mess the last couple of regeimes and Sullivan have made of things.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 12:56
by Rossal
On paper we need a whole new midfield, 2 new centre backs at least and a forward and possibly some full back cover. A keeper aswell most likely....
But that sort of turnover is just too many, its what is needed but in reality I reckon only half of those midfielders will actually go.
I am not sure we have the staff capable or the funds available to do the surgery to the squad what is needed.
Next season is so depressing already
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 12:36
by El Scorchio
Bowen isn't leaving.
However, I expect almost all our midfielders will:
Paqueta (if cleared)
Kudus
Soucek
Soler
Guido
Alvarez
JWP (may stick around)
Major rebuild incoming. At least we should have some 140 million to play with from that.
I saw something that Potter wants to fuck Kilman off as well. So we likely need an entirely new CB cohort as well if as expected Todibo also fucks off. Very damning for Mav that Coufal came on in preference to him at the weekend.
Our squad is so stacked full of overpriced shit that isn't good enough or just plain doesn't want to be here any more. It's absolutely damning of our short sighted schitzophrenic transfer policy of the last 5-6 years.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 12:33
by Swiss.
greenie1 wrote: ↑06 May 2025, 11:47
It wouldn't surprise me if Bowen went.
I wouldn't blame him would you?
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 11:59
by dealcanvey
In Kudus defence. He spent half of last season and all of this season playing out of position. I think some of his form has alot to do with that. Him moving on would be good for all parties.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 11:58
by twoleftfeet
Stop listening to the Spurs fan.
If Bowen goes then it will be a sad day but heroes come and heroes go.
I can say in all honesty I won't miss any of this current crop, they have all been fucking shit.
Kudus stinks the place out and how he still gets picked is beyond me, give Guilherme a go for the rest of the season and whilst we are at it get Orford in to midfield alongside Soucek.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 11:47
by greenie1
It wouldn't surprise me if Bowen went.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 06 May 2025, 11:45
by dealcanvey
Surely we wont sell Bowen. Worth in region of 100m to us and who is going to pay that?
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 20:17
by Ladysmith
Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑05 May 2025, 17:01
Ladysmith wrote: ↑05 May 2025, 16:36
What I do know for definite,
Bowen will be making a move up north
Soucek will be going to Everton
Kyle Walker Peters will be coming to West Ham
The other one that maybe a possibility is McGuire maybe also coming to us.
Stop making shit up, Bowen isn't going anywhere.
Nope it’s happening
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 17:01
by Far Cough UKunt
Ladysmith wrote: ↑05 May 2025, 16:36
What I do know for definite,
Bowen will be making a move up north
Soucek will be going to Everton
Kyle Walker Peters will be coming to West Ham
The other one that maybe a possibility is McGuire maybe also coming to us.
Stop making shit up, Bowen isn't going anywhere.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 16:58
by Fauxstralian
Delap has 12 goals in the Premier League in an Ipswich team relegated by the length of the straight
Only watched him closely in our home game
Gave us lots of problems … scored & Areola made a good save to prevent another
Is 22 with a £30m buyout
Will go elsewhere but is exactly the sort of player we SHOULD be going for
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 16:49
by dealcanvey
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑05 May 2025, 16:24
Feel the same way about Delap. Honest, gives 100% but not quick enough or technically gifted enough. Will have a decent career and could develop further but seems, at this stage, like one of those strikers who will be great in the Championship but struggle to really make an impact in the Premier League. Of course, could be proved totally wrong but that’s my armcgair fan assessment currently
Has Delap already not proved himself in the premier league? We turn our nose up at players like Delap far too often. Not that I think we can get him as he will have lots of offers. Wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up somewhere like Newcastle but he would be a great fit for us.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 16:36
by Ladysmith
What I do know for definite,
Bowen will be making a move up north
Soucek will be going to Everton
Kyle Walker Peters will be coming to West Ham
The other one that maybe a possibility is McGuire maybe also coming to us.
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 16:33
by Far Cough UKunt
We should get Delap for his long throws
Re: Squad Building for 25/26
Posted: 05 May 2025, 16:24
by Sir Alf
Feel the same way about Delap. Honest, gives 100% but not quick enough or technically gifted enough. Will have a decent career and could develop further but seems, at this stage, like one of those strikers who will be great in the Championship but struggle to really make an impact in the Premier League. Of course, could be proved totally wrong but that’s my armcgair fan assessment currently
