January thread

[Former Member]

I think Jacob Butterfield has been mentioned before, he'd probably fit the bill. Though I don't think he's played at all so would take a few games to get up and running,

I'd take him but we are pretty well stocked in centre-mid imo.

Ledson will improve with more games but it's clear to see he's not quite up to it just yet. He plays like there is always someone right behind him, even if he's in 30 yards of space. No calmness on the ball.

I did have a feeling that something like this would happen; because our interest in him was so public, folk naturally assumed he was very very good because we tried very hard to sign him.

 

[Delaney]

Fair point and the answer is simply that Ledson is a longer term signing - frankly not just the back-up for Pearson but a possible ultimate replacement. I expect him to be a major player next season which is why an experienced loanee will suffice for the moment.

Our transfer policy for as long as we've been in this division has been to try to solve immediate problems with long term solutions, hopefully this will change given the threat of relegation but if it does I don't see it being on a backup midfielder when we've got a number of positions in which our first choice needs improving.

 

[ernest]

Our transfer policy for as long as we've been in this division has been to try to solve immediate problems with long term solutions, hopefully this will change given the threat of relegation but if it does I don't see it being on a backup midfielder when we've got a number of positions in which our first choice needs improving.

Can see the point of what you are saying and with Johnson and Robinson available we would have been much more of a force on Saturday. Nevertheless the basic reason for our second half display was just lack of aggression and strength of character - precisely the things that Clarke and Pearson would have provided and which whatever their other qualities Huntington, Gallagher and even Browne do not. We need some more of those first attributes because otherwise we are overly dependent on Clarke and Pearson's availability.

 

[Lee Trundle]

I'd take him but we are pretty well stocked in centre-mid imo.

Ledson will improve with more games but it's clear to see he's not quite up to it just yet. He plays like there is always someone right behind him, even if he's in 30 yards of space. No calmness on the ball.

In fairness to him thought he was the best of our midfield 3, Browne and Gally were both really poor.

At least Ledson got stuck in, made 2 or 3 really good challenges.

Youre right about his passing though, it’s like he receives the ball and his first read is a pass to Huntington, if that’s not on just chip it down the channel.

 

[sedgwick__7]

Experienced keepers who might be available on loan (but would probably cost a lot in wages) -

Tom Heaton, David Stockdale, Kieren Westwood


Young, highly-rated goalkeepers who might be available on loan (a path that has served us well in the past ie. Johnstone and Pickford) -

Freddie Woodman (Newcastle)
Aro Muric (Man City)


Highly-rated lower league keepers -

Connor Ripley (Accrington, on loan from Middesbrough)
Alex Cairns (Fleetwood)

 

[Tino]

Experienced keepers who might be available on loan (but would probably cost a lot in wages) -

Tom Heaton, David Stockdale, Kieren Westwood


Young, highly-rated goalkeepers who might be available on loan (a path that has served us well in the past ie. Johnstone and Pickford) -

Freddie Woodman (Newcastle)
Aro Muric (Man City)


Highly-rated lower league keepers -

Connor Ripley (Accrington, on loan from Middesbrough)
Alex Cairns (Fleetwood)

My preference would be one from the experienced category (not Stockdale though) until the end of the season when we can then reassess.

There's also a decision to be made re Hudson. He still hasn't played in the league yet and has only featured in the 3 EFL trophy matches. He might need to drop a level to get regular games, or perhaps we're happy with him just being involved on match day.

 

[ernest]

At least Ledson got stuck in, made 2 or 3 really good challenges.

Youre right about his passing though, it’s like he receives the ball and his first read is a pass to Huntington, if that’s not on just chip it down the channel.

But he is capable of better. He was playing some really good long range passes out the flanks in the game at Shef Utd.

You would imagine that all the squad are having the need for positivity and forward movement drummed into them by AN today. Be interesting to see what the attitude is like on Saturday.

 

[Former Member]

Experienced keepers who might be available on loan (but would probably cost a lot in wages) -

Tom Heaton, David Stockdale, Kieren Westwood


Young, highly-rated goalkeepers who might be available on loan (a path that has served us well in the past ie. Johnstone and Pickford) -

Freddie Woodman (Newcastle)
Aro Muric (Man City)


Highly-rated lower league keepers -

Connor Ripley (Accrington, on loan from Middesbrough)
Alex Cairns (Fleetwood)

Would personally like either Ripley or Westwood. Westwood's wages are no doubt huge, but he has represented Ireland so you never know. Didn't know he was so old either, 34.

But he is capable of better. He was playing some really good long range passes out the flanks in the game at Shef Utd.

You would imagine that all the squad are having the need for positivity and forward movement drummed into them by AN today. Be interesting to see what the attitude is like on Saturday.

Ledson played well in the second half at Sheff U, but his long passing certainly isn't his strong point. In pre-season he was playing through the lines really well but during the season, as Lee Trundle says, he just looks for Huntington even if there is 20 yards of space ahead of him.

 

[Lee Trundle]

But he is capable of better. He was playing some really good long range passes out the flanks in the game at Shef Utd.

You would imagine that all the squad are having the need for positivity and forward movement drummed into them by AN today. Be interesting to see what the attitude is like on Saturday.

Having Pearson back is a must. His patience on the ball was so obviously missed on Saturday, Gally plays much better alongside him as wel.

Without DJ or Pearson in the centre there is only so much AN can say, we simply don’t have the talent in there to move the ball effectively

 

[ernest]

Ledson played well in the second half at Sheff U, but his long passing certainly isn't his strong point. In pre-season he was playing through the lines really well but during the season, as Lee Trundle says, he just looks for Huntington even if there is 20 yards of space ahead of him.

Yes he has more skill than he sometimes shows. It is up to AN and the coaching team to make Ledson confident and imaginative enough to make use of it on the field.

 

[ernest]

Having Pearson back is a must. His patience on the ball was so obviously missed on Saturday, Gally plays much better alongside him as wel.

Without DJ or Pearson in the centre there is only so much AN can say, we simply don’t have the talent in there to move the ball effectively

Absolutely - you got the impression from AN's remarks that both Pearson and Clarke were close to being fit on Saturday so hopefully they will both be back at the week-end. If they are then with both of them back and the rest of the team being given a thorough pep-talk on the need for fight and competitiveness we should look a different outfit altogether. As an aside Davies you imagine will also start to give us better balance at the back though Storey, whom you imagine he would replace, was no worse than anyone else on Saturday.

 

[BPIG]

Fraser Forster is on about £70k at Southampton so that's dead in the water. Stockdale hahahaha he's currently at Wycombe and not pulling up any trees, one of the most overrated goalkeepers that's ever lived.

 

[SF]

Is Keiren Westwood not a bit injury prone these days?

Personally, I can't see many good keepers going spare in January.

That Boro keeper on loan at Accrington might be a realistic option but no idea if he's any good, was well liked by Oldham fans.

 

[ernest]

Is Keiren Westwood not a bit injury prone these days?

Personally, I can't see many good keepers going spare in January.

That Boro keeper on loan at Accrington might be a realistic option but no idea if he's any good, was well liked by Oldham fans.

There are still half a dozen games to go before the transfer window opens which is time for Maxwell or Rudd to re-establish confidence in them. In fact Maxwell from what I can recall has not made an error of the sort Rudd did on Saturday - he just mistimed his run out of goal at Ipswich and then lost his head a bit. Frankly I would be quite prepared to reassess the keeper situation at the end of the season when we might decide that things are not so bad there. I agree that Rudd has work to do to re-establish confidence in him but I am still OK with Maxwell.

 

[SF]

There are still half a dozen games to go before the transfer window opens which is time for Maxwell or Rudd to re-establish confidence in them. In fact Maxwell from what I can recall has not made an error of the sort Rudd did on Saturday - he just mistimed his run out of goal at Ipswich and then lost his head a bit. Frankly I would be quite prepared to reassess the keeper situation at the end of the season when we might decide that things are not so bad there. I agree that Rudd has work to do to re-establish confidence in him but I am still OK with Maxwell.

Nah, bollocks to both of them now. Had enough chances.

I don't mind Maxwell as a keeper but he's been wanting to leave for about a year now and Alex Neil obviously isn't a big fan.

 

[Mancunian White]

Nah, bollocks to both of them now. Had enough chances.

I don't mind Maxwell as a keeper but he's been wanting to leave for about a year now and Alex Neil obviously isn't a big fan.

He's been poorly managed. Should've been given the number 1 jersey after Lindegaard left, not Rudd. Deserved to be dropped early 2018 but shouldn't have been scapegoated after Derby. He's the best keeper on our books and I'm sure Kelly and Kiely would've agreed honestly.

Best keeper we've had permanently since Lonergan, or arguably Nash. If he left I'd be upset.

 

[Schofe]

He's been poorly managed. Should've been given the number 1 jersey after Lindegaard left, not Rudd. Deserved to be dropped early 2018 but shouldn't have been scapegoated after Derby. He's the best keeper on our books and I'm sure Kelly and Kiely would've agreed honestly.

Best keeper we've had permanently since Lonergan, or arguably Nash. If he left I'd be upset.

Alan Kelly does prefer Maxwell. Also he accepts that his game brings the odd error with coming etc

 

[SF]

Maxwell is clearly the better keeper but I just get the feeling Neil doesn't particularly like either, he's just been stuck with them because they're on decent contracts.

Neither have been reliable this year, not what you want when you're close to the relegation zone and battered by injuries.

 

[bowlandwhites]

Maxwell is clearly the better keeper but I just get the feeling Neil doesn't particularly like either, he's just been stuck with them because they're on decent contracts.

Neither have been reliable this year, not what you want when you're close to the relegation zone and battered by injuries.

Maxwell by far the better the of the 2 keepers. I think the problem is neil doesn't rate or has a big problems with him. We should be concentrating on signing outfield players in perticular a striker. Neil needs to also sort out why we are getting all these injuries.

 

[Pne king 69]

Northern Echo reckon we’re interested in Middlesbrough’s Lewis Wing on loan -



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp...-at-this-rate/

It’s connor ripley pne are watching