What we need

Looking at the squad This is how I see things, going off a 4-4-2 formation in terms of squad depth with players in their natural positions.

GK: Macca, Russell
DL: Gibson, ?
CB: Davies, Pollock
CB: Waterfall, Ohman
RB: Hendrie, Hewitt
LM: ?, ?
CM: Hess, Whitehouse
CM: Clifton, Robson, Cook
RM: Wright, ?
CF: Hanson, Cardwell
CF: Green, Rose

Not sure where Vernam or Ogbu's best position is or if the fit the system. Vernam down the right and Ogbu playing second striker?

Biggest thing I see is the lack depth down the left hand side. If Gibson goes back we have no natural left back and we have no natural left wingers. I personally feel we need the real width aka proper wingers to allow us to play a bit more and get the ball into the box. I'm sure Holloway already has a plan though.

UTM!

Did you forget Charles Vernam, or don't think he's good enough?

Keep the 2 loaners. LWB cover, ball playing midfielder and a striker who can take the ball to his feet and drop off defenders in the penalty box when balls come in.

We need Hanson fit, another wide player and a midfield enforcer. We need to release Cardwell, Cook and keep the loan lads.

I think we need 2 wingers and a midfielder, depending on how Ollie wants to play depends on if we need another striker, imo if he wants to play 4-3-3 we are covered for strikers, Hanson could benefit with two proper out in out wingers to deliver crosses for him which would leave green rose cardwell cook Ogbu and Vernam all possible back ups.

What we need.......




....I think we should leave that for Ollie to decide.

Quoted from ScottyUTM

I think we need 2 wingers and a midfielder, depending on how Ollie wants to play depends on if we need another striker, imo if he wants to play 4-3-3 we are covered for strikers, Hanson could benefit with two proper out in out wingers to deliver crosses for him which would leave green rose cardwell cook Ogbu and Vernam all possible back ups.

Need to find a regular place for Vernam. Viewing him as back up is a bit harsh.

Quoted from smokey111

Need to find a regular place for Vernam. Viewing him as back up is a bit harsh.

I completely agree with this. I’d see Charles as a starter now, even when Hanson is fit.

Be interesting to see what IH’s preferred formation is. Hanson and CV as a partnership supported by 2 wingers sounds good to me.

Plus leaving 6 strikers to back up Hanson 'if' we are signing two wingers is crazy.

Personally, I would keep the loanees bring in a natural winger to supplement Wright should Ollie want to play 4  4  2. A fox in the box striker and a dominant holding midfielder.

If possible move out Cardwell, Cook and Whitehouse (highly unlikely to happen).

Quoted from Heisenberg

I completely agree with this. I’d see Charles as a starter now, even when Hanson is fit.

Be interesting to see what IH’s preferred formation is. Hanson and CV as a partnership supported by 2 wingers sounds good to me.

Charles has been very good since he came back from Chorley. Credit to Jolley for sending him out or AL for giving him game time?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Charles has been very good since he came back from Chorley. Credit to Jolley for sending him out or AL for giving him game time?

The latter I think.

Alan Buckley was less impressed though this afternoon in commentary. Thought he still fades in and out of games.

Quoted from wigworld

Did you forget Charles Vernam, or don't think he's good enough?

I actually mentioned him in the OP but I'm not sure of his best position

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

The latter I think.

Alan Buckley was less impressed though this afternoon in commentary. Thought he still fades in and out of games.

Vernam was good to start with, as has been the case, but faded badly second half, as has previously been the case.

Strong midfielder to take on captains armband
Love Macca but goalie as captain is a no no
We can all probably name the 2 or 3 going out so it’s who we look to replace in those positions

Quoted from sydney

Strong midfielder to take on captains armband
Love Macca but goalie as captain is a no no
We can all probably name the 2 or 3 going out so it’s who we look to replace in those positions

Said the same today. Could do with a strong leader/captain in midfield.

Pond.......of 5 years ago.

Quoted from ginnywings

Said the same today. Could do with a strong leader/captain in midfield.

I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the first change IH makes ginny, why would you have an isolated player as your captain, ridiculous.

Who is the best candidate for captaincy? For someone who will always be on the team sheet I'd have to say Hess but does he have the voice and presence?

Goalscoring and creative midfielder, another pacey winger and a poacher striker for me.

what we need is a great big melting pot, big enough for the world and all its got

Quoted from Oly1987

Who is the best candidate for captaincy? For someone who will always be on the team sheet I'd have to say Hess but does he have the voice and presence?

If he wants to change it now I’d say Luke Waterfall.

If he waits till the end of the season, he might take a shine to Mattie Pollock, and decide it would be a great way to step him up.

What I'd like to see (along with a number of earlier posters) is an experienced centre-mid, probably having played at a higher level sometime, with a greater physical presence - an enforcer who could take the captain's armband. Our midfield is, after all, youngsters learning as they go.

Probably wishing for too much as it is, so to expect creativity as well would be dreaming.
At our level, creative midfielders are a rarity. So play 442 and get the centre-mids looking to simply play in wide players who can beat their man.
Max Wright is one. Another flying winger would be useful.

Difficult, of course, to find the players you want in the January window...but Ollie's better placed than most.

UTM

Quoted from 137

What I'd like to see (along with a number of earlier posters) is an experienced centre-mid, probably having played at a higher level sometime, with a greater physical presence - an enforcer who could take the captain's armband. Our midfield is, after all, youngsters learning as they go.

Probably wishing for too much as it is, so to expect creativity as well would be dreaming.
At our level, creative midfielders are a rarity. So play 442 and get the centre-mids looking to simply play in wide players who can beat their man.
Max Wright is one. Another flying winger would be useful.

Difficult, of course, to find the players you want in the January window...but Ollie's better placed than most.

UTM

What, like John Welsh??..😂😂...
On a serious note, to me I'd give the arm band to Hess, a captain should lead by example and Hess is one of our most combative and consistent performers.
We need creativity, someone who can put their foot on the ball and make telling only problem is these sort of players are few and far between.
Think our best chance would be to get another loanee in, in the mould of Embleton, plus we need a proper left sided winger/wingback.

Quoted from 137

What I'd like to see (along with a number of earlier posters) is an experienced centre-mid, probably having played at a higher level sometime, with a greater physical presence - an enforcer who could take the captain's armband. Our midfield is, after all, youngsters learning as they go.

Probably wishing for too much as it is, so to expect creativity as well would be dreaming.
At our level, creative midfielders are a rarity. So play 442 and get the centre-mids looking to simply play in wide players who can beat their man.
Max Wright is one. Another flying winger would be useful.

Difficult, of course, to find the players you want in the January window...but Ollie's better placed than most.

UTM

Or we could get the forward players to make the right runs and become available for our existing mid fielders? But I do agree a ball playing mid fielder would help massively but one will not work without the other. .

Quoted from toontown

Vernam was good to start with, as has been the case, but faded badly second half, as has previously been the case.

I thought he was quite poor yesterday.  Very poor first touch and slow decision making which meant he was always under pressure in possession.

Quoted from Happy_Mariner

I thought he was quite poor yesterday.  Very poor first touch and slow decision making which meant he was always under pressure in possession.

He has IMO the same problem as Clifton in that he plays with his head down and thus does not see the preferred pass quickly enough and is still unsure when to run with the ball and when to pass. For example second half Gibson went past him on the outside on at least three occasions but never received one pass from Chad. Happy for him to use Gibbo as a dummy runner and to cut in for a shot but if you do this every time becomes predictable and much easier to defend.

Surprisingly I cannot remember either he or Wright at anytime yesterday just relying on their pace with a quick knock and go to get past their full back. That said Vernam is staying in the game and influencing it much more since his loan spell so it’s just how to build on his technical ability going forward.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

He has IMO the same problem as Clifton in that he plays with his head down and thus does not see the preferred pass quickly enough and is still unsure when to run with the ball and when to pass. For example second half Gibson went past him on the outside on at least three occasions but never received one pass from Chad. Happy for him to use Gibbo as a dummy runner and to cut in for a shot but if you do this every time becomes predictable and much easier to defend.

Surprisingly I cannot remember either he or Wright at anytime yesterday just relying on their pace with a quick knock and go to get past their full back. That said Vernam is staying in the game and influencing it much more since his loan spell so it’s just how to build on his technical ability going forward.

Totally agree. Sometimes the wide players need to put the ball in the grass behind and run. I’m sure that IH will get us more positive in attack. I also wondered whether a fear of filling the box in attack could come down to a fear of getting caught on a counter attack. Main thing for yesterday though was the character to dig in for the three points.

Quoted from Happy_Mariner

I thought he was quite poor yesterday.  Very poor first touch and slow decision making which meant he was always under pressure in possession.

I thought Salford worked out that he prefers to cut in than go outside so always tried to have a man on his inside as well as the fullback making him go down the line. The irony being that virtually his first left footed cross created the goal.

I’d love to see a Vernam / Hanson partnership in a 4-4-2. Their attributes compliment each other, the target man with the faster technical player. There’s goals there, and tons for Vernam in a number 9 role.

But we have the wingers problem. I’d argue that neither Hendrie nor Gibson are what you’d call natural wing backs, more traditional full backs but we have the issue with no out and out wingers aside from Max Wright.

Also, if we move from a 433 or variation of it, where do the likes of Whitehouse, Green, Ogbu fit in to a more traditional formation like 442?

I’d tweak the 433, we need to get the inside forwards closer to the centre forward who is often isolated. And especially with Clifton sitting, the likes of Hessenthaler and Robson need to break into the box and support. We simply don’t get enough bodies into the box. I don’t think we need major surgery, just tweaks here and there and if you can improve on the personnel, that would help.

Signings wise, I’d like a central midfielder that naturally arrives late, there aren’t many Grovesys around sadly, but we are a bit samey in the middle. Definitely a new centre forward and a left back even if we can retain Gibson. We can afford to move one or two on if possible to balance the books. Cook, Ogbu, Whitehouse to name three.

Quoted from Happy_Mariner

I thought he was quite poor yesterday.  Very poor first touch and slow decision making which meant he was always under pressure in possession.

And yet he's been involved in all three recent goals. He has what it take if IH can get it out of him.

Quoted from fishboyUTM

I’d love to see a Vernam / Hanson partnership in a 4-4-2. Their attributes compliment each other, the target man with the faster technical player. There’s goals there, and tons for Vernam in a number 9 role.

But we have the wingers problem. I’d argue that neither Hendrie nor Gibson are what you’d call natural wing backs, more traditional full backs but we have the issue with no out and out wingers aside from Max Wright.

Also, if we move from a 433 or variation of it, where do the likes of Whitehouse, Green, Ogbu fit in to a more traditional formation like 442?

I’d tweak the 433, we need to get the inside forwards closer to the centre forward who is often isolated. And especially with Clifton sitting, the likes of Hessenthaler and Robson need to break into the box and support. We simply don’t get enough bodies into the box. I don’t think we need major surgery, just tweaks here and there and if you can improve on the personnel, that would help.

Signings wise, I’d like a central midfielder that naturally arrives late, there aren’t many Grovesys around sadly, but we are a bit samey in the middle. Definitely a new centre forward and a left back even if we can retain Gibson. We can afford to move one or two on if possible to balance the books. Cook, Ogbu, Whitehouse to name three.

Spot on. I just think the days of two traditional wingers are sadly gone. When you have them hugging the touchline that leaves a hell of a lot of ground for two central midfielders to cover, especially when a lot of sides play 3. It is almost a tactical gamble, seeing which manager blinks first and adapts to the opposition.

it will be interesting to see who he brings in as i think he might have to call in a few favours.i had a look at his last squad (QPR 2017-1 and almost all of them are regulars elsewhere or are currently out on loan (am i right in saying you can't go on2 different loans in the same season?).
The only one that isn't is Mide Shodipo an Afircan/Irish winger.

Quoted from forza ivano

. Afircan/Irish winger.

Is that you getting around the Swear filter FI ?  

And what exactly is your problem with the Irish  

Quoted from forza ivano

it will be interesting to see who he brings in as i think he might have to call in a few favours.i had a look at his last squad (QPR 2017-1 and almost all of them are regulars elsewhere or are currently out on loan (am i right in saying you can't go on2 different loans in the same season?).
The only one that isn't is Mide Shodipo an Afircan/Irish winger.

You can go on 2 half season loans as long as you haven't played for your parent club too (as you can only play for 2 clubs in one season; I think this is why Bradford can't cash in on Eoin Doyle)

Quoted from Abdul19

You can go on 2 half season loans as long as you haven't played for your parent club too (as you can only play for 2 clubs in one season; I think this is why Bradford can't cash in on Eoin Doyle)

Swindon will be able to buy Doyle though.  He cant play for anyone other than Swindon and Bradford so I cant see anyone else going in for him, unless its for next season which is very unlikely.

Some rumours on twitter saying town in for Tom Adeyemi (midfielder ball winning type) I think it says as a loan from Cardiff (did play previously for QPR)

Quoted from Meza

Swindon will be able to buy Doyle though.  He cant play for anyone other than Swindon and Bradford so I cant see anyone else going in for him, unless its for next season which is very unlikely.

Some rumours on twitter saying town in for Tom Adeyemi (midfielder ball winning type) I think it says as a loan from Cardiff (did play previously for QPR)

could only find this injury stricken individual - was at cardiff a few years ago, but no QPR or Holloway connection.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Adeyemi
There was also something from EFL Hub mentioning free agent Ross Wallace, an aged winger, but i think that's one of those 'make-up-any-old-rumour-for-some-clicks' type site

ps

' Is that you getting around the Swear filter FI ?  

And what exactly is your problem with the Irish  '  


very funny civvy  - post New Year fat fingers as well as a fat torso!

Quoted from forza ivano

could only find this injury stricken individual - was at cardiff a few years ago, but no QPR or Holloway connection.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Adeyemi
There was also something from EFL Hub mentioning free agent Ross Wallace, an aged winger, but i think that's one of those 'make-up-any-old-rumour-for-some-clicks' type site

ps

' Is that you getting around the Swear filter FI ?  

And what exactly is your problem with the Irish  '  


very funny civvy  - post New Year fat fingers as well as a fat torso!

I thought he might have played for QPR lol but not according to Wiki.

Quoted from forza ivano

very funny civvy  - post New Year fat fingers as well as a fat torso!

Unfortunately I can fully sympathise with you on that one.
I just wish mine was only post New Year 😕

Quoted from forza ivano

it will be interesting to see who he brings in as i think he might have to call in a few favours.i had a look at his last squad (QPR 2017-1 and almost all of them are regulars elsewhere or are currently out on loan (am i right in saying you can't go on2 different loans in the same season?).
The only one that isn't is Mide Shodipo an Afircan/Irish winger.

Strange you mention that, a qpr supporting mate has been texting saying about Holloway etc and how players would walk over broken glass for him. He then mentioned Ryan manning would be a great signing if we could get him.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Strange you mention that, a qpr supporting mate has been texting saying about Holloway etc and how players would walk over broken glass for him. He then mentioned Ryan manning would be a great signing if we could get him.

unlikely i think
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/201.....ing-rejects-initial/