Squad assessment and improvement

So Hurst has a very important transfer window for the club and a very short time to assess his squad. He is going to have to put a lot of trust on Moore and Davies' judgement on the current squad and his own contacts and knowledge of the game to bring in reinforcements. I'm hoping PH has been advised somewhere similar to the following:

GOALKEEPERS
For league 2 I think in Macca we have an adequate GK. Yes his distribution is not the best but im guessing Hurst wont be sticking to the Ollie style of playing out from defence, instantly putting our defence under pressure to lose the ball or for them to lump it forward to our current small strikers. In Russell I'd like to think we have cover and so we can go as we are till the end of the season.

DEFENCE
For me Hendrie at RB is more than enough with Hewitt (not Clifton) ample cover. In the centre, 'IF' Pollock stays we need a new CB to play alongside him, with pace. Someone like Toto as when against quick strikers we have been exposed at the back and Waterfall's performances have been poor and littered with mistakes and bad judgement, compounded with his red card the other week. At LB, Preston is strong enough to keep his place though he really needs cover/competition to maintain performances.

MIDFIELD
Here is where we are seriously lacking any form of creativity and an engine and changes MUST be made. Firstly cutting short Bennett's and Taylor's loans. Was going to say Morton too but he has been recalled.
Morais is a good old fashioned winger who is clever on the ball so he is a must and Rose, Clifton, Hewitt, Williams should be options from the bench. Requiring 2 x CMs and a left sided winger to replace Edwards. Admittedly our strikeforce is poor but with the shocking build up play from midfield we are devoid of goalscoring chances.
We also really need Wright and Scannell back in the fold.

STRIKERS
Quite simply we HAVE to acquire 2 new strikers who know where the goal is, have the movement and intelligence to make the ball stick at the top end of the pitch. Hanson could have been 1 piece of that but simply cant stay fit and i think its time for Green, Sesay and Gomis to move on.  Gibson and Jackson Jnr, though possibly ones for the future clearly arent ready yet without sustained coaching.

To summarise we need a LB, CB, 2 x CM, a LM and 2 strikers. 6/7 players that walk straight into the team as opposed to squad players.
End all of the loan players contracts for a more compact squad and the likes of Battersby Hope, Idehen, Spokes, Starbuck, Gibson and Jackson Jnr out on loans for experience and to reduce the squad to be a tighter, closer group.

Hursty has certainly got his work cut out for a few weeks but if he needs anymore assistance, Im on standby

This only goes to show why managers don’t take advice from the Fishy.  In my view, Waterfall is a strong centre back at this level but Preston is often out of position.  

We need more cover at left back and in the centre of defence but I wouldn’t necessarily change the first choice back 4. The midfield needs to stop playing weak passes or letting tackles go by.  In the 3-1 defeat last week, Bennett was the cause of two goals.  Last game, Edwards gave the ball away and put the defence under pressure.  It was a great decision by Ben to switch Morais over to the left to give Preston more protection from the Oldham winger.

Morais, Scannell and Wright are all talented wide players if fit so I would be looking for a fast winger to replace Edwards but one who can actually cross the ball.

We have plenty of central midfielders but the real issue is that Holloway never had a settled pairing.  Rose, Williams, Clifton and Taylor are enough if they are told
to get the ball out wide.  I would get rid of Bennett.

Upfront is where we desperately lack experience.  Hanson seems unlikely to be ever fit and the rest are all too young and inexperienced.  We need at least two decent strikers.

Amond would be a start

Quoted from LondonMariner43

This only goes to show why managers don’t take advice from the Fishy.  In my view, Waterfall is a strong centre back at this level but Preston is often out of position.  

We need more cover at left back and in the centre of defence but I wouldn’t necessarily change the first choice back 4. The midfield needs to stop playing weak passes or letting tackles go by.  In the 3-1 defeat last week, Bennett was the cause of two goals.  Last game, Edwards gave the ball away and put the defence under pressure.  It was a great decision by Ben to switch Morais over to the left to give Preston more protection from the Oldham winger.

Morais, Scannell and Wright are all talented wide players if fit so I would be looking for a fast winger to replace Edwards but one who can actually cross the ball.

We have plenty of central midfielders but the real issue is that Holloway never had a settled pairing.  Rose, Williams, Clifton and Taylor are enough if they are told
to get the ball out wide.  I would get rid of Bennett.

Upfront is where we desperately lack experience.  Hanson seems unlikely to be ever fit and the rest are all too young and inexperienced.  We need at least two decent strikers.

Totally agree about the GK and defence. Improvements can always be made but a left winger, creative midfielder and two strikers would be my priority. Clear out the 7/8 he doesn't think are up to it, bring in these 4 additions and you have a smaller more manageable group to work with.

you say clear out 8 players who is going to take them

Quoted from Yoda

you say clear out 8 players who is going to take them

Send back the loans you don't want, pay up a couple and there will be takers for the other two or three further down the pyramid, be it loaned or permanent.

I think the defence is alright but I think we do need better than Preston, as well as he has done at times in his first season playing league football. Competition for Pollock and Waterfall also needed. We need a physically commanding presence in the centre of midfield. Rose and Williams are creative players, we just haven't seen enough of it. Hopefully.we'll have Scannell and Wright back soon but what I've seen of Tilley, I haven't particularly liked. He might get the chance to prove himself now that Edwards has departed, at least for the Cambridge game. Fully expect two if not three, forwards to come in.

Would not be surprised, once new players arrive, to see Battersby, Idehen, Starbuck, Spokes, Gibson, Sisay to all go out on loan, Tilley, Green and Hanson to be paid up and Taylor and Bennett to return to their clubs.

Quoted from immariner

I think the defence is alright but I think we do need better than Preston, as well as he has done at times in his first season playing league football. Competition for Pollock and Waterfall also needed. We need a physically commanding presence in the centre of midfield. Rose and Williams are creative players, we just haven't seen enough of it. Hopefully.we'll have Scannell and Wright back soon but what I've seen of Tilley, I haven't particularly liked. He might get the chance to prove himself now that Edwards has departed, at least for the Cambridge game. Fully expect two if not three, forwards to come in.

Would not be surprised, once new players arrive, to see Battersby, Idehen, Starbuck, Spokes, Gibson, Sisay to all go out on loan, Tilley, Green and Hanson to be paid up and Taylor and Bennett to return to their clubs.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a miraculous recovery by James Hanson. Just a feeling.

we've got rid of the biggest culprit for our lge position that fellow that was a so called manager , massive improvement on the horizon i will re quote this at end of month

I can see Paul Hurst taking a liking to Luke Spokes who
for me can develop into a decent midfielder.

Based on his last game I would put him ahead of Rose
and Clifton. He won the ball well, retained and passed it
far better than those around him and the only thing missing
was that he didn't quite last the full ninety minutes.

He's a strong lad and for me just the type I would like in
my midfield alongside better players.

Bennett and Williams wouldn’t get on the bench let alone the starting lineup for me. Two that remind me of the Newell team, lazy as intercourse.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Bennett and Williams wouldn’t get on the bench let alone the starting lineup for me. Two that remind me of the Newell team, lazy as intercourse.

Agee completely, I'm still undecided whether or not Tilley falls into the "not taking it seriously" category like the 2 above. I actually think Bennet still has some ability but he spends so much time on the ball and doesn't quite get the tracking back bit so he needs to go back.    

Quoted from immariner

I think the defence is alright but I think we do need better than Preston, as well as he has done at times in his first season playing league football. Competition for Pollock and Waterfall also needed. We need a physically commanding presence in the centre of midfield. Rose and Williams are creative players, we just haven't seen enough of it. Hopefully.we'll have Scannell and Wright back soon but what I've seen of Tilley, I haven't particularly liked. He might get the chance to prove himself now that Edwards has departed, at least for the Cambridge game. Fully expect two if not three, forwards to come in.

Would not be surprised, once new players arrive, to see Battersby, Idehen, Starbuck, Spokes, Gibson, Sisay to all go out on loan, Tilley, Green and Hanson to be paid up and Taylor and Bennett to return to their clubs.

I would keep Taylor.  Must have something about him to get Wales U21 call up

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a miraculous recovery by James Hanson. Just a feeling.

'Pick up thy bed and walk lad!'

2 quality mids, and 2 decent forwards seems like the minimum we need to bring in right now.

Minus 17 goal deference would say we are bad at both ends of the pitch. Need a decent CB and LB as well as Strikers imo. UTM

Quoted from wiggers

Minus 17 goal deference would say we are bad at both ends of the pitch. Need a decent CB and LB as well as Strikers imo. UTM

Agree 100%, but identifying the problem is the first stage. Where do we (or PH to be exact) find them?
Not easy in January to find good players that other sides want to release/sell.

Wouldn't want to be a football manager.

Quoted from 137

Agree 100%, but identifying the problem is the first stage. Where do we (or PH to be exact) find them?
Not easy in January to find good players that other sides want to release/sell.

Wouldn't want to be a football manager.

I think it will be easier now with the salary and squad cap. Teams will need to offload before they can sign new players. Think there will be plenty out there to choose from. Just got to sift through them to find the gems

Quoted from ginnywings

I think it will be easier now with the salary and squad cap. Teams will need to offload before they can sign new players. Think there will be plenty out there to choose from. Just got to sift through them to find the gems

Twas ever thus, we have to trust our manager.

I think he'll keep us safe.

Quoted from wiggers

Minus 17 goal deference would say we are bad at both ends of the pitch. Need a decent CB and LB as well as Strikers imo. UTM

True.  But I think he has something to work with at the back with Watergfall, Hendrie, Preston, Pollock and Hewitt. Would make a big difference if they were properly organised, and given proper protection from midfield.

Also, several of the goals conceded have come from goalkeeping errors, and others from the shambolic attempts to play out from the back.

But he definitely has to bring in new midfield and forward players.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

This only goes to show why managers don’t take advice from the Fishy.  In my view, Waterfall is a strong centre back at this level but Preston is often out of position.  

We need more cover at left back and in the centre of defence but I wouldn’t necessarily change the first choice back 4. The midfield needs to stop playing weak passes or letting tackles go by.  In the 3-1 defeat last week, Bennett was the cause of two goals.  Last game, Edwards gave the ball away and put the defence under pressure.  It was a great decision by Ben to switch Morais over to the left to give Preston more protection from the Oldham winger.

Morais, Scannell and Wright are all talented wide players if fit so I would be looking for a fast winger to replace Edwards but one who can actually cross the ball.

We have plenty of central midfielders but the real issue is that Holloway never had a settled pairing.  Rose, Williams, Clifton and Taylor are enough if they are told
to get the ball out wide.  I would get rid of Bennett.

Upfront is where we desperately lack experience.  Hanson seems unlikely to be ever fit and the rest are all too young and inexperienced.  We need at least two decent strikers.

Still think Waterfall is a strong centre half for league 2

Really believe we need a new left back. I know Preston is only a youngster, but he consistently fails to cut out crosses and like today they are resulting in goals or at the very least good chances for the opposition.

I wont lose sleep over any member of the current squad departing.

I just hope we have the funds to bring in enough new players to turn this around. We need at least 6 new faces.

Agreed. 6 is a minimum. Just not good enough throughout. Even our best players are just squad level types for a side challenging to win league 2.

Quoted from wiggers

Minus 17 goal deference would say we are bad at both ends of the pitch. Need a decent CB and LB as well as Strikers imo. UTM

Agree.

It would be boring if we all had the same opinion!

I must be out of kilter compared to most I think, but we seem to be poor at defending crosses and at tracking opposition forwards. Never felt comfortable with Waterfall, but a lot of people seem to rate him.  Pollock, he's young so has time to develop further but I still think if we got a decent offer we should sell and use the cash to replace. Most people seem to recognise he is slow, and I feel a move to Prem or Championship could destroy him. Pacey, sharp strikers will expose him.

Opinion on Tilley seems mixed. I like him. Needs direction but he's comfortable on the ball, even under pressure.

I know he's gone anyway, but Edwards is the one I guess others must see most differently to myself. Maybe I'm missing something, but he never lit my fire at all! Couldn't see any substance. Superficially exciting because he tries to run with the ball, all the time and with no direction for me! Just don't feel there was ever any end result. He didn't seem to have a pass in him, and couldn't cross the ball, could he?  All I'll remember is him running aimlessly and eventually losing the ball. Am I being unfair?

Quoted from vernontown

Agree.

It would be boring if we all had the same opinion!

I must be out of kilter compared to most I think, but we seem to be poor at defending crosses and at tracking opposition forwards. Never felt comfortable with Waterfall, but a lot of people seem to rate him.  Pollock, he's young so has time to develop further but I still think if we got a decent offer we should sell and use the cash to replace. Most people seem to recognise he is slow, and I feel a move to Prem or Championship could destroy him. Pacey, sharp strikers will expose him.

Opinion on Tilley seems mixed. I like him. Needs direction but he's comfortable on the ball, even under pressure.

I know he's gone anyway, but Edwards is the one I guess others must see most differently to myself. Maybe I'm missing something, but he never lit my fire at all! Couldn't see any substance. Superficially exciting because he tries to run with the ball, all the time and with no direction for me! Just don't feel there was ever any end result. He didn't seem to have a pass in him, and couldn't cross the ball, could he?  All I'll remember is him running aimlessly and eventually losing the ball. Am I being unfair?

Totally agree about Edwards. More Bristolian bull.

Quoted from paramariner

Really believe we need a new left back. I know Preston is only a youngster, but he consistently fails to cut out crosses and like today they are resulting in goals or at the very least good chances for the opposition.

Most teams in Lg2 attack down the right hand side, as decent left footed “wingers” are few and far between at our level
I agree Preston looks to have gone backwards a bit but I think this is because, when we have the ball he is often given it when he already has an opponent bearing down on him so has no option apart from hacking it down the line, and when we are under attack he often looks out of position as he is trying to decide which of the usual two players running free he should go to, as he receives little defensive support from left midfield

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Totally agree about Edwards. More Bristolian bull.

I thought Edwards was a bit of a liability to be honest, lost possession easily and didn’t track back.

Quoted from Caveman

I can see Paul Hurst taking a liking to Luke Spokes who
for me can develop into a decent midfielder.

Based on his last game I would put him ahead of Rose
and Clifton. He won the ball well, retained and passed it
far better than those around him and the only thing missing
was that he didn't quite last the full ninety minutes.

He's a strong lad and for me just the type I would like in
my midfield alongside better players.

In the middle of the park:

Tidy up his passing a bit and Clifton could be Grimsby's answer to Ngolo Kante . Never stops running, next to a player with better vision/creativity, I think he would make a very useful partnership in cm. Also pretty good at driving forward with the ball.

Bennett shows glimpse of quality, but doesn't work hard enough in defence, and probably not the answer to a relegation scrap - doesn't seem to have the best attitude either.

Williams, as I said on another post looks scared, low on confidence and off the pace, but arguably hasn't had enough of a run to judge. Though I am fairly certain he isn't a patch on the player he once was pre injury...

Spokes, potential , but hasn't done enough with his one decent performance to gain my faith just yet... Will be on a small wage and young so not too worried about giving him time...

Rose is a tricky one, I always watch him closely, clearly has pedigree and is a winner, but I can't work out a) if he is a combative, terrier, break-up, tidy up type player, or if he is a holding player with Vision and a pass. I am inclined to say the prior.

B) I can't quite decide if I rate him or if he is another (albeit better) John Welsh type figure, who's legs have gone a bit/ has lost sharpness . Is he past it? Obviously his experience is valuable and he certainly has been a very good player. I'd like to hope there is more to come from him!

Like Hewitt, useful utility player, works hard.

Tilley is young, end of last season and at times this season has showed his quality, good on the ball and can beat his man. I think he's best as a CAM , but clearly lacking confidence, shame he got injured when he did, as he was in a good vein of form and could have built on a few promising performances. Think he will come good given time, not easy circumstances for a young player to build form/confidence at the moment!

Quoted from jaf243

In the middle of the park:

Tidy up his passing a bit and Clifton could be Grimsby's answer to Ngolo Kante . Never stops running, next to a player with better vision/creativity, I think he would make a very useful partnership in cm. Also pretty good at driving forward with the ball.

Over a few seasons he's had some outstanding performances over 90 minutes and not doing that every game isn't an ability issue, the good news is Hurst teams often featured a midfielder like him so might see him reach his potential on a more regular basis

I actually feel like we have the perfect centre half partner to Pollock in Hewitt... he's massively underrated for me. Has one hell of a cross field ball on him, quick, tall, strong and certainly knows how to tackle. Would love him to be our Eric Dier and finally nail a position down.

I remember one game where we had Hewitt at right back, swapped Hendrie to the left, had waterfall and Pollock as the centre halves and we looked really strong at the back.
People keep saying we need a new left back, which I agree with, but if we can't get one, we kinda have a good one in the building already.
We need Scannel back, Hanson fit and alongside Gibson.

Still think our biggest area of concern lies in the middle of the park, Williams, Rose, Clifton, Bennett, Taylor,, non seem to have an eye for a pass, even when they do it doesn't reach their target.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Still think our biggest area of concern lies in the middle of the park, Williams, Rose, Clifton, Bennett, Taylor,, non seem to have an eye for a pass, even when they do it doesn't reach their target.

Not sure I agree with this. I think Rose is a good player and passer, who would look a lot better if he had better players making runs around him. Plus I don't think you can say that Taylor doesn't find a target for his passes. I would say the problem with Taylor is that he only ever attempts very easy 5 yard passes, I would imagine his pass completion rate is probably 99% as a result of never trying anything remotely adventurous.

I don't think there are many midfielders in league two who are great at threading balls through to strikers. In this league you need centre mids who can win/dominate possession and play out it out to wingers who can then get good crosses in for the strikers.

I think Hewitt is capable of playing almost anywhere. At the moment the statistics show that he is our best striker - just a thought